William 'Bill' Joseph Gillespie

William ‘Bill’ Joseph Gillespie, age 66, of Rising City, Nebraska, passed away February 20, 2026 at UNMC in Omaha.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelby with Father John Rooney officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 24 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. followed by a 6:00 p.m. Rosary at the church. Musical selections will be “Be Not Afraid”, “Only A Shadow”, “Lead Me Lord”, “You Are Mine” sung by Ashley Kobza and Eric Kobza, “Song of Farewell”, and “On Eagle’s Wings.” Pallbearers will be Dusty Kerkman, Craig Kerkman, Rob Gillespie, Marc Gillespie, Eric Kobza, Brett Kobza, Luke Gillespie, Bill Kurtenbach, Michael Kurtenbach, Chris Moore and Marc Moore. Interment will be in the Shelby Cemetery.

Bill was born November 11, 1959 to Robert and Dorothy (Fozzard) Gillespie in Osceola, Nebraska. He attended Shelby Sacred Heart elementary school, St. Mary’s elementary school in David City and graduated from David City Aquinas High School in 1978. He worked for Land & Cattle Enterprises, and was a truck driver for Kosch Trucking. He then began dispatching for Selden Trucking and continued dispatching for CVA in Shelby where he retired on December 31, 2024.

On June 26, 1982 he was united in marriage to Beverly Micek at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Duncan, Nebraska. To this union two children, Nikki and Matt, were born.

Bill was a member of Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where he served as a Lector, was a member of the Parish Council and was always available for handyman jobs around the church.

Bill served on the Shelby Ball Association and coached SOS Legion baseball. He was a volunteer coach for his kids’ sports teams, and was also a NSAA-certified football and basketball referee for many years. He enjoyed playing and watching sports, and supporting his grandkids in their activities. Spending time at the lake and golfing were also favorite past-times. Recently, he took the trip of a lifetime with his wife to Hawaii. Family and friends meant everything to him.

Survivors include his wife Beverly of Rising City; children Nikki (Jared) Berggren of Kearney and Matt (Molly) Gillespie of Osceola; grandchildren Brynlee and Collin Berggren of Kearney and Davis, Harris and Hunter Gillespie of Osceola; brothers Bob (Jean) Gillespie of Mount Vernon, WA, and Rich (Mary) Gillespie of Shelby; sisters Vickie (Dale) Kerkman of David City, Jeanette (Jim) Hain of Johnson Lake and Cherie (Ray) Kobza of David City; sisters in-law Cathy (Bill) Kurtenbach of Columbus and Connie (David) Moore of Chanhassen, MN; mother-in-law Rita Micek of Columbus; brother-in-law Ivan Micek of Columbus; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Dorothy Gillespie, father-in-law Jack Micek, brother-in-law Doug Micek, and great-nephews Liam Romshek and Abel Mooberry.

Memorials are suggested to the Shelby Sacred Heart Parish Hall Building Fund.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com

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