Howard Bass

Howard Bass

August 5, 1939—July 19, 2025

John Howard Bass, 85, of Kearney, Nebraska (formerly of Brewster, Nebraska), passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Brookestone Gardens in Kearney.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 10:30 AM at the UCC Church in Brewster. Lunch will follow the services at the Brewster American Legion. The burial will be in the Ainsworth Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, with the family greeting friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of the arrangements.

Online words of encouragement and remembrance can be left at www.govierbrothers.com

Howard was born on August 5, 1939, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Paul J. Bass and Fern L. (Pringle) Bass. Howard grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana; Littleton, Colorado; and Greenville, South Carolina. One day in Louisiana, a young Howard refused to go to school unless he could ride his pony there, foreshadowing a lifelong career of horseback riding and cattle ranching. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1957. In school, he participated in sports and was a member of FFA. He studied Business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Colorado State University.

On October 17, 1965, Howard married Arleata Joyce Bolich. They were married for 57 years until Arleata's death on May 6, 2023, and had two children: a son, Steven, and a daughter, Joyce.

Howard owned and operated a ranch near Cody, Nebraska, until 1979, when he and his family moved to a ranch near Brewster, Nebraska. Howard and Arleata were members of Brewster Community Church. After decades in the hayfield, calving, and branding, he (mostly) retired in 2004 and moved to Kearney, Nebraska, with Arleata.

In retirement, Howard kept in touch with family and was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Kearney. Attending the school activities and rodeos of his grandchildren kept him and Arleata busy. He was a lifelong sports fan; he listened to baseball games on the radio while checking cows and watched Husker football games with family and friends while enjoying snacks prepared by Arleata. He will be remembered as a loving and supportive father, grandfather, brother, and uncle by his family members, who will miss him dearly.

Preceding Howard in death are his beloved wife, Arleata; his parents; his brother-in-law, Maynard Harr; and his sister-in-law, Jan Bass.

Surviving to cherish Howard's memory are son Steven Bass and daughter-in-law Tresa Bass of Brewster; daughter Joyce Bass of Maxwell; five grandchildren: Travis Davis, Scott Davis, Chelsea Kubitschek and husband Ben Kubitschek, Ty Bass and significant other Adicyn Martin, Cooper Bass and fiancé Kacy Mauer; three great-grandchildren: Flynn, Adilyn, and Bodhi; sister Marian Farris of Phoenix, Arizona; brother Bob Bass of Phoenix, Arizona/Rapid City, South Dakota; sister-in-law Twyla Harr of Norfolk; and many nieces and nephews who he loved.

Memorials are suggested to the UCC Church at Brewster or the Brewster Fire Department.