Vorace Jennings Packer

Vorace Jennings Packer, 68, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away on April 3, 2024. He was born to Vorace Jennings Packer Sr. and Fern Packer on March 24, 1956 in Omaha. He was the last of four children with three older sisters, Sharon, Donna and Sue. Vorace Sr. passed when Vorace was four years old and he was always adamant his “village” contributed a great deal to his upbringing. He always appreciated his cousin Alice, who went out of her way to do the “boy things” with Vorace like playing sports and camping. She bought him his first set of golf clubs, a game he’d proudly show his own sons one day. He liked to joke Alice did the best she could…for a girl. Vorace enjoyed his time in Boy Scouts, but he never really loved sleeping outside. He met families like the Kerchbaums, the Nilius’, the Markeys, and the Martins, whose sons he would stay friends with for life. His sister, Sharon, married Jerry when Vorace was 10. Jerry looked out for Vorace from the start, taking him to stock car races and Omaha Knights hockey games. Jerry’s father, Art, helped Vorace discover a passion for fishing. All these “guy things” gave Vorace an outlet in a house full of ladies. Vorace went to Holy Name High School and made more friends he’d keep forever. Sporting events, movies, dances and more made for memories he held dear. He played keeper for the soccer team so he wouldn’t have to run very much. He began working for the Martin family at their bakery, where he learned how to have fun while working hard. He cherished bonding with the “baker boys” on Saturday mornings. Vorace’s career in banking began when a job at American National Bank outweighed classes at UNO. He met his best friend, Jim Burns, there. He met the love of his life, Lori Drawbaugh there too. Dale Martin taught him accounting and in 1982 he gave Vorace an opportunity as an officer at Nebraska National Bank, all of which led to a career of nearly 50 years in the industry. In 1995, he began working at Creighton Federal Credit Union with Tom Kjar, who became not only a great colleague, but an even better friend. Vorace and Lori married in 1984 and, just two weeks ago, celebrated their 40th anniversary. They had two sons, Scott and Jeff. Jeff married Kelsey in 2013 and Scotty will marry Sarah Fischer later this year. Jeff and Kelsey have two kids, Jordan and Kaleigh, whom Vorace called the “bestest” grandkids. Vorace loved sports, from fishing to football. In the Omaha’s softball glory days, he played or coached the game six days a week, sometimes playing with Lori. Dale Martin once asked him how it felt to be the second-best player in his family. He enjoyed fishing trips to Minnesota throughout his life and loved coaching his sons, often saying he learned as much from the players as he taught them. While Vorace’s life was short, it was full of meaning and love. Vorace was preceded in death by parents Vorace and Fern Packer. Survived by wife, Lori, son Scott (Sarah Fischer), son Jeff (Kelsey), grandchildren Jordan and Kaleigh, and sisters Sharon (Jerry) Peck, Donna (Ed) Tetley, and Sue Padgett. Memorials are suggested to the family or CHI Hospice.

Vorace Jennings Packer

March 24, 1956 - April 3, 2024