Paul Ehernberger, 75, of Schuyler, died Monday, May 25, 2026, at his home in Schuyler.
The Funeral Service will be live streamed - https://www.facebook.com/hpchurchne
In lieu of flowers, plants, and statues memorials directed in care of the family.
Funeral Service Friday, May 29, 2026, 10:30 A.M.
Highland Park Evangelical Church 4115 38th St. Columbus
Rev. Mike Escen, Officiating
Visitation Thursday 5-8 P.M. -Kracl Funeral Chapel, 1622 F. Street, Schuyler
Visitation continues Friday 9:30 A.M. at the church
Lunch in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service
Committal in Schuyler Cemetery 1:30 P.M.
Paul Ehernberger passed away Monday evening, May 25, 2026, at his home in Schuyler, with his wife Valerie holding him in her arms after a difficult battle with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma. He was 75 years old.
Paul was born September 8, 1950, in Columbus, Nebraska, to Lumir John Ehernberger Sr. and Lucile Christensen Ehernberger. He graduated from Schuyler High School in 1968, later attended Creighton University, and was also involved in ROTC during his younger years. Paul spent his life surrounded by music, ideas, faith, family, conversation, and curiosity about the world around him.
He managed Golden West Grain Company, a business originally owned by his grandfather Gerald Ehernberger Sr., helped manage Ehernberger Family Farms over the years and was well known as the owner of Good Music in downtown Columbus from 1979 to 1988. For many people, Good Music was more than a record store. It was a place to gather, talk, learn,laugh, and share music with someone who genuinely loved it.Music remained part of Paul’s life from beginning to end. He played bass, guitar, and keyboards in several bands through the years and also composed music of his own. In 2015, he was inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame under his performing name, PFreeSpirit.
Paul’s interests and work carried him far beyond Nebraska over the years. He served as National Communications Director for the Alan Keyes presidential campaign and was deeply involved in Rotary humanitarian efforts, youth service, and community work. In 2013-14, he received Rotary International’s prestigious “Service Above Self” award, Rotary’s highest honor for an individual Rotarian. Paul knew something about almost everything. History, music, theology, politics, nature, travel…conversations with him rarely stayed small for long. He noticed details other people missed and had a gift for turning ordinary drives into unforgettable experiences He loved Maple Creek Canyon deeply, a wooded creek property and farmhouse that became part of who he was. Paul called it his “retirement project,” but really it was a labor of love.
He spent years cutting miles of trails through the trees, usually with his dogs nearby and a chainsaw in hand, building it into something he wanted to share with Valerie and the people he loved.
Paul was endlessly resourceful. Family members lovingly laughed about the grocery bags,containers of screws and bolts, and all the little things Paul saved because he was certain they might someday be useful. To him, very little was disposable.He was also funny in a way that caught people off guard.
His puns appeared out of nowhere in the middle of conversations. Paul loved his family deeply. He shared a close bond with his siblings, loved his children and grandchildren dearly, and was incredibly proud of them. He and Valerie shared nearly 18 years together filled with music, long conversations, road trips, projects, laughter, faith, and a love that carried them through every season of life. Even through his illness, Paul continued trying to protect the people he loved most.
Paul is survived by his wife, Valerie Ehernberger; children Tyson Ehernberger, Assunta Boothe(Erwin), Christina Casselberry, Andrew Hager, and Luke Robinson; siblings Richard Ehrenberger(Penny), Jack Ehernberger (Helen), and Bonita English (John); grandchildren Austin Casselberry (Sydney), Sage Tolle (Matt), Alisha Cornelison, and Lilly Roenfeldt; great-grandson Arthur Casselberry; along with many extended family members, friends, fellow musicians, and people whose lives were made better simply by knowing him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lumir John Ehernberger Sr. and Lucile Christensen Ehernberger.
In lieu of flowers, plants, and statues, memorials in Paul’s memory may be directed in care of the
family.
You must be logged in to post a comment.