John H. Slagle, 61 of Sargent, NE departed this earthly world for his heavenly home Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE after a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family.
Services will be held 11:00 am, Monday, April 2, 2018, at the Sargent School gymnasium. Private burial service at Gates Cemetery will be at a later date. Visitation with the family will be Sunday, April 1, 2018, 5:00-7:00 at the Sargent School gym. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
John is survived by his wife of 38 years Gail of Sargent, son John and wife Tanya, Sargent, daughter Abbey and husband Barton of Kearney, and son Jeff of Sargent. Grandchildren Macyn, Kya, Paden, and Ellisyn. Brother Floyd (Pam) Slagle, Sargent, sisters Shirley (Mike) Leibert, Lincoln and Nancy (Chuck) of Sidney and brother-in-law Roger Aden of Omaha. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Vickie Grint of Broken Bow, brothers-in-law Gary Grint of CA, Glenn Grint of OR, Roger Aden of Omaha and sister-in-law Kathleen Wilson of Sargent, several nieces, nephews and many dear, close friends.
John is preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Mildred, a sister Gloria Aden, his father-in-law Garold Grint and a niece Jamie Bunner.
John Henry Slagle was born June 14, 1956, at Sargent hospital. John was the youngest of five children born to Floyd and Mildred (Hayek) Slagle. The family lived 10 miles west of Sargent on a family farm.
John was baptized June 15, 1969, at the United Methodist Church in Sargent. John always talked about his dog “Nero” while growing up and sneaking him into the house upstairs to his room.
John was homeschooled by his mother in Kindergarten, attended first grade at country school then went to school in town and graduated at from Sargent High School class of 1974. While in school, John participated in 4-H showing sheep, hogs and cattle, sports including football, track, wrestling and rodeo where he rode bulls. He was so proud that he won two buckles, one at Arnold HS rodeo and the other at Dannebrog. He was active in FFA and served as President his senior year.
John attended Kearney State College for 1 ½ years before coming home to his real love farming and ranching. John met the “love of my life” at Key Amusement races where Gail Grint was the trophy girl for one of the races. He also said, “She made great chocolate malts at the Dairy Sweet”. They were married July 14, 1979, at Sargent. The couple was blessed with three children, John Edmund, Abbey Elizabeth and Jeffrey Ethan. John and Gail worked hard and built a ranch west of Sargent close to where his parents lived. John was proud that the land had been in the Slagle family over 100 years.
John was very active in his community. He always thought you needed to participate in your community. He was a member of the Sargent United Methodist Church, Sargent Young Farmers, played slow pitch softball, bowled, served on the Sargent Fair board and the Feeders and Breeders Assoc. He served on the Sargent School board for 16 years, twelve of those as President. He also made sure he gave blood and platelets when the blood drive would come to Sargent. When he became sick he realized how important donating blood and platelets were as he needed platelets several times. John loved to burn pastures every spring with the burn crew around Sargent. He was proud of his cattle and loved calving season. He trained two cattle dogs that were always special to him – Molly Girl and Buddy.
John was so proud of his children and loved being a daddy. He would cheer on his kids during the school years at sports and helped them every summer with 4-H. He was a great role model and gave the best advice when the kids needed it. His greatest achievement happened when he became a “Poppy” to his grandchildren. His four grandchildren so loved their Poppy and he so loved them back. He was the best Poppy there could be, taking them for rides in the tractor, playing in the “toe corn”, going to the river, and giving hugs. He gave the best hugs and was such a great listener.
John and Gail shared many happy adventures which included Whidbey Island, WA, California, Maui Hawaii, Washington DC, Branson, Minnesota, Yellow Stone, South Dakota, Colorado, Las Vegas but he loved Nebraska the best. He enjoyed when they kayaked down the Calamus River with friends, visiting Nebraska sights or just driving the back roads around the area. His passion was watching Nebraska sunrises and sunsets and took many pictures of them. He was in awe of God’s beauty.
John never met a stranger. Everywhere he went he found friends. He touched so many lives and he wanted to thank everyone that touched his. During all of his hospital stays he met so many kind and caring nurses, doctors, and staff. He always loved to visit with them and find out where they were from. John always tried to live his life and teach his kids to “Treat people like you want to be treated”.
Honorary pallbearers are Greg Griebel, Ed Sherbeck, Clyde Thompson, Greg Fenske, Jake Slagle, John E. Slagle, Jeff Slagle and Bart Cron.
John never gave up the fight – his body just got tired.
