Lloyd G Berquist

Funeral Services for Lloyd G. Berquist will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Ted Carnahan officiating. Interment will be held following the services at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Lloyd George Berquist, 95 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, May 27, 20018 at the Kearney Regional Health Center in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born on October 18, 1922, the younger of two children born to George Martin and Nannie Victoria (Samuelson) Berquist in the farmhouse north of Loomis, Nebraska.  He was baptized as an infant in his home and was confirmed in Westmark Covenant Church.

Lloyd attended the one-room Westmark School for eight years and then graduated from Loomis High School with the class of 1940. In 1949, he graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a BS in Agriculture. As a young man, he decided his mission in life was to be a successful cattle feeder, farmer and Sunday school teacher.

On July 27, 1950, he was united in marriage to Brennie Joyce Breck, and to this union two children were born: Joyce and Holly. Their lives were busy with farming, church activities, music and family. After Brennie preceded him in death 1964, he married Joy Hendrickson Moline on December 7, 1966 and Joy and her three children: Kaye, Gail and James joined the family. Their home on the farm was a gathering place for pizza parties, church youth groups, 4-H club, Cub Scout meetings and countless family gatherings.

Lloyd farmed with his daughter, Joyce and her husband, Dan Anderson beginning in 1976.  He enjoyed watching his grandchildren, Kim, Jeff and Debbie grow up on the farm. He was always thinking of ways to improve the farming process. He invented and patented the Spiral Grain Cushion (1991) and the Grain Spreader (1995).

Lloyd taught Sunday school classes at Westmark Church for 31 years. In 1981, Lloyd and Joy joined Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege. During his time at Bethel, he led the Lutheran Men in Mission, served on the evangelism committee, Stephen's Ministry and Grief Share.

Lloyd and Joy moved to Holdrege in 1991. His daughter, Joyce, died in 1992. He continued to farm until 1999, when he moved to Chrisoma Villas. When Joy moved to Christian Homes due to declining health, he was faithful to visit her every day until her death in 2002.

Music was an important part of Lloyd's life. He was a member of the Grieg Male Chorus and the Double Octet, while attending UNL. He sang with: the Westmark Evangelical Free choir and Bethel Lutheran choir; The Messiah, until age 89; and was a member of The Group, until age 91.

He was blessed to be a founding member of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in 2010.  He was thankful for the friendships he developed and for Pastor Ted Carnahan.

Lloyd never retired. He held office hours every day to trade on the Chicago Board of Trade and read The Wall Street Journal.  He made frequent trips to the farm to work on his metallurgy projects and feed the cats and dog.

Lloyd offered this wisdom to future generations, "Serve the Lord the Almighty with all your heart, soul and spirit because this is for all eternity."

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Brennie in 1964; his wife, Joy in 2002; his sister, Martha Burch; daughter, Joyce Anderson; son-in-law, Paul Wischmeier; and great-grandson, Dylan Wischmeier.

Lloyd is survived by his children: Holly Berquist Neal and her husband, Tom, Kaye Wischmeier, Gail (Moline) Carter and her husband, Brad, Jim Moline and his fiancé, Kelly; grandchildren: Kim Anderson, Jeff Anderson and his wife, Jessie, Debbie (Anderson) Ashmore and her husband, Taylor, John Paul Wischmeier and his wife, Shani, Christine (Wischmeier) Franklin and her husband, Steve, Eric Brodahl and his wife, Jill, Beth (Brodahl) Fredrikson and her husband, Sean, Nicole Moline and William Moline; seven great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Lloyd's honor, and kindly suggested to Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church or to the family to be designated at a later date.

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 arrangements.