passed away in Lincoln, NE on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 of natural causes at the age of
89. Rolland (Rollie) went to primary and secondary schooling in Plainview, NE, and then
attended Wayne State Teachers College where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. From 1952 to
1954, Rollie served in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley, KS. He went on to complete a Masters
Degree in Education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. Rollie taught and
coached at the high school level in Niobrara, NE; Madison, NE; and Mickle Jr. High and East
High School in Lincoln, NE. Rollie was very passionate about sports, woodworking, and his
family. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Jean; his son, Reg Gast, and daughter-inlaw,
Carol, of Kansas City; his daughter, Sue, and son-in-law, Kevin Moore, of Lincoln; his
grandson, Cal Gast, and wife, Leslie, of Kansas City, and great-granddaughters Annabelle,
Lucy, Josephine, and Caroline; granddaughters Kate and Carly Moore of New York, NY; and
sister, Leona Nissen, of Norfolk, NE. Burial services will be held for immediate family in the
coming week, and a memorial Mass will be scheduled when it is safe to gather again. Memorial
donations can be made to Catholic Social Services in Rollie’s name.
