Michael W. "Mike" Rector

July 28, 1940 - October 10, 2019

Michael W. “Mike” Rector, 79, of Kearney, died Thursday, October 10, 2019 at C.H.I. Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial Services will be held 10:30 a.m., October 16, 2019 at the Kearney Church of Christ with Rev. Greg Clark officiating. Burial with military rites provided by the U.S. Naval Funeral Honors Team, Kearney American Legion Post #52, and Kearney V.F.W.Post #759 will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later. Mike was born July 28, 1940 in Sioux City, Iowa to Cy and Theoan (Kniseley) Jerman. Theoan later married R.E. “Bill” Rector and he adopted Mike as his son. Mike grew up in Kingsley Iowa, where he graduated from High School in 1959. He joined the Navy and served for four years. Mike married Lina Currey on June 2, 1963 in Litchfield, Nebraska. They had three children and later divorced. Mike worked in Ravenna as a meat cutter. He then managed the meat department for Safeway grocery stores in Colorado, New Mexico, and Nebraska. After Safeway he went to work for Monfort Beef in Grand Island until retiring in 2004. Mike moved to Kearney in 2009. He enjoyed being around horses, wearing cowboy boots, and collecting John Wayne and horse memorabilia. Mike is survived by his daughters, Dawn Helgeson and husband Scott of Kearney, Shannon Casillas and husband Jeff of LaJunta, CO; son, Bill Rector of LaJunta, CO; brother, Terry Rector of Castle Rock, CO; sister Roxanne Stauch and husband Tom of Omaha, NE; 10 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, and a nephew EA Rector.