Gayle E. Behrens, 85 of Mead, NE, died Thursday, November 19, 2015 at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln. He was born September 18, 1930 in Wahoo, NE to Irvin and Ethel (Gustafson) Behrens. Gayle graduated from Mead High School in 1948 and then went on to UNL before entering the military. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War until he was honorably discharged. On September 17, 1955, Gayle was united in marriage to Janet Karloff at St. John Lutheran Church in Yutan. Gayle farmed for most of his life northwest of Mead and he worked for 15 years for the University of Nebraska Field Lab until his retirement.

Gayle was a member of First Lutheran Church in Fremont and the Yutan American Legion Post #262. He was a member of the Wahoo Lodge #59 AF & AM Masonic Lodge, American Guernsey Association, the Wahoo Saddle Club, and he was a 4-H Leader. Gayle and Janet loved dancing and they were members of the Twirling Eights Square Dancing Club for many years. Gayle loved raising livestock and his family milked cows for 30 years. He loved his family and he always enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s activities.

He is survived by wife of 60 years Janet Behrens; children: Melissa (John) Young of Elkhorn, Kevin (Alice Jane) Behrens of David City, and Julie (Jack) Klosterman of David City; grandchildren: Travis Kehr, Tyler Kehr, Kimberly (Chris) Cook, Emily Young, Malachi (Tara) Behrens, Hannah (Curt) Softley, Seth (Kara) Behrens, Ruth Behrens, Elise (Adam) Brown, Hank (Molly) Klosterman, Mary Klosterman, and Caitlin Klosterman; 7 great-grandchildren; many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by parents, Irvin and Ethel Behrens and sister, Doretta Swanson.