'John' Honore

Johan A. "John" Honore, 79, of Phillips died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at his home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island. The Rev. John Hayes will officiate. Cremation will take place following the services.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Honore was born July 31, 1932, at Federacia, Denmark to Johannes and Valborg (Jensen) Honore.

Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Nina of Phillips; one daughter and son-in-law, Kim and James Peter of Lincoln; one brother and three sisters-in-law, Peter and Lillian Honore of Oelstykke, Denmark, Laurie Honore of Naestved, Denmark and Diane Honore of Grand Island; one sister and brother-in-law, Ulla and Vagn Jensen of Horsens, Denmark.

Additional survivors include grandchildren, Machelle Guardiola of Lincoln and Travis and Cindy Stutzman of Gainesville, Fla.; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

He grew up in Federacia, Denmark and immigrated to the United States in 1950. He answered his call to duty and served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. John married Nina C. Stoffel on July 17, 1957, in Grand Island. They made their home in Grand Island, where John was employed by his uncle, Ras Baasch as a blacksmith until 1966, when he and Nina started Honore Kennels. They sold the kennels in 1994.

John lived his dream when he started training dogs in the late 1950's, and continued until his death. He won the National Field Trials in 1974 with the Labrador, "Happy Playboy's Pearl", one of among several honors and wins over the course of 40 years. John was once rated third in the nation as a professional trainer, qualifying more dogs than anyone.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and owned and operated the Hilltop Shooting Preserve until 2011.

John was a member of the Evangelical Free Church, and also attended Grace Baptist Church. He was Mason, and a member of the National Field Trial Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Holger Honore, Joergen Honore and Fleming Honore.

Memorials are suggested to the family.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

You may sign the online guestbook at theindependent.com.