Memorial Services for William J. “Bill” Avery, 82, Norfolk, will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church, 406 W. Phillip Avenue. Reverend Raponzil Drake will officiate. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation with family will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue. He passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at his home. Bill was born September 6, 1936 to Ira W. and Selma A. (Hejde) Avery in Schuyler, Nebraska.
He lived in Rogers, Nebraska for a short time and was baptized at the Purple Cane Methodist Church. He then moved to Norfolk with his parents to the family farm in 1943. Bill graduated from Norfolk Senior High School in 1953 and Norfolk Junior College in 1955.
Following graduation, he attended the UNL- East Campus and earned his room and board by milking cows. Bill married CheraLee “Cherry” Knaak on January 18, 1959 at the First United Methodist Church in Norfolk. He had been a member of the church for 65 years.
“She was the best thing that ever happened to me and that’s no lie”. He worked for Norfolk Produce, Meadow Gold, Clark Brothers and had always helped operate the family farm. In 1965, Bill became a dispatcher for N.P.P.D.
in Norfolk. He transferred to the main dispatching office in Hastings, Nebraska from 1970-1979. He then transferred back to Norfolk and retired in 1995 after dispatching for 30 years.
In his younger years, Bill enjoyed raising and then showing his cattle. He loved attending all his grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s sports and activities throughout the years. Bill and Cherry were Booster Club members at NE Community College.
Bill was a member of the Norfolk Odd Fellows Lodge for 60 years and served as Grand Marshall of the Norfolk Fourth of July Parade. In 2012, he received the Pioneer Family Award from The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation and Nebraska Farm Bureau, at the Madison County Fair, for 100 years of family farm ownership. He always enjoyed cookies, a cup or 2 of coffee, and good conversation with his” McDonalds coffee group” and was always ready for some ice cream.
Bill is survived by his wife, daughter Jennifer (Cliff) Terwey of Juniata, NE; grandchildren Brent (Michelle) Terwey, Kylee (R.E.) Simmons, and Kevin Terwey all of Hastings, NE. Great-grandchildren Anthony Terwey, Karsyn, Keaten, Kynlee, and Kaelyr Simmons, and Kade Terwey. Many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and infant daughter Julie Anne. Memorials may be given to the family or First United Methodist Church. There’s still time to send flowers to the Visitation at the Home for Funerals Chapel from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on October 26, 2018.
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