Clinton Gates

Clinton Arthur Gates, age 89, of Columbus died Monday at the Edgewood Assisted Living.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:00 Saturday, August 23 at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church.  Visitation is on Friday from 4-6 pm at McKown Funeral Home with a 6:00 pm Vigil to follow. Visitation continues Saturday morning from 9 am until service time at St. Bonaventure Church. Interment is in St. Bonaventure Cemetery with Military Honors by The American Legion Hartman Post 84 Honor Guard.

Clinton Gates aka "Gator" was born July 27, 1936 to Henry M Gates and Theresa (Jahn) Gates in Columbus, NE. He was baptized at St. Bonaventure Church and attended St. Bonaventure Church in Columbus until entering Edgewood. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Shamrock Club, and Behlen's 40 Year Club.

The Gates family moved to Columbus in 1881 from New Hartford, NY with long ties in American history from fighting in the American Revolution to George Gates sailing from England around 1651 and settling in Hartford, CT and being related to 8 Pilgrams on the Mayflower.

Clinton lived on the family farm Southeast of town on 8th street and attended district 9 school until the 8th grade and then attended St Bonaventure High School and graduated in 1955. Clinton was named All State Guard for the 1954 football team,and is in the Scotus Athletic Hall of Fame.

In September 1958, Clinton joined the Army as an infantry man and served duty in Augsburg Germany and Fort Lewis Washington. He was released from active duty in September 1961.

In 1958, Clinton started working at Behlen Manufacturing on the loading crew and finished as the shipping and receiving clerk, and became a member of 40-year club.

On March 16, 1962, Clinton married Beverly Jean Case from St Edward, and they had two children Janet and Donald.

Clinton was a serious Scotus and Nebraska football fan. Clinton was on the Scotus football chain gang for decades. Clinton and Jean enjoyed traveling to Detroit, MI to visit their son, Don and his wife Dr Rola Bazzi-Gates, and their children.

Clinton is survived by his son, Don and his wife Dr Rola Bazzi-Gates, and grandchildren Dr Ali Bazzi (Phoenix), Amanda and Adam of Northville, Michigan and his brother, Edgar Gates, Columbus, NE.

Clinton was preceded in death by:

Wife: Beverly Jean Case, October 28, 2017 Daughter: Janet A. Gates, June 5, 1972 Father: Henry Gates, Sr., February 9, 1977 Mother: Theresa Gates, September 4, 1988 Sister: Laura Roelle, September 5, 1987

Sister: Virginia Gates, September 27, 1999 Brother: Henry C Gates, Jr. February 19, 2010

Brother: Eugene Gates, March 10, 2012 Nephew: Richard Ramsier, December 21, 1988

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Church, or your preference in memory of Clinton A Gates.