Photo courtesy of Adams & Swanson Funeral Home - North Platte
Apr 30, 1985 - Aug 10, 2025
Big Al was one of the best people you could call a friend. From the day I met him we hit it off great. We had many great times together that I will always talk about with friends and my kids. Usually if I have a good story it starts out with “One time with AJ”. I’m gonna miss that guy. As me and him always said before “we are brothers from different mothers.”
Eric Kendall
August 18, 2025 | Friend
You wer thee a good friend love you
Debra Allen
August 16, 2025 | Hastings, NE
Wyatt Johnson
August 14, 2025 | Gothenburg, NE | Friend
Wyatt Johnson
August 14, 2025 | Gothenburg, NE | Friend
He is my friend and we had a lot of good time's together for quite a few years we knew each other he will be missed.
Wyatt Johnson
August 14, 2025 | Gothenburg, NE | Friend
Friend, you will be missed.
Cristal Kersey
August 13, 2025 | North Platte, NE | Coworker
The world will be a lot less funny without my Uncle Aj, but I am so glad he’s finally found peace. RIP the handy-est, funniest, and outdoorsy man i’ve known.
McKayla LeJeuene
August 12, 2025 | Cedar Park, TX | Family
AJ was a part of our lives for so many years! He was funny, loving father and stepdad to my grandchildren and will be truly missed!
Debra Kaenel
August 12, 2025 | Minden, NE | Family
AJ was a good friend a son and we had lots of fun together fishing I will miss you cracker love you
Junior Magana
August 12, 2025 | Gothenburg, NE | Family
Albert John “AJ” Vanhorn, Jr., 40, of North Platte Nebraska passed away August 10, 2025 in Sutherland, Nebraska. He was born July 30, 1985 in Frankfurt, Germany.
AJ’s childhood was spent in various countries including Germany with his military family. He found the Brady and Gothenburg, Nebraska area to call home. He traveled with his lifelong partner Shannon Kaenel to Louisiana where he was an inspector for the oil fields. In 2016 they returned to this area where he worked with his brother-in-law with Axxis Elite Builders. Then he returned to the oil fields until his health issues caused them to return back home. He loved fishing and hunting. AJ will be remembered as a great father, uncle, brother and friend.
Survivors include his 3 children Ava, Tylon, and Miley; best friend and mother of his daughters, Shannon Kaenel, Holdrege. Nebraska; siblings, Melony Vanhorn, North Platte, Nebraska; Christopher Vanhorn, Alaska; Heather “Doosie” (Dale) Crump, Sutherland, Nebraska, David Vanhorn, Ft. Dodge, Iowa; remembered and loved by several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
AJ is preceded in death by his daughter, Zoie Vanhorn; sister, Kerri Lynn, grandparents, Joe and Lois Vanhorn, several aunts and uncles.
A memorial has been established in his memory.
Cremation was chosen. Services will be held at a later date.
Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family.
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