Howard Gordon "Gordy" Clewell, '68
Howard Gordon "Gordy" Clewell, '68, passed away on October 29, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Lifetime Member.
Howard Gordon “Gordy” Clewell was born on a cold spring day April 1st, 1950 in Shakopee Minnesota to Howard Milton Clewell and Mildred Irene Clewell(Gordon). Born to two survivors of the great depression who had lost everything, Gordy had a meager upbringing and spent lots of time working with his father repairing bikes and assisting him in his repo work to help the family make ends meet. This upbringing shaped Gordy’s famous non-stop work ethic and it also shaped his infamous habit of hoarding absolutely useless things.
Gordy lost his father at the young age of 14. With a grieving widow mother and no father Gordy found himself often in trouble and soon found himself in Boys Town. At Boys Town Gordy not only turned his life around but he flourished. Gordy would often tell people that Boys Town saved his life.
After graduating high school in 1968, Gordy tried his hand at college and realized it wasn't for him just yet. So he joined the United States Army. He started out as an indirect fire infantryman, also known as a mortarman. Which is why he could never hear what you were saying to him, ever. Not being able to hear people is something Gordy took full advantage of when he wanted to. While in the military Gordy changed careers and found his professional calling. He became a social worker in the military in 1974 and worked at Ft Leavenworth Federal Prison until his honorable discharge in 1976.
After leaving the Army, Gordy would move his family to Lincoln Nebraska where he would start his career of public service. Starting first with child protective services and then moving to the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Corrections would be Gordy’s professional calling and he would remain in the field until his retirement in 2003. Starting as an entry level correctional officer, Gordy would complete his degree from Doane University and worked his way all the way up to Executive Director of the DuComb Corrections Center.
After his retirement, Gordy spent his time working with veteran organizations, helping the elderly, being involved in his church, and finding new ways and hilarious ways, to everyone but him, to be terrible at golf. Gordy’s personal ethos could be described by his family in one word; stubbornness. Stubbornness led him to never stop working until a job was done, stubbornness is what pulled him out of poverty and set his children up for success, stubbornness is what kept him alive despite multiple doctors over many decades and many illnesses telling him it was the end.
Gordy Clewell will be remembered as many things: Veteran, Fisherman, Carpenter, Wrestler, Deaf as a Doorknob, Coach, Child of God, Warden, Dog Lover, Public Servant, Prankster, Outdoorsman, Stubborn, Loyal, Loving, College Graduate, Hoarder of Useless Crap, World Traveler, Frustrated Husker fan, Midwesterner, Packers Fan, Terrible Golfer. But he will be remembered first as a loving Father and Grandfather.
Gordy Clewell passed away on October 29th, 2024 at his home with his son holding his hand and his loving dogs at his feet. He had said his goodbyes and goodbyes had been said to him. He could not have imagined a better way to go and he passed in peace. He is survived by sons Gordy and Ryan, daughters Kristina and Lyndsey(husband Scott), his surrogate daughter Teresa, granddaughter Laurel and grandsons Connor and Jace, and surrogate grandkids Dawn, David, Wyatt, Walter, Edward and Easton.
If you can, Please honor Gordy’s memory by donating to Boys Town.