Kenneth Lightner, Sr

Former Hastings resident, Kenneth Ray Lightner, Sr., 71 passed away at the VA Hospital in Denver, Colorado on August 24, 2012.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held Thursday, September 20, 2012; 11:00 A.M. at Faith Lutheran Church, 9th Street & Chestnut Avenue, in Hastings, Nebraska with the Pastor Paul Dunbar officiating and a luncheon to follow the service. A private family burial, of his ashes, will be held at a later date at his favorite place in Penrose, Colorado and in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to your designated choice or to the family to establish a memorial at a later date.

Ken was born March 30, 1941 in Hastings, Nebraska to Edward and Ruby (Rutt) Lightner. He attended the Hastings Public Schools and graduated from Hastings High School in 1958. He joined the Navy in 1958 and was stationed in San Diego, California where he met the love of his life for 52 years, Lynne Joy Knapp, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Knapp. He held a variety of jobs such as a fireman and insurance agent, sometimes more than one at a time, anything to provide for his family. In 1966 he attended Hastings College and then pursued his passion for auctions by going to the Reisch Auction School in Mason City, Iowa. He helped his father cry 100's of auctions and later opened his own auction house in Hastings. He moved from Hastings to Phoenix, Arizona in 1992 to open up a liquidation store and auction house. In 2006 he "retired" and moved to Penrose, Colorado, but didn't care for retirement and opened another liquidation store, "Ken's Trading Post" which is still operating today by his son, Ken Lightner, Jr. In a newspaper article promoting his business, he said "I didn't come here to get rich, just to keep busy. I like it down here. If the gate down there is open, we're open." He fell in love with Colorado, the people, and his little piece, 35 acres, of a mountain Ken and Lynne Joy own in Penrose, that he called "God's Country." Ken and Lynne Joy shared their home and their love of animals, over the years, with many dogs they rescued. They also have a natural bird and wildlife habitat on their land. Ken loved to share the message about his Lord Jesus Christ to those that shopped at his store. He even ministered to the nurses and nurses' aides during his last two weeks in the hospital. Ken was a loving and generous man who will be missed by many. His family takes comfort in knowing they will be with him again. Ken was a walking miracle after being diagnosed with congestive heart failure, almost 12 years ago, and only had 20% of his heart functioning. His Lord blessed Ken's family with an extra 11 years than what the doctors predicted. At the end, 11 days before he was received by his Lord, he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, which ultimately took his life. He was chair bound the last five years of his life and is now free of pain and dancing at the feet of his Lord.

Ken was preceded in death by his precious mother, Ruby (Rutt) Lightner; Lynne Joy's parents, Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Knapp; grandparents, Frank & Mabel (Adler) Rutt, Ralph & Sena (VanBoening) Lightner; aunts & uncles, Phyllis (Bayley) Lightner, Virgil & Henrietta (Lightner) Sanford, Leonard Lightner, Russell Gerrard, Sr., Raymond Lightner, Kenneth Lightner, Curtis Rutt, Sr., Calvin Rutt, Richard Rutt, Orva & Hattie (Rutt) Tolle, Lowel & Helen (Rutt) Hanson, Jim & Elsie (Rutt) Stark, Sr., and Oscar & Arlene (Rutt) Siebrass; cousins, Bonnie (Tolle) Dreher, Marvin Sanford, LeAnna (Hanson) Pedersen, and James Stark, Jr.

Survivors include:
Wife: Lynne Joy Lightner - Penrose, CO
Children, Spouses & families:
Ken Lightner, Jr. - Penrose, CO
Kevin & Erin Lightner - Akron, OH
Grandchildren: Alexis & Kade
Korky & Sheila Lightner - Hastings, NE
Grandchildren: Tyrece & Shateyah
Lynne Joy (Lightner) & Gary Shook - Penrose, CO
Grandchildren: Angelica, Kendra Lynne, Kyla & Zane
Father: Ed Lightner
Sisters & Spouse, Nephew, Niece, and Great-Nephews:
Vickie Lightner - Hastings, NE
Todd Motley - Omaha, NE
Jordan Motley & Christian Tapia
Carolea (Lightner) & Paul Ringenberg - Tampa, FL
Tatiana Ringenberg
Aunts & Uncles:
Melvin Lightner
Viola (Lightner) Gerrard
Sidney & Mildred (Lightner) Griffin
Virginia (Aten) Lightner
Phyllis (Fry) Rutt
Numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and innumerable close friends.