Kent Haertel, 72, of Greenwood, went to be with his lord Jesus on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, NE following a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born May 9, 1950 in Lincoln, Nebraska to LeRoy and Vernelle (Damme) Haertel.

Kent graduated from Waverly High School and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from UNL. Kent always loved farming, a career he pursued all his life. Kent was so pleased that he was able to complete the 2022 harvest doing what he loved with the help of his son and grandchildren.

Kent was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Murdock, NE and a board member of the Greenwood Rural Fire Department. He was a pillar of the community always willing to lend a helping hand when needed.

If Kent wasn’t farming in the fields, you might find him at ‘coffee’ catching up with neighborhood friends, at the ball fields watching his grandkids’ games or tending to his garden. Kent enjoyed traveling with Mary and friends and visiting his grandchildren in Boston as often as possible. Kent especially enjoyed sharing the small moments in life with his family such as; making homemade ice cream on summer evenings and helping the grandkids pick pumpkins from the garden. While a loyal Husker fan his favorite team to cheer for was always whichever team his grandchildren were playing for.

He is survived by his wife of 41years, Mary of Greenwood, NE; daughter, Jennifer of Boston, MA; son, Chris (Lyndee) of Greenwood, NE; grandchildren, Sophia, Lilia, Azylee, Kade, Cohen, Caige sister, Patty Scheel, of Waverly, NE; sister-in-law, Patti Haertel, of Lincoln, NE;; brother-in-law, Rex Smith (Chris), of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law, Sam Smith, of Lincoln NE, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jerry.