Zarybnicky remembered as 'good man'

BLUE SPRINGS -- Gene Zarybnicky is remembered by friends and family for his intelligence and love of automotive.

But, he is also remembered in the last few years for how much he changed.

“He was a really good man, he was really intelligent, but he had changed,” Claire Scheideler, a friend of Zarybnicky, said.

Zarybnicky, 62, was found dead in the doorway of his home around 7:15 a.m. Sunday by members of the Gage County Emergency Response team following gunfire exchanged between he and law enforcement during a 13-hour standoff.

An investigation into his death continues, as officials sort out details of the event, according to Gage County Attorney Randy Ritnour. An autopsy was planned for Monday, but results were not immediately made available.

Larry Stanosheck had known Zarybnicky since the 1960s when the two lived across the street from each other in Odell, he said. Zarybnicky moved from Odell to Blue Springs about five years ago.

Stanosheck, along with his son John, became good friends with Zarybnicky over the years.

“He was very bright mechanically in all respects,” Stanosheck said. “He loved fishing, cars, anything automotive, racing.”

Zarybnicky, a Wymore High School graduate, raced at the Beatrice Speedway years ago, winning at least a couple of track championship, Stanosheck said. He was inducted into the Beatrice Speedway Hall of Fame in 2003.

He also loved to ride motorcycles and even attended the motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., on at least one occasion, Stanosheck said.

In the 1960s, Zarybnicky was a member of the United States Army stationed in Berlin.

Radar Reedy, of Blue Springs, first met Zarybnicky back in 1985 as they were both involved in racing at the Beatrice Speedway, he said. In 1986 and 1987, Reedy drove a car that he and Zarybnicky rebuilt together, he said.

“Gene was just a really smart guy,” he said. “He was always willing to help any racer.”

If someone ever had a question about the mechanics of a car, Zarybnicky would pull out his piece of chalk and proceed to draw it out on the garage floor to explain the answer, Reedy said.

Stanosheck said Zarybnicky was a good, honest person, but it was evident to him in the last few years that Zarybnicky had changed mentally.

“He was a good man, it’s hard to understand when someone has a battle with police,” Stanosheck said about hearing of Zarybnicky’s standoff with law enforcement.