Obituary of Ivan Newton Eby

Ivan Newton “Newt” Eby, 80, passed peacefully on Friday, April 19, 2024, in Gulf Breeze, FL. He was born November 8, 1943, in Oxford, NE, oldest of three children to Ira Newton Eby and Betty Lou (Snyder-Mathis) Eby. While in high school, Newt earned the rank of Eagle Scout and he participated in football, basketball, track & field, and baseball. After graduating in 1961 from Oxford High School, he studied at Kearney State College and served in the Army National Guard. He was married to Nancy Slips from 1969 to 1976 and they had two children, Gary and Ginger.

Newt and his soul mate, Sally (Southard) Eby moved from Holdrege, NE to Buena Vista, CO in 1980. There they owned and operated The Little Daisy Company and Newt was employed by (not incarcerated by!) the Colorado Department of Corrections. In 2001, Newt and Sally retired to Billings, MT and then moved to Gulf Breeze, FL in 2019.

Newt had an amazing sense of humor - often cracking himself up and those around him with his jokes and witty perspective! He had a wide variety of interests and hobbies. Newt loved music of any kind, but especially jazz… he was inspired by his jazz musician father who performed throughout the Midwest. Newt was also an avid reader and based on his immense knowledge of virtually everything, the family always fought over who got to have him as their partner in trivia games! Newt passed on his love of the game of pool to his grandchildren, spending countless hours teaching them how to play on his prized antique pool table in the basement of his Billings home.

Another hobby of Newt’s was woodworking. He inherited his grandfather Leslie Eby’s tools and used them on amazing home projects, while whistling and smiling. Newt loved a good yard sale or thrift store… He collected books, records, CD’s, cassette tapes, tools, sports memorabilia, and antiques among other items.

Newt is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sally Eby; son Chris Bogert (wife Beth and children Clay, Sam, Erica, and Sabrynn) of Dix, NE; daughter Monica Garcia (husband Rafael & children Rafael, Felix and Carmela) of Gulf Breeze, FL; son Gary Eby (wife Rhonda and children Jacob and Elizabeth) of Omaha, NE; daughter Ginger Breinig (husband Randy and children Audrey, Shannon, Connor, Meredith, and Natalie) of Arapahoe, NE; sister Nita Lyon (husband Ron and daughters Shelley, Christie, Angie and families) of Holdrege, NE; and brother Les Eby of St. Paul, NE; sister-in-law Susan Baack (husband Dan and children Aaron and wife Beth -sons Austen and Mason; Matt and wife Marge -daughters Logan and Dylan); brother-in-law Andrew Southard (son Holden).

At his request, Newt’s family will come together later to celebrate his life by sharing memories and margaritas! In lieu of flowers, consider donating in Newt’s name to Emerald Coast Hospice https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/GentivaFoundation/GHS.html or by check to Emerald Coast Parkinson’s Assist (mail or deliver to: Falbo’s Family Karate, 3031 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563).

 

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