William James 'Bill' Lawless

William J. "Bill" Lawless, age 82, of Palisade, NE passed away February 13, 2016 at the Hillcrest Nursing home in McCook. He was born near Palisade in Hitchcock County on December 30, 1933, to John and Bessie (Brown) Lawless. Bill attended and graduated from Palisade High School in 1952. He went to Kearney State Teachers College for one year. Bill served his country in the US Army in the Korean War from October 28, 1953 to July 28, 1955. He was honorably discharged in 1961. On March 21, 1957 he was united in marriage to Martha Stevenson. The couple made their home in Palisade. Bill farmed in the area till 1981, when he opened a grocery store in Palisade. He was a substitute rural mail carrier for 16 years and later became full time for another 16 years. Bill was always an early riser from helping milk 15 cows on the farm to his early morning walks around the outside of town with grandkids at 5 a.m. He was an avid sports follower from the Nebraska Cornhuskers to the Wauneta-Palisade Broncos and surrounding towns watching grandkids and others in different activities. He went to as many events as possible up until September 2015. He taught each grandchild how to mow as soon as they were tall enough to push the mower. He loved sitting on his deck, watching friends and neighbors go by, the birds and squirrels in the yard, (which by the way were the best fed in town) and admiring the flowers in the garden. He was very ornery. But he didn't pick on anybody he didn't love. Friends and neighbors were part of his family. Feeling useful was important to him. He watered flowers downtown, visited Ruby and other wonderful people often. He could also be found at the local Coop visiting frequently. Bill was proceeded in death by his parents; brother, John and wife Betty; sisters, Joan and husband, Chet Mucklow, Connie and husband, Lester Hovorka, and Eileen and husband, George Long; brothers-in-law, Frank Potthoff, Royce Cobb, and Bob Phillips. He is survived by his wife Martha of 58 years of Palisade; two daughters, Brenda and husband, Wayne Daniel, and Marj and husband, Guy Rundback, both of Palisade; three sons, Kenny Lawless and Penny Voborny of Wauneta, NE, Gregg and wife, Connie Lawless, of Osborn, KS and Mike and wife, Nette Lawless, of Gothenburg.; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Potthoff of Palisade and Doris Phillips of Phoenix, AZ. Memorials may be left to either the Palisade Ambulance or the United Methodist Church in Palisade. Visitation will be held on Monday at the Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook from 2:00 pm till 7:00 pm. Friends may go online at www.herrmannfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 10:30 C.T. at the United Methodist Church in Palisade, NE with Pastor Bonnie McCord officiating and with Military Honors. A private family inurnment will take place at later date as Bill chose cremation after his funeral services. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook, NE is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation

Monday, February 15, 2016 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 10:30 AM