John D. Buhr

John D. Buhr, 87, of Ponca, NE passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society in Grand Island, NE.Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, NE with Rev. Peter Speiser officiating. Burial will be in the Ponca City Cemetery in Ponca, NE. Visitation with the family present will begin at 9:30 A.M. on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca, NE.John was born on February 6, 1930 in Omaha, NE, the son of Grace (Gustafson) Shipley. He graduated from Oakland High School in Oakland, NE in 1948. He worked as an auto mechanic for Jensen Auto in Oakland. John married Bonnie Rahn on September 6, 1953 at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca. They farmed near Ponca from1953 until 1969. The couple moved into town and John worked as an auto mechanic and sold auto parts in Ponca and Sioux City until he retired at the age of 70. Bonnie passed away on March 20, 2016.He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca. John volunteered his time coaching, and in many different capacities. He enjoyed attending Ponca sporting events, watching Husker football and volleyball and the college baseball World Series, and Sunday afternoon drives and visits with friends. He never knew a stranger. He had a steel trap mind for facts, figures and dates, so his family lovingly referred to him as, "Google before Google".Survivors include his children, Joy Myers and her husband, Mark of Grand Island, NE, Brian Buhr and his wife, Connie of McCook, NE and Marti Blackstock and her husband, Phil of Atlanta, GA; 4 grandchildren, Christopher Myers and his wife, Brandi, Bryce Buhr and his wife, Amanda, Abbey Grace Blackstock, and Christian Blackstock; and 2 great-grandchildren, Olivia Myers and Carter Myers.He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie; and his mother, Grace Shipley.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Salem Lutheran Church, PO Box 316, Ponca, NE 68770.