Leonard Eugene DeBrie
Leonard Eugene DeBrie, age 90, of Kearney, passed away on July 16, 2024.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Kearney on Saturday, August 3, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon.
Memorials can be sent to the Buffalo County 4-H Beef Program or the First Presbyterian Church.
He was born to Milton and Gwendolyn DeBrie on March 29, 1934, in Gibbon. His growing years were filled with basketball, football, baseball and track. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Suzanne Lindenstein, they headed to Ft. Collins, Colorado, where he attended Colorado State University for undergraduate studies and veterinary school. He was offered a spot on the basketball team but decided to pitch for the baseball team. After playing for one year, he decided to put all of his effort into studying in order to compete for a spot at the veterinary school. He became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1959 and was a member of the Phi Zeta honorary society.
Leonard and Suzanne had four children, Lauri, Karan, Brian and Gayle. It was his joy to teach them about life, to love animals, and to enjoy the simple things in life. He enjoyed family vacations, as well as 4H, where he volunteered as the Buffalo County Fair Veterinarian for 50 years and received an award of distinction.
Dr. DeBrie joined Kearney Veterinary Clinic where had both a large and small animal practice. He left for his own large animal private practice, which eventually led to animal herd health, specializing in food animal consulting and nutrition for beef producers. He enjoyed his veterinary practice until he was 83. Leonard was a life-long learner and loved teaching cattle production.
Leonard was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, and was a Charter member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. He raised purebred Angus cattle and Angus crossbreds. He was one of the first to use artificial insemination and continued to build his cow herd with his son Brian. He later adopted sustainable grazing practices. Talking cattle and farming was one of his favorite conversations.
Leonard enjoyed watching sports and an occasional hunting and fishing trip. He and Suzanne travelled across the country for baseball and football games, including a World Series and bowl games.
Leonard attended the First Presbyterian Church in Kearney, where he was a deacon and an usher. His spiritual mentor was David Jeremiah and he was continually blessed by his sermons. His family was blessed to have him as their spiritual leader.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Suzanne DeBrie; his children, Lauri Thanheiser, Karan (Kevin) Staten, Brian (Jane) DeBrie, and Gayle (Turner) Gill; his five grandchildren, Alex (Elsie) DeBrie, Alyssa (Travis) Hagan, Nicole (Sida) Niu, Jordan (Marcus) Sallis, and Margaux Gill; and ten great-grandchildren, Lanie, Charlie, Sam, Joe, Collin, Millie, Jolie, his namesake Leonard, Annie, and Lucas. He has three surviving sisters, Millie (Russ) Shultz, Patricia (Chuck) Sadler, and Anita (Joe) Wittman, He is preceded in death by his mother Gwendolyn, his father Milton, his brother Stanley DeBrie, and his sister Lorraine Miles.