Reposted from Heafey Hoffman Dworak Cutler

Gary W. Herron
July 1, 1951 – April 6, 2026

Survived by wife, Mary Jane. 

Visitation begins Friday, April 10, 2026 at 9am with a Memorial Service at 11am at the mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, Gary requested memorials be made to either the Nebraska Humane Society, 8929 Fort St., Omaha, NE 68134, nehumanesociety.org or Mercy High School, 1501 S. 48th St., Omaha, NE 68106, mercyhigh.org.

Gary is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jane (Monico) Herron; brother, Steven Herron. Also surviving him are brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Chuck and Kathy Monico, Kathy Schafer, and Jerry and Kathy Monico; nephews and nieces: Christopher Fecher, Chuck and Marlo Monico, Lisa and Joe Kalamaja, Andrea Monico, Greg and Rachael Monico, Michelle and David Maher, Christine and Greg Nelson, Tony and Jennefer Monico, Catie and Brian Johnson; 18 great-nieces and great-nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Lacy “Dale” and Mary Jo Herron; brother, James Herron.

Gary was born in Kansas City, MO, and grew up in Valley Center, KS. Following his graduation from Wichita State University, Gary worked for Missouri Pacific Railroad prior to its merger with Union Pacific Railroad from which he retired after 30 years of service. His career took him across the entire rail system, with postings to Kansas City, MO; Houston, TX; Portland OR, and St. Louis, MO, before moving to Omaha. Gary and Mary Jane met while working in Boise, ID while working on a systems implementation project. After four years of long-distance dating, they decided it was time to share the same zip code, leading to Gary’s Omaha move. She introduced him to the College World Series and he introduced her to model train shows. In spite of those things, they married in October 1990, building a life filled with love and laughter. He was an avid collector of vintage Triumph motorcycles and fancied himself more a collector of rail car and structure models than a modeler, although he always had a model railroad layout in his mind that he was continually refining before ever building a physical layout. He was well-versed in military history, and all forms of music from classical to jazz, blues to rock and roll, and could always be counted on to correctly answer the question “Who recorded this song?” often providing liner notes information in the answer. He enjoyed chasing storms and sunsets, usually with a cup of coffee in hand and Mary Jane always by his side.

Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com