Funeral Services for Bernard Gribble, age 82 of Chambers, NE will be 10:30 Friday, July 6, 2018 at the Word of Life Church in O'Neill, NE.  Burial will be in the Chambers Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-8 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2018 with at 7 pm prayer service at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.  Bernard passed away Saturday, June 30 at his home in Chambers, NE. Memorials can be directed to the family for future designation.  Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.

Bernard was born January 28, 1936 in rural Chambers, NE to Mark and Bessie (Marquis) Gribble. He weighed in at a whopping 4.5 pounds (a keeper) and fit in a small shoebox. His baby book reveals that his mom bought him a Shetland pony and his dad purchased an insurance policy for him. (Hmm…both must have foreseen his need for adventure.) As he grew older, his mom often took him to the beauty shop to have a lovely curl put on top of his head running front to back…which he never really liked to discuss. Childhood adventure stories about him and his cousins reveal that there was rarely a dull moment.

Bernard attended Chambers Public School (walking uphill both ways) and graduated in 1953.  During those years he played football, basketball, and baseball. Many times, they rode to the baseball games in the back of trucks with haybales for seating. We heard basketball stories about many kids having flat shots due to the low ceilings in the tiny gyms. In one gym they even had to remove the stove from the gym floor before they could play a game.

After graduation from high school Bernard worked on the family ranch and also drove a straight truck hauling hay. Through the years he had willingly and eagerly traded his four-legged-hay-burning horse for more speed. Rumor has it that he had a pretty fast '62 Chevy which he may or may not have raced between the bridges against some of you reading this. His adventuresome spirit also flirted with a short-lived boxing career, as well as a stint in aviation. He owned a small yellow Piper Cub…once running out of fuel and having to make an emergency landing in a neighbor's field to get more.

"Dreamboat" (his high school nickname) married Angela Zakrzewski on April 10, 1958 and became unmarried in 1980. To this union five wonderful children were born. He wasn't one to change a lot of diapers, but he did play a lot of catch and coach Little League baseball. Attending their many ballgames of baseball, volleyball, football, basketball and softball and then debriefing them at the supper table was a favorite pastime. Bernard still loved fast cars, especially his '62 blue Chevy. (Which really was fast and fun to drive in the hayfield in its later years… or so his kids say.) Snowmobiling with the coyotes and fishing were some of his other favorite pastimes.

In 1990 (when he wasn't fishing) he met Debra Marcellus. She made him laugh and was willing to sit in a boat for 12-14 hours so Bernard could have two limits of walleye. Fishing tournaments, fishing trips, fishing stories…if it involved bait, a boat and a walleye he was there. Countless hours were spent together in his pride and joy…his Lund boat. After an especially scorching day on the water, Deb dipped her open umbrella into the water and dumped it over her head and declared that if he didn't take her back to shore she would surely die! After a swift, nine-year courtship, while they were in Las Vegas for the fourth consecutive year, Deb gave Bernard the choice to either get married or go on The Big Shot Ride at The Stratosphere. He chose The Big Shot.

Year ten found them in Las Vegas for the fifth time. Perhaps not wanting to chance The Big Shot ride again Bernard finally cast his best line and told Deb, "If you want to get married I suppose we can get married". Little Chapel by the Courthouse marked the place and February 7, 2000 marked the day he landed his best catch.

The fishing slowed down as the grandkids grew up. Bernard and Deb now traveled the country side not pulling a boat, but still packing a cooler, umbrella, sleeping bags and now stadium seats. He could be found at many cross country, football, volleyball, basketball, track, baseball, softball, one-act, and even some music events if there was going to be food served before, during or afterwards. With Deb as his driver and him as the navigator, they traveled thousands of miles to watch hundreds of sporting events in all kinds of weather, ate too many ham sandwiches and only rarely ever got lost or were late.

Bernard is survived by his wife; Debra Jean Gribble of Chambers, NE; four children, Tammy (Mark) Barelmann, of Chambers, NE, Sandi Melrose of Phoenix, AZ, Ree (John) Laetsch of Amelia, NE, Bee (Shari) Gribble of Chambers, NE; step-children, Adam (Trish) Marcellus of Lincoln NE, Nicki (Chad) Henderson of Lynch, NE, and Jenny (John) Thompson of Lincoln, NE; 13 grandchildren, Brett (Kylee) Barelmann, Brienna (Jason) Cameron, Brooke (Levi) Dexter, Jacob, Jamie, Jacie, and Jordan Laetsch, Matthew and Madison Melrose, Halie, Rex, Kacie, and Ross Gribble; step-grandchildren, Samantha and Mac Marcellus, Saige, Teegan, and Roman Henderson, JJ and Jada Kopejtka, and Ella Thompson; and 4 great grandchildren,  Cambrie and Callen Barelmann, Kreed and Kerris Cameron.

Bernard is preceded in death by his parents; Mark and Bessie Gribble and infant daughter Kimberly Kay Gribble.


a poem written by Bernard's Family.

You Made Us Laugh…

When you casually told us that you and Deb were planning to audition for "Naked and Afraid" …you made us laugh.

The time your teeth fell out while walking up the bleachers…you just popped them back in after I retrieved them…you made us laugh.

Every time you were invited over to eat, you made Deb ask what we were having before deciding to come…you made us laugh.

