Lloyd E. Mader

Lloyd E. Mader, 71, of Grand Island died Saturday, January 10, 2015, at his home following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will beat 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 14, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Island with the Rev. Caroline Price-Gibson officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Island Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Army Honors Team and the United Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. The family will be receiving friends from 4 to 6 P.M.

Lloyd was born November 7, 1943, at Grand Island to George Bud and Geraldine (Lockwood) Mader. He attended District 15 School, Walnut Junior High and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1961.

Lloyd was an outstanding Grand Island American Legion baseball player in the early 1960s. His talent lead to his being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles right out of Legion ball in 1963, but he later returned home to carry on the family farm operation.

Lloyd was the 4th generation of his family to farm the same land. He was a successful Hall County farmer and a true steward of the land.

Lloyd entered the U.S. Army Reserves and served with the 295th Ordnance Company. His unit was called to active duty where he served in Chu Lai, Vietnam from October 1968 to August 1969.

He married Patricia Larsen on December 12, 1970. The couple made their home on the family farm.

Lloyd was member of the Wood River American Legion Post #1553, the Grand Island American Legion Color Guard, the Platte Duetsche, the Liederkranz, the YMCA and Grand Island Saddle Club. He was also an avid bowler, and traveled annually to the National Mens Bowling Tournaments all across the United States.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Mader of Grand Island; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Ashley Mader of Lincoln, NE, Shana Mader Briggs and husband Josh of Westminster, CO, Krista Mader Croghan and husband John of St. Libory, NE; one son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Allison Mader of Grand Island; one brother and sister-in-law, Max and Libby Mader of Grand Island; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Shirlee and Joe Mudloff of Grand Island and Carol and Mike Phillips of St. Paul, NE; one brother-in-law, Russ Johansen of Dannebrog, NE; grandchildren, Noah Croghan, Bella Croghan, Jack Mader, Myla Briggs and baby boy Briggs to arrive in April 2015; aunts and uncles, Virginia and Paul Short of Kenesaw, NE and Byron and Roseann Lockwood of Denver, CO; several cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and one sister, Marcia Johansen.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established in Lloyds name to benefit the Grand Island American Legion baseball program.