Ernest T. Jurgens, 88, of Wilber, died Wednesday morning, July 16, 2025, at the Wilber Care Center.
He was born Nov. 22, 1936, near Adams to P.J. and Tena (Jurgens) Jurgens. He attended Olney School District #92 near Adams. He also attended Filley High School, graduating in 1954. On Sept. 4, 1960, he married Janice L. Wallman at Christ Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell. Ernest farmed and worked construction until he retired in the early 2000s. He also drove the school bus for Freeman School for almost 10 years.
Ernest was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell, served on the church board, park board, and was a member of the Men of the Church. Ernest was on the Nemaha Township Board for 15 years and served his country as a member of the National Guard Company C, 2-134th Infantry.
Survivors include his loving wife, Janice of Adams; daughter, Donna Kostal and her husband Bruce of Papillion; sons, Randy Jurgens and significant other Mary Beth Holms of Omaha, Bob Jurgens and his wife Teresa of Topeka, Myron Jurgens and his wife Sarah, and Darin Jurgens all of Adams; 13 grandchildren, Kara Kostal, Whitney (Reid) Bruggeman, Tyson (Daniel Hrdilcka) Jurgens, Abby and Hannah Jurgens, Ashley (Marcus) Peavler, Cameron (Gabrielle) Jurgens, Jadyn Lindgren, Carson and Cooper Jurgens, Chelsea Jurgens and friend, Jacob, Alyssa Jurgens, and Noah (Emma) Jurgens; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Alice Schlake and her husband Leland of Cortland and Lois Frohman of Lincoln; brothers-in-law, LeRoy Wallman of Adams, Donovan Wallman and his wife Hope, and Harlan Wallman, all of Cortland. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Jurgens; sisters, Arlene Stevens and Marian Bigalk; and sister-in-law, Alyce Wallman.
The body will lie in state from noon to 8 p.m. Friday at the Fox Funeral Home. The family will greet relatives and friends from 5 – 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26, at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell, with burial at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family’s choice.
Arrangements by Fox Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Beatrice.
