OGALLALA, Neb. – Gerald “Jerry” Wayne Rounsborg, age 82, of Ogallala, Neb., passed away at home, with his beloved wife Barbara at his side, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019.
Jerry was born in Alliance, Neb., on April 19, 1937, to Donald Clinton Rounsborg and Florence Elizabeth Campbell Rounsborg. He was raised in the Sandhills of Neb. Jerry attended country school in Garden County until he was ready to attend high school, at which time his parents moved the family to Oshkosh, Neb. Jerry graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1953 and University of Nebraska at Lincoln at age 19. Jerry graduated University of Nebraska College of Medicine at age 23 and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical association.
Jerry married Barbara Sullivan in Plattsmouth, Neb., in December 1956. In 1960, he joined a general practice medical group in Torrington, where he and Barbara raised their three children, Richard, Katherine and William. He served eight years in the Army Reserve, finishing his service as a captain, and was a member of the Jaycees. He was named Physician of the Year by the Wyoming Medical Society. He valued his patients, and fellow practitioners and staff at Torrington Community Hospital.
In 1976, Jerry began a residency in diagnostic radiology at Presbyterian Hospital in Denver, Colo. In 1979, he joined his childhood neighbor, Warren Orr, M.D., and Gordon Sawyers, M.D. at Radiology Services, P.C. in North Platte, Neb. Jerry served as chief of staff and recruiting chair at Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte. With Drs. Orr and Sawyer, Jerry built a radiology practice that eventually served 22 hospitals in greater central Neb.. He was active in the Heartland Singers and North Platte Ambassadors and a communicant at All Saints Episcopal Church in Torrington, Episcopal Church of Our Savior in North Platte, Trinity Episcopal Church in Marble Falls, Texas, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ogallala.
After he retired, Jerry and Barbara split their time between Lake McConaughy and Horseshoe Bay, Texas, where they treasured their church family, neighbors and golfing friends. In Texas, Jerry made time to again perform the music he so loved as a member of the Horseshoe Bay Mens’ Choral Group, singing for veterans’ groups, in nursing homes and at public events.
Jerry’s greatest love was Barbara, his bride of nearly 63 years. His greatest pride was his children and grandchildren and their spouses, and his great grandchildren. Jerry’s deep and abiding faith in God and His goodness colored every aspect of Jerry’s life and he had a keen appreciation of how blessed he was each and every day. His love of life was apparent to all whom he met.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his and Barbara’s beloved son, Richard.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; Richard’s wife, Frances and grandchildren Sophie Fox (Clayton), Maggie Rounsborg and Jack Rounsborg (Katie); Katherine Hall, J.D. (Tim) and grandchildren Bradley Hall, M.D. (Ashley) and Morgan Nolte, D.P.T. (Justin); and William Rounsborg, J.D., L.L.M. (Dana) and grandchildren Benjamin Rounsborg, J.D. (Felicia), Roxanne Rounsborg, Ashlyn Stephenson (Clinton), Zach Zarling (Amanda), and Jocelyn Zarling (Alex), plus a generous sprinkling of great-grandchildren and “nearly” children, along with his brother Harold Rounsborg, M.D. (Mary) and loved nieces and nephews, all of whom brought light to his life.
Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 318 East A. Street, Ogallala, NE 69153-2609, or Gracie’s Promise, PO Box 1366, Torrington, WY 82240, www.graciespromise.org.
A Celebration of Life will be held at, 2 p.m., today (Friday, Nov. 1, 2019) at the New Hope Church in Ogallala with Pastor JA Welsh of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church officiating, followed by a gathering of family and friends at the Urban Farmer Restaurant in Ogallala.
Online condolences may be left by signing the Guest Book at www.drauckerfuneralhome.com. The services will not be live streamed.
Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala has been entrusted with arrangements.
