Oliver S. "Bus" Mason, Jr.

Oliver S. ‘Bus’ Mason, Jr., 90, of Grand Island, formerly of Loup City, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, at the Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island. Graveside memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. The Rev. Russell Barelmann will officiate. A celebration of life will follow at the Loup City Fire Hall. There will be no visitation. Mr. Mason was cremated. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Mason was born on March 9, 1918, at Loup City, the son of Oliver S. and Barbara (Winkleman) Mason, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera M. Mason. He is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Karen and Roger Peck of Reno, NV, Vera Kay Machtolf of Lafayette, CO, and Melanie and Maurice Boykin of Grand Island; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Larry and Cathy Mason of Las Vegas, NV, Randy and Debbie Mason of Grand Island, Oliver “Skip” and Shelly Mason, III of Kearney, and David Mason of Omaha. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. ‘Bus’ grew up in Loup City where he received his education and graduated from Loup City High School in 1936. He was united in marriage to Vera M. Wiklund on July 18, 1940, at Holdrege. The couple lived in Loup City throughout their marriage except for 2 years during World War II when they lived in Grand Island, where he worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunitions Plant as a security guard. He worked with his father in the hardware, plumbing and well drilling business and later operated Mason Plumbing and Heating in Loup City until retiring in 1981. ‘Bus’ was a member of the Loup City Volunteer Fire Department for 50 years, having served as the Chief for 20 years and the Assistant Chief for 20 years. Vera died on Aug. 20, 1996 and he continued to live in Loup City until 1999, when he moved to Grand Island, where he lived the rest of his life. He was a member of the Lions Club, Sherman County Fairboard and had served as a city councilman. He enjoyed making kraut and horseradish, gardening and working in his yard, going for drives and daily coffee with friends at the Loup City Drive In. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a son-in-law, Rick Machtolf; a grandson, Colton Mason; and two sisters, Kathryn Lefferdink and Ada Slonecker. Memorials are suggested to the Loup City Volunteer Fire Department.