William "Bill" Harris

William Maurice Harris, 83, of Clarkson, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at Clarkson Community Care Center.
The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, March 1, at New Zion Presbyterian Church with Rev. Michele Monroe-Clark officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM and continue Friday, from 9:30 AM until service time, all at the church. Interment with military honors will be in Clarkson National Cemetery. The funeral service will be broadcast live on the New Zion Presbyterian Church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Zion-Presbyterian-Church/149188345107181. Memorials may be directed to New Zion Presbyterian Church, Clarkson Historical Museum, or to the family's choice.
Bill was born July 8, 1940, in Omaha, but his father served in the Army during WWII, so Bill started his primary schooling in Fremont, California, finishing at Clarkson High School in 1959. As a Boy Scout in third grade, he met the love of his life Betty Ann Vitek and they were eventually married on December 28, 1961, at New Zion Presbyterian Church. They raised four daughters to be independent and self-sufficient.
Bill served in the Navy from 1958-61 as a SKSN-E3 Storekeeper on the Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42 aircraft carrier touring the Mediterranean Sea, the north Atlantic, and in the Caribbean during the Bay of Pigs. After returning stateside and his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned home to get married and attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. In 1963, Bill joined the Air Force being trained as an electronics technician attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant E-5. Bill was assigned to Strategic Air Command serving his posts at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska; Castle Air Force Base near Atwater, California; Okinawa, Japan on remote assignment; and Glasgow Air Force Base in Montana until his honorable discharge in 1967 as a Viet Nam Era Veteran.
Bill's leadership skills led to his 29-year career as a nursing home administrator serving Colonial Manor of Clarkson and Stanton Nursing Home. He was elected as the city Justice of the Peace, to the Clarkson City Council and spent several years on the Clarkson Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Unit. He maintained membership in the Clarkson Lion's Club, Clarkson Commercial Club, and he was a life-long member of New Zion Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder. In Stanton, he was president of the START Committee and an active part of the Stanton Community Club.
Although Bill's life was distinguished by service to his country, his community, and the elderly, his true passion was his hobby farms and raising and training horses. He also enjoyed playing board games and card games daily with his wife Betty and anytime his children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren came for a visit.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Betty; four daughters Susan (Robert) Pokorny, Judy (Mark) Paprocki, Nancy (David) King, and Mary (Jeff) Groene; 10 grandchildren Lindsay Moreno, Breanne (Samuel) Schwab, Jill (Zach) Kabes, Caitlin (Myles) Kabes, Erin Paprocki, Betsy (Jacob) Vyhlidal; Harrison Whitmarsh; Alex (Elizabeth) Groene, Paul (Nina) Groene; and Mady (James) Wagner. 16 Great-grandchildren include Aidan, Ariana, and Avalyn Moreno; Stevie and Booker Schwab; Khloe, Kenzie, Kane, and Keely Kabes; Marrx and Brooks Kabes; Eman and Charlotte Vyhlidal; Marie and Edward Groene; and Rosie Groene; Sisters Sharon (Bill) DePetro and Janet Podany; and Sister-in-law Lois Vitek.
Bill was preceded in death by Parents Maurice and Helen Harris; Parents-in-law Adolph and Anna Vitek; Granddaughter Emily Paprocki; Brothers-in-law Marvin Podany and Adolph Vitek.