Loren C. Baxter

Memorial Services for Loren C. Baxter will be held on Monday, January 24, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones, officiating. Private Interment will be held at Edison Cemetery in Edison, Nebraska with military honors conducted by the Edison American Legion Post #343 in conjunction with the U.S. Army National Guard Military Honors Team prior to the services at the church.


Charles "Loren" Baxter, 92 years of age, of Holdrege (formerly of Edison, Nebraska), passed away on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at the Veteran's Home in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was born on March 19, 1918 on a farm south of Holbrook in Furnas County, Nebraska, the third of five children born to Charles Morton and Pearl Odessa (Ham) Baxter. He attended school four miles north of Hendley in Furnas County and then in Curtis, Nebraska. Following his education, Loren was inducted into the U.S. Army on July 31, 1942 and served his country during WWII in Normandy, Northern France and Central Europe. During this time he received four Bronze Star service medals and was later discharged on March 1, 1947. Following his military service, Loren farmed with his father.


In April 1951 he was united in marriage to Veda Jesse (Walker) Owens in the Methodist Church in Grand Island and the couple made their home in Gibbon, Nebraska where they rented a farm and worked cattle. The family then moved south of Arapahoe, Nebraska to farm. In 1960 they moved into Edison where Loren worked for the hay mill for about 13 years. Loren then co-owned the B&B Hay Company with his son-in-law and they did custom cutting for about four years. He then opened a mechanic shop in Edison until he retired in 1985. Veda passed away in 1980.


Loren enjoyed playing cards and in his younger years he enjoyed playing baseball and he and his step-son, Gene used to break and train horses. He also enjoyed his grandchildren.


Loren was a member of the American Legion in Edison and the VFW in McCook, Nebraska.


Besides his parents and wife, Veda, Loren was preceded in death by three brothers: Garrett Baxter, Gene Baxter, Lovell Baxter and his wife, Jean; one sister, Mildred Manley and her husband, Arch; one step-son, Duane Owens and one grandson, Todd Owens.


He leaves to mourn his passing, his step-children: Janice Breinig and her husband, Bob of Holdrege, Gene Owens and his wife, Barb of Talaquah, Oklahoma, and daughter-in-law, Alice Owens of Lucerne, California; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends


There will be no public visitation, due to the family request.


A memorial has been established in his name and will 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 the arrangements.