Randy L. DeBoer

Randall Lee DeBoer, age 63, of Gurley, NE passed away on Saturday, July 3, 2021 from complications after a brief illness. He died at home with his wife at his side. Randy’s trust in God’s sovereignty over all matters and in Christ as his Savior helped him face the suffering he endured the last few weeks of his life. 

Friends and relatives were invited to visit with the family at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel in Sidney, NE, on Monday, July 12, 2021 from 4-6:00 P.M. (guest book signing 1-6:00 P.M.) to the Funeral service on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. at Sidney Evangelical Free Church in Sidney, NE with Kyle Larson officiating and/or to the graveside service on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 4:00 P.M. at the Bennet Cemetery, 685 Monroe Street, Bennet, NE 68317. Cremation has been held. Services will be recorded and available on our website for viewing. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leyton FFA Alumni, Dalton or Gurley Fire and Rescue, Cheyenne County 4-H, or the Sidney Evangelical Free Church.

You may view Randy’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Randy’s care and funeral arrangements.

Randy was born February 27, 1958, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Dwain and Mary Lee (Randall) DeBoer. He attended K-6 in Bennet and 7-12 in Palmyra, where he graduated and was active in band and FFA. He loved 4-H, showing angus breeding heifers and crossbred market steers during those years. He loved showmanship! Randy received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1980, and a Masters degree in Agricultural Education from UNL in 1984. On June 6, 1987, he married the love of his life, Karen Louise Wozniak, in Lincoln.

Randy taught for 40 years, including high school in Stella, Nebraska; the Nebraskaland Farm and Ranch Management Program to adults through Southeast Community College and in the southern Panhandle; Agribusiness at Western Nebraska Technical College; and dual credit farm management classes in three high schools for one year and two high schools for three additional years. He taught Gold Medal Management for FSA borrowers and had an adjunct appointment with the UNL Ag Education Department to teach transfer classes. His teaching spanned the area from Wallace to Crawford and Valentine to Kimball, NE.

In recent years, Randy spent his time substitute teaching, inspecting certified seed fields for the Nebraska Crop Association, helping at the Gurley elevator for wheat harvest, and assisting local farmers. He also raised club calves, had a business direct-selling freezer beef, and was a farm management consultant for private clients.

Randy had a passion for raising animals and teaching kids. He loved meeting people and enjoyed talking to everyone he met. He was an avid Husker baseball fan and hunter. 

Randy is survived by his wife, Karen, Gurley, NE; his father, Dwain, Midland, MI; his sister, Rhonda Sarafolean and her husband David Sarafolean, Midland, MI; niece, Katie Scheid and her husband TJ Scheid, Fort Mill, SC, nephews, Kyle Sarafolean, Atlanta, GA, Nicholas Sarafolean, Washington, D.C., Patrick Wozniak, Hoskins, NE, his Wozniak in-laws, many cousins on the Randall side and aunts, uncles and cousins on the DeBoer side and many good friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Lee DeBoer.