Funeral Services for Roland R. Lans will be conducted from the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford, Nebraska on Saturday, June, 16, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Thalia Woodworth and Pastor Gale Dorn, officiating. Interment will be in the Stamford Cemetery.

Roland Ray Lans, 87 years of age, of Stamford, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at the Deseret Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Kensington, Kansas. Roland was born October 12, 1924 on the family farm two miles east of Stamford in Harlan County, Nebraska, the eldest of three children born to Carl A. and Viola M. (Lunbery) Lans. He received his primary education from Harlan County School District #4 and graduated from Stamford High School with the class of 1941. On June 2, 1946 he was united in marriage to Irene E. Fischer at the Methodist Church in Alma, Nebraska. The family made their home on the Lans family farm 1 ¾ miles east of Stamford, where they raised their family of six children: Jean, Richard, Barbara, Shirley, Bruce and Paul. Roland enjoyed life on the farm which included farming and ranching, working side-by-side with his wife, Irene until her passing on April 26, 2004. He was proud of the fact that the family had continuous family farming operation for over 126 years, which currently involves the fourth and fifth generation, Bruce Lans and sons. He was presented the Ak-Sar-Ben Pioneer Farm Award in 1986. He also enjoyed the friendship bonds formed through the years in a side business of electrical and plumbing that he operated for several years. He also assisted his daughter, Barb in the operation of the Stamford Market for over 20 years.

He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford, where he served on the church council. Roland also served as Past President of the District #4 School Board, member of the Stamford Fire Department, past Director and Officer of the Twin Valley Public Power District, and member of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce for many years. Roland enjoyed fishing, hunting, and photography, was an avid collector of diverse items, and loved square dancing with the Stamford Squares.

Besides his parents and his wife, Irene, he was preceded in death by two brothers-in-law: Alfred Fischer and his wife, Doris, and Keith Fischer; sister-in-law, Fonda Fischer; and son-in-law, Charles Clinton Wright.

Roland is survived by his six children: Jean Wright of Acton, California, Richard Lans and his wife, Trudy of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Barbara Lans of Stamford, Shirley Chestnut and her husband, Larry of Glade, Kansas, Bruce Lans and his wife, Sue of Stamford, Paul Lans and his wife, Erika of Chadron, Nebraska; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ortha Broeker and her husband, Wallace of Orleans, Nebraska, Adale Schroder and her husband, Glen in Kearney, Nebraska; brothers-in-law: Kenneth Fischer of Alma; sister-in-law, Jeanette Fischer of Alma and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 15, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Stamford Fire and Rescue Department.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford is in charge of the arrangements.