John J. Watkins, 75

John J. Watkins, 75, of Blair, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at St Francis Borgia Catholic Church. Interments will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

John J. Watkins was born Aug. 12, 1931 at Hubbard to Hollas and Mary (Sullivan) Watkins. He graduated from Hubbard High School in 1951.

He joined the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict, serving from 1952 until being discharged in 1956.

He married Carolyn Sue Ross in 1960 and they moved to Blair in 1962. The couple had two children. His wife died in 1967.

In 1968, he met the love of life, JoAnn Jones, and they were married April 19, 1969, in Blair.

Mr. Watkins enjoyed his family and was proud of his service in the Air Force. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, love of family (especially his wife) and his love of his acreage west of Blair.

The couple owned and operated the Village Inn Restaurant in Blair for 16 years, and was also a partner in M&W Plumbing until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of Hain Flynn American Legion Post 154.

Mr. Watkins is survived by his wife, JoAnn; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Darci Watkins, Omaha; daughter and son-in-law, Beth and James Jones of Tekamah; step-daughters, Diana Stier and husband Larry of Blair, and Jacqueline Jones of Longmont, Colo.; seven grandchildren; sister, Mary Starzl of Emerson; brothers, Elmer Watkins of South Sioux City, Raymond Watkins of Sioux City, Iowa, Robert Watkins of Kalispell, Mont., and Jerry Watkins of Emerson.

In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Hollas, Lawrence and Charles Watkins.

Memorials are suggested to the Blair Fire Department.

#2-

Published in Omaha World Herald, unknown date

Veteran

WATKINS, John, age 75, of Blair. Survived by wife JoAnn, son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Darci Watkins, Omaha, NE, daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth "Beth" and James Jones, Tekamah, NE, step-daughters, Diana, Mrs. Larry Stier, Blair NE, Jacqueline Jones, Longmont, CO, 7 grandchilerdn, brothers, Elmer, So. Sioux City, NE, Jerry, Emerson, NE, Ray, Sioux City, IA., Robert Kalispell, MT; sister, Mary Starzl, Emerson, NE

Services 10 am Tuesday, St. Francis Borgisa Catholic Church, Blair. Burial Blair Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 PM on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials to the Blair Fire Department.

CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME Blair, NE 402-426-2191

#3 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of John J. Watkins

Born August 12, 1931 Hubbard, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest December 28, 2006 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Services 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 2, 2007 St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Blair, Nebraska. Celebrant: Father Mario Rapose. Organist: Clare Cowing. Vocalist: Jean Peterson. Vocal Selections: “How Great Thou Art”, “Wind Beneath My Wings”

Casketbearers: Dale Albus, Richard Golden, Bud Hunsche, Bob Larsen, Gordon Mallory, Bob Wittry

Honorary Casketbearers: Jim Jones, Mike Jones, Benjamin Watkins, Christopher Stier, Larry Stier

Military Graveside Services: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

Arrangements by Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 108046922