Thane Weeks

Former Juniata resident, Commander USNR, Thane Weeks, 97, passed away May 18, 2014 at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society-Hastings Village, Hastings, Nebraska.

Services will be Thursday, May 22, 2014; 10:30 A.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings with Pastor Tony Dawson officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Juniata Cemetery, Juniata, Nebraska. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Butler Volland Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Adams County Historical Society, Hastings Public Library, or the Juniata Fire Department.

Commander USNR Thane Weeks was born January 24, 1917 to Elbert C. & Jessie M. (Cates) Weeks in Adams County Nebraska. His early years were spent on the farmstead by Rising Star country school by Juniata. For a short time he lived in Hastings, Nebraska before moving to the family farmstead by Juniata, Nebraska. He was a graduate of Juniata High School and Hastings College in 1939 where he was a member of the Kappa Tau Phi fraternity, Spanish and Science clubs. Thane received a certificate in diesel technology from Penn State University while in the navy. He received his Master's of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in1954. He married Naomi M. Anderson on August 14, 1945. Naomi preceded him in death on April 12, 2002.

Thane was teaching at Western, Nebraska when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served his nation during World War II. Following the war, he returned to teaching in several Nebraska communities including Juniata, Glenvil, Wallace, Hebron and Fairfield. While in Wallace, Nebraska, the Navy returned him to active duty at the Naval Training Base in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Thane had a remarkable memory and enjoyed visiting with former students and faculty members at the various class reunions. His love for knowledge and learning stayed with him throughout his life. His home was full of books on all topics, which he gladly shared with others. He enjoyed researching his family's genealogy, corresponding with relatives near and far, watching and listening to sporting events, collecting old radios, music, typewriters and hearing about his grandchildren's various activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Naomi M. Weeks; son, Alan D. Weeks.

Survivors include:
Daughter:
Janet Benson - Sutton, NE
Daughter & Son-in-Law:
Mary & Peter Rishel - Kearney, NE
Grandchildren & Spouse:
Erin & Michael Green
Matthew Benson
Brooke Rishel
Daniel Rishel
Great-Granddaughter:
Sydney Benson