LEWIS LEE BEARD, 79 years of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, January 5, 2012, at the Golden Living Center in Tekamah, after suffering a stroke May 28, 2011.

Lewis was born February 18, 1932, in Decatur, Nebraska, the sixth of seven children of John Andrew and Jennie Jerrine (Walker) Beard. Lewis attended grade school at District No. 10 and Decatur Public School, where he excelled in basketball, football and baseball, graduating in 1949.

Lewis served in the U.S. Army from January 1953 through December 1954. He was extremely proud of his military service.

On May 28, 1953, Lewis married Donna Lee Anderson in Tekamah, Nebraska. To this union two children were born: Lorilee and John Andrew.

Lewis had a great love of farming and raising cattle. His greatest passions were race horses, of which he owned several, and watching his grandchildren play ball.

He was a member of VFW Gleason-Rogers Post No. 6926, American Legion Rogers-Crum Post No. 215 and Master Mason of Masonic Lodge No. 31.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Charles “Rusty” Beard; sister, Saranne Baker; brothers-in-law, Howard Lewis, Robert Baker and William Whitthuhn.

Survivors include his daughter, Lorilee (Sam) Titus of Tekamah; son, John Andrew (Brenda) Beard of Columbus, Nebraska; four grandchildren, Kylie (Randy) Hansen of Tekamah, Joshua Titus of Tekamah, Brendan and Brent Beard of Columbus; two great grandchildren, Rylee and Preslee Hansen of Tekamah; sisters, Beulah Lewis of Sioux City, IA, Betty Whitthuhn of Loveland Colorado, Doris (Don) Worley of Decatur; brother, Johnie (Mary) Beard of Tekamah; several nieces and nephews and special friend, Dorthea McIntyre of Columbus.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, January 9, 2012, 10:30 a.m. at the Decatur United Methodist Church, Decatur, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Sunday, January 8, 2012, 5 - 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends and 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service all at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation Monday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Hillcrest Cemetery, Decatur, Nebraska, with Military Honors by VFW Gleason-Rogers Post No. 6926 and American LegionRogers-Crum Post No. 215

MEMORIALS: To the Family

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Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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