Gerald Baustian
Gerald Joseph Baustian, 76, of North Platte, died Nov. 25, 1998, in a car accident near Lincoln. He was born on March 23, 1922 in Grinnell, Iowa to Lester and Mary Schwartz Baustian. 
He attended rural school near Grinnell and graduated from there with the class of 1941.
In September 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served his country with the 8th Air Force in England. He was honorably discharged in November 1945.
On August 7, 1950, he married Rita Ann Brotherson at St. Bridget’s Church in Victor, Iowa. They had nine children.
He farmed in the Grinnell area until 1977 when he came to North Platte and worked with his only sibling, Harlan, in the Westfield Coast to Coast Hardware store. 
When the store was sold he went to work for Linden Manor in maintenance and worked there until his death. He was highly skilled in woodworking as a clock builder and also loved gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Rita, of Grinnell; children, Gerald Jr. of La Meza, Calif., Teresa and Kathleen of Des Moines, Iowa, Diane Burke of Chesterfield, Mich., Leslie Pijut of Deltmer, Mo., 
Loretta Baustian of Chicago and Jennifer Hartz of Grinnell; six grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; his brother, Harlan (Arlet) Baustian of North Platte; and a close friend, Mardy Renchler, also of North Platte.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Richard and Danny Baustian.
A local memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the new Linden Court Chapel on West Phillip in North Platte.