T. J. Waller

Funeral Services for Thomas J. "T.J." Waller will be conducted from The Tassel in Holdrege, Nebraska on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Paul Bauman, Pastor Murray Jones, and Reverend Cal Hiebert, officiating. Interment will be held in the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County, Nebraska.

Thomas Jeffrey "T.J." Waller, 33 years of age, of rural Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was born May 2, 1977 at Holdrege, the youngest of two children born to Richard Bruce and Susan Joyce (Larson) Waller. T.J. was baptized at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege and later confirmed from the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church north of Holdrege.

He received his primary education from the R-4 rural school in Phelps County through the eighth grade. T.J. enjoyed his involvement in 4-H in his younger years, he loved showing hogs and cattle. He graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1996. While in high school, he was a member of the National Honor Society, was a three year letter winner in football and active with Future Farmers of America. He then pursued higher education at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and later at Southeast Community College at Lincoln, where he graduated in 2000 and received an associate's degree in welding technology.

T.J. then returned home on the farm north of Holdrege, where he worked side-by-side with his father as the 4th generation of the family farm and assisted in the operation of the 37 Cattle Company. His focus was on the farming side of the operation and also enjoyed the cow/calf operation.

On June 22, 2002 he was united in marriage to Kaylyn Marie Lorenzen and to this union two daughters were born: Allison and Trista. T.J. was a patient and loving father to his girls and a devoted husband. First and foremost in his life was being at home with his family.

In early June of 2010, T.J. was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, which he courageously fought with an amazing attitude the past seven months. He underwent experimental treatment to assist others in the future.

During the past couple years, T.J. loved being a member and active part of the Holdrege Volunteer Fire Department. He enjoyed the comradery with his fellow members, and felt the Department was his second family.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Roy and Dorothy Waller and Clinton and Ruth Larson.

T.J. leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Kaylyn; two daughters: Allison, 7 and Trista, 3; his parents: Richard and Sue Waller all of Holdrege; sister, Penny Skovly and her husband, Ron of Brookings, South Dakota; father-in-law, Dean Lorenzen and his wife, Debbie of Loveland, Colorado and mother-in-law, Vicki Nutter and her husband, Michael of Centennial, Colorado; two brothers-in-law: Justin Lorenzen and his wife, Michele of Thornton, Colorado and Darren Nutter and his wife, Kristen of Reston, Virginia; and a host of grandparents on Kaylyn's side of the family and aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 7, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in T.J.'s memory, which will create an education fund for his children and future research for cancer treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma.

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.