Willard Garlock

On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, Willard Garlock died at the age of 81 after a brief bout with multiple ailments. His loving wife Carol was at his side.

Willard was born Oct. 23, 1943, in Courtland, Kansas, as the tenth of 14 children to Vern and Wilma Garlock. He grew up in and around Mankato, Kansas, graduating from Mankato High School in 1962, before beginning work on a custom combine crew that traversed the Midwest assisting farmers with their crops. It was during this time that he met Carol Robillard in Westhope, North Dakota. The two quickly fell in love and married in Westhope on Jan.15, 1966.

They settled in Hastings, Nebraska, where Willard began work as a glazer at Pittsburgh Plate Glass. He worked at PPG until 1993 when he decided to strike out on his own. He opened Garlock Glass Service in Hastings, where he continued working until retiring in 2015.

He made many friends during those years, always ensuring that those who needed his help were not simply customers, but people worth getting to know. Countless people in Hastings and the surrounding areas will also remember him for the beautiful wood and mirror crafts that he created and sold.

Willard deeply loved his family and was proud of their various accomplishments.

Willard was preceded in death by his parents, nine of his siblings, and various other members of his extended family. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carol, of Hastings; sons Greg (Rachel) Garlock and Brad (Wendy), allof Omaha, Nebraska, and Ryan (Lindsay) Garlock, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and grandchildren Olivia Garlock, Jacob Garlock, Kyra Garlock and Nicholas Garlock. Surviving siblings include Beth Riley of Independence, Missouri; Shirley (Bill) Elsner of Stetsonville, Wisconsin; Darlene (Paul) Garst of Mankato, Kansas; and Janie (Wendell) Sheets of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The family thanks the staffs at CHI Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, and The Grace Space in Lincoln for their loving care and for making Willard's final days as comfortable as possible.

Per Willard's wishes, he will be cremated and there will be no memorial service. The family asks that any memorials or donations be sent to the charity or cause that is most important to you.

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