Brenda Schwaderer Born September 21 1972, second child to Gene & Sue (Duell) Schwaderer, raised in Gordon, Neb. Brenda graduated from Gordon High School in 1991. Afterwards she attended Midland College in Fremont, Neb. In 1993, she returned to Gordon. In 1996, she moved to Fort Collins, Colo. and in 1998 she once again returned to her beloved Sandhills.
Brenda’s heart and soul were complete when her son was born. Brenda wanted nothing more than to be a mother. Caleb Thomas Short was born in September of 1998 just a few weeks before her 26th birthday. She always loved the privilege of sharing her birth month with him.
Brenda was always a hard and determined worker. Most notably she worked at the Pump & Pantry where she spent 25 years and 9 months. She had spent one year as a clerk, 9 years as the assistant manager, and the final 15 years as the store manager.
While there were many long and stressful days, Brenda loved each of her coworkers and customers. She saw each and every one of them as extended family.
In 2024, Brenda left the Pump & Pantry in preparation to move to Garden City, Kan. to be closer to her son Caleb, father Gene, and younger brother Gus and his family.
She spent 5 months enjoying life without work before she joined the First National Bank of Gordon as a teller.
Brenda never married but that was never a bother to her as she would confidently and enthusiastically say her life revolved around her son Caleb. Her favorite times in life were vacationing with Caleb, whether it was at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha or touring the many sights of the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Brenda was an avid ocean lover and in June of 2018 during a trip for her older brother Steve’s wedding, she finally got to witness the ocean off the Oregon coast with Caleb, completing a lifelong goal of hers.
Brenda is preceded in death by grandparents Fred & Carol Schwaderer, George and Claudia Duell, mother Sue Schwaderer, uncle Steven Schwaderer, cousin Crystal, and her children Kishawn, Keiona, and Keisha.
Brenda is survived by her father Gene Schwaderer, brothers Steve and Carolyn Schwaderer, Gus and Holly Schwaderer, son Caleb Short and his fiance Megan Reid, nephews Brenden and Levi Schwaderer, niece Morgen Schwaderer, and her closest friend and confidant Trisha DeWitt and the DeWitt family.
In leau of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Gordon American Legion Veterans Park.