Clay Struempler, 73, of Loomis, Nebraska, died Sunday, January 15th, 2012, at the Phelps County Memorial Hospital in Holdrege.

Clay was born December 25th, 1938, at the Buffalo community, north of Lexington, to Albert and Isabel (Dirksen) Struempler. He attended country school north of Buffalo and went on to attend High School in Oconto.

In January of 1958, Clay entered the U.S. Army, where he was stationed at Ft. Eustis, Virginia. Following his eventual discharge in January 1961, Clay returned to Nebraska and married Janet Dolan at Lexington that following November. The couple made their home north of Lexington for a few years, where Clay worked on a feedlot. The couple moved frequently between eastern and central Nebraska where Clay also worked at Vernon Nelson & Sons Feedlot of Loomis before settling in Thedford, where Clay owned and operated CJ & D Trucking for the better part of a decade. In 2006, the couple settled in the Loomis area, where Clay was employed with Overton Sand and Gravel and T & F Sand and Gravel.

Clay was a very giving and welcoming person. He was rarely without a smile and his excellent sense of humor allowed him to share that smile with others. He had a zest for life and thoroughly enjoyed the time that he spent with his family and loved ones. Clay will be remembered for his great heart and steady kindness.

Clay was an avid reader and enjoyed playing cards and working on jigsaw puzzles.

Clay was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Rick; great-nephew, Dakota; sister-in-law, Earline Dewey and brother-in-law, Harold Peden.

Survivors include his wife, Janet of Loomis; son, David (Debby) Struempler of Kearney, Nebraska; five grandchildren, Dakota, Cody, Trisha, Daniel and Janet "Janie"; a brother, Keith Struempler of Kenai, Alaska; sister, Carol (Ralph) Hopkins of Eddyville, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Georgia Peden, Missouri; brother-in-law, Bob (Colly) Dolan, Overton; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 19th, 2012, at 11 a.m., at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel in Cozad. Burial with military honors will be in the Elwood Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in his memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.

Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad was in charge of arrangements.