John Fred England

John Fred England KEARNEY – John Fred England, 90, of Kearney formerly of Axtell, Nebraska, died Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at St. John’s Good Samaritan Center, Kearney, Nebraska. Services will be at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 13, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell with the Rev. Gale Dorn officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Axtell, Nebraska with military honors. Visitation will be from 4-6 PM, Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Layton-Craig Funeral Home in Minden, Nebraska with family present from 4-5 PM. John Fred England was born in Axtell, Nebraska on February 4, 1927, to Carlyle Sanden “C.S.” and Bertha Viola (Carlson) England. He was baptized on May 12, 1929 and confirmed in 1941 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell. John Fred attended Axtell High School and graduated in 1944. After graduation, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He enlisted in the Navy on February 2, 1945 and served on the USS Bolivar during World War II. On July 13, 1946, he was discharged from U.S. Naval service with the rank of Seaman First Class V6 USNR. When John Fred returned home, he again attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, Nebraska. On August 1, 1948, John Fred entered the banking business at the Farmers & Merchants Bank, in Axtell where he served as bank president until 1992. Farmers and Merchants have had four generations to serve as presidents: Dr. John D. England (founder), 1907-1946; Carlyle Sanden England, 1946-1965; John Fred England, 1965-1992; and John Jeffrey England, 1992-to the present time. The bank celebrated its 100th anniversary on August 2, 2007. John Fred served on the Board of Directors and was a stockholder. John Fred was joined in marriage to Mary Catherine Jurgensmier on November 26, 1952. To this union four children were born: Holly Denise England; Carmie Jo (England) Geiser, Diane Renee (England) Kaasch; and John Jeffrey England. John Fred was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He served 19 years on the Axtell Fire Department. He also served on the Axtell School Board and Trinity Lutheran Church Board. John Fred was a member of the Axtell VFW and served as commander for a period of time. He was raised a Master Mason on September 13, 1948 and was a member of the Tehama Shriners, Scottish-Rite and the American Legion. John Fred enjoyed playing golf, going to Husker games; he loved playing baseball and he played semi-pro baseball. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary England; parents, C.S. and Bertha England; sister, Renee (England) Ziebarth; brother-in-law, Frank Basic; sister-in-law, Helen Acklie and nephews, Wayne William “Billy” Ziebarth, Jr. and Frank Louis Basic, Jr. Survivors include daughters, Holly England of Axtell; Carmie and husband, Rocky Geiser of Kearney; Diane and husband, James Kaasch of Parker, Colorado; son, John Jeffrey England of Axtell; granddaughter, Brittany Geiser; grandsons, Bryan Geiser, Blake Geiser, Austin Kaasch, Anthony Kaasch, and Addison Kaasch; brother-in-law, Wayne W Ziebarth of Wilcox; sister-in-law, Dorothy “Dottie” Basic, Orland Park, Illinois; brother-in-law, Marvin Acklie, Lincoln, Nebraska; nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church, Axtell, Nebraska and Axtell Fire & Rescue Department.

John Fred England

February 4, 1927 - February 8, 2017