HASTINGS — Gilbert L. Adrian, 85, passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2014, at French Memorial Chapel on the Hastings College Campus in Hastings, with Dr. William Nottage-Tacey and Dr. Lee R. Wigert officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery at Hastings. DeWitt Funeral Home in Hastings is in charge of the arrangements.

Gilbert L. Adrian was born Aug. 20, 1928, in Wilroads, Kan., the son of Glenn and Ina (Lewis) Adrian. He grew up in Dodge City, Kan., and entered the U.S. Navy in 1945. Gilbert retired from the U.S. Military at Offutt Air-Force Base in Omaha, with over 43 years total service. He served in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. He served in WWII and the Korean War and was wounded twice.

After returning from service, he earned his AA from Dodge City Community College, BS in Biology from the University of Kansas, and MS in Zoology from Fort Hays State University. Gilbert completed additional graduate courses at Oregon State University, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, and University of Nebraska. He married Jeanette Spangenberg on Dec. 24, 1962, in Grand Island.

Gilbert joined the Hastings College faculty in 1962 as Instructor of Biology and distinguished himself by leading field trips through which students could experience the outdoor world. He officially retired as a full professor in 1993 after 31 years of teaching, becoming Professor Emeritus of Biology. Gilbert continued to teach courses many years after his retiring. Among the honors he received were the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award for excellence in teaching, an honorary doctorate from Hastings College, Ecologist of the Year for the State of Nebraska, and membership in the Pro Rege Society. Gilbert was also recognized for leading the first international group to the Hacienda Tabi.

In addition to teaching, Gilbert was the Director of an Environmental Education Institute for K-12 teachers. He served as a consultant for field studies curriculum at the Hastings Junior High School, and served as a field guide for field studies in biology and earth science for the Crete High School. Gilbert was also a consultant for E.R.T. Resource Engineering Company for the remedial investigation at the Hastings Naval Ammunition Depot. Gilbert was a member of numerous Ecological, Botany, Oceanographic, and Biology Society and foundations both national and regional.

Gilbert is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jeanette Adrian; daughter, Debra Vorderstrasse and her husband, Jason; four sons, Robert North Adrian and his wife, Deb, Brent Adrian and his wife, Tracy, all of Hastings, Brad Adrian of Kearney and Brian Adrian and his wife, Shelly, of San Diego, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Adrian Allard, Drake Vorderstrasse, Dan Adrian, Chris Adrian, Braxton Adrian, Brayden Adrian, and Brody Adrian; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Delores Werner and her husband, Rolland, Shirley Short, and Donna Shumard and her husband, Don; brother, Galen Adrian, all of Dodge City, Kan.; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters and brothers-in-law, June and Bob Coffin, Norma and Kenny Tyler, Louise and Eddie Sowers, and Iris Maser; and a brother, Glen Adrian.