Emil W. 'Bud' Gember

Bud attended Vinton Grade School where the playground was big enough for him to play baseball, basketball, football, golf & soccer. He also excelled in softball, bowling & track. Bud was a six-sport athlete at South High School. He married the love of his life, Lillian Marie Carter, when they eloped to Papillion in 1939. They enjoyed traveling the world and gardening at their north Omaha home prior to moving to the Walnut Grove Retirement facility in Millard in 2005. Emil joined the U.S. Navy in September of 1943 and served in World War II. When the Korean War started, he was involved with the invasion of Inchon. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, China Service Medal, American Campaign, American Pacific Campaign, U.N. Korean Award and the Maritime Commission Award. Following the war, Emil worked at M.U.D. for 27 years, got his flying license and then spent a lot of retirement time traveling with Lillian. He was also an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy, in which he was nominated for this honor by the Nebraska – Western Iowa Oldtimers Baseball Association. He has also been recognized by the Nebraska Silver Haired Legislative Alumni Society as a Silver-Haired Senator and was the first to introduce the Baby Bill in 2002. This past October, Bud was inducted as a Packer Sports Great by the South High School Alumni Association. Bud was a member of American Legion Post #1 and VFW Post #2503. Bud was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Lillian in 2007; Mother Lottie Gember-Hansen; Step-Father Oscar Hansen; Father E.W. Gember; Mother-In-Law Ida Carter; Brothers Jim and Fred; Sister Marie O’Malley. He is survived by: Sons: Jim (Betty) of Lee’s Summit, MO & Gale of Lincoln, NE; Grandson Corey (Lisa) of Austin, TX; Step-Grand Daughters: Teresa VanZant & husband Dick Kendrick of Kansas City, MO; Karen VanZant of Bronxville, NY; Great- Grandson Fraser Gelineau-Gember of Austin, TX and all nephews & nieces of the wonderful O’Malley family in the Omaha area. Thanks to all of his caregivers at Lakeside Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital. He will miss all of his friends at Walnut Grove, especially members of the “committee”. Celebration of Bud’s Life: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 10:30 AM at Braman Mortuary (72 St. Chapel) Visitation: Thursday, from 4-8:00 PM at Braman Mortuary (72 St. Chapel) Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Park Military Honors by VFW Post #2503 Braman Mortuary – (72 St. Chapel) 1702 N. 72 St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-2171 Celebration of Bud’s Life: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 10:30 AM at Braman Mortuary (72 St. Chapel) Visitation: Thursday, from 4-8:00 PM at Braman Mortuary (72 St. Chapel) Interment: Forest Lawn Memorial Park Military Honors by VFW Post #2503