Paul Terrence Nordquist, age 93, of North Platte, Nebraska, peacefully passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Paul was born in Lake City, South Dakota on February 12, 1932 to Axel and Bessie (Denery) Nordquist.
After graduating from Lake City High School, Paul went on to attend and graduate from South Dakota State through the ROTC Program, attaining his Bachelor of Science and Master's Degrees in Plant Genetics. He was then deployed in 1954, serving in the Army active duty first in Fort Benning, Georgia before being sent to Austria and finally Berlin. He ended his service in 1956 with the distinguished rank of First Lieutenant. While he was stationed in Berlin, one night, he went to the Ball House Reci. While there, Paul looked across the room where he immediately set eyes on a beautiful, dark-haired fraulein named Renate Ifland. He asked for a dance and they danced together for the rest of their lives. While in Berlin, they dated for some time before Paul returned to the U.S. Renate, thereafter, moved to Rochester, New York and they reconnected. The couple was married on February 14, 1957 in Lake City, SD. The couple moved to North Platte in 1958 and to their union was born their beloved children, Rebecca and Joel.
After returning home, Paul began working for the University of Nebraska as an Agronomist, and achieved his PhD from UNL. He worked on sorghum and corn genetics for over 41 years before retiring in 1999. During his career, he gave several talks to farm groups. He created a character called "Oh Lee," an old farmer who tried to get back the snow out of his neighbor's cornfield, thus producing dryer conditions on his own field. He emphasized the benefits of "no tillage" methods for better water retention. During this time and into his retirement, Paul grew sweet corn and pumpkins he sold to the community. He was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, serving on multiple committees including the Finance, Pumpkin Fest, and Building Committees. He was also a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus and served as a Scout Leader for Troop 292. Paul loved to hunt, whether it was his annual deer hunt, elk hunts with friends, a family moose hunt, ducks and geese, and fishing.
Those left to cherish Paul's memory are chis children Rebecca (Randy) Nordquist of North Platte, NE and Joel (Mary Beth) Nordquist of Scottsdale, AZ; brother Jerry Nordquist of Florida; grandchildren Ryan (Kelsey) Nordquist of Surprise, AZ and Rhett (Tessa) Nordquist of Papillion, NE; great-grandchildren Starlie and Zoey Nordquist; and many more family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Axel and Bessie; brothers James and John Nordquist; and sisters Agnes Daly and Patricia Gray.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. CST with a Rosary preceding at 11:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church with Rev. John Birkel as celebrant. Inurnment will occur on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. CST for the family at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, NE with Deacon Kent Winder officiating.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home of North Platte has been entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the North Platte Catholic School Endowment or the Catholic Community Food Pantry in North Platte. Online condolences and sharing of memories can be made at www.adamsswanson.com.