William Lee Shearer

William “Bill” Lee Shearer, age 68, of Arapahoe, Nebraska, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings, Nebraska. He was born on May 14, 1955, at Norton, Kansas, to Leroy William and Merna Marie (Brand) Shearer.

 

After spending his educational career at Wilsonville and graduating with the class of 1974, he began working as a farm hand and a mechanic. Over the years, he worked his way up to management at the Arapahoe Co-op, the Bertrand Co-op, the Alma Co-op, and the Funk Co-op. Eventually, he worked for Cargill operating a terragator, and worked his way up to become the Seed Corn Manager. After his retirement in 2018, Bill worked as a school bus driver for Arapahoe Public Schools. He enjoyed seeing the students’ smiles and hearing them laugh on the bus. 

 

On November 22, 1980, Bill Shearer and Thersa Brakhahn were united in marriage at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Arapahoe, Nebraska. To this union, two children were born: Ashley Marie and Stephanie Lynn. 

 

In 2016, Bill was thrilled to become a grandfather to Anastasia Marie. From then on, he was affectionately known as “Poppy” to his family. Together, Anna and Poppy ate donuts and played outside with bubbles. Poppy was wrapped around her finger from day one, even going so far as to rent time on a horse named Frosty because Anna wanted to learn how to ride.

 

His second grandchild, Adrian William, was born in 2020, and together Poppy and Adrian ate treats, raced toy cars, and made faces at everyone. Poppy loved to facetime “his boy” and “his girl” and listen to them talk all about their day.

 

Bill was obsessed with Husker football and could share stats from forever ago. He shared his extensive knowledge of Husker trivia. At any given time, he could be found putting together a puzzle or a Lego set. He loved his family a lot, and he enjoyed taking care of their vehicles and taking them out to eat. Bill never knew a stranger, often finding new people to have a chat with while his daughters’ shopped at the mall.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents Leroy and Merna, his in-laws Clarence and June, and his brother-in-law Steven Brakhahn.

 

He leaves behind his wife of 43 years Thersa Shearer of Arapahoe, Nebraska, daughter Stephanie Shearer of Central City, Nebraska, and Ashley (Alex) Wyatt and grandchildren Anastasia Marie and Adrian William of Holdrege, Nebraska. 

 

 Memorials are suggested to be given in his name to the University of Colorado’s Pulmonary Research Center. Garey Funeral Home of Arapahoe, Nebraska will be in charge of the arrangements. Condolences or personal reflections may be left at gareyfuneralhome.com.