Jack R. Killion

Jack Robert Killion passed away in Lake Forest , CA on December 14, 2015 at the age of 86.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, December 21, 2015 at Apfel Funeral Home, Grand Island with the Rev. Jack Gillam officiating. Burial will be in Grand Island Cemetery, Grand Island, NE. Military honors will be provided by United Veterans Honor Guard Team and the United States Navy Honors Team. Visitation hours will be 4-7 Sunday, December 20, 2015 and 10:00 a.m. Monday until service time at Apfel Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Lutheran Hour Ministries at www.lhmgift.org or 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141, or the VFW at www.vfw.org. A memorial service will be held at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Lake Forest, CA at a later date.

Jack was born March 6, 1929 at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, NE the son of Lemuel W. and Helen (Cornelius) Killion. He was raised in Phillips, NE and graduated from Phillips High School. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1957 and during the Korean War. He began his service at the US Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL. He also served aboard the USS Mattaponi AO-41, the USS Gen. J. C. Breckenridge, and at the Naval Air Station in Memphis, TN. He returned to Grand Island, NE where his civilian working career began in the automotive industry, with various positions in Nebraska, Colorado, Iowa and Kansas. He later was employed in the securities industry, and retired from Merrill Lynch in Orange County, CA. Jack was a devoted husband and father.

He was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and served on numerous church boards and committees. He also held memberships in various civic and political organizations, including the Lutheran Medical Center-Omaha Board of Directors and Board of Governors, Lutheran Laymans League, Christian Business Mens Association, American Legion, VFW, Republican County Chairman of Phillips County, KS, Nebraska Legislative Caucus, Lions and Kiwanis Clubs. He married Shirley M. Herzberg in Grand Island, NE on November 18, 1951.

Shirley survives him, as well as three children, LeAnn Mayo (James) of Orange, CA, Robert Killion (Carolyn) of Laguna Niguel, CA and Jane Bruns (John) of Overland Park, KS. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Adam Bruns of Boise, ID, Arin Bruns Jura of St. Charles, MO, Myka Mayo of Norfolk, NE and Jordan Mayo of Orange, CA, two great-grandchildren, Jack and Ave Jura, three nephews, Steven Jensen, Michael Jensen, and Bradley Jensen and two nieces, Pamela Cade and Jacalyn Fredrick.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Dorothy Jean Jensen Koch.