John (Jack) William Collier, 85, of Arnold, departed this life April 25, 2013, in Callaway, after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Jack was born July 9, 1927, in Kearney, to John N. and Helen L. (Bartz) Collier. Jack grew up in Stapleton, and graduated from Baker High School in 1945. Jack started his life-long love and career in ranching as a young man at the Baskin Ranch north of Stapleton. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1946 and served his country during World War II in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1947.
After a short stint with the Union Pacific Railroad, he and his father purchased a ranch 12 miles north of Stapleton in 1949. Jack’s introduction into ranching took him through the Blizzard of 1949, of which he had many stories to tell. In 1950, a second ranch was purchased in eastern Logan County. On May 18, 1952, Jack and Genevieve Ilene Wade of Tryon were united in marriage in North Platte. Jack brought his new bride to this ranch where they raised their three daughters, cattle and Quarter Horses. In the late ’50’s Jack acquired a private pilot’s license and enjoyed many years of flying his own airplane. Later in life he enjoyed antique and classic automobiles.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Arnold, American Legion Post No. 324 and VFW No. 8258, of Stapleton, and Flatlanders Car Club of North Platte. Jack was a former member of the Flying Farmers and Ranchers Association and the American Quarter Horse Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Meredith Rennick; and nephew, Robert Rennick.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Genevieve Collier of Arnold; his daughters, Jackie (Vernon) Stenger, of Maxwell, Judy Gracey of North Platte, and Brenda (Mike) Shinn of Kearney; grandchildren, B.J. Stenger, of North Platte, Marty Gracey, of Grand Island, Kisha Zieffle, Cody (Katy) Gracey, BoDell Gracey, of North Platte, Riley (Drew) Weir of Kearney, Nolan (Katherine) Shinn of Kearney, Jordan (Whitney) Shinn, of Omaha, and Bethany Shinn, of Kearney; great-grandchildren, Gavin Gracey of Hastings, Kale Kuhlhanek, of Ansley, Colo., Carly, Cache Gracey, Hunter and Emily Secrest, of Sidney, Aidan Weir, and a great-grandson due in August; his sister, Eleanor Rennick, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; his niece, Kay (Rick) Janecke of Richland, Wash.; his nephew, John (Donna) Rennick, of Oregon; his cousins, Bill (Sharon) Collier, of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Tom (Caryl) Collier, of Jefferson City, Mo.; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the Arnold Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4, at the Arnold Methodist Church with Pastor Dale Coates officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date by the family. Arnold Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pauline Ruth Maxwell was born June 14, 1928, in North Platte, to Anthony (Tony, aka A.R.) and Helen (Warner) Hora, the youngest of three children. She died April 25, 2013, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
Raised in North Platte and having graduated from North Platte High School, Pauline attended business college in Denver, Colo. After graduation she returned and married Raymond Maxwell on Sept. 8, 1947. Pauline worked as stenographer for several Lincoln County attorneys and later for attorney Robert Crosby, governor-elect of Nebraska. She also worked as stenographer for Kraemer construction.
Pauline went to work for the UPRR, where she spent the next 40 years working as a stenoclerk, dispatcher/train caller and other clerical positions before retirement. All the while she was raising their three children, Jeffrey Ray, Richard David and Thomas William, and helping her husband with their first business, North Platte Fire Equipment. In 1975, the decision was made to start a second business with the family called Maxwell’s Off Road Center. Out of that venture came Off Road Ltd., operated in Denver by the oldest son Jeff Maxwell and his wife Lucy, and their family.
The year 1985 brought a third business to the family in the form of a motorcycle dealership, Maxwell’s Kawasaki. She was instrumental in all three business as the co-owner, bookkeeper, accountant and secretary. Her passion was being involved in off-road racing from the deserts of Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Baja California, Mexico. Pauline worked checkpoints during the races helping keep track of racers and working with other checkpoint crew members helping drivers as needed.
Over the years Pauline had been involved with other activities and organizations such as a Cub Scout den mother, North Platte Fire Department Auxilliary, Masonic Eastern Star and B.P.O.E does. She had been a member of the First Presbyterian church for more than 60 years.
Pauline was considered a mom (first or second) by everyone that grew up with her children and by those who have worked at Maxwell’s Off Road and Kawasaki over the last 30 plus years. She was always there to lend an ear or help however she could and provide motherly advice as needed.
Diagnosed with brain cancer in the last couple of months, Pauline knew the future was very uncertain and had written a lot of these words for her obituary. The last line reads; “Still had a lot of love to give but not much time left.”
Pauline was preceded in death by her mother and father; her brother, Jack Hora; and sister, Lorraine (Hora) Bates.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond; her children, Jeffrey (Lucy), of Elizabeth, Colo., Richard (Dee), of North Platte, Thomas (Georgia) of North Platte; five grandchildren, Christa (John shogren), Gregg (Shannon), Gilbert Gaona, Emily and Tyler Maxwell; and seven great-grandchildren, Nissa and Katelynn (Maxwell), Breahna (Shogren), and Chandler, Camron, Caidan and Caleb (Gaona); and a very special family friend, Mike Dutemple.
Pauline also leaves behind her rescue dog and extra special friend, Clyde, who will also miss her dearly.
The family requests in lieu of flowers donations to Pauline Maxwell Memorial Fund.
Services will be 11 a.m., Friday, May 10, at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Polly K. Deppen officiating. Cremation will follow. Inurnment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to six p.m., today, and from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, April 29, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.