John Bernard Huss

John Huss passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at the Tabitha Hospice Journey House in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 81 years and 8 months old. A few hours before he passed, John was administered the last rites of the Catholic Church by Father Joseph Walsh, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Lincoln. John was a parishioner at St. Mary’s for several years.

John was born on January 9, 1943, son of Vencial J. and Helen M. Huss, at his parents’ home in Sargent, Nebraska. John graduated from Sargent High School in 1961. He lettered in basketball and band (tenor saxophone) in high school. As a young boy, John became interested in sports, primarily basketball, football, and baseball and maintained intense enthusiasm for those three sports his entire life.

When he was a teenager, John won a basketball from the National Radio Show hosted by Howard Cosell. He was the first to mail in a correct trivia answer about Roy Campanella. That was no surprise. John could have won almost any sports trivia contest. For about 10 years John served as an altar boy at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Parish in Sargent.

John attended Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska - Kearney) for two years and then graduated from the Grand Island School of Commerce in 1965 with majors in Accounting and Secretarial. Upon completing those courses of study, John was immediately hired by Burlington Northern Railroad, which eventually became Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. During his railroad career, John worked in Omaha, Lincoln, and Alliance, Nebraska. He worked in Denver, CO during two different assignments, and finished his career with a 19 ½ year stint at the BNSF headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. He worked for BNSF for 40 years and six months, retiring in January 2006, on his 63rd birthday.

In 1966 John took a two-year detour from his railroad career. He was inducted into the U.S. Army and spent almost the entire year of 1967 with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta. John was honorably discharged from the service with the rank of Specialist 4th Class at the Oakland Army Base, California, on November 28, 1967.

John was known for his loyalty. He became a Denver Broncos fan in Denver, but he was also a very loyal Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers fan. He kept in regular touch with his brother, Leonard. He also made it a point to maintain relationships with many long-time friends.

John is survived by his son, John M. Huss of Omaha; his brother, Leonard Huss (Diane) of Mason, Ohio; his nephew, Jeffrey Huss (Elizabeth); and his great nephew, Alexander of Florence, KY. He is also survived by his niece, Jennifer Burkhardt (Keith) of Sharonville, Ohio. In addition, he is survived by his long-time wonderful friends, Sarah Patterson and Jeffrey McCaskill of Lincoln, Nebraska. Also surviving John are several cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Funeral services will be held at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at St. Mary’s Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Burial will take place in the Omaha National Cemetery with military honors.