John R. Ericson

John Ericson of Loup City, NE died peacefully on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 71 years of age in his home amongst his family. The family has honored John’s request for cremation. Celebration of Life Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025 at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. No Visitation. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Memorials may be made to the Loup City Volunteer Fire Department, the Loup City-Ashton-Rockville Cooperative Ambulance Squad, and the Sherman County Community Foundation. The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page. The direct link is http://facebook.com/higgins.funeral.home.loup.city/

John was born in Minden, NE on March 20, 1953 to John Russel (Russ) and La Donna (Peterson) Ericson. He had four siblings: Linda, Laura, Marti, and James. His early childhood years were spent in Axtell, and then the family later moved to Arcadia where John graduated from high school in 1971. In 1972, John began working at the family business, Ericson Ford Inc., in Loup City, NE.

In 1977, he was united in marriage to Cynthia (Cindy) Sekutera and to that union, two children were born: Courtney (Baker) and Justin. Together they created a loving family in Loup City.

From 1972 to 2024, John loved to serve his community and did so in numerous ways. Over the course of his life, he served as a City of Loup City Councilman, as well as a member of the Sherman County Community Foundation Board.  He also had the opportunity to serve as a director for the Midwest Ford Dealers. Most recently, he was serving on the board of the Airport Authority.  John took a great deal of pride in being a member of the Loup City Volunteer Fire Department, of which he was a Captain, and as an EMT on the Loup City Rescue Squad. John was also a member of the Sons of the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge. John and his family belonged to the congregation of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

“Live in the moment for each is precious and should not be squandered,” was a motto of John’s life, and those who knew him heard it often. He had a love of life and knew how to enjoy every moment and share them with those around him - no person was a stranger to John.  While nothing gave John more joy than spending time with his family, especially supporting his children and grandchildren at their various activities and sporting events, some of his favorite pastimes included Husker athletics, NASCAR, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.  Many of his friends also have fond memories of John out on Sherman Lake over the years.

With God in his heart and the wind in his face, John rode his Harley to heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy of Loup City; children: Courtney (Larry) Baker of Crofton, NE; and Justin (Ashley) Ericson of Encino, CA. Grandpa was a title that John wore proudly and he is survived by his grandchildren: Macy and Bode Baker, and Heston Ericson. He is also survived by his sister, Laura (Ron) Hurlburt of Arcadia, NE; sister Marti Vermaas of Loup City, NE; brother, Jim Ericson of Loup City, NE; mother-in-law, Norma (Mel) Nun of Loup City, NE, and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Russ and Donna; stepfather, Andy McMurtry; a sister, Linda Ansbach; father-in-law, Jerome Sekutera; and one brother-in-law, Roger Vermaas.