John Joseph Gutgsell was born in Highland, Kansas on October 22, 1939.

Joe was an avid drag car racer in the 1950’s and early 1960’s, racing the Gold Coffin, a 1932 Ford 3-window coupe with a Buick engine. He also owned a 1952 Ford with a 1955 Oldsmobile engine with roll and pleated interior of which he was proud.  He raced in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa. He belonged to the Lincoln Pegasus Car Club.  He saved some of the trophies he had won as a reminder of his drag racing days.  For all of his life “wheels” were important to him.

Joe worked with his father at Jack’s Trailer Sales at 137 West O Street and then took over the lot when his father moved to Canada.  One of his part-time jobs was working at Abbe Miller’s Mobil gas station and café at 320 West O just west from Jack’s Trailer Sales—a job he loved.  He and his wife ran Three Jays Antiques and Collectibles from 1978 until their separation in 1990.  He enjoyed the hunt for antiques and talking with friends and customers about them.  He was a concrete finisher for a variety of concrete businesses but lastly worked for Tony’s Cement Works before starting the antique business. Tony Delgado and Joe grew up together.

Also, Joe was a horse racing enthusiast.  He was familiar with most Nebraska tracks and was often in the company of family and friends at the races.  He was such a fan of the sport that he once attended the Kentucky Derby.  He closely followed horses and trainers that he liked or he thought had future potential.

Joe made friends with neighbors and their dogs when he moved to Wendover Avenue. His neighbors helped him with snow removal, cleaning of gutters, loaned him tools and made him feel a part of the neighborhood.  He fed peanuts to the squirrels who frequented his trees and yard there.  He also rescued squirrels, birds or any animal that was injured or sick.  He took those that needed more help than he could provide to the Wildlife Rescue Team. But if a squirrel had mange, he found a way to feed the sick squirrel a medicated walnut.  If a turtle was crossing the road he would stop, pick it up and put it to the side of the road.  At one time Joe had been an enthusiastic small game hunter but gave up hunting and became an animal lover and protector.

Joe was proud of his Gypsy heritage and the history of his family.  Out of respect and pride, every December 18, Joe would decorate with Christmas evergreen sprays that he had fashioned himself, the graves of family members and friends buried in Wyuka Cemetery.  He also decorated the Wyuka grave of Charles Starkweather with whom he attended Irving Junior High School.  Wyuka Cemetery was a favorite place for Joe to walk Standard Poodles for whom he often cared.

Although Joe had no children of his own, he loved and treasured those of friends.

He is survived by his sister Billie C. Gutgsell and her spouse, Leland Rucker of Boulder, Colorado.  His mother, Fern Paden Gutgsell predeceased him on September 11, 1995.  His father, John Henry Gutgsell also predeceased him on January 23, 1980.

Memorials in Joe’s memory may be donated to the Wildlife Rescue Team, Inc.: P.O. Box 80127
Lincoln, NE 68501 or to the Capital Humane Society: at 6500 S. 70th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68516.

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