Cal German
Calvin K. German was born Dec. 2, 1932 in Cozad, Nebraska. He was the fourth of five children of Erling and Doris (Van Nortwick) German. On Feb. 10, 2023 Cal went to Heaven passing away in his sleep at the age of 90.
After graduating from Cozad High School, Cal attended one year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before transferring and graduating from Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a degree in Ag Business. While there he was a fraternity member, joined the ROTC program and competed in track and field.
Cal met his wife, Jenny Smith, while she was working the concession stand at the Lexington drive-in movie theater and he was a customer. They married on Dec. 30, 1955 and were blessed with five children: Scot, Eric, Andrea, Sue Lyn, and David. In 1967, they moved from Cozad to south of Imperial to begin farming and ranching.
Through hard work and being at the forefront of center pivot irrigation, he was able to greatly enhance the quality of his land. Cal further diversified by purchasing a feedlot, which he always felt was the “bedrock of his operation.”
Cal was a member of the US Air Force serving in the Korean War. While in the service flying a C-47 military transport aircraft he made a forced emergency night landing in a dry riverbed behind enemy lines. After full-time service, he joined the Air Force Reserve serving until the early 1970s, flying the “Old Shaky” C-124.
After Jenny passed away unexpectedly in May 1977, Cal always said he was fortunate to reacquaint with a childhood friend, Barb Noble, who then became his wife in July, 1978. With this marriage, three boys were added… Todd, Dave, and Jeff and thus began a sibling group of eight. Together, Barb and Cal worked, lived, and served in the Imperial community until 2014, upon which time, they moved to Colorado Springs to live with his daughter Andrea.
Cal was an active member in his church teaching Sunday school and helping out where needed. He loved being a part of sharing Christ throughout the world by generously giving and hosting missionaries. He served on the Chase County school board for many years, and enjoyed watching his kids and many grandkids compete in all types of sports and musical activities. He made daily coffee shop trips for the wisdom given and gleaned.
He was preceded in death by wives Jenny and Barb; sons Scot and David; brother Lee; sister Ruthie Watson; and parents Erling and Doris German.
He is survived by sisters: Dodie Sander and Janie Scott; sons Todd (Bernie) Noble, Dave (Margaret) Noble, Eric (Brenda) German and Jeff (Rachel) Noble; daughters Andrea (Kent) Roberson and Sue Lyn (Ramico) Blackmon; and daughter-in-laws Linda (Scot) German and Andrea (David) McDevitt; along with 37 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Cal’s life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. MST in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the Living Hope Covenant Church (6750 N Union Blvd, Colorado Spring, CO 80918).
Memorial donations can be made to Fellowship of Christian Athletes (5801 S 58th St., Ste. C, Lincoln, NE 68516) or Ethnos360 (312 W. 1st St., Sanford, FL 32771).