Lynn Alvin Willard, 91, of North Platte, formerly of Stapleton, NE, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2015, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Lynn was born April 19, 1924, to Harry John and Edna Louise Harnegal Willard at Madrid, NE. He grew up in the Chappell, NE area before the family moved to Hershey, NE where Lynn graduated from O’Fallon’s High School in 1942. Lynn farmed with his father before going to work for the Jim Armstrong Implement Dealership in Sutherland, NE.
On February 3, 1946, Lynn married Dorothy Marie Collins at the Methodist Church in North Platte. They rented a farm and worked the land from 1948 to 1954 then moved to Marino, CO to continue farming. They farmed in various areas in Colorado before returning to Hershey in 1966. Lynn and Dorothy moved in 1970 to the Garfield Table Road near Stapleton where they had lived for nearly 45 years until the fall of 2014 when they moved into North Platte.
Lynn was a member of the First Christian Church in North Platte, Platte Valley Antique Tractor Club, Good Time Dancers and the Nebraska Camp and Dancers.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 70 years, Dorothy, of North Platte; daughters, Deb Merritt, of Omaha, NE, and Cheryl (Roger) Beem, of North Platte; four sons, Larry (Carmen) Willard, of Stapleton and Tim (Karen) Willard, Randy (Lisa) Willard and Douglas (Sharla) Willard, all of North Platte; 11 grandchildren, Tony Merritt, Mikel (Debra) Merritt, Brad Willard, Courtney Willard, Eric (Brodi) Willard, Nathan (Kristina) Willard, Sally (John Mark) Bell, Joshua (Sandy) Willard, Justin (Ashleigh) Willard, Amber Willard and Alex Willard.
Survivors also include 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lila Rapp, of Kansas City, KS, and Eunice Brown, of North Platte; brother-in-law, Lewis Collins, and sisters-in-law, Ruth Wilhelmson, Irene (Bob) Miller, all of North Platte; and many nieces, nephews and other family.
Lynn was preceded in death by an infant son, Tommy; his parents, Harry and Edna; father and mother-in-law, Milton and Edna Collins; brothers-in-law, George Wilhelmson and Clarence Brown; sister-in-law, Charlene Collins; and a grandson, Brian Willard.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at the First Christian Church with Pastor Timothy Adams officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday with family greeting friends from 4 to 6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church or North Platte Animal Shelter. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.