One of Oakland’s most dynamic leaders, Dewaine Gahan, died on Thursday, January 31, 2008, at his home in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 58 years. Gahan died of melanoma (skin cancer), a disease he had been battling for nearly four years.

Dewaine was born June 23, 1949, in San Francisco, California to Ann (Blaser) and Bob Gahan. He was the 2nd of their 9 children. Dewaine graduated from Oakland (Nebr.) High School in 1967 and from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1971 (journalism degree).

Gahan’s professional journalism career included 3 years as sports editor of the Holdrege Citizen, 6 years as sports editor of the Fremont Tribune and 27 years as co-owner of the Oakland Independent and Lyons Mirror-Sun.

He was well-known as a columnist, authoring over 4,000 in his career. He was especially recognized in the realm of sports, winning 12 national and 24 state awards for sports-column writing.

Gahan married Uehling-area native Bobbie Engdahl on June 17, 1971, at Elim Lutheran Church. They are the parents of three grown children: Rev. Gregg Gahan, Betsy Bitker and Joe Gahan.

Gahan was Nebraska Press Advertising Services president in 1994-95 and honorary state president in 2007-08. He also was president of the Interstate Editorial Association (Nebr., Ia., S.D., Minn.) and the Northeast Nebraska Press Association. He was co-chairman of the state association’s convention committee for 15 years.

Dewaine initiated numerous events or projects, most notably the Oakland Swedish Festival, leading it for 11 years, and the Swedish Basketball Classic, directing it for 14 years.

His other Oakland activities were: Oakland Chamber of Commerce (president multiple years), Friends of Oakland Foundation (secretary for over 20 years), Oakland Community Development Association (secretary), Swedish Heritage Center (fundraising chairman), tourism director (25 years), Community Improvement Program (chairman), water tower paintings (chairman), community billboards (chairman) and organizer of numerous Oakland visits by international groups.

He brought numerous dignitaries to town, including senators, governors, coaches, congressmen and Swedish officials. He also organized Oakland banquets featuring such public figures as Nebraska Coach Bob Devaney, Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne, Governor Kay Orr, Swedish Ambassador Anders Thunborg, Governor Dave Heineman, Governor Ben Nelson and State Senator Ernie Chambers.

Gahan, an Oakland High athlete, was particularly well-known for his sports involvement and leadership.

He organized area athlete-of-the year programs at the Holdrege and Fremont dailies; organized the Fremont area all-star basketball game in 1976 and subsequently moved it to Oakland as the Swedish Basketball Classic; was a consultant in organizing all-star games in 7 other Nebraska communities; organized and directed for 17 years the Oakland Area Men’s Basketball League; organized and directed the Oakland Area Mixed Volleyball League; helped organize the Oakland Purple Gang baseball town team; was an officer for the Dodge County Baseball League; organized a regional baseball league for boys ages 9-14; was an Oakland youth baseball manager for 10 years; twice coached a northeast Nebraska baseball all-star team into the age-group World Series; organized numerous benefit sporting events in Oakland; and organized the first alumni basketball tournaments in Oakland.

Gahan was a physical fitness buff and played competitive men’s basketball ‘til age 50 and town-team baseball ‘til age 36.

Several honors were presented to him in 2007. Among them were: first inductee into the Oakland Hall of Fame; inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall Of Fame; Nebraska Coaches Association “Media Person Of The Year”; athletic directors’ association (NSIAAA) “Outstanding Media Award”; honorary lifetime member of the Nebraska Press Association Board Of Directors; namesake and first honoree of the Bobbie & Dewaine Gahan Community International Leader Award; and namesake (along with wife Bobbie) for MVP awards at the Warrior Basketball Classic in Fremont.

In 2006, Dewaine was honored by the Nebraska Basketball Development Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Other state or national honors include: Nebraska State Education Association’s “Champion Of Education” award; UNO’s Andy Award for community service; the Benjamin Fine Award for Community Service, bestowed by the National Association of School Principals; Ak-Sar-Ben/ConAgra community service award (several times); guest on the USS Nebraska submarine; Nebraska Organ Donor award (twice); and an admiralcy in the Great Navy Of The State Of Nebraska.

In 2008, Dewaine was honored by the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) with the “Distinguished Service Award”.

Dewaine was also an officer in the Oakland Lions Club, the Oakland Optimist Club, the Scandinavian Council Of Nebraska and Elim Lutheran Church. He taught Sunday School at Elim (“Swaburg Church” for 13 years.)

Gahan often was a workshop presenter at newspaper conventions. During his and wife Bobbie’s 27-year tenure with the Oakland and Lyons newspapers, they won over 160 state and 30 national newspaper-contest awards.

Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Bobbie of Oakland; sons: Rev. Gregg (Jennifer) Gahan of    Langford, SD and Joe Gahan of  Jackson, TN; daughter: Betsy (Chuck) Bitker of Kearney; grandson: Elijah Gahan of Langford, SD; mother: Ann Gahan of Oakland; brothers: Mike Gahan of Scribner,  Chris (Annette) Gahan of Lincoln, Glen (Melanie) Gahan of Omaha, Paul (Eileen) Gahan of Seward; sisters: Dr. Karen (Bob) Tarnow of Kansas City, Nora (Rick) Eriksen of Craig, Rita (Roger) Houdersheldt of rural Shelby and Dr. Janice (Ron) Rech of Blair; mother-in-law: Lois Engdahl of Fremont; sister-in-law: Nancy (Gary) Beard of Uehling; and brother-in-law: Karl (Kim) Engdahl of Fremont; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by infant son, Scott; infant daughter, Sara and father, Bob Gahan.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Sunday, February 3, 2008, 2:00 p.m. at the Oakland-Craig New Gym, 400 N. Brewster Ave., Oakland, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Saturday, February 2nd, 1 – 5:30 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. The Visitation will continue from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland. Friends are invited to join the family in wearing a "Sports Jersey" in celebration of Dewaine's love of sports.

BURIAL: Swaburg Cemetery, Rural Hooper, Nebraska.

CASKET BEARERS: Duane Mendlik, Mick Anderson, Doug Anderson, Rusty Droescher, Tom Nelson, John Christensen, Randy Nelson, Ron Bowman

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS: Butch Kreikemeier, Robin Groene, Jim Morrison, Kelly Flynn, Russ Pankonin, Bob Johnston, Swede Hawkins, Allen Beermann, Dr. G.E. Peterson; Rear Admiral (retired) Dave Goebel; Nebraska Press Association; Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Oakland High School Class of 1967, Swedish Basketball Classic Coaches Players & Committeemen

MEMORIALS: Nebraska High School Hall of Fame; Oakland Ball Association; Oakland Swedish Festival; Uehling Ballpark Fund.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com