Johnny Charles Sis

Oct. 29, 1929-Sept. 6, 2011

INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Johnny Charles Sis, 81, was called home to meet his Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011 from the Golden Living Center-Lakeview at Grand Island, Nebraska. He was formerly from Indianola, Nebraska.

Johnny was born on Oct. 29, 1929, to Mary Rose (Sterba) and Anton Method Sis in Rawlins County, Kansas, south of Stratton, Nebraska. He grew up in the Stratton, Nebraska/Atwood, Kansas, area on the farm there. On May 19, 1945, he graduated at Atwood, Kansas, from the Rawlins County Public School.

He was very proud to serve his country. He enlisted in the Army on Nov. 16, 1948, and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged May 27,1952.

Following his discharge from the Army, he married Norma Jane Haug. To this union his seven children were born, Mary, Norma, John, Nancy, Donna, Patti and Edward.

On May 5, 1967, he married Bernadetta (O'Dea) Stewart who had eight children of her own, Pamela, Nancy, Robert, Susan, Rita, Mary, Margaret, and Joseph. Johnny and Bernadetta were married 43 years when Bernie was called home to the Lord on May 8, 2010.

Johnny loved to hunt and fish, go camping and boating. There were many weeks and weekends filled hunting or fishing with family members and grandchildren. He was very patient while teaching "whomever was willing to try" to water-ski. Bernadetta and Johnny loved to fish. They even had competitions about who caught the biggest, first or most fish and who got "skunked" was always something you didn't want to hear about.

Johnny was an excellent welder and mechanic. He learned at a young age from his father, Anton. He worked on a lot of oil rigs in the area as well as operating his own machine shops in Indianola and later on in Bartley, Nebraska. He could fix almost everything and get you back on the road or back in the field again. He loved to visit. He could talk for hours on end if someone would listen. He was known as just "Grandpa" to all whether you were his child, step-child or grandchild or neighbor. He was very much loved and will be sadly missed.

Johnny was preceded in death by both of his parents, and also by his beloved wife, Bernadetta, who passed away in 2010.

He is survived by his seven children: Mary (Chelsea, Oklahoma); Norma (Washington); John (Medicine Lodge, Kansas); Nancy (Stafford, Kansas); Donna (Rawlins, Wyoming); Patti (San Diego, California); Edward (Rembrandt, Iowa); his 13 grandchildren and 31 grandchildren; as well as his eight stepchildren: Pamela Ozanne; Nancy (Dennis) Campbell; Robert ( Gloria) Stewart; Susan (Rodney) Lockhorn; Rita (Edward) McConville; Mary Shadley; Margaret (Arthur) Noyes; and Joseph Stewart; 20 step-grandchildren and lots of step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren; lots of other relatives and many friends.

Rosary will be on Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. at 7 p.m. at the Herrmann Funeral Chapel in McCook.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Indianola, Nebraska. Inurnment will be in St. Catherine's Cemetery with military honors. Father Thomas McGuire will be the celebrant for all services.

Memorials will be accepted in his name.

Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook, Nebraska, is in charge of all arrangements.