Victor "Vic" Jerome Gravel was born June 20, 1929 in Rising City, Nebraska, the son of Hector Joseph Gravel and Grace Violet (Lawver) Gravel, and passed away at Clark Jeary Retirement Community in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at the age of 87 years, 10 months, 19 days.  Vic was a 1946 graduate of Rising City High School where he participated and lettered in all sporting activities. He was united in marriage to Betty Lou Kilker on August 29, 1948 at the Methodist Church in Ulysses, Nebraska. They were blessed with one daughter, Vikki Lee.  During their nearly 60 years of marriage, they lived in David City, Ulysses and ultimately made their home in Seward for over 50 years.

Vic was a lifelong volunteer fireman, actively serving in both the Ulysses and Seward Departments.  He earned his EMT certificate and responded to countless rescue squad calls in the area.  He was presented the "Award of Merit for Heroism" by the Knights of AK-SAR-BEN in 1971. After high school graduation, he completed business school coursework in Omaha and then worked at JC Penney and the Butler County REA in David City. In 1951, he began working at Hughes Brothers, Inc. in Seward and retired as a draftsman on his birthday in 1991. Vic loved to play his trumpet and music was something that he and Betty shared by entertaining people in the area and beyond for over 30 years with a small dance band called "The Musical Gravels." Vic was an active member of the Seward United Methodist Church and volunteered for many maintenance and improvement projects. His church and church family were a very meaningful part of his life.

Vic is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty in 2008; sisters and brothers-in-law, Laurette and Joe Santin, Violet and Duane Hurt; brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Helen Gravel; brother-in-law, Ron Kellogg; niece, Karen (Kellogg) Murphy; and nephew, Tim Gravel.

Vic is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Vikki and Doug Kotil of Lincoln; grandson, Jared Kotil of Lincoln; sister, Orletha Kellogg of Fremont; nieces, nephews and their spouses.

To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Vic.