Howard "Buss" L. Spoeneman

Howard Leo “Buss” Spoeneman, 88, a longtime Lewellen resident, passed away early Saturday, November 13, 2010, in Scottsbluff, NE with Joan, his loving wife of 64 years, at his side.

A celebration of his life will be held 2:30 p.m., Sunday, November 21, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Lewellen with Pastor Ray Weinerman officiating. Interment will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Nebraska, on Monday, November 22, 2010, at 12:00 noon CST.

Visitation will be on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh.

A memorial has been established to the United Methodist Church in Lewellen.

Family and friends may sign the guest book and leave condolences online at www.holechekfuneralhomes.com.

Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh is serving the Spoeneman family.

Howard was born September 27, 1922 in Brule, Nebraska to Henry Leo and Ada Mae (Daniel) Spoeneman. He grew up there and graduated from Brule High School with the class of 1940. He served in the 450th Bombardier Unit of the US Army Air Corps in the European Theatre during WWII. He married Joan E. Wilder on September 18, 1946 in Kansas City, MO and to this union were born three daughters; Barbara, Sandra and Edith Sue.

Howard’s three greatest loves were his love for Jo and their immediate and extended families, his love for the Lord and his love of country.

Being a boy who grew up in a farming community Howard came by his awareness of the impact of agricultural early in his life. Farming friends were numerous and Jo, the “city girl”, became his helpmate to the fullest extent as they labored together to provide for their family. In 1967 Howard received the appointment as Postmaster in Lewellen and “grew” a whole new circle of friends that he and Jo enjoyed sharing coffee, lunches, cards and conventions with.

As with any life there are seasons to move through and Howard experienced so many.

Some of them include town-team ball, refereeing basketball and volleyball games, the bowling leagues, golfing, attending most of Lewellen’s high school sporting events (even after Sue’s graduation), square dancing, a long-time member of the Lions Club, bridge club, vacationing with Sue and her family, the annual trek to the mountains in Colorado to get that special Christmas tree, a group called the RPMS, and even with all of those activities made time to visit his and Jo’s families and take in many of the grandkids’ events as well. The one thing that shaped all the seasons of Howard’s life was his involvement in Bible studies, the Church and the events they hosted.

Howard is survived by his wife Jo of Scottsbluff, daughters Barbara Vercruysse of Modesto, CA; Sandra (Ron) Cacek of Scottsbluff, NE; and Sue (Randy) Stromberg of Omaha, NE. Grandchildren Kirstie (Vinnie) DeBiase of Long Beach, CA; Jason Vercruysse of Klamath Falls, OR; Katherine (David) Gryzick of Aurora, CO; Vince Cacek of Scottsbluff, NE; Ryan (Melanie) Cacek of Newcastle, WY; and Matthew and Zachary Stromberg of Lincoln, NE. Great grandchildren are: Ashton Cacek; Sam, Jake and Hope Gryzick; Sebastian DeBiase; Sam Groves-Vercruysse; and step-great granddaughter Kerry Waite. He is also survived by his sister Eloise Edson of Boise, ID and numerous nieces and nephews.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers (Cecil and Fritz), three sisters (Alberta Hageman, Helen Peters and Celia Fay Schook) and two great grandchildren Joslyn Gryzick and Elijah Groves-Vercruysse.