Merl “Buzz” Kettleborough age 89, formerly of Sargent, died April 1, 2024, at the Emerald Lake Care Home in Grand Island.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the Loup County Event Center in Taylor. The burial will follow at the Taylor Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Sargent Fire and EMS. A visitation will be held on Sunday, April 7, with the family receiving friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Online condolences can be left at www.govierbrothers.com
Merl “Buzz” Dean Kettleborough was born on October 29, 1934, at home in Comstock, NE to John and Verna (Newcomb) Kettleborough. He grew up in Custer County, NE. Buzz lived southwest of Anselmo where he farmed for many years. After selling the farm he met Alta Wilson, they married, and then the couple moved to Sargent. They bought and ran a carnival for many years. Later, they sold the carnival, and the couple moved to Taylor. Buzz took up trucking to support his family. Buzz and Alta ran the Bar/Café in Sargent and Taylor for many years. Alta passed away on July 4, 2005. Buzz continued to drive truck until 2017, when he finally retired and moved to Sargent. Buzz said, “I’ve backed more miles than most guys have drove.” He also liked to say that he had driven coast to coast and border to border. Due to failing health, Buzz became a resident at the Emerald Lakeview Care Home in Grand Island in 2022.
Buzz is survived by his children; Danny Kettleborough, Debbie (Rich) York, LeAnn (Scott) Weaver, Tim (Julie) Kettleborough, John (Brenda) Kettleborough, and Casey Kettleborough, stepchildren; Daisy Jackson and Robbie (Cindy) Wilson, and numerous grand and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alta, a stepdaughter Laurie Rudnick, a stepson Randy Wilson, and brothers Glen and Gary.