Orville G. Sullivan

Funeral Services for Orville G. Sullivan will be conducted from the Moses Hill Evangelical Covenant Church, northwest of Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Craig Roberts, officiating. Interment will be in the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County.

Orville Gene Sullivan, 83 years of age, of Loomis, Nebraska, passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at his home in Loomis. Orville was born on July 29, 1927 at Haxton, Colorado, the second of seven children of Clyde and Beatrice (Atkinson) Sullivan. Orville received his primary education in Colorado until his family moved to Minden, Nebraska then to Bertrand, Nebraska and later Loomis, where he graduated with the Loomis High School class of 1946. He accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age.

On May 9, 1948 he was united in marriage to Carolyn Virginia Mattson at Carolyn's parent's farm northeast of Loomis and to this union seven children were born: Randall, Michael, Barry, Monte, Cynthia, Sheila and Crystal.

After their marriage, Orville farmed for a few years and then the family moved to Colorado, where he worked in the sheet metal business and once they settled to Loomis, Orville owned and operated Sullivan Feed and Seed and raised show hogs and lambs. He continued to farm until his retirement. During his retirement years, he enjoyed working part-time for Bethphage Mission in Holdrege. Orville enjoyed livestock of all types, and was active with his children showing hogs and sheep with 4-H and the county fair.

He loved to garden and after the children were grown, Orville enjoyed getting back into horses which he excelled at through the years.

Orville was a Boy Scout and 4-H leader for several years when the boys were young and he was a past member of the Lions Club in Loomis. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the American Paint Horse Association as well. With his involvement in horses through the years, Orville enjoyed volunteering at the Bureau of Land Management's Horse Adoption Center at Elm Creek, Nebraska.

The couple attended the Loomis Evangelical Free Church and the Moses Hill Evangelical Covenant Church northwest of Holdrege through the years.

Besides his parents, Orville was preceded in death by two grandchildren: Logan and Matthew Sullivan; one great granddaughter, Rachel Harrold; two brothers: Lowell Sullivan, LeRoy Sullivan and his wife, Katherine; and one sister, Lorraine in infancy.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Carolyn; seven children: Randall Sullivan and his wife, Renee of North Platte, Nebraska, Michael Sullivan and his wife, KrisAnn of Kearney, Nebraska, Barry Sullivan and his wife, Terry of Loomis, Nebraska, Monte Sullivan of Holdrege, Cynthia Leibsack of Alda, Nebraska, Sheila Walker and her husband, Doug of Aurora, Colorado, Crystal Kumpost and her husband, Bob of Kearney, Missouri; twenty grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; three brothers: Clyde Dell Sullivan and his wife, Beverly of Mesquite, Nevada, Dean Sullivan and his wife, Marjorie of Cedaredge, Colorado, Dale Sullivan and his wife, Sheryl of Fargo, North Dakota; two sisters-in-law: Irma Sullivan of Hastings, Nebraska, Rhoda Goodman and her husband, Chuck of Holdrege; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Stephen Ministries or to the donor's choice.

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.