Jon Cecil Woodward, 49, of Beatrice, Nebraska, passed away Monday, March 19, 2018, at the VA Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Visitation will be held Thursday, March 22, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. at the Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway. Funeral Service will be Friday, March 23, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the Callaway Community Center with Mr. Ken Pitkin officiating. Burial with full Military Honors will be in Waldheim Cemetery near Callaway. Memorials are suggested to 7 Valleys Rodeo Association or to the family for later designation.
Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
Jon was born February 23, 1969, in Omaha, Nebraska, and by the grace of God was blessed to Cecil and Hazel (Harvey) Woodward. He was raised by loving parents and two older sisters to watch over him, plus a large extended family, he had all the love a sweet baby boy could ever ask for. Throughout his early life, he was involved in many extracurricular activities that helped him learn teamwork and how to work hard to persevere. One of his favorite places to be was the farm learning from his Father and Grandpa. Jon enjoyed reading books of history, war and cowboy tales. He was his own person, never giving into peer pressure, but blunt and honest in his actions and words.He was a 1988 graduate of Callaway High School, 1998 a graduate of Iowa Western Community College with a degree in Criminal Justice, and he earned a Bachelor’s Degree from UNO in 2002.
After school, he joined the Air Force in August of 1988, and honorably served his country while deployed overseas for Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Desert Calm. During that time Jon was awarded many medals for his valiant service. Jon was also a Security Police Officer and flew on Presidential Support for one year. After an Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in April 1996, Jon then became a Civilian Police Officer in 2001 serving the public for 1 year at Ashland Police Department and then 3 years in Pawnee County. He did what he enjoyed, protecting people by being out there on the edge of the sword.
For the last decade, Jon has been a semi-driver for the local COOP in Beatrice, NE. Jon was an avid hunter, fisherman, camper and so enjoyed teaching his step-children about those activities. He was a member of the 7 Valleys Rodeo Association since 1988, and a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Burchard Volunteer Fire Department, and Pawnee County Ambulance.
Jon was a strong, stubborn, loving, honest and honorable man. He lived his life the best way he believed and always thought of others before himself. Jon would do anything he could to help someone who needed it. He fought for what he believed was right, he stood up for the little guys, he served his country with pride and he loved fiercely. It was this mix of traits that bred the fighter that he was. Nothing could keep him down! He would often say of his battle with cancer, “I WILL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT!” and fight he did, all the way to the end. Jon is an inspiration to all who knew him and watched his battle these last few years.
Jon leaves behind his loving wife Amanda, 2 step-children Macenzie and Joshua Strength; father Cecil Woodward of Callaway, his mother Hazel Woodward of Gothenburg, 2 sisters; Jeral (Sam) Tillman of Omaha, and Janel (Rod) Brestel of Callaway; brother-in-law Justin (MJ) Mulbery of Wakefield; as well as many nieces nephews and extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother Joe, grandparents, Merle and Esther Woodward, Edith and George Harvey, and step-mother Jean Woodward.
