Gerald &Quot;Cowboy&Quot; Thomsen, Jr.

Gerald H. "Jerry" "Cowboy" Thomsen Jr. was given the gift of life on December 29, 1943 to Gerald and Opal (Jensen) Thomsen. He was born at his Grandparents home in Dutch Hollow, East of Neligh. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh. Jerry graduated from Neligh High School in 1962. He attended Milford Trade School and then enlisted in the Army. He was proud to serve his country and went to war in Vietnam.

On September 28, 1972, he married Marilyn Mary Wagner of Pierce, Nebraska. They had two children, Randy Bonser Thomsen and Paula Thomsen of Columbus. Jerry worked at Western Electric in Omaha before moving to Columbus, NE. He worked for Behlen Manufacturing for over 25 years until he retired due to poor health. He could fix or build anything-just had a knack for tinkering and loved it. All of his life he had chickens,ducks and raised a big garden each summer so he could share it with family and friends. Jerry also was very fond his two dogs, Spot and Yipper.

Jerry lost his battle with emphysema on the 8th of July 2010, at the Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus, Nebraska.

Jerry is survived by his daughter, Paula Thomsen of Columbus, one sister and husband, Judy and Duane Tinsley of Neligh, sister-in-law and husband, Sharon and Ken Leiding of Norfolk, Nebraska, brother-in-law and wife, Gordon and Jeanne Eick of Cathedral City, CA, along with nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, who passed away in 2009, an infant sister Dian Shirley, a son Randy Bonser Thomsen, his parents Gerald and Opal Thomsen, grandparents Henry and Blanche Thomsen, and Charles and Nora Jensen, and a niece Bev Strope.