David Lester Tarr

David Tarr 1961 - 2026

David Lester Tarr, age 61, of Mineville, NY, and Gering, NE, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026

Born in Scottsbluff, NE, to Lester and Vivian Tarr, David was a generous, helpful, funny, and hardworking person. Kind and supportive, he spent much of his adult life in the Gering area of Nebraska, where he was known for his love of books, music, trivia, and sports, especially the New York Yankees, Notre Dame Irish, and San Francisco 49ers.

Dave dedicated many years of work to Johnson’s Cashway in Gering, where he made many friends. He also loved taking long walks with his best canine friend, Bear. Dave also spent many hours visiting local Gering establishments every evening, where he would share stories and always found a way to make people smile.

He was also dedicated to his work with the local library in Gering, where he volunteered his time with the Gering Library Foundation. He also umpired in his youth for the Gering Girls Softball Association and later in life delivered newspapers for the Scottsbluff Star Herald. He found great joy in helping on the family farm and attending family events with his older brothers, Jim and Tom. During this time, he was able to spend many years with his nieces and nephews: Michelle (Jeff), Tara (Leigh), Chris (LeAnn), Melissa (Phil), and all of his great nieces and nephews in Gering/Scottsbluff.

He is survived by his sister Mary and her husband Karl, who raised David into the great person he became, his brothers Jim, Tom (Lori), and his sisters-in-law Kathy (Bob) Tarr and Becky (Danny) Tarr. David is also survived by the Thelens he was raised with: Tamara (Steven), Shane (Rosalyn), Joshua, and Jeffrey. He also leaves behind countless cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, great great nieces and nephews that have wonderful stories about how much he touched each of their lives separately. They will miss him greatly.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, Lester and Vivian, half-sister Betty Ann, his brother-in-law Pete, brothers Bob, Allan, Danny, and sister-in-law Donna (Allan). Also by his nephews, Casey, Dean, Daniel, and niece Karen.

A celebration of David’s life will be held on Saturday, May 2nd, at the Mineville/Witherbee VFW from 1 to 4 pm. Please contact Shane Thelen for more information.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David’s memory to either the Black Watch Library in Ticonderoga, NY, or to the Gering Public Library Foundation in NE.

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