On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Trenton Paul Walz of Mullen, Nebraska, died at the age of 45, following a two and a half year battle with brain cancer.
Trent was born Jan. 29, 1980, in Macon, Missouri, to Paul and Vickie (Blake) Walz. The Walz family moved back to Nebraska in 1984. Trent attended several country schools in the Ainsworth and Bassett area and graduated from Rock County High School with the class of 1998.
During his time in high school, Trent found a love for running and pushed himself to be faster and more confident than the next competitor. He was a member of the 1998 Class C State Champion 3200M relay team and placed 5th in the mile at state that year. After high school, Trent went to Mount Marty College in Yankton, South Dakota, for a year to run cross country and track, then transferred to Chadron State College for a semester before pursuing a career in road construction. While working on Highway 2 in Mullen, he met Kelli Brost in 2005. The two were married on May 31, 2008. They have four daughters, Maci, Ava, Ella and Ryann. Trent loved working and was known for his work ethic, passion and kindness; regardless of where he was working. He left construction to deal cards in Deadwood for about three years in 2002 and to work in the oil fields in Wyoming for two years in 2012 before ultimately returning to work road construction with his dad. When not working, Trent enjoyed spending time with his children, taking them to the lake to go tubing, wakeboarding and camping with good family friends. He also loved playing video games and watching Husker football, getting to attend the spring game several times. After Trent’s cancer diagnosis in November 2022, he retired from the workforce and spent his remaining time as a stay at home dad. During this time, summers were full of family vacations to Nashville, Yellowstone and a trip without children to Las Vegas with Kelli, Bo, Tony and their wives. Trent was also able to attend the girls’ activities including junior high and youth sports, the Girl Scout Father/Daughter Box Supper and programs.
He leaves behind his wife Kelli, their children Maci, Ava, Ella and Ryann of Mullen; his parents Paul and Vickie Walz of Valentine; his sisters Amber (Martin) Chmelik, Collin, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Brandi (Justin) Tolle, Pacey and Bryton, of Holdrege; brother Lanny Walz of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; grandma Winnie Walz of Ainsworth; mother-in-law Diana Brost of Mullen; sister-in-law Lori Jensen (Chris Geary), Kaitlyn (Thomas) Kramer, Jason, Tyler, and Carter of Dalton; brother-in-law Nick (Ashley) Brost, Quinn, Daniel, Parker, Henry of Ogallala; as well as many aunts and uncles, cousins and friends.
Trent was preceded in death by his grandparents Clyde and Darlene Blake, grandpa Warren Walz, aunt Sharon Croghan, father-inlaw Dan Brost, and brotherin- law and good friend Adrian Jensen.
Funeral service was held on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Mullen Methodist Church. Burial followed in Cedarview Cemetery in Mullen.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online words of encouragement can be left at www.govierbrothers.com.