Bryan "Wally"

J. Wolcott

Atkinson — Bryan "Wally" Jay Wolcott, 71, of Atkinson, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 at his home south of Atkinson.

Visitation was held Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 at the Atkinson Methodist Church in Atkinson.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 at the church in Atkinson.

Burial was in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to either the Atkinson/Stuart Country Club or the Atkinson Fire and Rescue Department in Wally's name.

Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson was in charge of the arrangements.

Born Oct. 27th, 1954, to Wm. O.  and Jo Helen (Evans) Wolcott at the Brown County Hospital in  Ainsworth. He passed away Feb. 3, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.

The family ranched northwest of Wood Lake, then in 1962 the family moved southwest of Atkinson, continuing to ranch.  Bryan loved to help on the family ranch raising Hereford cattle and prize bulls. Bryan attended country school at Wood Lake, Swan Lake and Amelia before graduating from West Holt High School in Atkinson. Bryan really enjoyed playing baseball, wrestling and competing in FFA and 4-H.  

The family attended the Methodist church in Amelia where Bryan was baptized. Bryan and his sisters would occasionally sing specials during service while his mom would play the piano.   

Bryan then left to attend college at UNL and then later he returned to the ranch.

Bryan learned to golf and always carried his golf clubs in his pickup just in case he saw a golf course on the way. He enjoyed playing cards and cribbage with family and friends as well as the occasional Las Vegas casino trip. Before you left the house you would always hear him say, “We better have a game.” Bryan was a true die-hard Husker fan “Go Big Red.”

Most would say Bryan worked hard and played harder. “OH BOY”  

Play always came after taking care of the cows. He took great pride in his herd. In the last years Bryan would often say,“I just want to go home and see my cows.”

Bryan was so proud of his family and enjoyed following all of his sisters' kids and grandkids through their sporting events and school activities. He enjoyed shooting the breeze with his sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.

BRYAN LIVED A LONG FUN FILLED LIFE AND KEPT EVERY FRIEND HE MADE FOR A LIFETIME.

Bryan is survived in life by his three sisters Billi Jo (Tom) Hurford of Wiota, Iowa, Barbra (Bob) Kracl of O'Neill and Becki (Bill) Herrington of Bassett; special friend Katie Papke of Chambers; seven nieces and nephews Kipp Nachtman, Kasey Nachtman, Beau (Shelly) Herrington, Bryce Kracl, Brec (Paige) Kracl, Brenna (Eric) Kohle and Bobbi (Kevin) Stearns; one aunt Elaine Gilg of Columbus; and several great-nieces, -nephews and cousins. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Jo Wolcott, his grandparents Oliver and Ena (Davis) Wolcott and Benjamin and Nettie (Smith) Evans and several aunts, uncles and cousins.