08/14/2020 - John Weitzel

A Mass of Christian Burial for 72-year old John Weitzel of St Paul, NE, formerly of Hay Springs, will be held Friday, August 14, 2020, at 10:30 AM at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul, NE.

The Revs. Rayappa Konka and Art Faesser will concelebrate the Mass, which will be livestreamed on the Peters Funeral Home Facebook page.

Those attending the Mass in person will be required to use a face mask and all CDC guidelines on social distancing will be followed.

John’s final resting place will be in the Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport, NE

In lieu of flowers and plants, the family requests memorials be given to establish a scholarship in John's name.

John A. Weitzel was born on Jan. 28, 1948, in Alliance, NE, the son of Albert and Mary (Alber) Weitzel. John died Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, surrounded by his family at CHI Health Saint Francis in Grand Island.

John grew up on a farm near Bridgeport and attended Bridgeport Public Schools, graduating from Bridgeport High School in 1966.
He was united in marriage to Sanda K. McNabb on Dec. 17, 1965, in Bridgeport.

John attended Chadron State College, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1971. He became a science teacher in Hay Springs and later the Principal. He also coached football, basketball, and track and was the athletic director.

During this time, he received his Masters in Education in 1978, also from Chadron State College.

In 1987, the family moved to Sidney where John was Superintendent and Principal at St. Patrick’s High School. They moved one last time in 1990 when John became Principal of St. Paul High School, a position he held until he retired in 2011.

John was a member of the Nebraska Principals Association, Phi Delta Kappa Education Organization. He served on the Hay Springs Volunteer Fire Department and was involved in the Chambers of Commerce in Hay Springs, Sidney and St. Paul. In St. Paul he served on the school crisis team and the school improvement committee.

He was an active member of St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Hay Springs, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sidney and Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. In 2017, John and Sanda received the Family Tree Award from Chadron State College.

John enjoyed Husker football, camping, boating and attending FL fishing tournaments. He was an avid reader, loved to learn about everything and was passionate about education for everyone.

He loved being with his grandchildren and loved their annual Thanksgiving family reunion. John will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Sanda of St. Paul; parents, Albert and Mary Weitzel of Gering; children and spouses, Paul and Lynn Weitzel of Woodbury, MN, Craig Weitzel of Erie, CO, Michele and Jeff Housh of Hay Springs, Tami and Kevin Reilly of St. Paul and Amy and Matt Oliver of Grand Island; 19 grandchildren, Jordan (Ryan), Brooke (Bryan), Jaycee, Jaelyn, Christian, McKenna, Jillian, Stella, Grace, Reese, Hudson, Reegan, Paxton, Andrew, Madyn, Brogan, Blake, Declan and Maeve; and great-grandchildren, Zella, Case and Baby Googs; siblings and spouses, Linda Thoms of Scottsbluff, Nancy and Doug Brandt of Bayard, Susan Ogard of Wheatridge, CO, JoAnn and Jon Hunter of Cheyenne, WY, Kathy Wrage of Tampa, FL and Don and Kelli Weitzel of Kingston, GA.

John was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Mike Wrage.