Garold Lee McCan

Garold Lee McCan, 84, passed away peacefully after a struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was born in Kearney, Nebraska on November 18, 1941, to Frank and Emily McCan. His twin, Darold, tragically did not survive birth. As a boy in Kearney, Garold joined the Future Farmers of America and worked on farms, but an extended farm life was not to be. After his graduation from Kearney High School, Garold enrolled in Kearney State College, where he met his future wife, Betty Meier, during her first day on campus. He graduated in the Class of '65 with a major in Physical Science and minor in Math. The following month, he and Betty were married. The family was completed by the arrival of two children, Brenda and Matthew. Soon after graduation, Garold made good use of his studies in his career at Northwestern Bell. He started out in the Nebraska Panhandle as a Kimball/North Platte Lineman, then moved his young family to Omaha upon his promotion to Systems Analyst. In this and other capacities, he wrote code for billing systems, among many other computer programming activities. He was with the company in its various iterations until his early retirement in 1990, but he never became a man of leisure. Eschewing post-retirement office life, he kept busy as a school bus driver, among other jobs and pursuits. Constantly active, Garold could and did perform most every kind of home and auto repair, saving much money in the process. He constructed everything from beautiful furniture to car trailers and other equipment, all from his well-appointed shop. He progressed from his early restoration of a '58 Chevy to his later-in-life restoration of his father's "mid-century modern" John Deere 720 tractor. Along with other members of his Antique Tractor Club, he enjoyed driving in Elkhorn town parades. He studied for a private pilot's license, rode a purple motorcycle, and traded that in for a beautiful blue Corvette. For their 50th wedding anniversary, he and Betty treated their family to a beautiful cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. Garold was an active member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Elkhorn and participated in its maintenance committee, where on one occasion he put his tractor through its paces pulling up trees. Always a country boy at heart, Garold was known for his humor and his willingness to lend a hand to help others. He will be dearly missed. Garold was preceded in death by his father, Frank McCan; mother, Emily McCan; and twin brother, Darold. He is survived by his wife, Betty; his daughter, Brenda McCan; his son, Matt McCan; his daughter-in-law, Janel McCan; his brother, Duane McCan; and his sister, Elaine (McCan) Thompson. In lieu of flowers, Family suggests memorials to he Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association

Garold Lee McCan

November 18, 1941 - December 8, 2025