Funeral services for 61-year old Paul Lans are Monday, Nov 20, 2023 at 10:00 at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron, NE.
A memorial has been established for the Chadron High School FFA chapter and donations can be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970 in Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Paul Lans was born Feb 20th, 1962, in Alma, NE, the 6th child born to Roland Ray and Irene E (Fischer) Lans. He departed life on Tuesday, Oct 31st, 2023.
Paul was baptized on March 11th , 1962, and confirmed on May 20th, 1977, at the Stamford Trinity Lutheran Church. He received his primary education initially from the Stamford public schools, then transferred to and graduated from Alma High School with the class of 1980. He pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and attained a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
Following his education, Paul began his career with the Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Interior Department, as a Civil Engineer in Grand Junction, CO. He began as a student intern, then became a full-time employee following college and worked for the BOR for more than 2 decades, from 1982-2004.
While in Grand Junction, Paul married Christella Kay Stucker and from this union came two boys, Logan Branford, born August 22nd, 1993, and Corey Hendrix, born April 4th, 1997. The family enjoyed being outdoors and doing things they loved such as biking, hiking, riding motorcycles, and enjoying music.
Paul changed federal departments and agencies in 2004, accepting an engineering position with the USDA – Forest Service in Sparks, NV.Â
While working in Sparks, he met fellow Forest Service staffer Ericka (Gahlhoff) Bartlett. They had a son, Gunnar August Paul Lans, born on July 13th, 2006, in Reno and were married about 7 months later on Feb 7th, 2007.
Desiring to live and be near family, Paul and Ericka were both able to transfer within the Forest Service to Chadron, where they not only continued their careers, they added to their family with the birth on Dec 5th, 2008, of Aksel Reinhold Kimball Lans.
Paul continued working for the Forest Service, being a licensed Civil Engineer, in both Colorado and Nebraska until his retirement at age 56 in April 2018, with over 36 years of federal government service.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents Roland and Irene; sister Jean Wright and husband Clinton; brother Richard Lans; sister Barb Lans and brother-in-law Larry Chestnut.
Paul leaves to celebrate his life wife Ericka Lans; sons Gunnar and Aksel of Chadron and Logan and Corey of Colorado; brother Bruce and wife Suzanne Lans of Stamford, NE; sister Shirley Chestnut of Glade, KS; and sister-in-law Trudy Lans of Colorado Springs, CO; 16 nieces and nephews; a host of great-nieces and nephews, aunt Adale Schroder of Kearney, NE; and a host of cousins and friends.
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for Paul Lans