Roy F. Stohler, 92, of Concord, died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023 at a Grand Island hospital.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29 at First United Methodist Church in Wayne. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 at First United Methodist Church in Wayne. Burial, with military rites, will be in the Concord Cemetery at Concord.
Memorials may be directed to Camp Fontanelle, Dixon County Historical Society and the Dixon/ Concord Senior Center.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
Roy Fletcher Stohler was born on the family farm near Grant, Nebraska on June 19, 1931. His parents were Frank and Eva (Beachell) Stohler. Roy grew up on the family farm. He graduated from Perkins County High School in 1948. He attended the University of Nebraska where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1953. He received his commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Field Artillery in 1952. He was called to active duty in 1953. He served two years, stationed at Fort Sill. Oklahoma where he was an instructor in the Field Artillery Survey Division. He received his master’s degree from Colorado State University in 1964.
Roy worked as a University of Nebraska County Extension Agent in York, Merrick, Madison, and Dixon Counties. He was a 4-H Agent and District 4-H Specialist working out of the Northeast Nebraska Research Station at Concord.
He was also a Hunter Safety Instructor, Red Cross Advanced First Aid Instructor and Hazardous Occupation Instructor.
After retiring from the Extension Service, he was appointed Director of Outdoor and Retreat Ministries for the Nebraska United Methodist Annual Conference. He retired from this position in 1997. He was also a member of the Camp Fontanelle Board.
Roy was elected to the Concord Village Board for 20 years where he was the Wastewater Manager. He was chair and manager of the Concord/Dixon Senior Center for over 20 years.
He was a member of the Battle Creek and Concord Volunteer Fire Departments for over 50 years.
He participated in Volunteer in Mission projects with the United Methodist Church. The projects were in South Carolina, Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Alaska, North Dakota, Louisiana, and Nebraska.
Roy married Shirley Marie Middleswart on Aug. 19, 1951 in Lincoln. They were happily married for 65 years. Shirley passed away in 2016.
He was a member of the Columbus United Methodist Church at the time of his death. He had been a member of the Laurel United Methodist church more than 50 years where he was a choir member, lay speaker, Sunday School Teacher, and a member of many church committees.
Roy and Shirley organized the Logan Valley Sams Camping Club and were members of the Dixon County Historical Society. They were also involved in a Christian Ministry Puppet program called the “Good News Puppets.” They made presentations at over one hundred events.
Survivors include his daughters and their husbands: Susan Kubik, Nancy and Dale Lambert; Kathi and Marshall Frasier; and Julie and Lee Baumgart; nine grandchildren and eight great -randchildren; and sister Linda Payne.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; parents, Frank and Eva Stohler; brothers, Donald and Leon Stohler; and sisters, Ruth Borowski and Doris Otterstein.
