William Ervin Essman, 81, Thedford, Nebraska passed away Friday, September 15, 2023 in North Platte, Nebraska. He was born August 14,1942 in Fairbury, NE to Ervin and Celia Essman. He was the fourth of five children.
Bill grew up on a farm south of Swanton, Nebraska, where he helped his father with the farm work. During summers when he was old enough, he attended church camp.
While attending Swanton high school, he enjoyed participating in football, basketball and track. He was chosen by the Swanton Legion to attend Boys State in 1959. Bill graduated as Salutatorian from Swanton High School in 1960. He went on to play football at Fairbury Jr College in Fairbury, Nebraska. While there he met his future wife, Marilyn Mergen.
After Fairbury Jr. College, he went to Peru State College, then transferred to Wayne State College. Bill graduated from Wayne State College with a B.A. in Industrial Arts in December of 1967. In January of 1968, he began his teaching career. His first high school teaching job was in Edgewood, IA. While at Edgewood, he was an assistant football coach. His teaching career took the family to Bellevue, IA in 1970, to Stillman Valley, Illinois in 1973 and finally to Thedford, NE in 1979.
Bill and Marilyn were married on August 31,1963. Shortly after they married, they moved to Wayne Nebraska to attend Wayne State College so they could both complete their college education. Their older son, Jeff, was born while they were attending college at Wayne. Their younger son, Kevin, was born shortly after they moved to Edgewood, IA. Bill loved to watch both sons as they participated in football, basketball and track.
He taught Industrial Arts in each of the schools and continued helping coach football until they moved to Thedford. Bill retired from teaching in May 2003. At that time, he also retired from driving the school bus, which he had done at each school where he had taught.
Bill was a member of NEA, NSEA, the Masons, Scottish Rite, the Shrine and the Order of Eastern Star. He was a 50+ year member of both the Masonic Lodge and the Order of Eastern Star. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards and Cribbage, attending sporting events of his sons and grandchildren and recycling metal and appliances at the Thedford disposal site.
Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Marilyn, their sons, Jeff Essman and Kevin Essman, his grandchildren Logan (Taylor) Simmerman, Kenny Essman, his granddaughter Myah Essman, his great grandson Barrett Simmerman, his sister Lucille (John) Martin, his sister-in-law Meredyth Cline, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. Bill was predeceased by his parents, his 3 older sisters Donna, Arla Berggren and Twila Pedersen, brothers-in-law Dean Berggren and LaVern Pedersen and 2 nephews.
An informal Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 2 P.M. at the Thomas County Fairground building. Those who wish to remember Bill with their memories of him are welcome to attend and honor him in that way. If anyone would like to make a memorial donation, please make it to family choice.