Joseph Gerald Hergott Sr of Hebron, NE. the youngest child of Joseph and Matilda (Rauner) Hergott was born on the family farm near Gilead, NE. on March 31st, 1931. He departed this life early Thursday morning, March 24, 2022 at his home in Hebron, NE, surrounded by his beloved wife and family. He was 90 years old, one week shy of his 91st birthday. Joe would say "39 for 51 years".

Joe grew up on a farm near Gilead, NE attending grades K-10 at Gilead Public School. He furthered his education in Fairbury Nebraska, living with his sister Irene Brackle and husband Al during the week and returning home on the weekend to work on the family farm. He graduated from Fairbury High School with the class of 1948.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force February 29, 1952. He was part of the 3520th Flight Maintenance division, working on the B47 Bomber during the Korean War. He furthered his education attending Wichita State College for two years while in the service. He was honorably discharged February 28, 1956. On April 11, 1955, he was united in marriage to his sweetheart Beverly Darling at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fairbury, NE. This union was blessed with the birth of seven children.

Joe always loved being out in God's great creation farming, after high school, he'd spend time helping his older brother Lawrence, where they would plow all night long with a 2 and 3 bottom plow, his help plowed during the day. Joseph and Beverly returned to the farm south of Gilead in 1956, where he farmed with his brother Paul sharing equipment. Then eventually moving to the family Homestead in 1965. He was one of the first to adopt new innovative technology in the area; raising soybeans to sell as seed, treating and bagging for local farmers in the area. Joe would harvest them with a JD model 11A pull type combine. Joe was proud of being one of the first to begin "no-till" farming. He served the NRD as director for 40+ years, his personal license plates exclaiming his love for conservation and the environment stating "Dam Fan". Joe sold NC+ seed for over 40+ years and Archer Oil for many years, earning numerous sale achievement awards. He was an active member in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, serving as a reader and Acolyte. As a member of the 4th degree Knights of Columbus, he served as Faithful Navigator and Grand Knight of the Liberty Council 1904. He was past president & director of the Thayer County Livestock Feeders Association, member of the Cattlemen's Association, past District Deputy of the Hebron American Legion and past member of the Gilead Fire Department. He was a member of the Hebron Airport Board and Blue Valley Flying Club. He loved flying the Cessna 172. Joe's love of fellow man was evident by his faithful blood donations over his years.

Joe was a farmer at heart, enjoyed going to auctions to find "treasures" and even a tractor here or there to restore. He loved spending time with his children, and grandchildren supporting them in their many endeavors.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Frances and wife Betty, Lawrence and wife Ruth, Paul and wife Patricia, toddler Herbert, infant twin brothers Edward & Edmund and sisters; Gertrude Vonderhaar and husband Robert Sr, Irene Brackle and husband Algy, Pauline Jessie, Theresa Chanceller, Lois Daringer and husband Art, brother-in-laws Gordon Lenahan, Jack Darling, son Douglas Hergott, and great-granddaughter Sydney Kenning.

He is survived by his wife Beverly of Hebron, NE, sister Florine Lenahan of Crete, IL, brother-in-law, Herb Jesse of Lakewood, CO, sister-in-law Suzie Logan and husband Harold of Fairbury, NE, sister-in-law Maureen Clark of Gilroy, CA, sons Mark and wife Cindy of Litchfield, MN and Gilead, NE, Joe Jr, and wife Audra of Gilead, NE, Jon and wife Chieu of Bellevue, WA, daughters; Renee Zimmerman of Omaha, NE, Lori Tinkham and husband Michael of Kearney, NE, and Debra Kenning and husband Alan of Hebron, NE, daughter-in-law Carla Hergott Cline of Gilead, NE. Grandchildren Jaydan Hergott, Cory Hergott and wife, Tiffany, Dr Heather Hergott & husband Tom, Michala Miihlbach & husband Alex, Melissa Makey, Dr Nathanael Tinkham, Meghan Tinkham, Tyler Hergott and fiancé McKenna Tietjen, Jarod Hergott & special friend, Emily Welch, Libby Hergott, Adison Kenning & wife Samantha, Destry Kenning & wife, Clara, Allie Behlke and husband, Nathan, Dalton Kenning & wife Callie, Dietric Kenning and special friend Maddy Blackstone, Hamilton Hergott and Jacqueline Hergott. He was blessed with 22 amazing great-grandchildren, wonderful nieces, nephews and friends.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Thursday, March 31, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hebron, NE at 10 AM. Burial will be in the church cemetery.