Deacon George E. Elster

Deacon George E. Elster

September 5, 1949 – February 28, 2024

VISITATION: Thursday, March 14^th from 6:15pm to 8pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 4810 Woolworth Ave., followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 8pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday, March 15^th at 11am, Holy Cross Catholic Church.  Interment, Resurrection Cemetery with Military Honors.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mercy High School, and Mount Michael in Elkhorn.

To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “Live Cast” button at the top of the home page.

Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose Herald you are. Believe what you read, Teach what you believe, and Practice what you teach

George Edward Elster Jr. was born on September 5, 1949, to Jewell Faye (Malloy) Elster and George E. Elster Sr. in Omaha, NE.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Becky Jo (Lane) Elster, mother, father, and sister, Linda Purser. He is survived by his sisters, Robyn Skalberg, and Margie (Rick) Sweeney; brother, Michael Elster; children: Chris Auger (Tracy), Janel Myers (Michael), Kelly Elster, Salesia Larson (Jeffrey), Erin Tiedgen, Mary Elster (David Marlborough), and John Elster; grandchildren: Jordan Van Valkenburg (Shawn Matteson), Lauren Auger, Brennan Auger, Jordan Stolpe (Eli), Mariah Rodis (Jeff), Matthew Myers (Kennedy Hustedt), Dominick Myers (Beth), Gabrielle Myers-Bailey (Jordan), Cecilia Myers (Jordan Barrera), Vivian Myers, Charles Myers, Anthony Elster, Madelin Larson, Jonathan Larson, Joshua Larson, Grace Larson, Annie Larson, Joseph Larson, Izabel Tiedgen, Lilian Tiedgen, Andrew Tiedgen, Vincent Tiedgen, Sophia Tiedgen, Benjamin Tiedgen, Olivia Elster-Cutler, and Lucille Elster; many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many, many friends.

Born and raised in the Greater Omaha Area, George attended Omaha Technical High School, where he became friends with the Lane family, Mickey and Pat in particular. From that friendship, George met and fell in love with Becky Jo Lane, whom he would marry on June 4, 1971. George served in the United States Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician and Search and Rescue Swimmer, and the young Elster family lived in San Diego, CA., before returning home to Omaha.

George and Becky built their family and became quite involved with their Catholic faith, working with groups such as Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, and the Couple to Couple League, through which they taught Natural Family Planning. With Becky’s support and encouragement, he entered the diaconate program and was ordained. While Deacon for Holy Cross, he coordinated the baptismal program and led integral parts of the Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes. He brought the Holy Eucharist to the homebound and those in the hospital at Bergan Mercy and found time for numerous other duties. He retired from the diaconate in October 2023 after 40 years of service.

George worked for The Omaha World Herald as a teenager and after the Navy, began his long career with the phone company, called Northwestern Bell at the time, and he stayed with them through several name changes – U.S. West, Qwest, and now CenturyLink. He was a lineman for most of this time before transferring to business phone implementation and support. He enjoyed telling others about the phone systems, how they functioned, and in what areas he had worked. George would also help anyone who asked with computer help.

George loved to ride his bicycle and participated in the Bike Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN). He loved to fish and boat, and he enjoyed being at the Cedar Creek cabin. He was an avid animal-lover owning dozens throughout his life including dogs, cats, fish, parrots, lizards, and snakes. Shema, Kuma, Tula, his three Shiba Inus; Tanner, his terrier; Wally, his African gray parrot; Morgan, his rose-breasted cockatoo; and Seth, his California king snake, provided him comfort and a sense of purpose leading up to what would be his final days.

George will be greatly missed– May all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Matt 9:37-38