MAYNARD EMANUEL ERICKSON was born September 22, 1925, at Concord, Nebraska, to Emmet and Dorothy (Swenson) Erickson. He passed away Sunday, May 23, 2010, at the Oakland Mercy Hospital in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 84 years.

Maynard graduated from Wakefield High School in 1943. Following high school, he began farming with his Dad and in February 1944, they moved to a farm southwest of Lyons, Nebraska.

Maynard enter the US Army in January 1945 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and trained at Camp Fannin, Texas. In June, he left Fort Ord for the Philippines and then to Japan, where he served as a MP. He was honorably discharged in November 1946. Following his discharge he returned and continued farming with his Dad.

On August 20, 1953, Maynard and Alice Almery were united in marriage at Ceresco, Nebraska. They had five children: twin sons, Steven and Michael, Tim, Sherri and Mark. They farmed near Oakland with his parents until 1955. They then moved to a farm between Oakland and West Point, where they lived for 29 years.  In 1981, Maynard began working as the maintenance engineer at Oakland Heights. In 1983, they left the farm and moved into Oakland. Maynard and Alice both worked at the Heights until they retired in 1995.

Maynard was confirmed at the Wakefield Covenant Church. He and Alice were active members of First Covenant Church in Oakland, where they served as a youth counselors and he as the last chairman of the board before the 1985 merger with Salem Covenant Church in rural Oakland. Maynard’s dedication to his church continued at Salem Covenant. He served on the Bible Camp board and the Midwest Conference board for six years.

Maynard was a member of the Gideons since March 1960. He was a member of the VFW Ryan Post No. 5543, serving as Chaplain for 12 years. He also was an organizer of the 4H electric club for 15 years. Maynard was active in the Golden Oaks Senior Center. He loved taking people to medical appointments and the airport.

He was preceded in death by his parents; twin sons, Steven and Michael; sister and brother-in-law, Lavonne and Stanley Johnson.

Survivors include his wife, Alice of Oakland; children, Tim (Jane) and Sherri Erickson all of Lincoln, Mark (Connie) of Oakland; 13 grandchildren, Jessica Erickson, Doug (Amberly) Erickson, Chris (Mellisa) Erickson, Jennifer (Bevan) Flynn, Adam (Jenn) Scharp, Laurie Scharp, Wendy Scharp, Jessica Lucero, Bryana Erickson, Arman Erickson, Aubrey Erickson, Asa Erickson, Mariah Erickson; 4 great grandchildren, Adalynn Erickson, Jadon Erickson, Lillian Erickson and Tayden Lucero; brothers and sisters-in-law: Eldon and Nyona Erickson of Lenexa, Kansas, Marland and Pat Erickson of Paola, Kansas; cousins; nieces and nephews.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 10:30 a.m. at Salem Covenant Church, rural Oakland.

BURIAL: Oakland Cemetery with Military Honors by Ryan VFW Post No. 5543, American Legion Post No. 46.

VISITATION: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 1- 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Visitation will also be held Wednesday at the church one hour prior to the service

MEMORIALS: Donor’s Choice

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com