William "Bill" Brestel, Jr

William Roger Brestel Jr., 77, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, passed away September 26, 2016 at his home in Gothenburg, NE with his wife of 50 years at his side.
Bill was born to William H.C. and Edna  M. (Mills) Brestel on September 20,1939 in Gothenburg, NE.

Bill began his life in the work force at age 14 working summers for local farmers; later driving semis and heavy equipment.  Among others, he worked for Wayne (Blunder) Thomas, Paulsen Building and Supply, Farmland Service Co-Op and Hicken Lumber.  He and his wife had their own business, Brestel’s Sharpening, that they ran out of their home on 16th. Street.  There he did small motor repair and Sandi did the sharpening and billing.

Bill married Sandra Gallagher in June of 1966. Bill and Sandi had two children Tammi K. and Robert L. both still living.  Tammi (Steve) Hitch in Collinsville,Ill. and Bob (Anna) in Eustis, NE.

Bill loved racing of any kind.  He ran go-carts with the Mann brothers and others, owned a motor cycle, stock car and modified pulling tractor.  He and his son loved going to the tractor pulls.  He modified a pedal tractor as a puller for his kids and built a scaled down sled for his kids and that was the beginning of Brestel’s Pedal Pullers.  He built an adult size pedal tractor too; after all, kids shouldn’t have all the fun!  As a family they went to pulls in four states for the kids at local and county fairs, also participating in the Nebraska State Fair and the Nationals.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, two sisters Barb Chiak of Gothenburg and Ina  (Gillbert) Wilcox of Holdrege, NE.

Memorial Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 1020 Lake Ave, Gothenburg, NE, Friday, September 30, 2016 at 2:30 pm with Rev. David Boyd officiating.

Private Interment will take place in the Salem Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the Gothenburg Fire & Rescue, 602 Tenth Street, Gothenburg, NE 69138.  To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.