James C. Gleason

Hastings resident, James C. “Curt” Gleason, 67, passed away Friday, March 29, 2024, at CHI Health St. Francis, Grand Island, Nebraska.

Rosary service will be at 7 pm on Friday, April 5, at Butler Volland Chapel. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm with family present, Friday, April 5, at the funeral home. Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Jeremy Hazuka officiating. Military rites will be following the Mass. Burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Catholic Social Services, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, or Hunters for Youth. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to James’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. 

Curt was born on May 4, 1956, in Hastings, Nebraska to James (Jim) and Charleen (Himmelberg) Gleason. After graduating from Hastings St. Cecilia, Curt joined the United States Navy. Once he returned from service on a replenishment oiler, he worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad until his retirement in 2016. Curt and Nancy (Nowak) married on May 10, 1980, and would have celebrated their 44^th wedding anniversary this coming May. They were blessed with two children: Leah and Elizabeth. Curt was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, achieving the status of Sir Knight of the Fourth Degree. He also served as Grand Knight of Counsel 1123. He devotedly served his church, St. Michael’s, and the Catholic community through his work with the pancake breakfasts, chicken noodle dinners, and volunteering at the church. He worked closely with Catholic Social Services driving the truck to various communities. Curt was an avid outdoorsman. While he enjoyed hunting, he loved to fish. He caught multiple master angler-qualifying fish. He went on many fishing trips to Canada, North Dakota, Alaska, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Minnesota as well as regular trips to their trailer at Harlan County Reservoir. Curt enjoyed all sports and cheering on his daughters, but basketball was his favorite, participating in many alumni basketball tournaments.

He was preceded in death by his father, James (Jim) Gleason; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leander and Anna Nowak; grandparents, George and Hilda Himmelberg and Clifford and Cleone (Sabin) Gleason; uncles, Clyde and Ron Gleason; and aunt, Linda Stone.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Nancy; children, Leah (Nathan) Birnie, Elizabeth (fiancé Dakota Harris) Gleason; granddaughter, Eleanor Birnie; mother, Charleen Gleason; siblings, Rita (Mike) Leininger, Patty (Greg) Sitorius, Diane (Chris) Minihane, Greg (Michelle) Gleason, Chuck Gleason, and Robb Gleason; sister-in-law, Denise (Byron) Krueger; and many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.