Jack Leach

Jack Leach, 86, of Lewellen passed away Wednesday evening January 8, 2020 at the Great Plains Health Hospital in North Platte.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2020 at the United Methodist Church in Lewellen with Pastors Janie Freeman and Karen and Len Garrison officiating.  Burial will follow in the Ash Hollow Cemetery.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation at the funeral home.

Memorials in Jack’s name can be made to the Lewellen Volunteer Fire Dept C/o David Dymak/Fire Chief 19911 Road 56A, Lewellen, NE 68147 or donor’s choice.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Leach family.

Jack Edwin Leach was born May 25, 1933 in Denver, CO. His mother Pauline went to the hospital in Denver to insure Jack’s safe delivery. Jack’s father Erwin left Pauline (and soon to arrive Jack) in Denver prior to delivery to return back to the farm as it was time to plant corn. Jack was raised and always lived in Garden County in the Lewellen area. Jack served his country in the Army from 1953-1954 before returning back to the farm to marry Doris Henderson October 24, 1954. Three children were born to Jack and Doris. Karen born in 1956, Kathy 1958 (died at birth), and Kent in 1959.  Jack worked at and lived through what he loved until he couldn’t work, however remained a strong presence thereafter. As the life of a family man and farmer/rancher demands for survival, Jack displayed resourcefulness, endurance and perseverance. Jack and Doris’ union of sixty-five years of marriage, family and farming modeled that. Jack and Doris worked and played together throughout his lifetime. Jack cultivated himself and his family as he cultivated the land and farmstead he tended as well as livestock he cared for throughout. Jack enjoyed growing up with his cousins and also spent a great amount of spoken enjoyable time horseback creating his own adventures and explorations. Later, Jack was adventurous in travel and greatly enjoyed trips with Doris, family and friends. Jack and Doris had many enjoyable social gatherings with great friends throughout their lifetime.

Thoughtful “captures” of Jack and the life he lived from family and friends include the following: “Grampy” was a caretaker of all his sphere… especially his family and the land he cared for and loved; “Grampy knew who he was-he didn’t put on airs- he found joy in the little (but big) things, like a drive and noticing the wildlife, crops and conditions. He was self-assured, thankful, exacting, gracious, insightful, pragmatic, capable, resourceful, light-hearted, positive, bright, kind, and nature loving, … his laugh and smile…, Jack had a love of education and understanding of the importance of learning, being well-read and informed, “Grampy” was honest, hard-working and fair, “Grampy” was selfless and generous, caring and “whistly”, very kind, and loved everyone – especially the guys at the “OT”. To friends, Jack was a “hell-of-a-guy”, a great friend, classmate, fellow football player, heck-of-a-good-farmer, didn’t have an enemy, good friend. Jack’s “like-family” shared “it was an honor knowing and working together – he was like a father-figure to me and he deeply loved farming and ranching and knowing him made me a better person – no words can express ‘Jack’”. Jack left a legacy of the life he lived for us to carry forward. “Grampy” would always echo “good-bye” over and over as the grands would leave. Well – “good-bye” Grampy – until we “hello” again.

Jack is survived by his wife Doris, daughter Karen (Len); grand-daughter Heather (Joe) Nguyen; great-grand-daughters Maya and Leah; grand-daughter Christina (Skyler), great-grand-children Aaron and Natalie; and grand-daughter Sarah (Adam) Hotchkiss; Son Kent (Crystal), grand-daughters Courtney, Madeline and Kaylee; Special cousin Shari Jillson; Nieces Ardyss Golden, Janice Andreason and Lois Andreason.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Pauline and Erwin Leach, daughter Kathy, and Sister and Brother-in-law Marlyss and Ivan Andreason.