Earl Laverne Hollens, 84, of Papillion, NE, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014 after a brief illness. He was born March 5, 1930 in Morrill, KS, the son of William Easm Hollens and Mary Elizabeth (Engle) Hollens.
He was a Veteran of the Korean War, Private 1st Class, Field Artillery Cannoneer. He was seriously wounded in action by stepping on a land mind in 1951. He was awarded a Korean Service Medal, a Distinguished Unit Citation and a Purple Heart. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the American Legion and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
After three years of rehabilitation in several VA Hospitals, he returned to Falls City, where he met and married Martha Elizabeth Wilhelm on April 12, 1954. They were married for 55 years.
Earl is survived by three daughters, Cherie (Ben) Bowman and Susan (Tom) Lorson, all of Topeka, KS, and Dianne (Ray) Boyer, of Treynor, IA; five grandchildren, Jenny (Brian) King, of Lenexa, KS, Daniel (Jessica) Stout, of Topeka, Joseph Stout, of Syracuse, NY, Travis Boyer and Cassandra (Derrick) Adkins, both of Council Bluffs, IA; three great-grandchildren, Alexia, Evan and Emily; sister, Dorothy Boyd, of Yakima, WA; many family members, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Martha; parents, William and Mary Hollens; brother, William (Jr.) Hollens; sisters, Lola Hollens, Evelyn Barker and Mildred Frederick.
Earl had many different occupations during his lifetime, some of them included roofer, butcher, printer, night watchman (Falls City), Wells Fargo Security Supervisor (Sioux City, IA), Omaha’s Eppley Airport Security Administrator, Omaha Community Playhouse Maintenance Advisor and owner of Allied Chemical Co. (Omaha).
Earl and Martha loved time spent with their family, traveling to Yellowstone and South Dakota. They loved the mountains and the wildlife they encountered. Earl loved gardening and built many rock walls for his gardens. His favorite meal of the day was breakfast. He loved jelly on his toast. He always had three or four different jars in his refrigerator. He had a big sweet tooth!
Over the years he was blessed with many pets: Pero, Bruno, Tigger and Agnes. They were waiting to greet him in heaven.
We want to thank all of our family and friends for your prayers and kindness during this very difficult time. Our Dad is at peace now with our mother and his family. His mental and physical suffering is now over.
His daughters will host a Remembrance Celebration and Memorial Dedication next fall on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 at Steele Cemetery in Falls City. A public reminder will be posted prior to this event.
A private service and burial took place in Omaha on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014.
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