John W. Hewitt

He was born on March 10, 1946, in Bay City, MI, where he grew up the third of four children. In 1963, at the age of 17, John enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam conflict. He ended his service in 1967 as a Communications Technician Petty Officer Third Class stationed at U.S. Naval Communications in Honolulu, HI. He returned home to work for General Motors in Bay City, MI, for the next 21 years.

In 1987, John was diagnosed with a rare tumor that led him to Omaha, NE, in need of a liver transplant. There, he was given a second chance at life, thanks to the incredible generosity and selflessness of a donor family. Their gift not only helped save his life but provided John with the opportunity to enjoy the 38 years that followed. In good health, John went on to run marathons, play paddle ball and hockey, and find the love of his life, Mary, whom he married in June 1990. They shared more than 35 beautiful years together, along with Mary’s daughters, Angela and Shan, who adored and admired John for his sense of humor, infectious silent laugh (it started in his shoulders), electrical guidance, unsolicited driving tips, mad cooking skills and unconditional love.

He earned his AD in Computer Systems Technology from Gateway Electronics Institute in 1991, and a BS in Information Management from Bellevue University in 1994, leading to a second career path in IT, working for Aerotek, McAllie & Associates, Acceptance Insurance and Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, among others, until his retirement in 2007. John’s interests included volunteering for The Kidney Foundation, participating in the National Transplant Olympics, alien conspiracies, military history, playing guitar – he had a beautiful singing voice – and doting over his two grandsons, Caleb and Ethan Liban.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and John C. Hewitt, and his brother Thomas Hewitt, all of Bay City, MI. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary L. Hewitt, an attorney in Omaha; two sisters, Sally Marion of Bay City, MI and Barbara Klube of Seattle, WA; daughters Ann (Adam) Joseph, Stephanie (Ricky) Miller, and their children, twins Aaron and Abby Joseph, Sam and Gentry Miller, all of Michigan; stepdaughter Angela Stavropoulos (who pre-tied all his ties whenever she was home), son-in-law David Liban (whom John always missed the most), and grandsons Caleb and Ethan Liban, of Denver, CO; most-loved stepdaughter Shan Stavropoulos, of Omaha, NE; and a small army of “fur bags” that followed him around in hopes of a cookie.

A celebration of John’s life will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 from 11am-1pm at the Elmwood Park Pavilion; 802 S. 60th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106.

Memorials are suggested to the National Kidney Foundation or the University of Nebraska Foundation for Cancer Research.