John E. Dier

A Joint Celebration of Life Service for John E. Dier and Lela A. (Artz) Dier will be held on Friday, May 28, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Nora Mendyk, officiating.  John will be laid to rest at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege next to his wife, Lela who passed away on May 11, 2020, during pandemic restrictions.  Military honors will be provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 of Holdrege in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.  Masonic Rites will be performed by the Jachin Lodge #146 A.F. & A.M of Holdrege, following the military honors.

His service will be livestreamed via the First United Methodist Church's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Firstunitedmethodistholdrege

John Ernest Dier, 99 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege.  John was born August 28, 1921, at Hastings, Nebraska, the youngest of five children to Andrew J. and Bertha (Ough) Dier.  The family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where John received his education at Teachers College High School, where he graduated with the class of 1939.

In October of 1938, at the age of 17, John joined the 134 ^th Infantry, Nebraska National Guard Unit in Lincoln, while still in high school.  In 1940, the Nebraska National Guard sent a 12-man rifle team to the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio for a national shooting contest.  John was one of those 12 chosen to compete.  Then on December 23, 1940, the Nebraska National Guard were mobilized and placed into federal service and sent to Little Rock, Arkansas.

In 1941, President Roosevelt extended all enlistments for 18 months.  John was a buck Sergeant at that time, so he decided to apply for Officer Candidate School.  Before any action was taken on his OCS application, Pearl Harbor was attacked.  His 35 ^th Infantry Division was sent to protect the U.S. coast in California, where he was lucky enough to run into his brother, Richard who was also serving.  In February 1942, John was detached and sent to OCS in Fort Benning, Georgia.  John was then sent to Camp Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado to form the 89 ^th Infantry Division.  While in Colorado Springs, he was appointed as battalion communication officer and was promoted to First Lieutenant.  Another transfer would soon emerge and he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia with the 71 ^st Division, where John was promoted to Captain on November 8, 1944.  In February 1945, John landed in Europe at La Havre, France, and in March his Infantry relieved the 100 ^th Infantry Division at Bitche, France.  As the old saying goes, "It is a small world!" in France he ran into another brother, Clifford during the war.  He served in Europe under Patton's Third Army and after the war ended in 1946, John was able to use the G.I. Bill to attend teacher's college in Wayne, Nebraska, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Education.  Returning G.I.'s attending college were much older than the other students who were just out of high school.

John was inspired to go on to law school by a friend, Lt. Col. Roy Fitzgerald, an attorney out of Ohio who was killed during the war.  John attended law school at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, graduating with his Law degree in 1953.  John continued to serve in the Reserves and at the time of his honorable discharge he had achieved the rank of Major. John was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and a Combat Infantry Badge.

In 1953, John started practicing Law in Holdrege.  On April 24, 1955, he was united in marriage to Lela Artz in Republican City, Nebraska.  The couple were blessed with two daughters:  Sally and Susan.  The family made their home in Holdrege.  John served as Phelps Country Attorney for eight years and was active in political affairs, both county and state-wide.  John was a partner in Dier, Osborn and Cox, P.C., where he continued to practice law well into his 80's.  John and Lela worked side-by-side together as she was his legal secretary for many years.

In his younger years, he loved building things.  He built seven homes in Wayne, and one in Lincoln to help put himself through school.  John also built cabins by the river near Overton, Nebraska, and in Buena Vista, Colorado on the Arkansas River.  Many fond memories were formed spending time with family and friends throughout the years at the cabins.  He and Lela also enjoyed spending many winters in Mesa, Arizona with friends.

He was always interested in aviation, and learned how to fly at the age of 50; and was proud of the fact that he attained his private pilot's license along with his daughter, Sally during her high school years.  John had a great love for his dogs, especially his Schnoodles:  Shadow, Abby and Molly.

John and Lela had a special bond with their grandson, Elliot who spent many days with them caring for their every need in their "Golden Years."

John was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege; was active in the local Jaycee organization, was a member of the Jachin Lodge #146 A.F. & A.M. of Holdrege and served as co-chairman of the finance committee which raised money to build the Phelps Memorial Hospital.  John was also active with the Phelps County Historical Society and many other organizations throughout his business career.

Anyone who knew John can relate to the fact that he loved to talk about WWII, and always had a story to tell.  He could recite poetry, and his terrific memory could amaze family and friends.  John was honored to be a chosen veteran to go on the Hero Flight to Washington, D.C. with his good friend, Wilbur Gewecke on November 19, 2008, which they both enjoyed!  John was quoted in the Nebraska Prairie Museum Stereoscope, as he was asked the question about his generation being called, "The Greatest American Generation."  To this John replied, "Each generation has to take care of their problems.  We took care of ours – they will take care of theirs.  Young people are shaped by the environment they are in and the younger generation would step up if the situation and circumstances called for it."  John had faith in the ability of the human race.  John concluded by saying, "Serving is just what we did."

Besides his wife, Lela in 2020, John was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers:  Clifford Dier and his wife, Bette; Milo Dier and his wife, Nona; and Richard Dier and his wife, Ruth; sister, Ruth Meyer and her husband, George "Dewey" Meyer; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Annie Laura Artz; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Alice Evelyn Artz in infancy; Hazel Bennett and her husband, Harold; Edith Byler and her husband, Gordon; Delmar "Pete" Artz and his wife, Tillie; Chester Artz and his wife, Doris; George Artz and his wife, Reta; Willard Artz at the age of 14 in 1930; Della Sindt and her husband, Bennie Joe; and Lewis Artz; and a niece, and nephews.

John is survived by; his two daughters:  Sally Hammond and her husband, Don of Bennington, Nebraska; and Susan Dier of Holdrege; grandson, James Elliot Graf and his special friend, Sormeh Salimpour of Denver, Colorado; step-grandson, Nate Hammond and his wife, Sara of Marietta, Georgia; three great-granddaughters:  Brianna, Nellie and Lydia Hammond; sister-in-law, Barbara Artz of Minden, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation for John will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family present.

A memorial has been established in John and Lela's honor, and kindly suggested to the Holdrege Animal Shelter.

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

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