Ronald Fecht

Ronald Eugene Fecht, age 76, died in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, after a heroic battle with cancer.

He was born on November 7, 1944, in Gothenburg, Nebraska to Gerhardt and Viola Fecht. He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1963. He played sports from a young age from Little League baseball to college level track. He was on the state championship Gothenburg men’s basketball team in 1962. In 1963, he was the Nebraska State All Class Gold medal winner in the pole vault. He was proud to have attended the University of
Nebraska on a track scholarship. While in college, he married Gwen Sukup from Cozad, Nebraska. Ron and Gwen had four daughters. They lived in Falls City, Nebraska, where he taught biology and coached football, basketball and track. They later moved to Gothenburg so that he could help his father-in-law with farming and the management of the Gothenburg Grain and Farm Supply. After a career as a farmer, he worked the rest of his years as a crop insurance adjuster. He was a skilled carpenter, helping family and friends with numerous construction projects. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, coin collecting, and spending time with family and friends. He was most proud of his daughters and grandchildren and wished he would have had many more years to be a part of their lives.

He is survived by his daughters, Cassandre (Pam) Cressall of Los Angeles, California; Kimberley (Joe) Bauman of West Des Moines, Iowa; Kara Fecht (Jason Bynum) of Elk Grove, California; and Ashley Fecht (Jason Lowrey) of Omaha, Nebraska. Grandchildren, Colton, Carly and Cameron Bauman of West Des Moines, Iowa and Jackson and Oliver Bynum of Elk Grove, California. Brothers, Stan (Rosemary) Fecht of Ogallala, Nebraska and John (Karla) Fecht of Cozad, Nebraska; Sisters, Betty Benson of Custer, South Dakota, Vicki (Lawrence) Lutjemeyer of Syracuse, Nebraska, and Jody (Gary) Kotschwar of Moorefield, Nebraska, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerhardt and Viola (Jungren) Fecht, a sister, Joann, a brother William Fecht and sister-in-law Francis Fecht, a niece, Brenda McClellen, and nephew, Gary Fecht.

Memorial Mass will be held at 10am, Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Gothenburg, NE.

Inturment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, NE.

A memorial will be established in his name.