Lawrence P. “Bud” Heitz, age 92, of Sargent, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at Broken Bow, Nebraska.
Bud Heitz was born November 18, 1928 in a two story log cabin on the Log Ranch at Callaway, Nebraska to Vanner and Stella (Perrill) Heitz. He graduated from Oconto High School on May 16, 1946. On May 27, 1946 he joined the United States Navy. He served on the battleship, the USS Missouri in the Atlantic Ocean. His duties on the ship included Fire Control, setting coordinates for the 16” big guns, along with the testing of the guns daily.
He lived most all his life in Custer County, Nebraska. He had a lifelong love of horses and cattle which led to Bud spending most of his life as a ranch or farm manager in the Sandhills of Nebraska and in Custer County. He was able to own Black Angus cattle and registered Quarter Horses. When he retired to town, he took up carpentry and also found a hobby working with wood, creating all manner of projects. His knowledge of ranch and farm haying with horses and old-time hay equipment led him to create wooden miniatures of this equipment. With the knowledge of old-time haying and his miniatures, he was able to add a contribution to the book “A Farm Country Haying” by Gordon & Nancy Fredrickson. He enjoyed reading, jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles the last few years of his life.
On September 19, 1952, he married Fern E. Caywood of Broken Bow, Nebraska. To this union, four children were born: 3 girls and 1 boy. Also for several years his niece, Jill (Schoolcraft) Wood, made her home with the Heitz family. He accepted Christ as his Savior on January 9, 1955.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Fern; sons-in-law Keith Jones and Willie Holloway; his sisters and brother.
He is survived by daughters Terry Jones of Ansley, NE, Holly Holloway-Holmen of Wisconsin, and Wanda (Bob) Drake of Lincoln, NE; and one son, Joel Heitz of Cozad, NE. He was blessed with 6 grandchildren: Christopher (Heather) Jones, Jeff (Melanie) Jones, Elizabeth (Ryan) Anderson, Tyler Holloway, Travis (Gina Kay) Holloway, and Drew Holloway. He had 9 great-grandchildren: Korben, Brooklynn, and Parker Jones, Addie and Finley Jones, Vivienne Holloway, Evan, Oliver, and Eliza Holloway; 2 step-great grandchildren: Brianna and Aaron Glendy; sisters-in-law: Dorothea Heitz-Kenagy, Eleanor (Bob) Lafler, and Eileen Muich; brothers-in-law James (Virginia) Caywood and John Amsberry; niece Donna Jean (Duane) Beck; special friends, Ken and Ramona Spray; and other extended family members and friends.
Memorial/Celebration Service will be held at a later date. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery, Broken Bow, Nebraska. Memorials can be made to the family, to be designated later.
Arrangements provided by Govier Brothers Mortuary and Crematory of Broken Bow, Nebraska.