Franklin Powers

1925 - 2017

Franklin Powers, Jr. passed away June 28, 2017 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell. The following is his life story as told by him.

I was born June 3, 1925, northeast of Sargent to Francis "Frank" and Ethel (Thayer) Powers. At an early age I moved with my family to Loup County, nine miles north and east of Taylor. I attended school K-8th grade at Pleasant View School Dist. #24 and went to high school in Taylor a short time. My family moved to northwest of Sargent when I was 15 years old. I worked for several farmers and ranchers; Polands, Crams, Penneys and worked for Emil Wolf for five years.

I was inducted into the Army after World War II and took basic training at Fort Riley, Kans. I was sent overseas and was in the Occupation of Japan with the 24th Infantry Division. I also served during the Korean War with the 24th Infantry Division, which was the first division to go to Korea from Japan at the start of the war. I received my GED while in the Army in Japan. I served for 13 months in Korea during the war. I spent three months in the hospital in Kyoto, Japan with a leg injury and hepatitis. I went back to Korea before being sent home. I received the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, five battle stars and other medals as shown on my service record. I was discharged from the Army on September 28, 1951.

After service, I worked at the Ordinance Plant in Grand Island as a guard for about four years. I met my first wife, Ila Gilmore there and married her on April 16, 1953. To this marriage four sons were born; Richard by adoption, Victor in 1954, Nicholas in 1955 and Dixon in 1958. I farmed four years at Archer; two years west of Sargent and two years northeast of Taylor. I had a farm sale in February 1962. We then moved to Sargent where I bought a tavern and ran it until May 1965. I worked at the alfalfa mill in Sargent one summer as a truck driver in January 1966, I went to work for the Government as a Federal Meat Inspector and moved to Cairo. I was stationed in Grand Island, worked at Gibbon and Minden. I moved to Heartwell in 1976 while working at Minden. In 1982 moved to Grand Island and worked at the plant there. I took the Inspector's job at McCook in 1983 until 1986, when I moved back to Grand Island.

My first wife Ila Gilmore Powers died in December 1984. In August 1986, I married Velma (Waggoner) Stewart, a longtime friend. I retired in November 1987 and moved to Velma's farm west of Sargent where I bought raised and sold calves. I retired front that in 2006 and remained on the Stewart farm until moving to Off Broadway Apartments in Broken Bow in 2010.

I was preceded in death by both of my parents, a half-brother Hank Powers of Camarrillo, Calif. and a half-sister Margene Walker Martin of Ogden, Utah. I am survived by my wife Velma Powers of Broken Bow; sons Richard (Betty) of Omaha, Victor of Oklahoma City, OK, Nicholas (Kathy) of Kearney, Dixon (Lynette of North Platte; two step daughters, Loretta (Walt) Griffith of Broken Bow and Meredit (William) Orthman of Lexington; eight grandchildren; four step grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 11 step-great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild with another on the way and two step great-great grandchildren with several on the way; numerous nieces and nephews; friends and acquaintances as I never met a stranger.
Franklin Powers Jr., age 92, of Burwell formerly of Sargent, died Wednesday June 28, 2017 at Burwell Community Memorial Health in Burwell.

Funeral services were Saturday July 1, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in the Rhoad Funeral Home in Sargent with Dixon Powers officiating. Burial was in the Gates Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation was Friday June 30, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with family present from 4 to 6 p.m and Saturday morning at Rhoad Funeral Home in Sargent 9 a.m. to service time.