Gary L. McAdam

Gary Lee McAdam, age 76 of Sidney, NE, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on the morning of December 28, 2025 after a yearlong fight with pancreatic cancer. Services will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Wednesday, January 07, 2026 at First Baptist Church in Sidney with James Leslie officiating.   In lieu of flowers , please make memorial contributions to the family for a later designation. 

Friends may stop by the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel to leave their condolences for the family. You may view Gary’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos, and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Gary’s care and funeral arrangements.

Gary was born on October 4, 1949 in Julesburg, CO to Burdette and Betty McAdam.  He grew up in Venango, NE as the eldest of six children.  Gary graduated in the class of 1968 and pursued a degree in mechanical work in Denver.  After he came home, he joined the United States Navy and served the next five years.  He married Rosemary Pedersen in 1985 and became a husband and father to her two children.  David and Desiree became an integral part of his life and he lived for being a father.  The memories of his parenting and all the traditions he started still run strong.  Gary worked multiple professions in his life and all of them were in service to others. 

He worked for the City of Sidney for many years, and in his finals years he worked at Cabela’s where he touched many lives.  He had an impressive work ethic and never asked someone to do something he was not willing to do himself.  During his free time, Gary rode his bicycle far and wide.  He liked to take friends to go explore new places.  He could also be found training his mule, Tommy for many years and taking him for rides.  Gary also loved his animals and you could find him petting his dogs and giving his sheep treats.  Gary would always rather be outside if that was possible.  If you could get him to watch something, it would almost always be football.  Gary was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Sidney Nebraska for over 40 years.  He loved playing the harmonica and many fond memories of him playing for the congregation exist.   He was firm in his belief that you could be saved by the blood of the Christ and he walked in his faith every day. 

He is survived by children Desiree Smith and her family and David Pedersen, his siblings, Karen Carruthers, Roxanne and husband Harlan Haitt; Steven McAdam, James and wife Jonna McAdam, and many nieces and nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Burdette and Betty McAdam, sister Sherylynn Brown, grandparents, Claude and Lula Lefler and Cloyd and Mabel McAdam, and brother-in-law Perry Carruthers.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff at Sidney Regional for their care and compassion in those final weeks.