January 13, 1928 – March 8, 2012
Gordon was involved with ranch work, horses and rodeos all his life. Gordon was born January 13, 1928 at Farnam, Nebraska to Rankie and Hazel (Larsen) Kostman. His family later moved to Brule, Nebraska where they farmed and ranched, milking cows and raising draft horses. Later they moved north of Arthur where they also ranched.
Gordon has a sister, Francis Geisert, and a brother, Norman (deceased). Gordon had a daughter, Karma Kramer, and a son, Kevin (wife Wendy). He also had five grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. On July 10, 1949 he married Margaret Finn at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ogallala, Nebraska.
Gordon participated in rodeo for most of his life starting at age sixteen as a calf roper, later team roping as a header. He competed at rodeos in twenty six counties in Nebraska and in twelve states. Gordon was a rodeo pick-up man for the O’Connor Rodeo Company in the late 50’s and early 60’s. He earned the title of Nebraska association Champion Team Roping Header with Larry Trenary in 1972. He also earned the same title in 1977 with Wayne Melvin and Champion Header with Chet Kramer in 1983 in a sanctioned rodeo. He was the second person to receive the NSRA Gold Card. In 1978 he joined the Senior Pro Rodeo Association.
Gordon ranched north of Keystone with his dad and worked at the George McGinley Ranch near Keystone. In Arthur County he worked for several ranches, including the Lute and Kramer Ranches, Meyers Land and Cattle Company, and the Haythorn Ranch. Gordon also managed Moon Lake Cattle Company south of Johnstown, Nebraska. In addition, he worked at the Ogallala Livestock Sale Barn and was also employed by the Arthur County Roads Department for fourteen years. Gordon helped organize the Arthur County High School Rodeo Club.
He received appreciation awards from Arthur Agricultural Society, the Arthur Roping Club and the Arthur High School Rodeo Club. Both Gordon and Margaret were honored as Grand Marshals at the Arthur County Fair and Rodeo in 2000.
Gordon retired in 1994 but continued to do day work for several different ranches until ill health prevented him from continuing.
Gordon and Margaret were married for sixty three years. Their family had celebrations for them on their fortieth, fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversaries. Gordon enjoyed his family, children and grandchildren’s activities. He was thankful for his active ranch and rodeo life.