Leo Vern Lines
Leo Vern Lines, 91, Imperial, went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at the Imperial Manor, with family by his side.
Leo was born Dec. 31, 1926 at the Lines family farm near Hiawatha, Neb. He was the youngest of six children born to Ulysses Squire and Eva Bernard Lines. When Leo was 22 months old, his mother passed away and he and his sister Leaveta were then raised by an aunt and uncle in Imperial.
Leo attended school in Imperial, graduating from Chase County High School in 1945. Leo was drafted by the Army while in high school, but was deferred until after graduation. After serving in the United States Army, he was honorably discharged on Oct. 12, 1946. Leo attended McCook Junior College, where he ran track and played football, graduating with a degree in education. His first teaching assignment was in Trenton, where he also coached. While in Trenton, Leo met Bethene Lunbery. They were married Aug. 26, 1951. Leo taught and coached in Benkelman, McCook and Enders. During the summers when teaching, he built houses in Holdrege, McCook and Imperial. After 15 years in the education field, he then focused full-time on construction and commercial painting. He retired his paint brush at the age of 88.
Leo accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1951, during his first year of marriage. He was a member of the Imperial Berean Church, where he helped with Awana for nearly 40 years. Leo served on the Maranatha Bible Camp board and enjoyed attending camps and volunteering where needed. He was a past member of the Lions Club. He enjoyed meeting his friends for coffee at the Imperial Community Center.
Leo is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Glen, Virgil and Lester; sister Leaveta Lines Bremer and infant brother; brothers-in-law Bill Witt, Don Barger, Raymond Lunbery and Don Bremer; and sisters-in-law Wilda Lines and Evelyn Delores Lines.
Leo is survived by his wife Bethene of 66 years; children Jerry (Sherry) Lines of Imperial, Linda (Keith) Shoemaker of Oakley, Kan., Brenda (Tim) Malmkar of North Platte; grandchildren Jenna (Scott) Walker of Danville, Ky., Jamie Lines of Louisville, Ky., Amber Shoemaker of Shanghi, China, Kylie (Brett) Ziegler of Overland Park, Kan., Michael Malmkar of Lincoln, Ethan (Alexis) Malmkar of Kearney, Tanner (Ali) Malmkar of Lakewood, Colo.; and five great grandsons; sisters-in-law Dorothy Barger of Culbertson, Elaine Witt of Hastings, Darlene Lines of Imperial and Bianca Lunbery of Axtell; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
A celebration of Leo’s life will be held Saturday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m., at the Imperial Berean Church with Pastor Matt Maxwell officiating. Inurnment will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors.
Memorials are suggested to Imperial Berean Church, Imperial Community Center, and Maranatha Bible Camp in Maxwell.
Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.