Ronald L Joy

Celebration of Life Services for Ronald L. Joy will be held Friday, August 28, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones officiating.  Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the North Platte City Cemetery in North Platte, Nebraska.

Ronald Lee Joy, 71 years of age, of rural Holdrege, Nebraska, passed through Heaven's gate on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at the Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings, Nebraska.  Ron was born January 3, 1944 at Gothenburg, Nebraska, the eldest of three children born to Dale M. and Elise (Cole) Joy.  His family farmed and operated a dairy on Garfield Table near Arnold, Nebraska.  Ron received his primary education from a rural school near their family farm.  After the family moved to North Platte, Ron graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1962.  He then pursued higher education at Kearney State College.

He married the love of his life, Cheryl G. Schnacker on August 28, 1964 at the First Christian Church in North Platte.  To this union they were blessed with a son, Dennis and a daughter, Cherie.  Their first home was in Santa Barbara, California and then back home to Nebraska, where they resided in North Platte and Dannebrog.  They then moved to Kansas City, Missouri for four years before moving to Holdrege, where they have enjoyed life for the past 43 years.

In his early years, Ron worked as a land surveyor in North Platte, Santa Barbara, and Kansas City.  He enjoyed working at Biermans in Holdrege for many years as parts man and service manager.  Ron was then employed by Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege for 20 years prior to his retirement in 2006.

Ron was an avid Husker football fan, he especially loved boating and fishing with family and friends.  He also enjoyed his woodworking shop, loved tending to his yard, and he had a special place in his heart for his dogs over the years.  Ron's fondest memories were times spent with his grandchildren.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Mac and Doris Schnacker; and brother-in-law, Jerry Schnacker.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Cheryl Joy of rural Holdrege; one son, Dennis Joy and his wife, Laura of Springdale, Arkansas; one daughter, Cherie Gregory and her husband, Drew of Nixa, Missouri; four grandchildren:  Alisha Joy and her fiancé, Ronnie Wilson and Ryan Joy and Zachary Gregory and his wife, Emily and Nathan Gregory; six great-grandchildren:  Anthony Hespen, Jedlynn Koch, Odycee and Vance Wilson, Reed Joy and Henry Gregory; two sisters:  Mardy Davies and her husband, Mark of Kimball, Nebraska, and Debbie Klein of Chadron, Nebraska; sisters-in-law:  Karen Schnacker of North Platte and Lori Berg and her husband, Bob of Sonora, California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.  Ron has been such a blessing to his family, and they will love him forever.

There will be no visitation or memorial book signing as the family is honoring Ron's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Ron's honor and kindly suggested to American Cancer Society, American Lung Association or the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

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.