Funeral services for John Cisneros, age 86, of Chadron, NE will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 5, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Father Tim Stoner officiating. 

 

Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Chadron.

 

A wake will be held at 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at the St. Patrick’s church.

 

A memorial has been established for the American Legion or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

 

Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com.

 

John passed away on June 1, 2015 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD. He was born on August 12, 1928 in Kiester, MN to parents Sabino and Sophia Cisneros. The family later moved to Whitney, NE as migrant farmers. He was the second of three boys. 

 

At age 14, John met Mary Martin in Whitney, and they became best friends. In 1946, at age 18, John and Mary were married. To this union, nine children were born. In 1944, John started working for Chicago Northwestern railroad. In 1946, he joined the United States Air Force. 

 

After serving his country, John returned to Chadron and worked as a machine operator and foreman for the C&NW. He retired in 1989 after 43 years of service.

 

John was a meticulous master gardener. He gardened and raised chickens all his life. He enjoyed watching many sports, including baseball and football. His biggest love was boxing. John was a boxer in the Air Force, where he fought featherweight. He was also in Golden Gloves in Chadron from 1948 to 1953. Later he was an “air” boxer as he watched the great boxers of his time. John once stated, “I’m proud of my record. I was never knocked out or even knocked off my feet.”

 

John was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the American Legion Honor Guard, and Maintenance of Way local chairman. 

 

John is survived by wife Mary of 69 years; sons Anthony and Alan Cisneros of Chadron; daughters Irene (Ray) Milsap of Ogallala, NE, Anna (Bill) Mozes of Chadron, Adela Maher of Hot Springs, SD, Olivia (Randy) Ensign of Alliance, NE, Beth (John) Lingelbach of Omaha, NE, and Gloria (Chad) Graves of Chadron. 

 

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and son Andy.

 

Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements for John Cisneros.