Charles W. Gebhard, lifelong Phillips County resident, passed away Sunday, March 1, 2026, at the Alma Good Samaritan Society in Alma, NE, at the age of 94. His youngest daughter, Ranelle, was with him.

He was born on January 27, 1932, in Phillips County, KS, the son of Gustav Adam and Juliette Fay (Haines) Gebhard. He grew up on the family farm, the youngest of 5 children. He attended a one room school (across the creek from his home) where he walked each day. He spoke of carrying his lunchbox which included a sandwich, a piece of fruit, and one of his mom’s oatmeal cookies. He would later attend school in Long Island, Kansas where he would graduate with the class of 1949.

He was united in marriage on August 10, 1949, in Phillipsburg, KS, to Grace Eileen Godfrey. To this union 4 children were born, Kathleen Leora, Craig Douglas, Camela Faye, and Ranelle Rae.

They made their home in Woodruff, Grand Island, NE, and Alma, NE, before returning to farm in Phillips County. Charles, (with the help of Eileen), raised crops, beef cattle, and milked holsteins for a number of years. In 1977, after three of their four children had grown and left home, they got rid of the milk cows, chickens, and hogs and moved “over the hill” into their very own home which they had lovingly designed, planned out, and had built. They both would remain there for the entirety of their lives. They missed celebrating 61 years of marriage by 4 days when Eileen passed away on August 6, 2010.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, son Craig, grandson Dustin Tate Hogan, and siblings Leona Irene Whitten, Frances Maralene Moody, Harlan Henry and Ivan Dale Gebhard.

Charles was an excellent steward of the land and the livestock that had been entrusted to him. He was a hard worker who never relied on anyone, besides Eileen, to accomplish what needed to be done. He was a quiet man. A man of integrity and honesty. In his later years, following the death of his wife, he became an even more beloved grandpa and great-grandpa. He traded his cows for rocking great grand babies, but he never gave up driving the combine and still participated in 2025’s harvest.

He leaves to mourn his passing, daughters: Kathy Hogan and husband Lee of Hastings, NE, Camela Thaden of Eudora, KS, and Ranelle Hays and husband Gale of Almena, KS; daughter-in-law, Nyla Gebhard of Long Island, KS; 9 grandchildren and spouses; and 27 great grandchildren and his beloved companion Chumley.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the Alma United Methodist Church, Alma, NE. Burial will follow in the Woodruff Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.

Mr. Gebhard will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Oliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, where the family will gather from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday for visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alma United Methodist Church, the Long Island UMW, or the donor’s choice.

Hugunin Family Funeral Homes, Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg is in charge of arrangements.