Roland L. Cooksley

Roland Lee Cooksley, age 96, of Elwood, Nebraska passed away on Thursday, December 25, 2025 at the Elwood Care Center, Elwood, Nebraska. He was born on May 7, 1929, at Broken Bow, Nebraska to John & Thelma (Skinner) Cooksley. He grew up in the Sandhills ranching.

He graduated from Broken Bow High School with the class of 1947, their class motto was “It’s not the gale, but the set of the sails that determines the way we go.” He then attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for Cooperative Extension. He received his Bachelors of Science in Agriculture in 1951 and his Master’s degree in Agricultural Education in 1969. He was then a Extension Agriculturalist in 1976. His career varied from Veteran’s Agriculture Instructor in David City, Nebraska to Extension Agent in Nance, Gosper, and Phelps County, leading numerous 4-H programs.

He married Gayle Marie Michaud on August 4, 1951, at the St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. To this union two sons were born: Micheal John in 1952 and Steven Paul in 1954. Gayle and Roland enjoyed traveling many trips per the extension office and family vacations, which included the grandkids. They were members of the Elwood Methodist Church in Elwood, where he served on many committees. He had a strong faith that he shared with many including his grandkids.

He received numerous service awards; including 35 years with the University of Nebraska in 1990. He had numerous memberships including County Extension Agent Association, Cooperative Extension Associations, National Association County Agricultural Agents. He served in many civic positions in the Chamber of Commerce with Holdrege and Elwood and served as the mayor of Elwood for many years. He served on special committees for 4-H, extension offices, and University committees including the State Fair and Aksarben. He retired in June of 1992 from the USDA.

Roland dedicated his life to learning, and loved to read newspapers, books, and magazines. He always had a book to recommend, magazine that had been earmarked to share. He loved to talk at the Gosper County Senior Center about things he read or learned. One of his favorite things to do was to go to the Senior Center and hitch a ride with Uncle Wayne.

He had a big love of the University of Nebraska sports and was seen often in a Nebraska sweatshirt. He would go to football and basketball games. He and Gayle enjoyed the grandkids sports, he liked to follow Kelly’s coaching girl’s basketball games and grandson-in-law Ben Spiegel’s football games. After Gayle’s death, he would enjoy sharing his football tickets with his grandkids, when he was no longer able to go, but he’d enjoy watching the games with grandson Kelly.

Leaving to celebrate a life well lived: son Steve (Diann) Cooksley of Elwood, NE, grandchildren: Kelly (Katy) Cooksley of Broken Bow, NE and children Kennedy and Kyler, Sydney (Trent) Winter of Seward, NE, and children Charlie, Harrison, and Isla, Taylor (Ben Spiegel) of Eustis, NE, and children Kinley, Asher, Rowan, and Arya, Trent (Marie) Cooksley of Omaha, NE, and children Michael, Max, and Victoria, brother Norman (Jan) Cooksley of Omaha, NE, brother-in-law Max Clegg, sister-in-law Elaine Michaud, of Lincoln, NE, and numerous nieces and nephews. Also many friends from the Senior Center, previous 4-H members, County Extension agent Gerald “Pete” Peterson (pie deliverer), Uncle Wayne Sander, and wherever he went he had many friends and acquaintances.

He is preceded in death by wife Gayle, son Michael, parents, sister Donita (Don) Wiles, brother-in-law Rollin, Paul, Daryl Michaud, sisters-in-law Jane Clegg and Myra Michaud, parents-in-law Paul and Beulah.

No viewing or visitation as his wishes were to be cremated. Memorials will be designated at a later date.