A local Nebraska customizer/painter passed away yesterday. Gary was well known in the Midwest for his creativeness and painting ability doing many customs and rods during his career. First time I saw Gary in the 50's he was driving a 50's customized Olds painted white with the cartoon character Casper the Ghost on I think the quarters or trunk. Gary did 7 cars for me including the 2004 NSRA giveaway 30 Ford RPU. He was 83 and will be missed.
Oh Man, so sorry to hear. I met "Gerb" for the first time back in 1999 at the KOA Red Rock Nationals in Moab, Utah. He was a true custom guy and made a newbie to big custom events feel welcome. His old '55 was a great car, and his green Studebaker is a looker. He will be missed. My deepest condolences to his wife, family and many, many friends. Vaya con Dios Gerb..........E
Any one have a picture of Gary's green Studebaker to share here I had one long ago but have lost it..He was very talented and will be missed for sure.
I met Gary and his wife at several shows around the Great Plains. Super nice cat, and obviously - a great talent who will be missed.
Dad had him punch louvers in his hood back in 1983 when they lived in Geneva Nebraska. Dad wouldn`t let me skip school to go with him. Saw him many times thru the years. He was a KKOA Hall of Famer. He always celebrated his birthday at the KKOA Leadsled Spectacular. when it fell on those dates. A couple years ago when they were celebrating, as I walked by. They had me take a few pic`s of all of them. The Stude is actually Liz`s, (his Wife) built in the memory of her brother Skip. I was honored when they picked me do the interior in the Studebaker for him.
Sorry to hear the loss of your good friend. I hadn’t seen his custom creative work but can attest this RPU paint was perfect.
Gary was a great guy, and a standout in the custom car community. So sad to hear his passing. RIP, Gary.
Dammit... Gary was a great guy. always had cars with the right look.....I bought in Salina at a charity auction a pearl white pinstriped decorated 30th anniv Kkoa trash can that Gary did...... RIP man
Besides being incredibly talented in the Custom Auto World, Gary was a good friend and great guy. He was a huge influence for me in the way I looked at and built HotRods and Customs. Over the years Gerb and his son Dean (also very talented) painted and did metal fab on 3-4 hotrods for me and they are all still running around with the same paint and look amazing. Godspeed Gerb, you will be missed but never forgotten. Gary
A few memories of Gerb. to start with, Casper. Road Angles club meetings and filling the Majestic theater with smoke. The seat belt campaign. The many times of dropping by to chat at Lubin Body Shop, Ford body shop in Geneva, The Body Shop in Geneva and several locations in Grand Island and the last of which Gerb and Liz punched louvers in the hood of the hot rod sports car. That experience has ended but the memories will remain in my mind forever. Gerb you did good.
Gary was a good family friend and painted my father-in-law Roger Williamson 1958 Chevy Impala Custom. Roger just passed away 3 weeks ago, so very sad. We will be keeping his Impala in the family as per his wishes.
Went to the family meet and greet for Gerb today in Grand Island. Great attendance, a tribute to how many friends he had. Lots of customs and rods in attendance.
Wish I had seen this sooner. I knew Gary had health issues a few years ago when I ran into Liz and him at an event and they mentioned he was stepping back from the business. First time we met had to be either at Midwest Street Rod Assn Memorial Day weekend rod run in 1981 or 1982, the Tri-City Street Rods shows at Fonner Park, NSRA Mini-Nats in Lincoln or one of the local show'n'shine events or rod runs in eastern-central Nebraska where they brought "The Big Bopper." As reps to the Eastern Nebraska-Western Iowa Car Council in the late 80s-90s they made bimonthly trips to Lincoln meetings and showed their dedication to the hobby and its people. Gary was a great guy and inspiration for me to pursue a mild custom approach for my 55 Victoria, but sadly we didn't connect to get the job done due to college, career and putting it on the back burner for other pursuits. RIP, Gerb.
Gary and Liz are the people you just run into at some point if you are into kustoms and are from Nebraska. I'm so glad that I did. Great people! My heart goes out to Liz and the family! Gary helped me out to be able to identify "cool" parts at swap meets. I was well-versed enough to see a part and know it was kool, but if Gary was close by, I'd ask him what it was, and of course, he would know the make and model it came from. Over the years, I'd store that new-found knowledge in some cul-de-sac in the back of my brain. Now I can help others identify some of those kool parts, but not as well as Gerbs could do it.
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