Kenneth Buehler

Kenneth "Digger" Buehler, 74 of Kearney passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2024 with his family by his side at the VA Medical Center in Omaha, NE. Funeral services will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, August 10, 2024 at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Interment will follow at Kearney Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Kearney American Legion Post #52 and VFW Post #759 in conjunction with the U.S. Navy Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 9, 2024 at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

Digger was born May 28, 1950 in Kearney, Nebraska to Ruben and Margaret (Knapp) Buehler. He was raised in Kearney and received his education from Kearney High School, graduating with the class of 1969. Following high school, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1970 to 1972 having served two sea tours in the Mediterranean and was honorably discharged before returning home. Digger was united in marriage to Patricia Dean on June 8, 1975 at the First United Methodist Church in Kearney. To this union two children were blessed; Jeff and Brandi. The couple later divorced. Digger did concrete construction most of his life and was a longtime employee of Dan Roeder and Ron Blessing. Most recently, he spent the past 10 years working at Walmart, retiring in February of 2024.

Digger enjoyed fishing, music, dancing, camping, old movies and a cold PBR.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Jeffrey Buehler and fiancé, Heather Ellison of Kearney; daughter, Brandi Buehler and fiancé, Hugh Knutson of Kearney; grandson, AJ Buehler of Kearney; significant other, Rosa Berumen of Kearney; brother, James Buehler of Texas; niece, Lynn Buehler of Texas.

Digger was preceded in death by his parents.