Irvin T. Omtvedt

Irv Omtvedt had many titles throughout his nearly 91 years. He was a son, husband, dad, papa, grandpa, great papa Irv, professor, doctor, geneticist, dean, senior vice chancellor, vice president, president, and even “mayor” to some. Irv was a humble man, always preferring to let others shine. Organized and purposeful, Irv had already written a draft of his obituary, arranged and paid for the service, and picked out his bulletin photo. He was thoughtful and caring and lived with a mission and purpose to serve others. He devoted thousands of volunteer hours to organizations like Kiwanis and St. Mark’s committees, regularly visited friends in the hospital, and helped friends at the Grand Lodge assisted living center so they could participate in activities.

Irv relied on his calendar as a roadmap for each day, week, and year. He had at least three daily activities, and often organized several events at the Grand Lodge. He was a quiet leader who worked hard and kept busy. In his 80s, Irv became known for baking cookies at Grand Lodge and loved sharing them with others.

Worried about activity continuity, Irv recruited others for bridge and chapel attendance even in his last week. Social gatherings and physical activity kept him young at heart, and he genuinely loved people. He even organized covert bridge games and birthday parties during the COVID lockdown, finding creative ways to socialize and connect.

Irvin Thomas Omtvedt, age 90, passed away peacefully in Lincoln on April 6, 2026, after an eight-year battle with kidney, bladder, and liver cancer. He was born June 12, 1935, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to Thomas and Irene (Nelson) Omtvedt, and grew up on a farm near Sand Creek. Irv graduated from Colfax High School, earned a BS from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, then a master’s and PhD from Oklahoma State University. He was the first in his family to earn a college degree. On August 15, 1959, Irv married Wanda Rank. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1957 to 1964, with active duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Irv’s academic journey started as Extension Swine Specialist at the University of Minnesota, then as an Animal Science faculty member at Oklahoma State University. He became assistant dean of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University. At the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Irv served as Animal Science Department head, Ag Research Division dean, IANR vice chancellor, and University vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources. He also held appointments as interim senior vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and vice chancellor for Extended Education and Outreach.

Irv was president of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. He was honored as a fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society of Animal Science. His community involvement included membership in St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Capital City Kiwanis Club, Nebraska Community Foundation Board of Directors, OLLI, and Friendship Home. He served as lieutenant governor for the Nebraska/Iowa Kiwanis District.

Irv is survived by his children Mark (Tamara) Omtvedt of Kearney, Nebraska, and Penny (Doug) Grossenbacher of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren Brooke (Jordan) Fairchild of Olathe, Kansas, Carmen (Daniel) Page of Clarksville, Tennessee, Sydney and Thomas Omtvedt of Bentonville, Arkansas; and great-grandchildren Kasen Douglas, Hudson and Hallie Fairchild, and Madilyn Page. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Wanda, brother Ralph Omtvedt, and sister Cleo Taft.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd, at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 24, 2026. Arrangements are handled by Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th St., Lincoln, NE. Private interment for family will be held at Lincoln Memorial April 25th, and a celebration of life for residents will take place at the Grand Lodge Senior Community during social hour. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mark’s United Methodist Foundation, Grand Lodge Scholarship Fund, or the University of Nebraska Foundation.

Despite his many accomplishments, Irv’s greatest pride was his family. His advice to his great-grandchildren: Love.