Merritt "Gene" E. Paist

Merritt Eugene “Gene” Paist, age 91, of Kearney, passed away Thursday, June 27, 2024 at his home. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Kearney with Pastor Mark De Kluyver officiating. Burial will follow at the Kearney Cemetery with military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Military Honors Team, Kearney VFW Post #759 and American Legion Post #52. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday, July 1, 2024 at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to The American Automobile Experience (the classic car museum), 3600 US-30 B, Kearney, NE 68847. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. Gene was born on April 18, 1933 to Ralph and Minnie Paist. He attended school in Buffalo County. He was in the military serving in the Army Engineer Corps in Germany during the Korean War. On January 26, 1958 he married Ellen Graul in Ord, NE. His interest was in restoring old cars and building street rods. He was in the body and fender business all his life and was owner of Gene’s Body Shop and Buick Barn. He was the go-to person if you had a car problem. He also enjoyed playing cards. Survivors include his wife, Ellen Paist of Kearney; daughters Jodi (Tim) Parsons and Diane Carlson of Kearney; son Michael Paist of Kearney; and sister Marialee Hartman of Kearney. Additional survivors include grandchildren, Mandy (C.J.) Farber, Lisa (Brian) Hopkins, Shelby (fiancé John Cervantes) Parsons, Matthew Carlson, Nicholas Carlson, Alexis Carlson, Erik Bebb, Jessica (Colin) Rogers, Sabrina (Will) Speth, Emily (Ian) Winkelmann, Brianna Eickhoff, Justice (Jasmen) Paist; great-grandchildren Hannah (Breyden) Eckhout, Macie Farber, Mallorie Hopkins, Kinlie Hopkins, Abigail Bebb, Owen Rogers, Olivia Rogers, Wesley Speth, Wyatt Speth, Gracelyn Speth, Isaac Winkelmann and October Paist; plus several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Sandra Eickhoff; sister-in-law Kathleen Pflaster; son-in-law Jamie Carlson, and granddaughter Hannah Bebb.

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Merritt "Gene" E. Paist

April 18, 1933 - June 27, 2024