Hilbert “Glen” Buchta age 95 of Broken Bow, NE passed away Friday, January 17, 2020 at the Jennie M Melham Memorial Medical Center.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow, NE with Pastor Tim Peterson officiating. Burial will be in the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NE at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Gideons International. A visitation will be on Monday, January 20, 2020 from 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. with family greeting 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. Words of encouragement or remembrance can be left at www.govierbrothers.com.
Hilbert “Glen” Buchta was born December 31, 1924 to Hilbert and Grace (Deeter) Buchta in Polk County, He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse and high school at Silver Creek, where he graduated with the class of 1941, at the tender age of 16.
Glen tried to enlist in the Army Air Force before his 18th birthday, but they had changed the rules, Buchta recalled. He finished the second semester and helped his Dad on the farm until he was drafted in August of 1943 where he went to Fort Crook in Omaha, Fort Leavenworth, Shepherd Field, TX, Shreveport, LA, San Antonio, TX, Eagle Pass, TX, Amarillo, TX, Monica, CA, Albany, GA, Pratt, KS, Boise ID, Portland, OR until he was discharged at Fort Lewis, WA on March 8, 1946. After being discharged Glen returned to the University of Nebraska where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering in January of 1949. Right out of college Glen went to work for the USDA Soil Conservation Service, and was married to Opal Steinhausen on May 20, 1949, in Lincoln, NE. The family lived in McCook from 1949 to 1972. Glen’s career took him to Vietnam, Tunisia and Somalia to work on various conservation projects. In 1976 they moved to Grand Island, Glen retired from the USDA Soil Conservation Service in 1980, the family spent a short time in Arthur while Opal taught school. Then in 1993 the couple moved south of Broken Bow. Glen enjoyed gardening, farmer’s market, woodworking, the outdoors hunting and fishing. Glen and Opal celebrated their 70th Anniversary on May 20, 2019.
Glen is survived by his wife Opal of Broken Bow, sons Greg of Grand Island, NE, Karl (Sandra) of Chappell, NE, Greg (Susan) of Spring, TX, daughter Karen (Marty) Bredthauer of Broken Bow, NE nine grandchildren Shari (Marty) Hegland, Tami Graf, Troy Bredthauer, Lance (Shu) Bredthauer, Brooke Bredthauer, Jason Buchta, Kelsey (Riley) Shay, Michelle (Ryan) Holicky, Haven Buchta, 12 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and a sister Jane Schloz of Olympia, WA.
Glen is preceded in death by his parents.