As you were slathering on your pregame sunscreen, you offered some to the plate ump. He graciously declined, so you proceeded to ask how long it took for him to get his nice dark tan and he laughingly replied that he was born with it…you made us laugh.

Each time you reminded us that your high school nickname was "Dreamboat" …you made us laugh.

You once commented that one grandchild visited so much that you should take them as a tax deduction…you made us laugh.

When you declared that you were not going to take (unnamed grandchild) to the bathroom anymore because he had commented "my Dad's bigger than you" …you made us laugh.

At birthdays and holidays, you always liked ice cold water and a small deep soup bowl with a big spoon… you made us laugh.

You wanted cheap hotels during softball weekends, but finally had to abandon the nearby Ramada when the hotel's back door was found broken, there was no more breakfasts, and Deb started carrying a butter knife to keep the motel room door locked. I finally just told you that they were full and found better accommodations for Deb…and you…you made us laugh.

While pounding a pin out of the rake, you missed and cracked your shin with the sledge hammer. After a bit of screaming and cussing you got right back at it…and again missed and cracked your shin, in the exact same spot…you made us laugh… (later).

On a fishing trip to Pierre, I ordered steak and eggs for breakfast and you asked me if I was going to eat all that. Challenge accepted…and I cleaned my plate. The wind came up while we were fishing, and I spent the rest of the day puking over the side of the boat with you saying "I told you not to eat all that" about 25 times…you made us laugh.

Even though you were Deb's chief navigator…aka "Garmin" …you always turned the wrong way out of the hotel room on your way to breakfast…you made us laugh.

In 2006 you and I were taking Grandma back to the airport and she mentioned that she felt old. You quickly replied, "I am still young. I'm not ready to start taking Viagra and have one of those four-hour emergencies." …you made us laugh.

You would say you were VIP so the grounds crew would give you and Deb golf cart rides between the ball fields and the parking lots.  You even got a few phone numbers, so you could call them when you arrived…you made us laugh.

You had the patience of Job with your young hay crew. You never got mad, even when you had to keep backing the rake out of the fence. You were always willing to get the sweep loads of hay by the bumble bee nests. To this day, whenever I smell diesel fuel, I think of you…you made us laugh.

During meals we would finally have to say, "No one talk to Grandpa" otherwise you would never quit talking and finish eating…you made us laugh.

When your teeth fell out in the corral, you just picked them up, squirted them with your water bottle, and popped them back in your mouth…you made us laugh.

When Deb playfully punched you in the arm, as you sat in the co-pilot seat, ready to leave the ball complex, you asked, "Why did you hit me?" She replied, "I am just turning on my Garmin, which way do we go?" … you made us laugh.

When I stole home with the pitch, you asked the plate umpire to call time out, so you could see a replay because you were talking and missed it. You also asked the coach to please flash you a sign next time, so you were ready…you made us laugh.

When asked to watch one of your grandkids overnight you told them, "We would much rather watch a pack of wild monkeys". …you made us laugh.

Mom made you quit saying "Don't lose her" if I ever got behind in the count on a batter. Your patented phrases then became "throw her the dark one" or "throw her the heater" …you made us laugh.

Whenever we would borrow something to use for baking, you would request that we bring you your fair share when it was done…you made us laugh.

You were escorted out of the Ramada Inn by the Sioux Falls Fire Department after you told Deb you weren't getting out of bed, to go outside, just because someone pulled the fire alarm…you made us laugh.

You rarely declined seconds, but one Cherry Bomb…a frosted-vodka-soaked cherry was enough at the annual 4 ^th of July party during the Ringneck Tournament…you made us laugh.

You saved the day (and probably the game), by delivering your granddaughter's "lucky thong" to the school on game day. Fresh from the washer, you first dried it with a hairdryer and then finished by holding it out the window on your way to Chambers…you delivered it in a brown paper bag…you made us laugh.

Since they worked at the nursing home, you asked your granddaughters which one of them would take care of you and wipe your rear when you got old…you made us laugh.

When we would go fishing and need to use the bathroom, you would laugh and point at the bucket in the back of the boat…you made us laugh.

Splitting a meal was the norm, unless you were eating at McDonald's…then Deb could order her own off the Dollar Menu…you made us laugh.

Whenever we were grounded from tv, we would come over and watch it at your house. After 15 minutes of cartoons you would say, "I think I hear your parents calling for you to go home". ...you made us laugh.

You were going to offer the plate umpire your glasses, but then you realized you wouldn't be able to see if he was still making bad calls…you made us laugh.

When you requested to go roller skating for your 60 ^th birthday…you made us laugh.

Your mood did not improve after your grandson threw your watch over the side of the boat. In fact, your day got worse when you also lost part of your outboard motor. You had Naval Officer Randall Hoffman dive for it…he found the motor, but not the watch…you made us laugh.

When I asked you what nationality your side of the family was, you replied, "Pirate". The next day I proudly declared to my teacher that I was Polish-Pirate…you made us laugh.

You complained about Debbie using too much toilet paper. You declared, "Good grief! She must wrap her hands like a cage fighter." …you made us laugh.

But the day God called you home…you made us cry.

p.s. We have the last laugh…the receipt for the anniversary ring you promised Deb is in your pocket…and she loves it!