Jackie Rae Gompert

Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025, at 10:00 am at Harvest Valley Church, Pastor Curt Holzworth officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. Casual attire is welcomed and preferred. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given, in her honor, to the Sunflower Historical Society or Lincoln Heights Elementary in Scottsbluff. Memories and condolences may be shared on www.dugankramer.com.

Jackie was born on June 29th, 1930, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to Lloyd and Leona (Leonard) Gentry. She was raised in the Sunflower area on a farm near Mitchell, NE, where, as a girl, she was in charge of cleaning, milking the cows, and tending to the pigs. But as the story goes, there was always an argument about who did more chores-she or her sister Jane.

She attended Sunflower School from first grade through graduation. Some of her fondest memories were from her years there. She loved to tell the story of when she and her two sisters were cheerleaders together and cheered at the victorious 1947 State Basketball Game. Sunflowers were her favorite flowers, and she always loved the old-school colors, purple and gold. She even drove the school bus after graduation. But most importantly, Sunflower is where she met her future husband, Arvid Gompert.

Jackie and Arvid were married on September 1, 1948, and began an adventure together that lasted an amazing 74 years. Their union was blessed with two daughters and three sons, 13 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, which started calling her “Little Grandma”, and one great-great-grandson, Jagger, whom she called “Her Baby”.

Jackie lived in the Sunflower community until Arvid retired from farming. In 1984, they moved to Scottsbluff, where they made their forever home. She was the heart and “boss” of the house. She kept everything running, from disciplining the kids to cleaning and polishing the sinks and keeping the countertops spotless before she went to bed each night.

After moving into town, Jackie also started venturing out into the work world. She worked for her grandson at Western Sugar, weighing the beet trucks during harvest and cleaning their offices. She also worked at Helen’s House of Style in Gering, NE, and the Bootery in Scottsbluff. She always wanted to be a schoolteacher, but became the teacher to her own children instead and later volunteered in her daughter’s kindergarten classroom at Lincoln Heights Elementary, which led to her joining the Foster Grandma Program, where she proudly served until age 88, when she officially retired. She loved the school kids she worked with and cherished when they would see her out and about and call her “Grandma.” They would always come running over to give her a big hug. Lincoln Heights honored her with the Volunteer of the Year award in 2018 for her dedication and service to children and their education.

Jackie had a sparkling personality and loved things that sparkled. She was determined to look her best at all times, even when mowing the lawn — and, of course, she did. She loved glitter, painted fingernails, getting her hair done, chandeliers, decorating for every holiday, lead crystal, perfume, and always made sure that Arvid's clothes were color coordinated with hers. She loved playing Bridge and Pinochle with her friends and family. Jackie also took pride in making her yard look amazing. She loved grooming the landscape and collecting rocks from South Dakota to Utah and taking care of her flowers.

But most of all, Jackie loved seeing her great-grandchildren and spending time with them. She loved pinching their cheeks and giving them kisses. Nothing was more important to Jackie than her family. Whenever we needed her, she was there. She taught all of us the meaning of hard work. She would say, “The harder you work, the better off you will be.” She left us her love, her compassion, and showed us humbleness, gratitude, and kindness. This is her legacy she left for all of us to follow.

She is survived by her children, Calleen (Jim) Darnell, Tom (Anne) Gompert, Russ (Jan) Gompert, Gary (Brenda) Gompert, Lori (the late Kenny) Blehm; grandchildren: Jerry (Brenda) Darnell, Jeff (Stacy) Darnell, Jon (Alli) Darnell, Pete (Amy) Gompert, Michael Gompert, Sara (Ryan) Knutson, Ryan (Katy) Gompert, Emily Murray, Ross (Katie) Gompert, Josh (Jenny) Gompert, Katie (Travis) Freeland, Aaron (Ann Marie) Blehm, Amy (Spencer) Lease; great grandchildren: Jack, Allie, Samatha, Jake, Joslyn, Daxon, Jane, Ben, Caden, Brock, Halle, Rexton, Reed, Rory, Ryce, Audrey, Claire, Henry, Grayson, Jada, Crew, Taylor, Madison, Ella, Lauren, Abigail, Andrew, Kinley, Mason; great-great grandson, Jagger: special nieces that were like daughters Dora Reins and Mary Smith; brother-in-law Dave Fonken and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jackie was preceded in death by her husband Arvid Gompert; parents; sisters, Lorelei Reeder and Jane Smith; brother, Larry Gentry; and their spouses; son-in-law Kenny Blehm.