Alex Deabler, age 65 of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on January 26, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Alex was born in Lynwood, California, the oldest of four children. His family moved often for his dad’s work, but Kansas City is where Alex would always say he really grew up. That’s where he went to Boy Scout camp, fell in love with Chiefs football, and began to show the steadiness people would come to rely on. The family later moved to Homer, Nebraska, where Alex graduated from high school.

He attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and lived in Abel Hall (Abel 8, to be precise). College brought lifelong friends, plenty of stories, and at least one memorable incident involving Alex dropping a keg down several flights of stairs in the dorm. He earned his degree in biology from UNL and later returned to earn his teaching certificate after realizing he loved teaching as much as he loved science.

Alex spent 33 years teaching middle school science in Lincoln Public Schools before retiring in May 2021. All but one of those years were spent at Park Middle School. He had a way of taking hard concepts and making them click. His classroom was loud, hands-on, and full of laughter. Years later, former students still tell stories about how much they remember from his class and how much they loved having Mr. Deabler as their teacher.

While in Lincoln, Alex met the love of his life, Ronda. They married in the summer of 1988 and built a life together full of laughter, hard work, and raising a family. Alex could light up any room and was never far from a joke, often delivered just far enough over the line to earn a gentle smack on the arm from her. Together they welcomed four children into their family: Kelsey, Quentin, Chloe, and Carley. Though Carley passed at birth, she was always part of their story.

Nothing mattered more to Alex than his family. He quietly took care of the everyday things that kept a household running: cleaning, dishes, laundry, and all the little details no one else had to think about. He was always looking for small ways to save money for his family, content with wearing hand-me-downs, hanging clothes to dry, and making quiet sacrifices without ever calling attention to them.

He taught his kids to ride bikes and drive cars, made sure their vehicles had oil changes and emergency supplies, and stayed up late until everyone was safely home. You always knew he would be there.

Alex and Ronda believed learning didn’t stop when you left school. They camped all over the Rockies and made multiple trips to Yellowstone and Glacier. They explored cities like Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago with their kids in tow.

Later in life, they took that curiosity overseas, visiting England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Argentina, and French Polynesia. London, in particular, became Alex’s favorite place in the world and felt like a second home to him. He loved riding the Tube, walking the streets, and having a pint at a local pub, especially when he could share it with his family.

At home, he was just as happy watching Chiefs football or working in his garden.

He is survived by his wife, Ronda; his children, Kelsey (Elizabeth), Quentin, and Chloe; his mother, Lynda Deabler; his sisters, Maria Timothy and Sandra Kotalik (Tom); his brother, Matthew Deabler (Amanda); his nephews, Benjamin Timothy and Samuel Deabler, and his nieces, Madeline and Isabelle Deabler. He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond Deabler, and his daughter, Carley Deabler.

A celebration of Alex’s life will be held from 4:30-8pm on February 6 at the Stables at Wyuka Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you stay curious and love your people well. Live like Alex.