John 'Jack' C. Hibbs

Hastings resident, John C. (Jack) Hibbs, 74, passed away Thursday, June 24, at his home. Celebration of life is at 2:00, Tuesday, June 29, at First Methodist Church in Hastings. A private, family memorial will be in Parkview Cemetery. Book signing will be Monday, June 28, 2010 from 9 AM to 9 PM with the family present from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, in Hastings, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Heartland Pet Connection, First Methodist Church or the donors choice. Jack was born August 1, 1935 to John C and Dena (Lervig) Hibbs in Elwood, NE. He graduated from Elwood High school in 1953 and NE Vocational Technical School in Milford in 1955 where he excelled in carpentry and cabinet making. Jack married Janet (George) of Lexington, NE on Dec. 28, 1955, his wife of 54 years. They lived in Lincoln for 2 years before coming to Hastings where they have resided since that time. Jack was the manager of Hastings Welding Supply Company where he was in charge of the Hastings and Holdrege stores and a vice president of the parent company, Lincoln Welding Supply Company. After 25 years he left that company and became owner and operator of J. Hibbs Jewelers in downtown Hastings. Following a short stint in the jewelry business, he joined Eagle Plastics, Inc. as their polyethylene products manager. He ended his careers and retired from Centennial Plastics as a co-owner and polyethylene products manager. He designed and patented a bullet fitting for geothermal pipes for Centennial. Jack was a member of First Methodist Church serving a President of Lamplighters and on the Board of Trustees. He was President of the local Jaycee chapter and also served on the State Board. He received the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award as well as Bronze, Silver and Gold Key awards. Jack was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 317, Scottish Rite and the Tehama Shrine. He served on the Central Community College Board, Welding Department and was Chairman of the Central Nebraska Section. Jack was elected to the City Council, was on the Board of Directors and President of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce and active in the Chamber Ambassador group. Jack was also on the Board of Directors for the YMCA and a 50 year member of Lochland Country Club. One of his proudest accomplishments was being the founder and organizer of the Midget Football program in Hastings. Jackson loved spending time with his family and friends water skiing and boating at Johnson Lake where he built the cabin they used. Later, he also built the docks and the deck on the new lake house on Plum Creek Canyon. Traveling in the Motor Home and playing Canasta with the Kerrs and Poppes always brought a good time. Jack was a NE Football and Hastings College Basketball fan. He enjoyed great times accompanying Coach Lynn Farrell on BB trips. He was an avid hunter, ducks, pheasants, deer, but Turkey hunting with his son Mike, and best friend Bob Poppe was his favorite thing to do! They had such good times. Jack had a great sense of humor which he never lost, even when his health deteriorated and he suffered a great deal of constant pain. He had so many friends and was so well liked he will be missed. Jack was preceded death by his parents, an infant daughter and a foster son, Mike Moll. Survivors include his wife, Janet of Hastings, NE; son Mike, wife Sue (Throckmorton) and grandchildren, Hannah, Sarah, and Jonathan of Eagle, CO and daughter, Stacy Hibbs of Tempe, AZ, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Joyce Faris of South Fork, CO. The family would like to personally thank Drs. Hervert and Seiler, the nursing staff at Mary Lanning and the crew at AHP for their care and concern over the past several years.