Howard Mark Downer

Howard “Mark” Downer, age 71, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Heritage Estates Care Center in Gering, Nebraska.

He was born May 18, 1954, in Omaha, NE, a son of the late Howard and Margie Franklin Downer of Harrisburg, NE. He graduated in 1972, from Banner County High School and Nebraska Western College in 1974, before heading to University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Here he met his future wife, Diane Harre. They were married in 1977. From this union they had two sons. After another year of college, they settled in Gering, and he farmed with his dad in Banner County for the next 40 years.

Mark was a source of strength and unwavering support for his family and friends. He enjoyed helping them whenever he could, whether it was branding with other ranchers, babysitting a grandchild, cooking supper, or volunteering at his wife’s place of work.

He is survived by his wife, sons Adam (Candy) Downer of Gering and Brian (Stephanie) Downer of Scottsbluff; grandchildren Austin, Genevieve, Maddison, Owen and Charlotte; sister Lisa (Jim) Policky of Seward; and brother-in-law Steve Bennett of Lincoln.

He is preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Jim and Jean Harre; sister-in-law Carolyn Bennett and brother-in-law Mark Porter.

As per his request, there will be no funeral service. A private family graveside service will be held at a future date at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Legacy of the Plains Museum or the Gering Public Library Foundation.