John W. Davis was born Dec. 13, 1941, on the family farm east of Beaver Crossing, to Lyle L. and Blanche (Farmer) Davis and passed away peacefully with his family surrounding him in Milford at the age of 82 years and 22 days.
John was baptized in Christ Jan. 25, 1942, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Beaver Crossing and confirmed on March 27, 1966, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Goehner.
John attended Beaver Crossing High School and graduated with the Class of 1959. After high school, John farmed until he began his employment with the City of Beaver Crossing in the maintenance department in 1984. In 1994, he started working as the Transportation Supervisor for Centennial Public Schools, until his retirement in 2003. On Aug. 28, 1960, John was united in marriage to Virginia Nordmeyer at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Goehner.
John was a servant in many ways. He was a trustee of the Beaver Crossing Methodist Church and a member of the Centennial School Board for 13 years. He was also a member of the Beaver Crossing City Council for several years as well as the Beaver Crossing Fire Department as an EMT. He found great joy in teaching youth trapshooting and hunter safety classes. John volunteered at the NSAA State Wrestling Tournament for 30 years and enjoyed umpiring baseball for several years.
In his free time, John enjoyed hunting, fishing, all sports and trapshooting. He would often travel to several states to trapshoot. Most of all, he loved watching his children and grandchildren participate in all sporting events.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Blanche, Lyle and Doris Davis; grandparents, John and Ora Davis; granddaughter, Josie Lea Bluhm; and sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Gary Bluhm.
Survivors cherishing his memory include his wife of 63 years, Virginia Davis, Beaver Crossing; children and their spouses, Dean and wife, Debi Davis, Kearney, Darin and wife, Kelly Davis, Omaha, David and wife, Tarsha Davis, Fairbury, Kyle and wife, Jayme Bluhm, Bennington, and Stacy and husband, Greg Nuttelman, Stromsburg; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephew, cousins and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 11 a.m. at Beaver Crossing United Methodist Church with inurnment at the Beaver Crossing Cemetery. It was John’s request that everyone please wear casual attire as he hated suits and ties. Memorial contributions are suggested to Beaver Crossing Volunteer Fire and Rescue or Tabitha Hospice. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
