| Graduation Year | Faculty |
| Date of Passing | Oct 09, 2011 |
| About | Robert Wayne "Bob" McFarland, 73, of Grand Island died unexpectedly on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Del Roper officiating. Private family burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. Mr. McFarland was born on March 8, 1938, in Sumner to George Earl and Effie M. (Snurr) McFarland. Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Jean of Grand Island; two sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce Lee and Jennifer McFarland and Henry Alan and Kathy McFarland, all of Grand Island; Jean's children, George and Julie McGough of Yonkers, N.Y., and Kelly and Kelli Preston of Mead, Colo.; a brother and sister-in-law, James J. and Cherie McFarland of Norwalk, Iowa; and a sister and brother-in-law, Pamela and Ron Miller of Kearney. Additional survivors include grandchildren, Thomas R. McFarland and Kate B. McFarland of Grand Island, Lily A. Preston and Bethany G. Preston of Mead, Colo., and Mackenzie L. and Mikayla J. McGough of Yonkers, N.Y. He grew up in Sumner and graduated from Sumner High School in 1956. He then graduated from Peru State College in 1960. He played football, basketball, and baseball while at Peru State. He received his Masters Degree in Physical Education from the University of Illinois. After graduating from Peru State he was hired at Grand Island Senior High School as a Physical Education Instructor in 1961. During his 37 year tenure, Bob coached boys and girls gymnastics, football, tennis, girls track and boys golf. Bob retired from the Grand Island Public Schools in 1998. Bob then coached boys golf at Grand Island Central Catholic from 2002 until 2009, where the Crusaders won three state titles in a row from 2002 to 2004. Bob also officiated football, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball. Robert married Karen Elizabeth Glade on Aug. 4, 1962 and the couple had two sons, Bruce and Hank. Bob was preceded in death by Karen in 1999. He began a wonderful relationship with Jean Preston in March of 2006. Bob and Jean were married at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island on July 2, 2009. Bob loved almost any type of physical exercise, he loved to dance with Jean, travel, go to Grand Island Community Concerts, play golf, hunt, fish and play cards. Bob especially loved playing sports with his grandchildren and any time he spent with his family. Bob was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Nebraska Golf Association, the Nebraska Coaches Association and the United States Golf Association. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Karen McFarland. |
