Kevin A. Watson

Kevin A. Watson

June 15, 1984 – March 7, 2021

Preceded in death by grandparents, Mabel and Keith Rodocker, Joanne Campbell, Robert Watson, Andy and Masel Anderson; brother, Matthew Watson.  Survived by wife, Jenn; children, Jocelyn and Ethan; parents, Dick and Deb Watson; brothers and sisters: Rikki Wardyn (Justin), Jake Watson (Sarah), Ryan Watson (Kasey), Jerry Watson (Michelle); father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dave and Suzanne Jensen; many nieces and nephews who all think they are the favorite, and other loving family members and friends

VISITATION begins Saturday, March 13^th, 1PM at West Center Chapel with CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE at 2PM. Private Interment.  Memorials may be directed to the family.
To view a live broadcast of the service, please visit www.heafeyheafey.com and press the “View Live Cast” button.

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Kevin Watson was born on June 15th, 1984 to Dick and Deb Watson of Grand Island, Nebraska.  He was the last of five children in a home that held the importance of family and togetherness in the highest regard.  Throughout his entire life, you could find his family outside playing basketball, gathering around the table for a game of poker/scrabble, venturing out on camping/fishing excursions, or living the family motto of work hard, play harder at the Rodocker Ranch.

Kevin was active in track, cross county, basketball, and soccer throughout his youth.  Setting records in high school that still hold strong today.  He genuinely cared for anyone that he met and was known as the guy who could always make you laugh, extend a helping hand, challenge your thoughts with an educated argument, or engage in antics that would give us all stories to tell for years to come.  Kevin found his soulmate at the young age of fifteen in his high school sweetheart, Jenn.  They were inseparable through high school and college.  They were married in 2005 at the young age of twenty-one.  Too young, as they tell their kids now, but they knew that they had found their person in one another.

Kevin attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he was an active member of the Delt Tau Delta fraternity.  He served as the chair of their philanthropy committee, formed life-long friendships, and graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications Management.  He had a love and a mind that was wired for IT.  He had this way of envisioning any problem, working tirelessly until he knew all the answers, or solving any issue.  After college, Kevin and Jenn first settled in their hometown of Grand Island near family.  They remained in this home through the birth of their two children, Jocelyn in 2009, and Ethan in 2011. While in Grand Island, Kevin pursued his Master’s Degree online, and graduated with his Master’s of Information Systems in 2012.  As much as they loved being near family, they both had big dreams for their future and careers.  This brought them to the Omaha area in 2012.  Kevin enjoyed a career with Video King for five years, after which he found his calling with Banyan Medical Systems as their IT Director.

As much as Kevin worked, he also balanced home life by being a highly involved parent, spouse, sibling, uncle, and son.  You could find him carrying on his love of sports by coaching his kids youth teams, being his daughter’s biggest fan at gymnastics meets, cheering on the sidelines of Ethan’s swim meets, or attending Husker football and basketball games. He loved cooking, was active in camping, fishing, vacations, and doing all that he could to give his family the best memories.

Even after the cancer diagnosis in 2015, he kept pursuing all that he could in life.  He never let it or the amputation slow him down.  It was often commented that you would never know that he faced any tribulations, as he remained positive, determined, and optimistic. He had a good three years cancer-free until it came back in January 2019. He fought hard and tirelessly for over two years. Still working full-time, still taking over the kitchen, still coaching, still dancing with Jenn, still running around with a blowtorch on the 4th of July, still playing poker and sipping his bourbon, still living.

Kevin touched so many hearts and souls throughout his life.  He brought everyone in and loved them as family.  He has literally given the shirt off his back and the shoes off his feet.  He was ever the optimist, the first to check in on friends and family, or donate to those in need.  He cared for others more than himself.  This is evident in the outpouring of love and messages since his passing.

It has been said that when you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer.  You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live.  In this sense, Kevin beat cancer.  May we all continue to live and love like Kevin.