07/28/2025
Bill M. Hughes
Bill Hughes, 91, of Chappell, passed away on July 26, 2025, in Julesburg, CO.
Bill was born on January 7, 1934, the 9th of nine children born to Harold and Nelle (Kernan) Hughes. He graduated from Sedgwick High School in 1951, and then attended Northeastern Junior College on an athletic scholarship, where he attended for one year, and then returned home to the Sedgwick area. During this time, Bill met his first love, Mary Anderberg. He also enlisted in the Navy, serving as a machinist mate 2nd class on a destroyer repair ship, stationed in San Diego, CA.
Bill and Mary were married in 1954, and they were stationed in CA, until Bill was reassigned to Guam, and Mary moved home to have their 1st child, Lynnelle. They would rejoin Bill on Guam after Lynnelle was born.
Affer Bill was discharged in 1957, they moved to the Chappell area and began farming with Mary's dad, Martin. Here they welcomed four more daughters, Beth, Karen, Joan, and Carolyn. After 37 years of marriage, Mary passed away in December of 1991.
In 1997, Bill found love a second time and married Mary Timm, and the family grew with her children, Gregory, Ryan, and Kristin. They spent the next 28 years together. Bill never met a stranger. He was committed to his family, his community, and his church, where he was often heard telling people, "Welcome to St. Joseph's."
He enjoyed all sports, but baseball was his true love. He was instrumental in starting the Buckely Bombers, during which time he influenced many players, including his own grandsons. If it was possible to be at a game, Bill was there.
Bill loved being Irish, or partly Irish, though he'd never admit it. The Irish Blessing was part of his everyday vernacular, and an Irish whiskey was certainly never turned down! If you spent any time in Bill's space, you'd have been "blessed" with "may the road rise to meet you," or "may the good Lord take a likin' to ya".
Having five daughters on a farm might seem like an unlikely situation, or at the very least, unproductive. But that certainly wasn't Bill's point of view. He taught them all to drive trucks, tractors, and be every bit as capable a farm hand, just like the boys down the road.
Bill was very involved in his community, including teaching faith formation classes at church, serving on the hospital board, the VFW & American Legion, where he was honored for his commitment to both organizations, the rural Fire Board, and Rotary, where he was a team leader to Brazil. Bill was an original member of the Buckley Trust, where he served as a trustee for 45 years, and was very proud of the work they were able to do in Chappell and the surrounding area.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughters Lynnelle, Beth (Gary Cole), Karen (Claude Berreckman), Joan (Mike Hansen), Carolyn (Ted Fogarty), and his stepchildren Gregory (Emily), Ryan (Emily), and Kristin (Kendall Kroeger). He leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, with one on the way, and many friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Joe, Bob, Gerald, and Harold, his sisters Kathryn, Ruth, Betty, Shirley, and his wife Mary.
A memorial has been established in Bill's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsjulesburg.com, where the services will be streamed live.
Visitation will be on Monday, August 4, 2025, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chappell, NE. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. at the church on Monday.
Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Chappell with Father Joseph Hannappel as Celebrant and Deacon Dixon Powers assisting. Interment with military honors will be in the Chappell Cemetery.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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