Harvey Eugene Hadenfeldt

Harvey Eugene Hadenfeldt

August 11, 1941 - December 1, 2025

Harvey Eugene Hadenfeldt, age 84 of Wood River, NE passed away on December 1, 2025 at Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, NE from complications following surgery.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday, December 8, 2025 at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo. Burial will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 PM on Sunday, December 7th at Christ Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested to the Christ Lutheran Mission Fund, the Christ Lutheran Church, or to Grand Island Lutheran High School. Apfel Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Harvey Eugene (Gene) Hadenfeldt was born August 11, 1941 at a home near Cairo, NE to Harvey Walter Hadenfeldt and Vivian (Van Winkle) Hadenfeldt. Gene was baptized October 5, 1941 at Christ Lutheran Church, Cairo, NE and confirmed May 20, 1954. He attended country school District #59 and graduated from Cairo High School on May 21, 1958. Gene was a lifetime member of Christ Lutheran Church and served on several different elected offices during his lifetime.

Gene married Darlene Spiehs on November 30, 1962 at Christ Lutheran Church, Cairo, NE. They were the last couple to be married in the old church as the new church was completed in the spring of 1963. They were blessed to have two special daughters, Lois and Lisa. Gene’s most important part of life was believing in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and spending time with family on camping trips and traveling as a family.

Gene farmed all his life and worked part time in later years as an insurance agent for the German Farmers Mutual Insurance Company for 13 years. He helped coach the Cairo Girls fast pitch softball team with cousin Richard Hadenfeldt while Lois and Lisa were playing. Gene played baseball with the Ravenna Legion team, the Cairo town team and later with the fast pitch softball team Budweiser in the Platt Duetsche league. Gene always liked to do things in a simple manner. The less complicated the better!

Gene retired from farming in 2014. After retiring he enjoyed gardening and making yard art out of old farm machinery. He collected and restored many antique hand crank ear corn shellers. Gene and Darlene enjoyed spending time with their five granddaughters while they were growing up. Each one had a special place in Gene’s heart as he frequently would recall a comment made to him on different occasions by each one. Gene also cherished the time spent getting to know his great grandson and delighted in watching him grow.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 63 years, Darlene, daughters Lois (Willie) Hixson, Aurora, NE; Lisa (Aub) Boucher, Juniata, NE; grandaughters Kaci (Max) Anderson, Austin, TX; Kori Hixson, Chandler, AZ; Kiley Hixson, Lancaster, PA; Brook (Tannor) Mroczek and great grandson Auggie Mroczek, Gothenburg, NE; Boston Boucher, Omaha, NE; sister-in-law Jean Spiehs, and several nieces and nephews.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Harvey W. and Vivian Hadenfeldt, brother and sister-in-law Donald and Florence Hadenfeldt, father and mother-in-laws Raymond and Lucille Spiehs, brothers-in-law Wesley Harder, Keith Kowalski, Leonard Spiehs; sisters-in-law Marlys Spiehs and Shirley Harder; and nieces Sharon Harder and Carla Orr.