Kenny Lee “Ken” Gettman, 76, of Lincoln passed away Friday, January 17, 2020, at Eastmont Towers, Lincoln. Preceded in death by his father, Theodore Gettman, while serving in Europe during WWII, and by his mother, Melba Gettman Hansen when Ken was three. He was raised by his maternal grandmother, Hazel Kubat. Ken married Dorothy Heitmann McCoy on September 14, 1985. He is survived by Dorothy and cousins.
Ken received his MBA from UNL and worked in the insurance industry most of his life, primarily at Lincoln Benefit Life. He was active in the Northeast United Church of Christ, which he attended since age 11. Ken was also active in Lincoln’s Northeast Sertoma Club for many years and volunteered for numerous charitable organizations. He was sometimes called The Moose Man, enjoying accumulating a collection of moose items and putting some of them together into baskets for charity silent auctions. The affinity for moose began with a practical joke he played on Dorothy prior to their marriage and a chocolate moose head was served at their wedding reception. Ken was an “idea” man. Some were really good ideas and many were ideas about what someone else could do. He was very people oriented and, as he said, “Needed to be out among ‘em.” Loss of his ability to drive and to walk safely as a result of spinal stenosis were particularly difficult to accept as they limited his free access to others.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be at 11 a.m. Sat. Jan 25th at Northeast United Church of Christ, 6200 Adams Street, Lincoln with Pastor Melissa Draper-Finlaw officiating. Cremation with private burial at a later date. Visitation Fri. Jan 24th, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. (family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) at Roper & Sons Funeral Services, 4300 O St, Lincoln.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Northeast United Church of Christ or Fresh Start Home.