Johnnie  "John"  Lee Haines , 86, of North Platte passed away December 2, 2019 at his home. He was born December 26, 1932 in rural Franklin, NE to John and Maurine (Ely) Haines. John grew up on the family homestead in Franklin; he worked on the family farm & also worked in his grandparents lumberyard (Ely Lumber & Co.)  Later moving with his parents to the family farm north of Naponee, NE where he then graduated high school with the class of 1951.

Johnnie was united in marriage to Darlene Muir in 1953 and raised three children; Janice, Theresa & Rickie. Later he was blessed to be a part of raising 3 grandchildren; Becky, Bernie & Kerri Smith.

After he and Darlene married Johnnie worked the family farm and cooked at the Republican City steak house. He also was a Deacon & a Sunday school teacher in the Naponee Congregational Church. In 1963 they moved to North Platte where John worked for Ely and Sons Construction & later for Dowhower Construction. During this time John helped in constructing many gas stations, hotels & apartment buildings throughout parts of Nebraska & Wyoming. Included in these were the Holiday Inn, the High Rise Apartment complex & Tomahawk & Hershey Truck Stops. He was so very proud of his very first project; which was the construction of the Salvation Army building in North Platte.

In 1971 Johnnie became manager of Tomahawk Truck Stop. Later becoming a co-owner of Tomahawk Truck Stop, Hershey Truck Stop, Barn Stores of North Platte, Ogallala & Big Springs & the Log Cabin Convenience Store; eventually becoming an owner of the Tomahawk & Hershey Truck Stops.

In 1992 he was united in marriage to Jane Petska. He was an active board member of the Hershey Bank. Upon retirement you could find John working at Larry's RV for his good friend Larry Tatman or helping his son Rick with the carwashes – he helped with the construction of the 1 in Cozad. He loved spending his winter months in Texas.

John loved camping with his family & friends whenever the opportunity arose.  He & Jane took many trips with his good friend Harold Tatman; including trips to Canada, Smokey Mtns & Nashville. They also belonged to several camping clubs. Not so many years ago you could find John four wheeling on his farm west of North Platte or in the Colorado/Wyoming mountains; hunting with business partners, family & friends; chopping wood "til the cows came home" (or until everyone else had had enough!). Many of his family's fondest memories are of John telling jokes! I don't know what was more priceless; his joke, or the "slap on the knee & the hearty laugh" he always had when he told a good one! He often shared his words of wisdom with his loved ones & always checked in to make sure you were working your hardest & treating people right. He was amazingly gifted in how to mold you in the most tender but direct kind of way. And heaven forbid if you ever slept in on his watch! He loved nothing more than coming in and yanking the covers (or you!) right off the bed & then laughing a big laugh!! Priceless are the memories…. & priceless was he; a man who believed in working hard, but most importantly, taking time to enjoy family & friends. He will be missed.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Janice Hill and son-in-law LeRoy Hill.

John is survived by his wife Jane; sister Elsie (Jack) Ballinger of Georgia; his daughter Theresa (Doug) Kelley of North Platte; his son Rickie (Kristina) Haines of Lexington, NE; his son Scott Tighe of Wisconsin; 13 grandchildren: Becky Matthewson; Bernie (Heather) Smith; Kerri (Cory) Harvey; Tamara (Nolon) Clouse; Timothy (Mary Beth) Kelley; Tonya (Chris) Hinrichs; Jason (Calley) Haines; Jeremy Haines; Leigh KaRenn (Daryl) Strecker; Trishelle (Wayne) Barton; Tara (Beau) Sheets; Brett Warta and Ethan Tighe; 24 grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter; and many other family members and friends. A special thank you to Darlene Haines for her valued help with the history of the early years of John's life.

A memorial has been established in his memory. Online condolences can be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com . Visitation with family receiving friends will be Thursday December 5 from 6-8 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday December 6 at the First Baptist Church with cremation following. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.