Junius Edward Lentell

Junius E. “J” Lentell was born August 27, 1921 on the family farm near Valley, Nebraska to John V. and Wauneta E. (Cook) Lentell. Born and raised on the farm, “J” attended grade school at Country District 23 and graduated from Valley High School in 1938. “J” farmed with his father until he was drafted into the Army in 1942 during World War II. He served with the 95th Infantry and Artillery Division until he was sent to Officer’s Training School at Ft. Sill, OK, and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant. As an officer, he took training for Executive School and Motor School, and served overseas in the Philippines before his honorable discharge in 1946. It was during his military service that he went from being known as J.E. (named after his grandfather, Junius) to “J”. After his return from the service, “J” farmed with his brother, and later operated a corn sheller all around the Valley community. This led to the purchase and co-ownership with his brother of the Lentell Bros. Feed and Grain Elevator. “J” usually ran the corn sheller and did the majority of the farming. “J” married I. Jean Herrington on March 9, 1947 at the Valley Baptist-Presbyterian Church. They lived on the farm north of Valley, and were blessed with a son, Steven, and daughter, Laurie. “J” was a faithful and loving husband and loving father. The family would oftentimes go camping, swimming and fishing together with either their tent or small trailer. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were a great source of joy in his life. “J” was a baptized member of the Baptist-Presbyterian Church in Valley where he served as Trustee, Elder, and moderator. He sang in the choir and served on various committees. “J” also belonged to the Claude H. Montgomery Legion Post #58 in Valley, and was a member and past president of the Last Man’s Club. “J” loved to farm the good earth. He enjoyed his home and family. He was always willing to help others and to work at his church. He was truthful, trustworthy, and patient, slow to anger, and had a good sense of humor. “J” had a great interest in sports, and it was because of a Nebraska Bowl game that he and Jean learned to love wintering in Mesa, AZ, where they had traveled since 1975. “J” loved riding his bicycle, swimming, and singing in the big church choir. He always made friends easily, loved to joke and tease, and most generally wore a big smile! He was a good neighbor, both at home and in Arizona-always willing to help others. He started to golf more as he got closer to retirement, but he was always reluctant to retire as long as he could do the planting and see the crops grow, and see the fruits of his harvest. “J” also had fun tinkering with motors, or anything old and broken that he could make run, again. “J” passed away on Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Marquis Place in Elkhorn, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 1 month and 26 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Don, wife Jean, and great grandson William. “J” is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Steve and Carol Lentell of Kearney, NE, daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Brad Spelts of Burwell, NE, 8 grandchildren: Paul, B.J., Joey, Crystal, Sarah, James, Carrie and Jaclyn, and 2 great grandchildren: Triniti and Tryston.

Junius Edward Lentell

August 27, 1921 - October 23, 2009