John Hawes

Hastings resident John Richard "Dick" Hawes, 87, passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at his home with family at his side.

Rosary is 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 2, and Mass of Christian Burial is 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Joseph M. Walsh officiating. Burial with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Cecilia's Catholic Church or H.A.R.S.P. (Hastings Area Retired School Personnel) scholarship fund. Visitation is 1-6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church.

John Richard "Dick" Hawes was born on August 24, 1930, on a farm west of Kenesaw, Nebraska, to John Leonard and Mary (Billesbach) Hawes. He graduated from Kenesaw High School in 1947, Grand Island Business College in 1948, Kearney State Teachers College in 1956, and the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1959. He served with the Army Security Agency from 1952 to 1955 from Arlington Hall Station, VA, and attached to Fort Riley, KS, and Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was a bookkeeper for The Hirschfeld Company in Kearney, as a business education teacher at Wahoo High School for five years and Hastings High School for 33 years. Hundreds of students were trained in typing/keyboarding, accounting, and secretarial skills during his 38 years of teaching from 1956 to 1994. On June 12, 1954, he was married to Phyllis Jean Wissbaum in Kearney, Nebraska.

Dick was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, having served as Grand Knight of the Council, Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree Assembly, Financial Secretary for 25 years, secretary to the Holding Company for 40 years (since 1977), newsletter editor, pancake breakfast coordinator, vocations chairman, TV Mass coordinator, memorial mass coordinator, State co-chairman of Financial Secretaries, State Family Director for two years, District Deputy for two years, Nebraska Fraternalist of the Year in 1998, Council Teacher of the Year in 1994, Nebraska Knight of the Year in 2002, and Council Knight of the Century in 2006. He was a lector for 43 years, an acolyte and eucharistic minister for 41 years at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, a member of the adult choir for 51 years, Augustinian men's choir, and Catholic Outreach. He was a County Court bailiff for 18 years, volunteer for the Hastings Museum and St. Michael's Grade School, membership chairman of the Hastings Area Retired Teachers Association, and a funeral director assistant at Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home.

Dick was a farmer at heart, always proud of his flower and vegetable gardens. At one time, he had garden plots at three different locations. He loved to cook and bake and shared these talents with his children and grandchildren. Later in life he took up the hobby of quilting, making several large quilts which he entered at the county and state fairs. This past year, his quilt was named best quilt in the 75 and older category at the state fair.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marilyn Wiebe; sisters-in-law, Anita Hawes and Maxine Hawes; and brothers-in-law, Alvin Wiebe and Jack Portz.

SURVIVORS:
Wife:
Phyllis Hawes - Hastings, NE
Children & Spouses:
Tom & Laurie Hawes - Hastings, NE
Linda & Rick Klamm - Hastings, NE
Carol & Craig Ratzlaff - Aurora, NE
Brian & LeAnn Hawes - Hastings, NE
Lisa & Rob Johnson - Gering, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses:
Becky & Jeff Crecelius - Hastings, NE
Chris & Abbie Hawes - Hastings, NE
Devon & Amanda Hawes - Omaha, NE
Courtney Klamm - Omaha, NE
Eric Ratzlaff - St. Peters, MO
Joel Ratzlaff - Omaha, NE
Taylor Hawes - Hastings, NE
Ashley Hawes - Hastings, NE
Step-Grandchildren & Spouses:
Kelsey & Brian Keever - Hastings, NE
Kellen & Brooke Fraser - Hastings, NE
Great-Grandchildren:
7
Step-Great-Grandchild:
1
Sister:
Gena Portz - Red Oak, IA
Brothers:
James Hawes - Hastings, NE
Wayne Hawes - Grand Island, NE
Sister-in-law & Brother-in-law:
Sam & René Reinke - Kearney, NE