John L. Heil, Sr.

     John L. Heil, Sr. 88 of Loup City, NE died Monday, December 25, 2017 at Valley County Health System in Ord, NE. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 29, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Loup City with Reverend Jim Koontz officiating. Burial will be held at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 28 at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Heil family or donor’s choice.

     John Leo (Bud)Heil was born on October 7, 1929 on a farm near Rockville Nebraska, in the Austin community to Lee John and Ida (Larsen) Heil. The 2nd of 5 children. On October 17, 1959 John Leo (Bud) Heil married Stella Mae Lighthill at Litchfield NE, they farmed in the Rockville area.  To this union six children were born, Loraine, John Jr, Karla, Jeri Lyn, Jason, and Billynda Jo. In August 1981 John married Virginia Robson.  Together they ran Gin's Tavern in Rockville.  On September 19, 1998 John married Betty Hulinsky Golka McBride at Ord Nebraska.  They made their home in Loup City NE. 

     John was a pioneer farmer starting to farm in his youth with his father and brothers by using horses.  He continued farming or being on the farm most of his life.  In his later years he drove semi-trucks, hauling corn to the elevator for local farmers during harvest. He liked gardening and had large gardens from which is sold and gave away much produce.

     John is survived by his wife Betty of Loup City; his children, Loraine and Richard Panowicz, John Jr. and Linda Heil all of Rockville,NE;  Karla and Monte Stelk of Grand Island, NE;  Ed and Billynda Jo Spilinek of Elba, NE and Jason Heil of Loup City, NE. His stepchildren Laura (Timothy) Stevens of Paxton, NE; Linda (Bud) Sanderson of O'Neill, NE; Larry Golka of Wichita, KS; Leslie Golka of Grand Island, NE and Lonny (Pam) Golka of Elkhorn.

     Grandchildren, Christina Panowicz, Rebecca Panowicz, Lorissa (Bob) Auman, Mitchell Long, Liam Heil, Luke Heil, Jessica (Jeremy) Fanta, Samantha (Brady) Kayl, Sean Wysocki, Alexa Wysocki, Jacob, Joey, Logan, Serenity, and James Heil, Shelbea (Taylor) Gouldie, Chelsea Spilinek, and Thomas Spilinek.  Great grandchildren MacKenzie Fanta, Hoyt and Hayes Auman, Dexter Gouldie, and Raylee Kayl;11 step grandchildren, and 9 step great grandchildren; brothers, Marvin (Carolyn) Heil and Lloyd (Judy) Heil and sister-in-law Judy Heil all of Loup City NE and former wife Virginia Robson of Ravenna.

     John was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Jeri Lyn Heil, sister and brother-in-law Maxine & Ed Dick and brother Wilbur Heil, and his former wife Stella Lighthill Reimers on August 25, 2017.

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