Justin Deone "JD" McConnell, age 43, of Hershey, Nebraska, passed away at his home on January 3, 2026. He was born on September 21, 1982 to Diane & Burt McConnell and graduated from Hershey High School in 2001.
To most who knew him, he was simply JD. A one-of-a-kind, made of early mornings, hard work and the kind of grit you don't learn from a book. He stayed close to home, close to family, and close to the land that shaped him. He wore a tough exterior, but the people who truly knew him understood what lived underneath it.
After graduation, JD became skilled at farming as he learned and worked alongside area farmers. His love for farming, and for the Platte Valley, grew into something lifelong, something rooted. In time, he purchased his own farm ground, not as an idea or a dream, but as a commitment. He chased a lifelong dream of owning a semi and hauled independently to Utah. And just down the road, he showed up faithfully at his father's feedlot, dedicated to feeding cattle and tending the day-to-day responsibilities. In his spare time, he enjoyed maintaining a flawless lawn.
His wit (dry, sharp and perfectly timed) was a gift to his friends. His sarcasm could make a room break into laughter; it was JD's way of loving people. He carried a presence that was unmistakably his.
Many who knew JD also came to know and love his girl dog, Whip. Very seldom did they leave each other's side. She was loyal to him and stood by him to the very end - constant, faithful, and proud to belong to him.
JD is survived by his mom, Dian McConnell of North Platte, NE; his dad, Burt McConnell of Hershey, NE; sister, Nichole and her husband, Matt; and nephews, West and Holden; and a special friend, Emma.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Bob and Ramona McConnell and Don and Peggy Fleecs.
JD will be remembered for his strength, his humor, his work ethic, and the soft heart he kept beneath a tough exterior. The ranch work, the farming, the hauling, the feedlot - those were chapters of his story.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CST at Riverside Cemetery in Hershey, NE with Father Jonathan Sorensen officiating. Immediately following the burial, the family is extending an invitation to those who can go, to the Sutherland Legion Hall for snacks and sips.
Visitation will be on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST with family present to greet friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte, NE.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.