Gary L. Emken, 80, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2021 after a long illness in his home with his family by his side. He was the husband of Maria (Rosonina) Emken with whom he shared 44 years of marriage.
Born in Aurora, NE a son of the late Edwin and Esther (Howland) Emken he grew up there before moving to Massachusetts in 1968.
Gary graduated from Marquette High School in 1957. He went to the University of the Philippines and later Macomb Junior College in Detroit, MI. He worked as an accountant and owned Emken Bookkeeping Service for 30 years before retiring in December 2001.
In his spare time, he was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing cribbage. He loved basketball. He played in high school and then he loved seeing his grandchildren play all sports and wouldn’t miss a game.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Richard F. Emken and his wife Kristin of New Bedford and Monica M. Green and her husband Christopher of Halifax; siblings, Ronald Emken and Trina of Grand Island, NE, Alan Emken and Kathy of Kearney, NE, David Emken and Jeanne of Aurora, NE, Dorothy Minton and her late husband Bob of Tampa, FL, Marilyn Lantzer of Bloomington, MN, and Vicki Kunz and Geoff of Littleton, CO; grandchildren, Dylan Green, Kolby Emken, Ava Reilly Emken, Lila Grace Emken, Ryan Green, and Hudson Emken; and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Marvin Emken and Waunita, Patsy and Sam Echelberger, and Duane Emken.
His funeral service will be Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 9 a.m. in WARING-SULLIVAN HOME at FAIRLAWN, 180 Washington St., Fairhaven followed by committal service in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, MA at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Bay State Basketball Group, 3 Roswell St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For online directions: www.waring-sullivan.com.
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