Ronald E. "Ron" Hergott

Ronald (Ron) Eugene Hergott died on July 6, 2026, in Hastings, Nebraska, after a three-year fight and brief hospice stay, the result of a battle with cancer of the throat. He was 66.

He was born March 16, 1960, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to Wilfrid and Lola (Wilson) Hergott.

Ron was the third of five boys - Rick (Kathy), Gary (Carol), Ron, Greg (Brenda), and Lonnie (Samantha) - and spent his childhood riding motorbikes, roughhousing, and playing football with his brothers. During high school summer trips, he visited extended family in Montana and fell in love with the state, returning often throughout his life for elk hunts, fishing trips, and family visits.

He attended Hebron High School where he began a lifelong love affair with athletics. He was a member of multiple District Champion football teams, two Track and Field State Team Championships, and ended his high school sporting career with a gold medal in the Class-C 110M High Hurdles. Ron set a Hebron High School record in the event that stood for 25 years until it was broken by his son Nathen who was coached by his dad. After high school, he followed his passion for football by accepting a scholarship to play linebacker for Hastings College. He started on both the 1978 and 1980 teams, who were later inducted into the 2024 College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. While in college, he met Cathy (Cooley) Hergott whom he married shortly after their graduation in 1982. The young couple quickly started a family as Ron began his lifelong journey as a coach and educator. During the next ten years, they had four children together - Keithen (Lee Ann) Hergott, Nathen Hergott, Calicia (Jared) Patton, and Brayden (Chandra) Hergott. During that same decade, he accepted an assistant high school football coaching position in south Texas and head coaching positions for both baseball and basketball in southeastern Colorado, with life’s opportunities ultimately leading his young family back to his hometown of Hebron, Nebraska. Ron left official coaching positions for the next decade while continuing to coach his four children in multiple sports. His passion for the outdoors never wavered. Elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains was perhaps his favorite personal activity. He also treasured the Hergott property that was homesteaded by his ancestors over 100 years ago where his father was raised. He spent many memorable moments enjoying the land’s beauty, as well as playing with and teaching his children how to hunt on the land.

While the window of his first marriage closed after 23 years, another chapter unfolded with him accepting a position at Hastings College. His past experiences and formidable interpersonal communication skills provided him the capacity to truly connect with college athletes. He ultimately coached an ever-growing list of sports where his athletes and teams garnered numerous awards and accolades. His faith-based approach to coaching was the bedrock of his programs and ultimately led to helping guide numerous National Champions, All Americans, and All-Conference performers during his 20-plus years coaching track and field, football, women's basketball, and bowling. He ended his coaching career after starting and building a national powerhouse bowling program and coaching the only individual to win back-to-back national titles in bowling. Ron felt truly blessed and honored for his career in athletics to come full circle, ending with his third induction into the 2025 Hastings College Athletic Hall of Fame, this time as a coach.

His return to Hastings also led him to meeting his second wife, Lori (Gingrich) Hergott. The two shared 17 loving years together, and he gained two stepchildren, Nikki (Greg) Adams and Maggie (Jameson) Esch whom he embraced with the same passion he had for his own. His now six children eventually brought ten grandchildren into his life - Rylee Schulte, Caden Adams, Tucker Adams, Gabriel Hergott, Haven Patton, Hazel Patton, Hunter Patton, Linnea Esch, Archie Esch, and Lottie Esch. The role of “Grandpa” became his favorite, providing him fulfilling years of laughter, pride, and love. Being able to teach his grandsons and granddaughters the nuances of a baseball/softball swing or basketball shot brought him tears of joy. Ron was preceded in death by his father, Wilfrid Hergott, and his mother, Lola Muhr. 

Throughout Ron’s entire life, he was a devoutly faithful man with a profound love for Jesus Christ. His faith led and comforted him through his younger years and remained with him through his fight with cancer. He truly cared for his fellow man and led prayer groups and bible studies wherever he lived. His personal bible study was prodigious; he began nearly every morning in solitary prayer while reading his bible. The number of individuals he touched during his life is uncountable with his faith being the common denominator through life’s ups and downs. When counseling someone, he once calmly said, “I hear you and understand you’re dealing with a challenging moment, but just turn it over to the Lord. How beautiful is it that you can simply trust in Him to take care of you.” A lasting lesson that he passed down to his own children as well as anyone he encountered.

Ron’s memorial service is on Monday, July 20, at North Shore Church in Hastings beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a light lunch to follow. There is no viewing or visitation as his wishes were to be cremated. A private family inurnment will take place the following day. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to North Shore Church (Mynsag.com) or the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Hope Lodge - Omaha (https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/events/577/donate)