John "Jack" H. Guthrie

Celebration of Life Service for John H. "Jack" Guthrie will be held on Friday, December 13, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Scott Guthrie and Chaplain DeWane Dow officiating.  Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors Team.

John Henry "Jack" Guthrie, 89 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, formerly of Odessa, Nebraska, went home to be with his Savior, on Saturday, December 7, 2019, at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Jack was born December 26, 1929, in Frontier County, Nebraska, the ninth of fifteen children born to Omer Kem and Maude Mae (Urling) Guthrie.  He received his education from a country school in Frontier County, near Stockville, Nebraska, until the eighth grade.  Following his education, Jack engaged in farming as a farmhand, and had various jobs prior to his military service.

On January 26, 1951, Jack was inducted into the United States Marine Corps, and served during the Korean War until his honorable discharge on January 25, 1954, reaching the rank of Sergeant.  Jack reunited with his Marine platoon members, and enjoyed hosting a number of reunions for several years.

On May 22, 1955, he was united in marriage to Carol Ann Johnson at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege. The couple were blessed with five children: Denise, Scott, Patty, Peggy and Nancy. The family made their home in Odessa, where Jack was employed at the Western Alfalfa Hay Mill in Odessa for many years, until he began a long career at Eaton Corporation in Kearney, Nebraska, until his retirement in 1988.  On August 9, 2019, Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Carol.

Jack was a faithful member of the Riverdale Christian Church in Riverdale, Nebraska, and had dual membership at the Ragan Methodist Church in Ragan, Nebraska.  Jack was a gifted boxer, and enjoyed teaching and coaching boxing to many kids and relatives in the area.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman; hunting big game in the United States and Canada for several years.  He loved to tell stories about his big game mounts from his hunting expeditions.  He also enjoyed collecting coins and barbed wire.  Jack enjoyed participating in the Nebraska and National Hand Cornhusking Competition for several years, and was also inducted into the Great Plains Amateur Boxing Hall of Fame in 1985.

But most of all, he loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and enjoyed the many hours spent around the kitchen table playing cards with family and friends.  Christmas was his favorite holiday!

Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by:  six sisters: Alberta Covey and her husband, Albert; Geraldine "Gerry" Richards and her husbands:  Millard Covey and Leland Richards; Garnett Covey and her husband, Donald; Alpha Fries and her husband, Wayne; Thelma Soderberg and her husband, Vern; and Myrna Guthrie; three brothers: LaVerne Guthrie and his wife, Barbara; Omer Guthrie and his wife, Wanda; and Harold Guthrie; sister-in-law, Zola Maul and her husbands:  Warner Dahlgren, Don Farrell, and Emmett Maul, Sr.; and brothers-in-law:  Dewitt Schroeder; Neal Carlson; Clarence "Bud" Rogers; Leroy Maxwell; Laverne Johnson and his wife, Pauline; and Quinten Johnson and his wife, Marilyn.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his children: Denise Johnson and her husband, Roger of Wichita, Kansas; Scott Guthrie and his wife, Cindy of Kearney; Patty Rebman and her husband, Brad of Republican City, Nebraska; Peggy Rogers and her husband, Dave of Adams, Nebraska; and Nancy Guthrie of Kearney; 13 grandchildren: Brad Johnson and his wife, Hannah; Jessica Robinson and her husband, Ben; Chara Eckery and her husband, Dane; Elise Lush and her husband, Alex; Joshua Guthrie and his wife, Ashton; Seth Guthrie and his wife, Jennifer; Nathan Rogers and his wife, Elizabeth; Melody Rogers; Benjamin Rogers; Wendy Rogers; Paige Young and her husband, Spencer; Brett Rebman and his wife, Alexis; and Bo Rebman; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters:  Florence Maxwell of Denver, Colorado; and Eleanor Rogers of Holbrook, Nebraska; three brothers: Wayne Guthrie and his wife, Janice of Alma; Cecil Guthrie and his wife, Donna of Holdrege; and Dale Guthrie and his wife, Lou Ann of Ragan; two sisters-in-law:  Linda Guthrie of Hastings, Nebraska; and Vearl Schroder of Holdrege; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 12, 2019, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

In honor of Jack's wishes, memorials will be designated to: the Riverdale Christian Church; the Ragan Methodist Church; ruralMED Hospice; or to the Christian Homes Care Community.

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.