Wilmer (Will) Dean Wells

Wilmer (Will) Dean Wells (82) of Blue Hill entered into eternal rest on February 23, 2024. 

Services will be held Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 11:00 am at the Blue Hill Community/Senior Center, Blue Hill, Nebraska with Pastor Michelle Loeffelholz officiating.  Burial will be 2:30 p.m. at Oak Creek Cemetery, Hwy 78 with military honors provided by American Legion Post #176 and the Army National Guard Honor’s Team.  Visitation will be held from 9am-11am on Wednesday, February 28 prior to the services at the Community/Senior Center.  Memorials to the family to be determined at a later date.  Memorials can be sent to the family C/O Merten-Butler Mortuary, P.O. Box 185, Blue Hill, Nebraska 68930.  The service will be live-streamed on Merten-Butler Mortuary’s website.  To view the service, go to Wilmer’s obituary and click on the play button towards the bottom of the page.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com.  Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements. 

Born October 26, 1941 in Lynch, NE., Will was the fifth of ten children born to Clifford and Lala Wells.  Will grew up near the little community of Redbird, NE along the Niobrara River attending rural grade school there and graduating from nearby Lynch High School in 1959.   

Will was drafted into the Army in 1964 and was stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska for two years being honorably discharged from active and army reserve obligations in 1970 with the rank of Specialist E4 .  He joined the Nebraska Army National Guard in 1972 and was honorably discharged in 1978 at the rank of Sergeant E-5. 

Will met the love of his life, his soul mate, his friend, and wife Janice “Jan” Strom through a blind date in Columbus.  They married on May 13, 1967 in Bloomfield, NE.  To this union was born Darren Dean, Jeffrey “Jeff” Allen, and Tamera “Tami” Ann (he fondly called her “Desiree”).         

Will attended technical school in cooling and refrigeration.  He worked many jobs from Frito Lay Delivery Driver, factory work, Coop elevator, operating the Bobcat’s Den in Blue Hill (a Dairy Queen type of place) a lifelong dream of his, and custodian for Blue Hill elementary school and Hastings college. After retirement he enjoyed driving tractor and hopper wagon for area farmers and keeping an eye on the cows across the road or in the corrals. 

Will loved to watch NASCAR, Pro Football (Go Bears), and of course his Cornhuskers.   Will and Jan enjoyed many trips together around the state and country visiting the sites.  He especially enjoyed the Branson, Missouri area. Will also enjoyed time with his children and grandkids.  He enjoyed fishing and camping with his family at Windmill Park near Gibbon, NE. Will also enjoyed doing occasional woodworking and many pieces grace the homes of his children.

Will was a member of the Blue Hill United Methodist Church where he served on numerous boards and as trustee.  He was a member of American Legion Post 0176 serving on the color guard for many years and proudly walked or performed in many July 4th parades, Memorial Day services, and funerals of other veterans.   

Will will be missed and fondly remembered by his wife of 56 years, Jan of Blue Hill, Son Darren (Wendy) of Scottsbluff, NE, Son Jeff of Hastings, NE and Daughter Tami (Darrin) Zubrod of Kearney, NE., grandsons Chase and Keaton Wells of Scottsbluff and grandson Trenton Zubrod and granddaughter Taylar Zubrod of Kearney.  Also survived by brothers Lyle (Shirley), Donald (Carol), Albert (Marla) and sisters Etta Mae Olson, Delores Nelson, Mary Ellen (Ron) Sutton, Anna Ertz, and Rilla (Francis) Hanzlik. He is also remembered by sisters-in-law Darla Jacob and Barb Strom; brothers-in-law Merle (Michelle)Strom, Dan Strom, Wendell (Delores) Strom.  Numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.     

Will was preceded in death by both parents; brother Bob; parents-in-law Lyle and Judith Strom; brothers-in-law Clifford Nelson, Butch Ertz, Warren Olson, Larry Kopejtka, Marvin Jacob, Lonnie Strom, Norman Strom, and Curtis Strom; sisters-in-law Peggy Strom, Nancy Strom, and Linda Strom; nieces Diane Nelson, Jennifer Varner, and Hali Strom; nephew Allen”Buddy” Jacob. 

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