John F Teter

Funeral Services for John F. Teter will be conducted on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Jean Clayton officiating. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. in the Bartley Cemetery at Bartley, Nebraska with Military Honors provided by the United States Marine Corps Funeral Honors Team.

John Franklin Teter, 84 years of age, of Omaha, Nebraska (formerly of Holdrege), passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at the Country House Estates in Omaha. Trying to fit the life and personality of John Franklin Teter into the space of an obituary is a lofty endeavor, and one that he'd surely have a witty retort about. There weren't many things he didn't have a quick reply for. Although his memories were stolen from him in his last years, his wit remained, and he lived his last years very happily with his dear friends at Country House Estates until his passing on June 26, 2016.

A lifelong tinkerer, he was raised on a farm outside of Bartley – in the same home in which he came into the world on July 28, 1931 to parents Otis Earl and Irene (Mayo) Teter. John was known to enjoy such boyish activities as rigging a speaker system in the outhouse to startle guests, and famously spent each morning throwing all the switches over the ravine, as he knew he would surely earn one's usage at some point in the day. He loved taking things apart and putting them back together, and even as a boy was fixing radios and electronics.

At age 12, he asked Marva Moore if she wanted to walk home with him. A couple from that day forward, John married the love of his life on January 29, 1950. They built a home and a life together in Holdrege and raised three daughters: Lea Ann, Shirley and Ivy. If ever a more perfect love existed than that of John and Marva, it would be difficult to find.

Before beginning his career, he served in the Marine Corps and proudly wore a Marine veteran hat every day in his later years, along with his favorite Kennedy Space Center jacket.

John was a beloved teacher at Holdrege High School for many years, and student's stories of his classroom antics are legendary. He adored his students. He was a prankster and joker in every area of his life, and his career was no exception. You could say he believed in consistency. He loved bad jokes. If you ever met John, you know he got more pleasure out of making someone groan from his jokes than just about anything.

He retired from teaching to become head of research and development at a chemical corporation, and put his vast knowledge of math and sciences to practical use. He had a brilliant mind. It wasn't all tinkering in the lab for John. In his spare time he owned Jay Tee clock repair. He collected and fixed all manner of clocks and radios, and you'd be hard pressed to find a single wall in the Teter home that didn't feature at least 2-3 clocks. Ticking, tocking and chiming are the sounds of home for his family.

A lover of country western music, comedy, a lifelong learner, car enthusiast, and lover of anything Marva cooked, yet it should be mentioned that he was never fond of chicken.

John was preceded in death by his beloved Marva; his daughter, Lea Ann; siblings: Elma, Pauline and Don and his parents.

He is survived and loved immensely by his daughters: Shirley Krysl and her husband, Don of Omaha and Ivy Hanson and her husband, Tim of Lincoln; six grandchildren: Stephanie, Jon, Robert and his wife, Ellie, James and his wife, Angela, Ben and his wife, Victoria, and Joe; two great-grandchildren: Sylvia and Henry who were true joys of his life. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Larry Moore, whom he thought of as his own sibling, as well as two sisters-in-law. Also remaining, are several cousins, numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends, and of course, his legacy of laughter, wit, kindness and the indelible spark he's left behind. We thank you, John for all you gave us. To which he would have replied, "You're just as welcome as the flowers in spring."

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in John's honor and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Community Foundation, for an educational scholarship in his name.

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.