Willard Soderquist

Kearney resident, 84

KEARNEY - Willard V. Soderquist, 84, of Kearney, formerly of Axtell, died Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, at St. John's Good Samaritan Center in Kearney.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bethany Lutheran Church south of Axtell with the Rev. David Evenson officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Tuesday at Layton-Craig Funeral Home in Minden with the family present from 3-4 p.m.

He was born Dec. 7, 1924, in Axtell to Victor and Mollie (Linder) Soderquist.

On Feb. 22, 1948, he married Marilyn Rundquist in Minden.

Survivors include his wife; daughter, Deanna Nelson and her husband, Marvin, of Harvard; son, Rendell Soderquist of Axtell and his friend, Lori Nelson of Kearney; grandchildren, Scott Nelson and his wife, Brooke, of Ashland, Jodi Behlen and her husband, Brian, of Waverly, Lacy Pokharel and her husband, Ashish, Tammy Vlock and her husband, Dan, and Ashley Soderquist, all of Omaha, and Holly Pracht and her husband, Jeremy, of Kearney; great-grandchildren, Eve and Jules Nelson, Jordyn Behlen, Hannah and Sierra Pokharel and Logan and Edward Pracht; sisters-in-law, Ruth Soderquist of Kearney, and Phyllis Soderquist, Marian Johnson and Vivian Space and her husband, Dale, all of Minden; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He grew up in the Axtell area and graduated from Axtell High School in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army in 1944. He was wounded June 2, 1945, in Okinawa, Japan, and was discharged in 1946. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

He returned home and was employed with the Axtell Post Office as a postal clerk.

He and his wife started farming in the Axtell area in 1952 and continued until their retirement in 1989. They moved to Kearney in 1994.

He was a lifetime member of Bethany Lutheran Church near Axtell and served on many committees and in many offices. He was active in the community of Axtell. He served on the town board and was a charter member of the Axtell Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Minden American Legion.

He was devoted to his family and the community of Axtell. His favorite pastimes included playing cards with his friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Dale and Calvin; and sisters, Adelle Leff, Lorene Larson, Mae Swanson and Etta Popple.