John Eugene “Jack” Heaton

John Eugene “Jack” Heaton, 82, of St. Libory, died peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island, with his family by his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at St. Libory’s Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Rev. Sidney B. Bruggeman will celebrate the Mass. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery, where graveside military honors will be provided by the U.S. Army Funeral Honors Team.

Visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the church, with a 3 p.m. parish rosary.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Memorials are suggested to the church for the future Veterans Wall Memorial in the cemetery.

Jack was born on May 31, 1943, at Twin Falls, Idaho, the son of Alfred J. and Bertha M. (Racicky) Heaton. As a child he moved with his mother to Greeley, NE, where he attended Sacred Heart Schools and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1961.

After graduation, he began working for his uncle at Racicky Service Station in Greeley. He worked there until 1966, when he was inducted into the United States Army. He served in Vietnam until his discharge in 1968. He then returned to Greeley and later moved to Grand Island. He attended Hastings Community College and began working as a machinist at Chief Industries.

He was united in marriage to Babette “Babs” Sell at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley on June 27, 1970. He later began working at Swift & Co., where he worked until retiring due to his health in 2009.

He was a member of St. Libory’s Catholic Church since moving to St. Libory in 1975. He had been a CCD teacher for numerous years. He was a lifetime third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1312 and was also a member of the Charles E. Martin American Legion Post 186, both in Greeley. He was a member and had served as President of the local UFCW and was a 20-year member of the St. Libory Volunteer Fire Department.

Jack is survived by his wife, Babs Heaton of St. Libory; children, Luke and Angie Heaton of St. Libory, Nathan Heaton of Browns Summit, North Carolina, and Jennifer Heaton of Grand Island; seven grandchildren, Jackie Heaton, Ty Heaton, Brooklyn (Cohen) McKimmey, Hayden Heaton, James Heaton, Turner Heaton, and Jovi Cure; two great-grandchildren, Presley McKimmey and Waylon McKimmey; brother, Jim and Virginia Heaton of Scobey, MT; and sister, Constance and Matt Reres of Lake Mary, FL.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha; in-laws, Dale and Amelia Sell; three nephews and one niece; several uncles; and many good friends.