Hal Gilbert Lankford

Hal Gilbert Lankford passed away Sunday, November 17 after more than 99 fruitful and colorful years. Born in Rexburg, Idaho on June 17, 1925, Hal grew up in rural Missouri, attending a one-room school and graduating from Lebanon High School. He attended the Naval Officer training programs at the University of the South (Sewanee, TN) and Columbia University (NY) and obtained BS and MS degrees from the Missouri School of Mines (Rolla, MO). Hal obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from St Louis University after serving in WWII and the Korean War. He was on the faculty of Creighton University from 1962-1991, where he served as Professor of Pathology and founded Creighton Medical Laboratories in 1966. Hal was appointed Professor Emeritus of Pathology at Creighton School of Medicine in 2003. 

Hal was treasured as: 

- A son who spent the summer after high school following the wheat harvest as a day laborer, only to give all his pay to his parents on his return home 

- A naval officer viewed as a hero by his crew for accidentally ordering way too much ice cream for a tour of the South Pacific

- A scientist resourceful enough to collect hair from barbershops when he ran low on a certain amino acid and talented enough to be recruited by Nobel laureate Edward Doisy 

- An entrepreneur who persuaded Creighton to start what became a successful medical lab business by personally sharing the financial risk 

- A gentleman farmer who found his greatest peace when plowing a field or feeding the pigs 

- A friend whose mischievous sense of humor, sharp wit, and ability to make people feel comfortable endeared him to many

- A husband who stole Elizabeth Bates from a friend, married her after three months’ courtship, and stayed with her until her death more than 60 years later 

- A dedicated father, grandfather, and great grandfather who created more good memories than are possible to share.

Hal was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert and Halcy Lankford, siblings Robert Lankford and Marion Thurston (Stan), and wife Elizabeth. Surviving Hal are his children Kathi Vitas (John); Bob Lankford (Judi); Clayton Lankford; and Peter Lankford (Alyna); grandchildren Kristi Lynch (Ryan); Kari Lankford Malinak (Keith); Kinzy Bloomquist (Tom); Jonathan Vitas; Jennifer Labanowski (Tom); Lia Lankford (Simon); and Adam Lankford; great grandchildren Owen, Liam, Cian, and Brie Lynch; Azlin, Ezra, and Zelie Lankford Malinak; Neil, Abel, Hugh, and Penn Bloomquist; Jack and Elise Vitas; and Lucy and Ruby Labanowski; niece Sharon Pittenger (Mark) and nephews Mark Thurston (Mary Elizabeth) and Lee Thurston (Jane). 

Friends and family will gather to celebrate his life at 11:00 A.M. on December 21, 2024 at the Mosaic Lind Center, 4980 S 118th St, Omaha. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorial donations to MOSAIC SE NEBRASKA