John D. Herboldsheimer

John D. Herboldsheimer, age 81, of Potter, NE passed away Monday, October 4, 2021 in Sidney. Funeral services were held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 12, 2021, in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sidney, NE with Pastor Chad Rademacher officiating. Burial was planned for Potter Cemetery in Potter, NE.

Services will be recorded and available on the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel website for viewing. Friends were invited to visit the chapel on Monday from 1-6:00 P.M. to sign John's register book and leave condolences for the family. The family was present from 4-6:00 P.M.

You may view John's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of John's care and funeral arrangements.

John was born April 2, 1940, in Sidney to John & Ethel Herboldsheimer (Heimer). He attended school in Potter, graduating from Potter High School in 1957. He drove a school bus for Potter and worked with his dad at the wrecking yard until he joined the Navy in September 1962. He was stationed in San Diego as a jet mechanic.

John was united in marriage to Karen DeMers of Sunol on April 21, 1963. Discharged from the Navy in 1966, John and Karen moved to Westminster, CO. John worked as a machinist and acquired tool & die-making skills. In 1976, the family relocated to Elizabeth, CO. John was involved in many businesses, including concrete construction, a gravel pit, an auto parts store, and a trucking company. John was semi-retired in 2004 but was still called on for his skills building various specialty items for the business.

In 2012, John and Karen moved back to his hometown of Potter, where he became involved in multiple community projects. In 2019, John was awarded the Jay Stecher Community Service Award for his various community contributions and projects. An accomplished woodworker and machinist, his home shop was the envy of many and was featured in Wood magazine as one of the top home shops in America. John was an innovator and inventor and, in 1994, was awarded a U.S. patent for his invention of an electrical cord plug.

John & Karen enjoyed traveling and have been to almost all 50 states. John restored a 1931 Plymouth and displayed it in numerous car shows and also had an impressive collection of model steam engines that he built.

John served on the Potter Village Board of Trustees and was a member of Potter Lions Club, the Potter Community Improvement Committee, Potter American Legion, and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. John was seen as a father figure and mentor to many and will be dearly missed by many.

John is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen of Potter, son Bryan and wife Laurie of Potter, son Brett and wife Traci of Franktown, CO, 4 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, sister Coral Rapp of Sidney, many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Memorials can be made to the Community Hall Fund in care of the Village of Potter P.O. Box 247 Potter, NE 69156.