Albert F Zuege

Albert Fredrick Zuege, Jr.

Albert (Al) Fredrick Zuege, Jr. of Imperial, NE passed away on July 6th, 2021 at the Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, NE. Albert was born on February 28th, 1944 in Santa Monica, CA to Albert (Sr.) and Sophia (Keller) Zuege.
Albert grew up and spent his childhood on the family farm in Cheyenne County, KS just south of Haigler, NE. He attended country school north of St. Francis, KS until he began high school where he attended and graduated from Haigler High School in 1962. In high school he enjoyed hunting and spending time with friends and family, working on the family farm, and most importantly he began to develop his love for education and athletics. Al was highly involved in all sports, but his greatest passion was for the sport of track & field. Al was a very accomplished runner, ultimately winning the Class D 880 yard run at the Nebraska State Track Meet in 1962.
After graduating from Haigler High, Albert began his college career at McCook Junior College in McCook, NE, where he majored in Social Studies and participated on the college track team. After 2 years in McCook he continued his education and track career at Ft. Hayes State College in Hayes, KS. After 1 year in Hayes, Albert finished is academic and athletic career at Kearney State College where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies and Physical Education.
Albert began his teaching career at Kearney Catholic High School where he taught and coached from 1968-1970. It was at that time that he married his wife of 52 years, Ginny Mae Bryan on August 16, 1969 in Haigler, NE. After marrying the couple moved to Scotia, NE where Al would teach and coach at North Loup - Scotia High School for the next 8 years. In 1970 their first child, Pandora Lynn Zuege, was born. Their second child, Carl Albert Frederick Zuege, was born 4 years later in 1974. In 1978 Albert sought a career change, so he left education to buy the Happy Jack Tavern in Scotia. Albert and Ginny owned and operated the tavern from 1978 – 1984. After selling their business, Albert went to work selling insurance at the North Loup Valley Bank, but was ultimately drawn back into education in 1985 when he accepted a teaching and coaching position at Revere High School in Ovid, CO. After 2 years in Ovid, Albert made his final move with his family, this time to Imperial, NE where he taught and coached for the next 27 years at Chase County High School. Albert finally retired in 2014, bet remained very active and visible in the school by driving a bus, announcing Longhorn athletic events, and continuing to coach track all of the way up through the 2021 season.
All who knew Albert know that he was a man of a wide variety of talents and interests. He enjoyed hunting rattlesnakes, fishing, reading, running, watching sports, and playing poker. When he wasn’t at school, Albert could often be found outdoors. He enjoyed spending time hunting, shooting guns, and fishing… usually back around his hometown in Dundy County. Some of his most cherished times involved sharing these activities with his grandchildren. He also was an avid follower of sports. He was a Husker football fanatic and he was a major supporter of all Chase County Longhorn teams and activities. Many people in Imperial considered him the voice of the Longhorns, as he was the longtime PA announcer for Longhorn football, softball, and baseball. And, once again, his greatest passion came in the spring when he was able to coach Longhorn track. He was the head girls track coach at CCHS for 27 years, and then spent the next 7 years volunteering with all of Chase County’s hurdlers. He was especially proud of these groups, and continued to follow them and give them encouragement even when his health began to fail him. When he wasn’t working with his athletes or spending time outdoors, Al could probably be found at a card table. Along with several of his close friends, Al would travel around Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado to find the best poker games.
Al was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, the Sons of the American Legion, the Eagles Club, and the Champion Social Club, along with many other groups and associations throughout the years.
Al will be remembered fondly by those who knew and loved him for his storytelling, his sense of humor, his work with young people, and his love for his family. Albert is preceded in death by his father Albert Zuege Sr., His brother Alfred Zuege, and his granddaughter Emily Garcia.
Al is survived by his mother, Sophia (Keller) Zuege of Haigler, NE, his wife Ginny (Bryan) Zuege of Imperial, NE, and his 2 children: Pandora Garcia and her husband Perry of Pueblo, CO and Carl Zuege and his wife Chelsea of Imperial, NE. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Matt Garcia and wife Katie of Denver, CO, Adam Garcia of Castleford, ID, Bryce Zuege of Imperial, NE, and Emmitt Zuege of Imperial, NE.
Funeral services for Albert Zuege will be held on Tuesday, July 13 at 10:30 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial with Pastor David Kahle officiating. Burial will take place at the Haigler Cemetery at 3:00 PM on July 13. Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and service information can be found online at https://www.liewerfuneralhome.com .
A memorial has been suggested in Al’s memory to Chase County Schools with a designation for the Track and Field programs


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