Charles T. Hoge

Charles Thomas Hoge, 72, passed away at his home near Plymouth, NE, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Charlie was born on March 4, 1948, in Fairbury, NE, to Ralph and Frances (Summers) Hoge. Charlie and his three brothers were baptized on Nov. 20, 1963, by Pastor William Duay at the First Baptist Church in Fairbury. He graduated from Fairbury High School in 1966 and from Fairbury Junior College in 1969. Charlie lived in Jefferson County virtually all of his life.

On Feb. 14, 1970, he was united in marriage to Pamela Wells of Plymouth, NE., and to this union two daughters were born. He was working for the Rock Island Railroad at the time of their marriage and in July of 1970 began working at Wells Implement in Plymouth where he was a service technician for 25 years before becoming sales manager there for the next 18 years, retiring in 2013. He always enjoyed meeting and talking with customers – and availing himself of the opportunity to ask for permission to hunt on their property. His retirement career involved custom seed drilling, mostly CRP acres, and cutting and clearing pastures of cedar trees.

Charlie was an avid upland game bird hunter and had a series of bird dogs, mostly German shorthair pointers, as his hunting companions – as well as numerous two-legged ones. Because of this interest, he was a member of the Rock Creek Chapter of Pheasants Forever where he assisted with the youth mentor hunts, the annual banquets and was the coordinator for their rental drill for several years. Charlie also enjoyed following NASCAR, faithfully watching the weekend races and sometimes catching a few laps through the inside of his eyelids.

Charlie was hard-working and devoted to his family. He was patient in teaching his daughters and grandchildren the things he wanted them to know. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fairbury and then of Beatrice, serving in many capacities including deacon, trustee and usher.

Charlie was preceded in death by his father Ralph Hoge, mother Frances Aasen, stepfather Harold Aasen and brother Roger Hoge. He is survived by his wife Pam of Plymouth, son Scot (Anna) Mahan-Miller of Minneapolis, MN; daughter Wendy (Evan Jones) McKenzie of Western, NE, daughter Lorie (Wade) Heidemann of Fairbury; brother Ken (Pamela) Hoge of Hubbell, NE, and brother Harold (Rosanna) Hoge of Hickman, NE; grandchildren Garrett McKenzie of Deshler, Paige, Ethan and Levi McKenzie of Western, Skylar, Samantha and Trevor Heidemann of Fairbury; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2020, at 10 a.m. at the Fairbury cemetery. Public viewing will be on Friday, June 5, from 1-9 p.m. Memorials will be to family choice. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.