Kevin Jech

Memorial Services for 64-year old Kevin Jech of Rushville, NE, are Friday, October 15, 2021, at 1:00 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rushville.

The service will be live-streamed on the Chamberlain Chapel Facebook page beginning about 10-minutes before the service.

A memorial has been established for the Northwest Nebraska chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation to promote outdoor youth and veterans’ activities. Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337

Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com

Kevin Lee Jech was kicked out August 16th, 1957, by his twin sister Kristy to join the world with their parents Keith and Lois Jech and brother Kerry. He passed away on October 8, 2021, at Chadron Community Hospital

Kevin graduated from Wayne High School in 1975 and went on to become a Vocational Ag teacher by completing studies at Wayne State College. After a short taste of teaching, he decided teaching was not for him. 

Throughout his years in Wayne, he shared many memories with Al Grovas, Randy Pickleman, as well as others. There were a multitude of adventures with them including hunting adventures, a trip to Spain, and they possibly got into a little trouble together. 

In 1978, Kevin travelled to the western part of the state with Stacy Swinney building bridges. He built more than just a few bridges with Stacy and continued to be nothing other than his usual ornery self. 

Through his adventures with Stacy, he sold his 1970 Pontiac Tempest to Donna Norton who little did he know would later become a part of his life. As he would say, “she stole it!”

While in the western part of the state, Kevin met Joyce Landreth, they were married in 1983, and were joined by their first son Timothy John in the fall of 1984. 

Kevin had found his place in western Nebraska with Joyce and loved the area. During this time, he had begun working for the Hay Springs Road Department as an equipment operator. Kevin, Joyce, and Tim were joined in 1989 by Benjamin James. 

Not long after Ben was born, there was an accident that left Kevin as a single father of two. 

With his love for the area, Kevin purchased property north of Rushville to enjoy with his family and share his love for hunting and the outdoors. It is now the Jech Ranch.

Kevin took a chance in 1990 to get ahold of the little gal that “stole” his car years prior by asking Dot Norton (her mother) for her phone number. After a few mishaps and stories later, they got married in 1992. 

It was to their surprise that they were joined by Nathaniel Jeramiah in 1994 and when Melissa Jean joined them in 1997 Kevin felt a little old, but he finally had his little girl – Missy. 

Kevin enjoyed hunting, fishing, the outdoors, family, friends, working with kids, and being at home on the place. 

Through the years he did his best to be there for the kids, first by being at football and sporting events for Tim and Ben, then later for Nate and Missy with their adventures and multiple laughs that always kept him on his toes. 

Donna did her best to keep them all going and as she says she earned every one of the grey hairs from Kevin and the kids. 

Kevin was the most at home on the ranch and preferred not to leave in his later years. 

He impacted many through the National Wild Turkey Federation, 4-H Shooting Sports, the local volunteer fire department, as a reserve deputy for the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, and the many other things he did. 

No doubt he was one of a kind with his orneriness, stubbornness, kindness, heart of gold, and he could always give a person a good laugh. 

There were always good times to be had when it came to get togethers at the Jech Ranch. The annual birthday celebration that included his and Terry Robbins’ birthdays and later that of daughter- in-law Sam was always something Kevin looked forward to. 

In recent years he also looked forward to visiting with friends Homer, Terry Michaelson, Tony Puchner, Stacy Swinney, and many more over morning coffee, a cold beverage, or just over the smoker cooking for a get-together. 

His wife, four children and spouses, seven grandchildren, family, friends, and known sidekick Breezy meant the world to him. If you didn’t see Breezy on the four-wheeler with him it usually meant she was running behind trying to catch up because she fell off and Kevin didn’t notice she had fallen off. 

Kevin wasn’t always a man of many words, but he was an amazing teacher to his children and always had a story to tell. His smile, laugh, and personality were what made him the man he was. 

Kevin Jech is survived by his parents Keith and Lois; siblings: Kristy and Ron Spicer, Kerry and Jane Jech; wife Donna; mother-in-law Dorothy Norton; children Tim and Ashley Jech, Ben and Brandi Jech, Nate and Sam Jech, and Missy Jech; grandchildren Piper, Tucker, Skyler, Sawyer, Suttyn, Seeley, and Michael; dog and friend Breezy; many other family and friends that he touched in his lifetime. 

He will be greatly missed and always loved.

Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home of Gordon, NE, is in charge of arrangements for Kevin Jech.