Fred W. Johnston Jr.

Fred W. Johnston Jr.

1931 to 2014

Fred W. Johnston Jr., 82 of Sidney, passed away at Sidney Regional Medical Center Extended Care, Friday morning, February 14, 2014.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, February 19th with a Wake Service Tues., Feb. 18th at 6 p.m., both services will be in the St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Father Art Faesser officiating. Military graveside services will be held in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney.

Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Tuesday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Fred's name to the Sidney Regional Medical Center Home Health and Hospice Programs.

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

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

Frederick William Johnston Jr., the son of Frederick William Sr. and Anna Florence (Stack) Johnston was born on Aug. 5, 1931 at North Platte. He attended a small country school east of Dalton. The family moved to Sidney in the early 40's where he attended St. Patrick's School and graduated in 1949. Fred played basketball at Creighton University for two years before being drafted into the United States Army. Fred returned to the family farm upon his Honorable Discharge in 1955. In 1957 Fred was united in marriage to Helen Louise King at St. Patrick's in Sidney. To this union six children would be born. In the late 1960s Fred entered the insurance business while continuing to farm and raise his children. He retired from the insurance business in the mid-1990s and from farming in the early 2000s.

Fred was known for his unique sense of humor and enjoyed playing intramural basketball in his younger years. He followed his children and grandchildren as they participated in their activities and was a Broncos, Nuggets and Husker fan. Fred also enjoyed reading and studying history.

Survivors include his (5) children: Jenifer Wamsley and husband Denny of Sidney, Fred Johnston III and Cindy Schuessler of Dalton, Mary Pohl of Castle Rock, CO, Teresa Gill of Farmville, VA and Nancy Gordon and husband Bill of Sidney; (9) grandchildren: Jason Gibson, Natalie Gibson, Ryan Gill, Derek Adams, Nathan Adams, Kyle Gordon, Brody Gordon, Jeremiah Wistrom and Anna Wistrom; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents, (1) daughter: Janet Marie, (1) son-in-law: Jim Pohl and (1) sister: Frances Grant.