Gary F. Neuhalfen

Gary F. Neuhalfen, age 83 of Coleridge, Nebraska passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026 at his residence, leaving behind a legacy of determination and resilience.

A Celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, August 23, 2026 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Coleridge Community Building. Family and friends are encouraged to stop by, share memories, tell stories, and celebrate a man whose life was anything but ordinary.

He was born on November 15, 1942 on the family farm near Coleridge to Henry and Catherine Neuhalfen. Raised with values of hard work and perseverance, those qualities would carry him through every chapter of his life. In his early 20’s, Gary lost his right arm in a farming accident. Rather than allowing tragedy to define him, he chose to redefine what was possible. With remarkable grit and determination, he began driving semi-trucks and went on to spend most of his life as a long-distance truck driver.

Over his career, Gary logged more than four million miles, traveling every contiguous state in the United States. He earned several driving awards and was recognized in the American Trucker magazine, where his story inspired fellow drivers and readers across the country. To those who knew him best, he was simply “Lefty”- a man who never believed there was a job he couldn’t do. He often accomplished more with one arm than many people could do with two.

Away from the highway, Gary’s greatest passion was classic cars. Known by many as the “Pontiac Man”, he loved Pontiacs and Corvettes and locals knew they could find him wearing his coveralls, tinkering in the shop, restoring old cars, solving mechanical problems, crushing cans, and sharing stories with friends and family over a beer or two.

Gary was first married to Sandy (Tuttle), and they welcomed two children; Katherine and Dwayne. He later married Karen (Johns) and they were blessed with three children; Chad, Wendy, and Kyle. Whether behind the wheel of a semi or under the hood of a classic Pontiac, Lefty believed there was no obstacle too great to overcome. He never asked for sympathy or special treatment. He met every challenge head-on, proving that courage is measured not by what we lose, but by how we choose to live. His humor and larger than life spirit will continue to inspire all who knew him.

Whether behind the wheel of a semi or under the hood of a classic Pontiac, Lefty believed there was no obstacle too great to overcome. He never asked for sympathy or special treatment. He met every challenge head-on, proving that courage is measured not by what we lose, but by how we choose to live. His humor and larger than life spirit will continue to inspire all who knew him.

He is survived by his daughter, Katherine (Wightman), son, Chad and his wife Gina, his daughter, Wendy (Beatty) and her husband Reese,six grandchildren; Madison, Cole, Jackson, Piper, Andrew, and James, a brother, Carroll Neuhalfen, special friend, Nettie Hammer, and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Catherine, his brothers, Duane and Norman, and his sons, Dwayne and Kyle.