Obituary: John H. "Catfish" Lonsdale

John H. "Catfish" Lonsdale,89 of Kimball, Neb., passed away at Kimball County Manor, Friday morning Jan. 24, 2014.

Graveside Military Honors will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29 in the Greenwood Cemetery. No formal funeral services are planned. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Tuesday, Jan.28 from 1-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in care of the family to be designated to a cancer research fund.

You may view John's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of John's care and funeral arrangements.

John Howard Lonsdale, the son of Charles R. and Edna Evelyn (Flint) Lonsdale, was born on Jan. 31, 1924 at Lewiston, N.Y. John served in the United States Army during World War II from 1943 to 1950. On Sept. 19, 1945 he married his wife of 57 years, Mary Anne Bell in Sidney, Neb. She preceded John in death in 2002. John worked for Union Freightway and Baker's Tire Service in Sidney before he started his career in the Oil Field. Roger's Truck Line in Sidney was his first job, followed by Gettle Trucking and Rocky Mountain Trucking to name a few. John became a legend of sorts in the Oil Field Community with his ability to drive backwards as they moved an oil derrick using two trucks. He always said he drove more miles backward than most people did forward. His favorite pastime other than his family was sitting on the lawn digging dandelions.

Survivors include his four children, Robert (Geraldine-deceased) of Kimball, Elizabeth (Keith) of Pine Bluffs, Fredrick (Deb) of Pine Bluffs and Donald of Kimball; 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one daughter-in-law, two brothers and three sisters.