William "Bill" Ground

William “Bill” P. Ground, 73, of Juniata died Friday, November 22, 2024, at his home. Funeral service will be 10:30 am Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at Christ Lutheran Church with Pastor Darren Olsen. Burial will follow at Concordia Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 pm Monday at Christ Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com. The service will be livestreamed by the church.

William “Bill” was born on June 17, 1951, in Hastings, NE to William Lester and Betty Jo (Shay) Ground. He grew up on the family farm in rural Juniata. He attended Prosser and Christ Lutheran Elementary schools and graduated from Kenesaw High School in 1969.

After school he joined the National Guard and served until 1976. After which he returned to work on the family farm.

On April 6, 2001, Bill was united to Dorothy “Dottie” Pfeiffer at Christ Lutheran Church. They continued to farm as the fourth generation on the family farm.

He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, the Nebraska Bush Pullers and the All-Nebraska Tractor Drive, Platte Valley Antique Machinery Asso, NRA, and the Juniata American Legion-45 years. He loved tractor pulling and restoring tractors, collecting toy trains, and attending his grandchildren’s events.

Survivors of the family include his wife, Dottie; children: JR (Renee) Ground of Hastings, Carmey Ground of Hendersonville, TN, Bobbie Ground of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren Taylor (Alex Winters), Brendon, Kyla, Adelynn Ground, Darrah Bambhani, Illaria, Lennon Ground; great grandson: Liam Ground; brother, Dan (Vicki) Ground of Juniata; sister-in-law: Denise Schenk Prosser; brothers-in-law: Randy (Trina) Pfeiffer of Denver, CO, Jon (Les) Pfeiffer of Lincoln, NE; aunts: Linda Thompson Alda Lanora Shay of Hastings; step children Mitch Nurnberg of Lincoln, Cindy Nurnberg Wall of The United Kingdom, Matthew (Nicole) Hawke of Lincoln, Cy Hawke of Omaha, Kelly Hawke Juniata; step grandchildren: Jasmine, Trinity, Austin, Riley, Adyson, Brooklyn, Annabelle, Preston, Avery Hawke, Dylan, and Cameron Wilson; and step greatgrandchild, Athena; and many other cousins and family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Betty Ground; uncles and aunts: Melvin (Bonita) Harpham, Bill (Phyllis) Witt, Melvin Shay, Jim Thompson; parents-in-law: Bryce and Ida Lou Pfeiffer; brothers-in-law: Bryce Pfeiffer and Doug Schenk.