Bernard “Barney” Maxson of Kearney, formerly of Ord, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21 at the Burwell Baptist Church in Burwell. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell. Pastor Joel Wentworth and Pastor Doug DeNeui will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 20 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell.
Memorials may be directed to Gideon’s International.
Arrangements are with Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell.
Barney was born April 28, 1936 to Arlo and Erna (Fisher) Maxson in Burwell. He grew up on a farm outside of Burwell and attended country school / high school and graduated in 1953 from Burwell High School. He worked at various jobs before joining the United States Air Force in 1954. He was stationed in Altus, Oklahoma where he was an airplane mechanic and graduated top of the class. After his discharge in 1960, he returned to Burwell.
On June 22, 1958 he married Marilyn Keenan at the First Christian Church in Burwell and they had three children - Tammy, Kelsey and Kelly Joe. He worked at the Burwell Butter Factory and Burwell Coop until moving to Loup City in 1965 as owner of the Loup City Produce and Feed.
In 1966 Marilyn and Barney gave their life to the Lord and learned to be become faithful servants of Jesus Christ under the biblical teaching and nurturing of Pastor Doug DeNeui. Doug was a very good friend the remainder of Barney’s life. He and his family lived in Loup City until moving to Hartington in 1975 as he felt called into the ministry. He attended Pioneer Bible Institute and received his degree in Theology.
In 1976 Barney and his family moved to Wayne to be a pastor of Independent Faith Baptist Church while working full time at the Wayne Auto Parts. They lived in Wayne until moving to Ord where he was the pastor at Independent Bible Church in Arcadia and continued to work other jobs. Barney couldn’t wait until summertime. He loved to garden, mow lawns, play around outside and fix anything with a small engine. He also loved to go fishing with family and friends. Barney had lots of good stories he told about his life and passed it onto the next generation.
In 2014 he moved to Kearney to be closer to family.
For 40 plus years he served in pastoral ministry care in various ways. He was committed to his Lord and Savior and encouraged family and friends not always just by words but through his works and commitment to the Lord. Barney loved his family endlessly, was very proud of his family and loved to share this with others.
Survivors include Tammy Maxson Bossom of Kearney, Kelsey (Laurie) Maxson of Galveston Texas, Kelly Joe (Rose) Maxson of Wayne; five grandchildren, Shawn Bossom, Amanda (James) Miller, Rachel (Tyler) Hansen, Sarah Maxson and Daniel Maxson and five great-grandchildren, Averie, Bryson, Eden, Titus, Matthias and one on the way; a sister, Norma (Rudy) Janitscheck; a brother, Eldon Maxson and many nieces and nephews and all the friends he has met along the way.
He was proceeded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn, and sister, Darlene Swanson.
