Ward C. Lingo

Ward, 92, passed peacefully into the loving hands of God on February 21, 2024.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, Omaha, on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 10:00 am with Rosary at 9:30 am. Lunch will be served after the funeral Mass and his ashes interred at Omaha National Cemetery at 1:30pm with military honors by National Guard/VFW. 

He is predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Jiranek) and siblings Lewella Clare Adkins, Byron (Bud) Lingo and Alvin Lingo.

Survivors of his immediate family: daughter Mary Beth (Jim) Reichle of Rio Rancho, NM; daughter Lori (Stephen) Lozier of New Bern, NC; son John (Karrie) Lingo of Waterloo, NE and daughter Anne Tickle of Papillion, NE.  Grandchildren: Tyler Reichle, Bethany Lozier, Abby (Lingo) and Connor Hiebner, Matthew (Amanda) Lingo, Hannah (Lingo) and Jack Moylan, Drew Tickle, and Jenna (Tickle) and Michael Merrill. Ward’s later years were brightened by his great grandchildren: Emerson, Levi and Piper Hiebner, and Harlee Merrill (with three on the way).

Ward was born at Leoti, Kansas, the oldest son of Edward H. and Reba (Green) Lingo.  He grew up in Leoti, KS and moved with his family to Benkelman, NE at age 6.  He graduated from Benkelman High School.  Ward continued his education at UNL, earning a Bachelor Degree in Agricultural Sciences.  He was commissioned an officer in the US Army and served nearly 4 years, mostly as a pilot and pilot instructor in Korea. He moved to North Platte to work as a County Extension Educator.  He married Shirley in 1960 at Columbus, NE.  They lived in North Platte where he worked as a salesman for Callahan Implement, a John Deere Ag Dealer.   He and Bernie Ludemann formed Rodeo Road Equipment, a John Deere Industrial Equipment Dealership in NP. Rodeo Road Equipment expanded to Grand Island and Ward and Shirley moved to GI to manage the growing business while Bernie stayed in NP. Ward and Bernie sold the business after 28 years. Ward and Shirley then moved to Omaha to enjoy their retirement together. They were married 63 years when she died last year. At St. Patrick’s Parish (NP) and Blessed Sacrament Parish (GI), he served for many decades as a lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at Mass and to the homebound.  Ward was also active in the American Legion Post and the Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th Degree. He and Shirley took great pride as one of four couples and founding incorporators of the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Trust (to assure the financial viability of McDaid Catholic Grade School and St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in North Platte). They were also charter members of the Serra Club of Grand Island (for Vocations to Catholic Priesthood, Religious Life and Deaconate).

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Fund Trust, P.O. Box 57, North Platte, NE 69103 or online: npcschools.org/donate-now.