Howard G. Whitmore, age 86, of Shelby, Nebraska, passed away on February 25, 2025, at Yuma Regional Medical Center, in Yuma, Arizona.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 10, at 10:00 a.m. at Shelby United Methodist Church and will be led by Rev. Soonil Park. Interment will follow the service at Shelby Graceland Cemetery with Masonic Rites. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 9, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Shelby United Methodist Church. Pianist will be Insun Kim. Musical selections will be “He Leadeth Me”, “Standing On The Promises”, and “In The Garden.” Pallbearers will be Adam Whitmore, Jared Whitmore, Aaron Leimser, Luis Garcia, Sean Cherry, Thane Webb, Connor Dudley and Christian Hecht. Honorary pallbearers will be Abby Webb, Sarah Garcia, Megan Dudley, Vanessa Whitmore, Victoria Hecht, Valeria Whitmore, Samantha Leimser and Danielle Cherry.

Howard was born July 29, 1938 in Seward County, Nebraska to Lloyd and Amy (Zedicher) Whitmore. He grew up near Surprise, Nebraska and later moved to the family homestead near Shelby, where he graduated from Shelby High School in 1956. Howard was a dedicated athlete and an active member in the FFA Chapter.

Howard was united in marriage to Eileen K. Linton on September 21, 1958. Four children were born to this union, Larry, Greg, Cindy and Susan.

Howard began working at the Co-op and Shelby Lumber before making the decision to farm full-time on the family farm. Throughout his farming career, Howard served on the local Co-op board, district Farm Credit Board, and Co-Bank Board. With the Farm Credit responsibilities, Howard and Eileen found many opportunities to travel to various destinations in the U.S. Howard’s love for farming was instilled in several generations of the family. Additionally, he was a member of the Osceola Lodge #65 A.F.& A.M., the Lincoln Scottish Rite and Sesostris Temple, Eastern Star, and Shelby United Methodist Church, where he was a great example of fortitude, reliance, and sacrifice for others. After retiring from the farm in 2000, Howard and Eileen joined his brothers and their wives as ‘snowbirds’ in Yuma, Arizona. When visiting Howard and Eileen in Arizona, you were guaranteed a local tour, plenty of games of dominoes, and lots of daily walks exploring their ‘winter’ community. Howard enjoyed watching a variety of sports on TV, particularly hockey, but his favorite was following his grandchildren to all their various sports and activities.

Howard is survived by wife, Eileen of Shelby, sons Larry (Donna) Whitmore, Shelby; Greg (Maru) Whitmore, Shelby; daughters Cindy (Steve) Cherry, Kearney; Susan (Ron) Leimser, Columbus; sisters-in-law Judy (Roger) Moon, Shelby; and Marcel Whitmore, Hotchkiss, CO; grandchildren Adam Whitmore, Rising City, Jared Whitmore, Shelby, Abby (Thane) Webb, Kearney; Vanessa Whitmore, Wichita, KS; Victoria (Christian) Hecht, Cleveland, OH; Valeria Whitmore, Santa Barbara, CA; Sean (Danielle) Cherry, Omaha; Megan (Connor) Dudley, Hickman; Aaron (Samantha) Leimser, Columbus; and Sarah (Luis) Garcia, Columbus; great grandchildren Hayden Webb, Grayson Webb, and Rowan Webb of Kearney; Anastasia Cherry, Emilia Cherry and Sebastian Cherry of Omaha; Callen Leimser and Quinn Leimser of Columbus; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Howard was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Whitmore, mother Amy Whitmore, sister Millicent Jean Whitmore, brothers Louis C. Whitmore and Robert E. Whitmore; father-in-law Don Linton, mother-in-law Iva Linton and sister-in-law Betty Whitmore.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg has been entrusted with the arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com