John Walter Herstead, 64, of Orangevale, California passed away July 1, 2013 with his wife and daughter by his side, with the knowledge that Jesus is Lord and Heaven is home! John had congestive heart failure for many years, but he continued to live his life with hope and love for his family and friends.
Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at First Christian Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Arlene Johnson presiding. Interment of the ashes will be at Fairview cemetery, with military rites by the Gering American Legion Post #36 and the Marine Corps Honor Guard. A memorial is established to the American Heart Association. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.
John was born to Lewis John and Doris T. (Luther) Herstead on June 4, 1949 in Scottsbluff. His earliest memories were of cattle and horses. His lifelong love of the mountains, hunting, hiking, horse packing and trail rides came from those years in his youth spent on the family ranch on the east slopes of the Wind River Mountains near Lander, Wyoming. The family moved back to Scottsbluff in 1965 and John continued his cowboy ways in rodeo. As with everything John did, he did it well and was even better at teaching. He was everything a big brother should be and showed the way for his siblings in all aspects of life. John was a two year varsity letterman in football at Scottsbluff High school. He learned the family business of stone cutting and worked for a Lincoln monument company while attending the University of Nebraska.
He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1971 with a degree in agricultural economics. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps and completed officer’s candidate school with honors. John served on active duty for 7 years and he flew the Marines’ largest transport helicopter, the CH-53. John was chosen on merit to be the only pilot to fly a huge American Flag as a banner circling the Statue of Liberty during the 1976 Bicentennial finale celebration. He finished his military career as a reservist being honorably discharged in 1991 with the rank of Major. While attending law school, John was also a civilian flight instructor. He had over 2000 flight hours. Again his fine teaching ability and perfection in all he did helped many pilots to return home safely. John graduated from Pepperdine University Law School, Malibu, CA in 1981 in the top 15% of the class. He practiced law in California, specializing recently in insurance litigation, until health conditions forced his retirement December of 2012.
He married Ellen Sullenger on Jan 1, 2000 and they cherished the precious years they had together. John was a loving husband and great dad who promoted and helped his children in every endeavor they participated in. He gave generously of his time, knowledge and energy to make life better and fun too. Adventure and fun were important to John! He also was selfless in the time and energy he gave so others could enjoy life. Many trail rides were more exciting and became treasured memories because of John’s planning and horse packing.
John left us too soon, but we are comforted by knowing he is no longer in pain. We know he is riding across Heaven on a ‘good one’, with his dad who preceded him in death. John is survived by his beloved wife, Ellen and his treasured daughters, Lauren Herstead, Katie and Rose Sullenger, mother Doris, brother Joe and sister-in-law Susan, sisters Valerie Karsjens, Lou Ann and Cathy Herstead.