Berle L. Higgins

October 25, 1929 - July 26, 2019

PIERCE -- Funeral service for Berle L. Higgins, 89, of Newton, KS, formerly of Pierce, NE, will be held at 1:30 pm, Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at United Church of Christ in Pierce with Rev. Terry Buol officiating. Interment will be at Prospect View Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm at United Church of Christ in Pierce. Military rites will be conducted by the Tomek-Otto Post #72 American Legion and the United States Army Honors Guard. Berle passed away on Friday, July 26, 2019, at the Ascension Via Christi Saint Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Memorials for Berle Higgins will be used for the betterment of the Pierce community. Stonacek Memorial Chapel in Pierce is in charge of the arrangements. Berle Leland Higgins was born October 25, 1929, to Floyd and Minnie (Pugh) Higgins Jr., rural Auburn, NE, and attended country grade school for eight years. Berle graduated from Auburn High School in 1946 and then attended Peru State College where he ran track. While attending college, Berle worked on the farm owned by Floydean (his sister) and Leland Hawley. He held jobs with Ford Motor Company and Hested before joining the military. Berle served in the United States Army from 1951-1953 working with the Counter Intelligence division. After the service, Berle worked for Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) Office in Falls City, Fairbury, Scottsbluff, O’Neill, and then Pierce for 35 years, from 1957 until he retired in 1992. Berle met Barbara J. Gillispie at Auburn High School and married her on July 11, 1951, at Coryell Park in Brock, NE, and were blessed with six children. Berle was a sports enthusiast; he especially loved baseball and golf. He played on baseball and softball teams from Pierce, Foster, and Norfolk. He retired from playing in 1965 at 36 years old. Berle was very active in the Pierce community as a member of the United Church of Christ and the Tomek-Otto Post #72 American Legion (63 Years). He served as a volunteer fireman, a Pierce High School board member, and manager/coach of numerous American Legion Baseball teams. Berle and Barb spent countless hours traveling to sporting and musical events for their children and grandchildren whom he loved dearly. Barbara Higgins died on July 27, 1999. Berle married Velda (Gillispie) Staley on February 12, 2002, and later moved to Newton, Kansas. Berle enjoyed golfing and joined Fox Ridge Golf Course in Newton. Survivors include his spouse Velda Higgins of Newton; his children--Paula (Les) Schulz of Lincoln; Rick (Cheryl) Higgins of Pierce; Todd (Christine) Higgins of Omaha; Lori (Clark) Smith of Columbus; Scott (Marla) Higgins of Lincoln; Kirk (Kathy) Higgins of Bennington; step-children--Rod (Nancy) Staley of Mesa, AZ; Kevin (Angie) Staley of Newton, KS; 12 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren, 4 step-great grandchildren; two sisters--Floydean Hawley of Edgar; Ardis Behrends of Auburn; sister-in-law Wilma Higgins of Grand Island, and many nieces and nephews. Berle was preceded in death by his first wife Barbara Higgins, parents Floyd and Minnie, sister Delores Green, brothers Gordon, Clifford, Eldon, Darrel, and step-son Dennis Staley. Organist will be Shirley Hetrick, soloists will be Tera Classen singing “Even unto Death” and Chris Beeman singing “Here I Am Lord." Congregational hymns will be “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” and “My Eyes Have Seen the Glory." Casket bearers will be Berle's grandchildren: Lindsey Danek, Lauren Schulz, Kyle Schulz, Kelly Stonacek, Hannah Higgins, Kersten Higgins, Sean Higgins, Gwen Bowers, Liz Lauck, Will Higgins, Dexter Higgins, and Demi Patterson. Honorary casket bearers will be Bud and Shirley Hetrick, Jackie and Maynard Abler, Tom and Charlene Chilvers, and Letha Shimerka. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.