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Funeral services for John Paul Stumph, age 76, of Crawford, NE will be at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 3, 2015 at the Crawford Community Building with Pastor Dusty Sprague officiating.

No graveside service will occur.

Pallbearers include Rodney Motz, Greg Kennedy, Rick Hull, Greg Oetken, Tucker Knode and Mike Morava. Honorary Pallbearers include Gene VonForell, Gerry Olesen, Larry Hermsen, Bob Galey, Dave Dodd and Bill Plooster.

Visitation will be open to the public at Chamberlain Chapel in Crawford, NE on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 1-2, 2015.

A memorial has been established for the Whitney United Methodist Church or the Crawford Volunteer Fire and Rescue. 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 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at his home in Crawford, NE. He was born on September 13, 1939 in Crawford, NE to Paul and Ruth Stumph. He was raised on the Stumph farm in Whitney where he attended rural school through 8^th grade. He went to CrawfordHigh School, where he met Sheila Hunt, his soul mate, and graduated in 1957. After graduation, he went to a telegrapher’s school and worked on the railroad before joining the US Navy in 1959.

He married his high school sweetheart in 1959. During his Navy career, John and Sheila lived in Virginia, Maryland, WashingtonDC and Hawaii. John was a radioman because he knew Morse Code and therefore had top secret clearance while in WashingtonDC. He also did a tour in Vietnam on a tanker. John was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1967 and, with his wife and three children, returned to Crawford.

In the years following, he worked for Diamond Engineering and KN Energy while buying out the family farm. He purchased Stumph Sanitation shortly after and ran this business until 1996 when he sold it to his son. During this time, John was active in the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department, Crawford JayCees, and enjoyed bowling, golfing and playing cards. Later in life he won a seat in the World Series of Poker.

John and Sheila moved out to the Whitney family farm in 1990 where they lived for 20 years. They moved to their current home in 2011 where John passed away from lung cancer.

John enjoyed his life, his family, his church and his friends. He was fun-loving and active, always on his way to a local sporting event, to the golf course, bowling alley or card game. He was quick to laugh and quicker to tease those friends and family that he held so dear.

Survivors include wife of 56 years Sheila Stumph, son Jerry Stumph and wife Lori; daughter Lori Stromberg and husband Marty Widener; son-in-law Tom Miller; grandchildren Erin, Chris, and Spencer Miller and wife April, Fletcher Stromberg and wife Merissa, and Mason and Megan Stumph; step-grandchildren Todd and Kaiza Widener and Brandon Smith; great-granddaughter Violet; sister Maxine Cavaness of Chadron; brother Dwight Stumph of Chehalis, WA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, brother Joel Stumph, and daughter Debra Miller.

Chamberlain Chapel of Crawford is in charge of arrangements for John Paul Stumph.