Vern Nelson

Vern A. Nelson, age 75 of Potter, NE entered the presence of our Lord on Monday, February 16, 2026, away at the Sidney Regional Medical Center in Sidney with his loved one’s present. Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Evangelical Free Church in Sidney with Pastor Kyle Larson Officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Services will be livestreamed on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel Facebook page and recorded for later viewing on our website. in lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions for Vern to the Sidney Evangelical Free Church AWANA Ministry, The Potter Volunteer Fire Department, or the Potter Community Hall Building Fund.

Friends may stop by the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Monday, March 9^th from 1:00-6:00 P.M. to leave their condolences for the family. Family present from 4:00-6:00 P.M

You may view Vern’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Vern’s care and funeral arrangements.

Vern was born on December 29, 1950, in Sidney, NE to Virgil A. and Katheryn M. Nelson. He grew up on the farm northeast of Potter. He attended school and graduated from Potter High School in 1969. He went on to attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy. After graduation he returned home to farm and ranch. 

He met the love of his life Peggy Nickels in Sidney, Nebraska in 1978, and they were married on June 30, 1979, in Lincoln, NE. Their union was blessed with three wonderful children, Vaughn Aric, Dennis Wayne, and Casey Jane.

Vern loved to serve others and belonged to a variety of organizations, boards, and committees in Potter and the surrounding area over the years. 

His faith was very important to him. While in college, he gave his heart to Jesus and made a commitment to live his life for Him. Vern pursued growing in his relationship with Jesus by studying God’s Word and using his time and talents to serve others. Vern and Peggy became members of the Sidney Evangelical Free Church in 1991. Vern made a public profession of his faith in 1997 by choosing to be baptized. He was involved in various positions of volunteering and leadership in the church over the last three and a half decades. 

Vern is survived by his wife of 46 years, Peggy of Potter, NE, son Aric and his wife Sara of Sidney, NE, son Dennis and his wife Raechel and their daughters Paisley and Rebecca of Livermore, CO, and daughter Casey Brechtel and her husband Mike and their children Cormac, Kaden, Collin, and McKaley of Casper, WY. Vern is also survived by his siblings, siblings-in-law, nieces and nephews, several dear cousins, extended family, and honorary family members including his grandson Kaden’s living kidney donor Haley. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, and unborn child, grandparents, father and mother-in-law, his beloved aunts and uncles, several dear cousins, and unborn grandchildren. 

Vern’s family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the excellent doctors, nurses, and staff at the Sidney Regional Medical Center as well as the dedicated and compassionate volunteers of the Potter Rescue Unit.