Albert Fredrick Zuege Jr.

Albert (Al) Fredrick Zuege Jr. of Imperial, Nebraska, passed away July 6, 2021, at the Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. Albert was born Feb. 28, 1944, in Santa Monica, California, to Albert Sr. and Sophia (Keller) Zuege.
Albert grew up and spent his childhood on the family farm in Cheyenne County, Kansas, just south of Haigler, Nebraska. He attended country school north of St. Francis, Kansas, until he began high school at Haigler High School where he graduated in 1962. In high school, he enjoyed hunting and spending time with friends and family and working on the family farm. Most importantly, he began to develop his love for education and athletics.
Al was highly involved in all sports, but his greatest passion was for track and field. He was a very accomplished runner, winning the Class D 880-yard run at the Nebraska state track meet in 1962.
After graduating from Haigler High, Albert began his college career at McCook Junior College in McCook where he majored in social studies and participated on the college track team.
After two years in McCook, he continued his education and track career at Ft. Hays State College in Hays, Kansas. After one year in Hays, he finished his academic and athletic career at Kearney State College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in social studies and physical education.
Albert began his teaching career at Kearney Catholic High School where he taught and coached from 1968-1970. It was at that time that he married his wife of 52 years, Ginny Mae Bryan, on Aug. 16, 1969, in Haigler. After marrying, the couple moved to Scotia where Al would teach and coach at North Loup - Scotia High School for the next eight years.
In 1970, their first child, Pandora Lynn Zuege, was born. Their second child, Carl Albert Frederick Zuege, was born four years later in 1974.
In 1978, Albert sought a career change, so he left education to buy the Happy Jack Tavern in Scotia. Albert and Ginny owned and operated the tavern from 1978 – 1984. After selling their business, Albert went to work selling insurance at the North Loup Valley Bank but was ultimately drawn back into education in 1985 when he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Revere High School in Ovid, Colorado.
After two years in Ovid, Albert made his final move with his family, this time to Imperial where he taught and coached for the next 27 years at Chase County High School. Albert finally retired in 2014 but remained very active and visible in the school by driving a bus, announcing Longhorn athletic events and continuing to coach track all the way through the 2021 season.
All who knew Albert know that he was a man of a wide variety of talents and interests. He enjoyed hunting rattlesnakes, fishing, reading, running, watching sports and playing poker. When he wasn’t at school, Albert could often be found outdoors. He enjoyed spending time hunting, shooting guns and fishing, usually around his hometown in Dundy County.
Some of his most cherished times involved sharing these activities with his grandchildren. He also was an avid follower of sports. He was a Husker football fanatic and he was a major supporter of all Chase County Longhorn teams and activities. Many people in Imperial considered him the voice of the Longhorns as he was the longtime-PA announcer for Longhorn football, softball and baseball. Once again, his greatest passion came in the spring when he was able to coach Longhorn track. He was the head girls’ track coach at CCHS for 27 years, then spent the next seven years volunteering with all of Chase County’s hurdlers. He was especially proud of these groups and continued to follow them and give them encouragement even when his health began to fail him.
When he wasn’t working with his athletes or spending time outdoors, Al could probably be found at a card table. Along with several of his close friends, Al would travel around Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado to find the best poker games.
Al was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, the Sons of the American Legion, the Eagles Club and the Champion Social Club, along with many other groups and associations throughout the years.
He will be remembered fondly by those who knew and loved him for his storytelling, his sense of humor, his work with young people and his love for his family.
Albert was preceded in death by his father, Albert Zuege Sr.; his brother, Alfred Zuege; and his granddaughter, Emily Garcia.
He is survived by his mother, Sophia (Keller) Zuege of Haigler; his wife, Ginny (Bryan) Zuege of Imperial; and his two children, Pandora (Perry) Garcia of Pueblo, Colorado, and Carl (Chelsea) Zuege of Imperial. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Matt (Katie) Garcia of Denver, Colorado, Adam Garcia of Castleford, Idaho, Bryce Zuege of Imperial and Emmitt Zuege of Imperial.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, July 13 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial with Pastor David Kahle officiating. Burial was at Haigler Cemetery that afternoon.
A memorial has been suggested in Al’s memory to Chase County Schools with a designation for the track and field programs.
Liewer Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.