Robert Earl Howell

Bob was born in Fairbury Nebraska on April 8, 1932 to Earl James and Margaret Virginia (Pierce) Howell.

He was preceded in death by his parents and son, William Earl “Bill’.

Survivors include: his wife of 63 years Shirley; daughter Alana Harness, son John and his wife Teresa of Fairbury; his grandson Robert Harness and his granddaughters, Lindsey, Lauren, and Leslie Howell; and his sister Nancy L. Cobb of Loveland, Colorado; numerous nephews and nieces, cousins, and in-laws.


In February 1947 he joined the Order of Demolay – Fairbury Chapter. He attended Fairbury High School where he lettered in Audio/Visual Aids & Stage, and Education. He was a member of the “Trail” staff and the Fairbury High School Marching Band, playing the tuba. After graduating from Fairbury High School in 1950, he attended the University of Denver, majoring in Building Industry. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting in 1954. He was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, a National Business Honorary Scholastic Fraternity. He also was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

On March 22, 1953 he was united in marriage with Shirley Joan Junker of Fairbury at the United Presbyterian Church. To this union three children were born, Alana, John and Bill.

He was inducted into the US Army in August of 1954, taking his basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso Texas. From November 1954 until March 1955 he received Counter Intelligence Training at Ft. Holabird Maryland. He then was stationed with the Counter Intelligence Corps in Seoul Korea until being discharged in 1956.


After returning from Korea he joined his father in Fairbury in the family lumber business, Howell Lumber Company, becoming a vice-president in 1956. The original Howell Lumber Company was started in Morganville KS in 1888, by Bob’s grandfather, James W. Howell, and was continued by Bob’s father, and his uncles; Ralph, Lon and Forrest, and cousins; Jim and Harold, in communities in Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. After the death of the original partners and Harold, Bob and his cousin Jim continued the lumber business until Jim’s retirement. Bob operated the business alone until Shirley became an active partner in 1980. Daughter Alana joined the business in 1987 along with son, John upon his graduation from college in 1987. As a consequence of a cerebral hemorrhage and brain surgery in 1987 Bob was no longer able to continue his participation in the family business. At the time of his medical retirement he owned yards in Fairbury and Odell Nebraska, and Wamego Kansas; a motel in Wamego Kansas, and an apartment complex in Lexington Nebraska.


He was a lifelong supporter of Fairbury Nebraska. A lifelong member of the Fairbury Presbyterian Church, he served as a Sunday school teacher, a trustee and as a member of the building committee for a number of years. He was president of the Fairbury Country Club when the clubhouse was completely destroyed by fire in 1963. He remained president and was co-chairman of the fund drive to rebuild the clubhouse. Appointed to the Fairbury Board of Education in 1968, he served as a member until 1981. He served as president of the board from 1970 to 1974 and again from 1977 to 1978. In the early years, the board members also served as the governing board of the Fairbury Junior College.


He was a member of the Fairbury Chamber of Commerce, and served as an officer in 1962. Bob was an original member of the Fairbury Industrial Development Council (FIDC), which was started in 1972. He was active in FIDC, serving as vice-president in 1981-82, and as president in 1983. For over 15 years, Bob was a member of the Fairbury Civic Foundation Board, resigning in 1989. As an active member of the Fairbury Rotary Club from 1957 to 1985, he served as president from 1971-73. Upon his death he was a 52 year member of the Fairbury Elks Lodge.


As a stockholder in Jefferson County Memorial Hospital, Bob was elected to the board in 1975 and was active until 1983, serving as chairman from 1981-83. He was very active during the organization of the hospital in 1962, and during the fund drive and construction phase.


Bob was a member of the Nebraska State Lumbermen’s Committee from 1972 to 1984, and served as president of the committee in 1982. He also served as director of the Mid-America Lumbermen’s Association from 1974 to 1976 and on the Midwest Lumbermen’s Inter-Insurance Exchange Advisory Committee from 1972 to 1989. Being a third generation lumberyard owner, he was named Lumberman of the year in 1989. The award was presented by the Mid-America Lumbermen’s Association which included the states of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas.


Prior to his illness, Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapshooting, boating and sailing, water skiing, and downhill skiing, camping, RVing and traveling with his family. He was a member of the Jefferson County Sportman’s Club, serving as Secretary/Treasurer in 1968. He especially enjoying building and remodeling, and designed several homes in town. He remodeled the mountain home in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado – and except for the original framing he completely built and finished the inside of the lake home at Tuttle Creek, Kansas – even to hanging wallpaper. He was inducted into the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska in September 1982. He and his family were long time season Husker ticket holders.


After retirement he especially enjoyed walking around his hometown, sometimes walking up to 6 – 9 miles per day, and was a familiar face to many downtown, known to a younger generation as the “walking man.” He entered the memory support unit at the Heritage Care Center in February 2013, and resided there until death.


Services will be Friday, January 13, 2017 at 2:00, at the Presbyterian Church in Fairbury with Pastor Gail Cross officiating. Burial in the Fairbury Cemetery. Memorials will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury is in charge of arrangements.