Funeral Services for John "Jack" Crosley Jr.

Funeral services for John "Jack" Crosley, Jr., age 64, of Niobrara, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at Niobrara Lutheran Church. Reverend Martha Atkins will officiate, with burial in Catholic Cemetery in Santee, Nebraska.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brockhaus Funeral Home in Niobrara.

Jack died Friday, June 9, 2017, at Alpine Village in Verdigre, Nebraska.

Jack was born on October 13, 1952, to Erika Crosley and John Crosley, Sr. at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD. Jack was baptized by his grandfather, Pastor Erich C. Peterson at Niobrara Lutheran Church, and later confirmed there as a teenager. Jack attended school in Santee in the old schoolhouse, Victory School on Hwy 12, and graduated from Niobrara High School. Following graduation, he attended the University of Nebraska’s School of Agriculture at Curtis, NE and Fort Collins Vet Agriculture School in Colorado.

Jack celebrated two marriages; in May 1972, he was married to Barbara Drake of Niobrara, NE. They had two sons together, J.R. and Justin. In June 1982, he married Susan Svatos of Verdel, NE and together they had three daughters, Stephanie, Carvella, and Jackie.

Throughout his life, Jack lived in several places, but the Niobrara area has always been considered his home. He had a way with animals, known by most as a great horseman. So much of his life was centered around horses and the cowboy way of life, and many people know him as Cowboy Jack. He greatly enjoyed music, dancing and spending time with friends. Jack was blessed with a green thumb as well and always had plants, flowers and a garden if he could. He was very artistic, and for a period of several years he kept busy late into the night doing leatherwork, creating beautiful wallets, belts, belt buckles and various other items. Jack was a hard worker and had several occupations that he enjoyed over the years: trucking, custom haying, ranching, and various other odd jobs.

Jack is survived by his parents, Erika Crosley of Creighton, NE and John and Mary Crosley of Niobrara, NE; brother, George (Lynette) Crosley of Yankton, SD; sister, Cheryl (Gary) Vesely of Verdigre, NE, sister, Margaret Crosley of Sioux City, IA, and sister, Jennifer (Britt) Kelley of Ashland, NE; his children, son, J.R. (Dawn) Crosley and grandson Wyatt of Clarkson, NE, son, Justin (Catie) and grandson Jayton of Clarkson, NE, daughter, Sonia James Damian and grandson Kyzur and granddaughter, Lavara, daughter, Stephanie (Jeremiah) McClellan and granddaughters Mckaylee, Olivia and Hadley of Verdel, NE, daughter, Carvella Wickersham and granddaughter Miley, grandson Lane of Verdel, NE, daughter, Jackie (Jason) VanDuysen and grandson Casey, granddaughter Kendra of Dante, SD; special friend Peggy Braden; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

​Preceding Jack in death are his grandparents, George and Hannah Crosley and Pastor Erich and Helene Petersen; and younger sister, Karlynn Ruth.

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