Virgil L Sims

Funeral services for Virgil L. Sims will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the Huntley United Methodist Church at Huntley, Nebraska, with Pastors Ryan Findley and Jean Clayton officiating. Interment will be in the Alma Cemetery at Alma, Nebraska, following the services.

Virgil L. Sims, 91 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, November 7, 2016, at the Holdrege Memorial Homes. Virgil was born August 30, 1925, on the family farm north of Republican City in Harlan County, Nebraska, the son of Guy Edward and Alice Amanda (Lethem) Sims. He received his primary education from the Salem Country School southeast of Huntley and then graduated from Huntley Consolidated School with the class of 1942.

Following his education, Virgil began pursuing his lifelong passion of farming. On June 1, 1947, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Edith Ann Larson at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege. To this union three daughters were born: Rita Jean, Kathryn Anne, and Cynthia Lee. The couple made their home on the family farm west of Huntley, where Virgil enjoyed the labor of the land. Virgil and Edith Ann made their home in Holdrege in 1987. He continued to farm and raise livestock until his full retirement in 1995.

He was a member of the Huntley United Methodist Church where he served on the Administrative Board and was the church auditor for many years. Virgil was recognized for fourteen years of service to the ASCS office in December of 1981.   He was also active in his community, serving on the Huntley School Board and the Huntley Equity CO-OP Board. He was an avid bowler throughout the years as a member of the Sims Store bowling team. In addition, he was a member of the Elks Lodge; and he and Edith Ann loved to spend their free time attending many dances. Virgil also enjoyed collecting Massey-Ferguson toy tractors, attending auctions where he added to his collections. He was a devoted Husker Fan. All the time spent with his family was treasured, especially his grandchildren's activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four great-grandchildren: Owen, Clara and Sophia Skiles and August Skiles-Nitchie; two brothers: Harold and Don Sims; and one sister, Norma Waggoner.

Virgil leaves to celebrate his life; his wife of 69 years, Edith Ann Sims of Holdrege; three daughters: Rita Skiles and her husband, Brad of Huntley, Kathy Dobesh and her husband, Dale of Ansley, Nebraska, and Cindy Pille and her husband, Vince of Papillion, Nebraska;   nine grandchildren: Mark Skiles and his wife, Nicol, Brent Skiles and his wife, Amanda, Andrea Skiles-Nitchie and her husband, Jason Nitchie, Anne McCaslin and her husband, Thomas, Julia Bauer and her husband, Alex, Janae Robinson and her husband, Jim, Celeste Pille, Grant Pille and Gretchen Pille; thirteen great-grandchildren: Gavin, Peyton, Taylor, Olivia, Harrison and Nora Skiles; Clemens, Ada, Sylvester and Olive Skiles-Nitchie; Kenna and Halle McCaslin, and Edith Ann Robinson; one brother, Gary Sims and his wife, Renetta of Kearney, Nebraska; brother-in-law, Tom Waggoner of Holdrege; sister-in-law, Judy Sims of Alma; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 11, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 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 Virgil's honor and will be designated by the family 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.