Gale Erlewine

Harry Gale Erlewine, 99, passed away December 12, 2024, at MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care in Boulder, Colorado, while under hospice care. He was born on May 8, 1925, in Ogallala, Nebraska, to William Dale and Leora (Ayers) Erlewine. He shared his childhood home on the original Erlewine homestead farm, located 15 miles northeast of Grant, Nebraska, with his twin brother, Larry Dale, and younger brother, Keith. Their mother, Leora, tragically died in 1950 from a gas water heater explosion in their farm home.

After graduation in 1942 from Perkins County High School in Grant, Gale enrolled at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he was a pledged member of FarmHouse Fraternity. Gale's college education was interrupted in September 1944 when he was inducted into the U.S. Army. He was stationed for 11 months following the end of World War II with the U.S. occupying forces in Nagano, Japan, as part of the Army's Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Following his honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in November 1946 he returned to the University of Nebraska, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1949.

Gale met the love of his life, Lucille Manning, at Sunday evening church services in Lincoln, and they were married on June 19, 1948, in Chapman, Nebraska. Together they had three boys (Gary, Tom and Ron) while living on a farm 11 miles northeast of Grant. In 1966 the family moved to a remodeled house on the original Erlewine homestead farm, located four miles northeast of the earlier farm. Gale's primary occupation for 50 years after college was as a farmer, producing wheat, corn and cattle. Gale and Lucille were active members of First Congregational Church in Grant.

After acquiring his teaching credentials at Hastings College in 1958-59, Gale taught junior high science in Ogallala from 1959-74.

Gale and Lucille hosted on their farm cultural exchange students from Cyprus, Brazil and Japan. The Japanese exchange student, Minako Oka, subsequently became their daughter-in-law when she married their youngest son, Ron, in 1982.

Gale and Lucille moved from their Nebraska farm to Denver in 1983, but continued to manage the farm until 1989. They then moved to Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in 1994 and became active members of First Plymouth Congregational Church in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, where they enjoyed fellowship with many friends and went on a church mission to the Dominican Republic. In the 1990s Gale followed his farming career with a job as a rural real-estate appraiser in Colorado. He also enjoyed being an Ambassador Volunteer for 17 years at Denver International Airport.

Gale possessed a love of singing. Along with being in church choirs, he sang for nearly half his life in barbershop quartets, both in Nebraska and Colorado, plus choruses in Colorado. The Nebraska quartet included his twin brother, Larry Dale, along with Bud Peregrine and Bob Burns.

From 1977-2013 Gale and Lucille enjoyed spending every summer at their beloved mountain cottage near Allenspark, Colorado. They made many friends and became active members of Allenspark Community Church.

Gale's twin brother, Larry Dale, suffered an unfortunate and untimely death in 1999 at the age of 74 from failing health due to a brain tumor. To assist with his own healing, Gale joined Twinless Twins Support Group International, a nonprofit organization designed to help people cope with and recover from the loss of their twin. Gale was an active member for over 16 years and held a leadership position for several years.

Gale and Lucille loved to travel, exploring domestically and in many countries of the world. Over the years, Gale was involved with many volunteer positions and activities, including church deacon, PCHS Board of Education, Grant Lions Club, 4-H leader, Nebraska Wheat Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, and school and church youth sponsor, among others. Gale was an avid reader of books and newspapers. He cheered on the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Colorado Rockies, win or lose. Gale was a proud blood donor with over 18 gallons lifetime.

Gale and Lucille transitioned to MorningStar Senior Living in Lone Tree, Colorado, in 2018. After 73 years of marriage, Lucille passed away in 2021 at the age of 94. Their eldest son, Gary, died in 2022 at age 71 from a respiratory illness. Gale then moved to MorningStar Boulder in 2023 to be closer to his son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Donna.

Gale is survived by two of his sons, Tom (Donna) and Ron (Minako); two grandchildren, Michael (Hanna) and Naomi (Daiki); three great-grandsons, Masamichi, Sogen and Kenta; and sister-in-law, Rosemary (Lucille's younger sister, who married Gale's younger brother, Keith).

Gale was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Leora; wife, Lucille; son, Gary; and brothers, Larry Dale (Kathe) and Keith.

Memorial donations may be made in Gale's name to Twinless Twins Support Group International, https://twinlesstwins.org/donate/.

A memorial service with Gale's cremains will be held at First Congregational Church, 505 Washington Ave., Grant, Nebraska, on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., to be followed by an observance with Military Funeral Honors at Fairview Cemetery in Grant.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.