William R "Bill" Gottsch

William R. “Bill” Gottsch passed away August 26, 2020. He was born in Omaha on September 6, 1945 to William C. Gottsch and Lois Jean Burgett. He graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1963, and served in the U.S Army from 1967 until 1970 achieving the rank of E5. In 1968, after the capture of the USS Pueblo, he was deployed to Korea. While stationed in Korea, he was assigned to the 8th Army Headquarters. He was responsible for the reproduction and dissemination of Classified, Secret and Top Secret documents. Upon his discharge from the service, he went to work for the Nebraska Department of Corrections. In 1983, he was commissioned a Nebraska State Deputy Sheriff, where he processed warrants, extraditions, extradited felons, and transported high-risk prisoners. In 2003, health problems forced his retirement.

In 1996, after the death of his father he became interested in his family genealogy. Over the next 20 years, he researched and documented his family back to 1683 in Germany. He and Suzanne made two trips to Germany to visit the villages from which the family originated, and made contact with a direct line cousin there. He brought together 5 family lines, after over 120 years of separation. He also researched and documented over 12 other direct and non-direct families. He was always the first to help others with their family research, or to answer questions regarding his family or genealogy. His research is a tribute to his love of family, and a living history for future generations.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Timothy and James; and sister, Danna Lou Bevins. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Gottsch; daughter, Deanna Lynne Chapman (Frank); sons, Jonathon Smith and William J. Gottsch (Audrey); sisters, Debra Lee Baum, Elaine Kay Bullock; 7 granddaughters; 2 grandsons; and 12 great grandchildren.

Visitation is Sunday, August 30, 2020, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral service is Monday, August 31, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. He will be laid to rest in the family plot, Old German Cemetery, Bennington, NE. The family will direct memorials.