George “Tiny” Jackson Star Jr. age 92, of North Platte, NE passed away Sunday, December 11, 2016 at the North Platte Care Center.
George was born on July 28, 1924 to George Sr. and Sadie (Tetterton) Star in North Platte, NE. He was the third of four children born to the family, Mildred, Glen, George “Tiny”, and Lydia “Marge”. Tiny spent 11 of his 12 school age years at the rural Platte Valley District #8 Schoolhouse. His senior year was at Hershey High School in 1943. He talked of the horse and buggy days and getting to school early to anchor a spot inside the barn.
George was baptized and confirmed Lutheran and a member of the Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey, NE. He had a son, Terry D. Star, born to his first marriage to Tad Trego.
On August 28, 1953 he married Anna S. (Peterson) Hamilton in Colorado Springs, CO. Ann was from Paxton, NE and had a daughter, Judy. Together they had a son, Mike.
In his younger days Tiny was a regular in the bronc riding events at many of the local rodeos and occasionally ventured to some of the bigger rodeos in Cheyenne and Denver.
Tiny with his brother Glen, took over the farm and ranch operation their father had began in 1917 with a real estate purchase north west of North Platte. This was the farm where Tiny and siblings were born and where Tiny made his home his entire life. In 1963 his brother, partner, and best friend, Glen, was killed in an accident on the farm. This left Tiny and his wife, Ann as the sole operators as his father had retired. This is where they raised their three children and managed to keep things together. Today the same operation is known as Star Cattle Company, involving the fourth generation of the Star family. He enjoyed tending to crops and livestock and whatever else it took to run the business. He was known to work day light to dark most every day of the year. His true passion was for cattle, horses, and the wide open spaces found in the Sandhills. At sun up most everyday Tiny could be found on a JD 4020 tractor pulling a feed wagon off to feed cattle. This was the life Tiny choose and he loved doing it. He stayed active in the business and did what he could as long as his health enabled it. Tiny was a faithful husband and father and had lots of friends and when you could get him to stop he would love to visit.
Preceding him in death were his parents, George Sr. and Sadie Star; his wife, Anna (Peterson) Star; a daughter, Judy Wagner; a granddaughter, Shelli Wagner; all his siblings, Mildred (Mid) Bignell, John “Glen” Star, Lydia “Marge” Daugherty (who’s funeral was Monday, December 12th); two brothers-in-law, Jim Bignell, and Raymond Peterson; and two sisters-in-law, Rosalie Peterson, and Judy Peterson.
Survivors include his sons, Terry (Mary) Star of Two Rivers, WI, Mike (Jeanie) Star of rural North Platte, NE; son-in-law, Gene Wagner of Sterling, CO; two brothers-in-law, Jim Daugherty of Downingtown, PA, and Harold Peterson of Paxton, NE; eight grandchildren, Mindy (Jeff) Stewart, Tyler (Shelley) Wagner, Todd, Theresa and Tanya Star, Robert (Jill) Star, Jason (Kayla) Star, and Jacqueline Star; twelve great-grandchildren, McKenzie & Riley Stewart, Ryan, Caden, Kye, and Reece Wagner, Cheyanna Star Baker, Anastacia & Kingston Baker, Taylor Graham, Quinton Star and Elliott Star, and another one very soon. George had some very special nieces and nephews, Jim (Georgia) Bignell, Carol (Mark) Huxta, Brian Daugherty, Randy (Jennifer) Peterson, Jolene (Dave) Morgan, Kendra (Regis) Fletcher, Scott Peterson, as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey, NE with the Reverend Erin Dunlavy officiating. Burial will follow in the Paxton Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday with the family receiving friends 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Friday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.