Elwood, Nebraska

John M. Boyle, age 83, of Elwood, Nebraska passed away on Monday, August 5, 2013 at Elwood Care Center, in Elwood, Nebraska. He was born on August 4, 1930 at Hershey, Nebraska to Clement F. & Bertha E. (Fry) Boyle.

He attended grade school at Lower Birdwood School at Hershey, Nebraska and graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. He went back to Hershey and worked as a farmhand for George Green then later farmed north of Hershey and work for Armour Meat Packing Plant. He remained in the North Platte area where he had several farming and construction jobs and also worked for Lawrence Calhoun Ranch.

John married Mary Elizabeth Pursel of North Platte in 1952. To this union were born four children, Timothy, Angela, Mark, & Matthew. In December of 1966 he became a Federal Meat Inspector for the USDA, so the family moved to Lexington, Nebraska. Mary passed away in 1967. They moved to Elwood, Nebraska in 1970 where he lived until his death. John retired from the USDA in November of 1996 and work for 10 years with the Johnson Lake Development Corporation. As a young man in high school and later in the professional ranks, John participated in rodeo as a steer wrestler, traveling from Denver to Omaha. He always enjoyed gardening and the bounty it would provide. He was a member of the St. John’s Catholic Church in Smithfield, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clement & Bertha, brothers Bernard & Dan Boyle, son Johnathan Eric Boyle.

He is survived by his sons: Tim & wife Carol Boyle of Johnson Lake, Nebraska

                                        Mark Boyle & fiancé Katherine Black of El Paso, Texas

                                        Matthew Boyle of Kearney, Nebraska

                        daughter: Angela & husband Douglas Cover of Cheyenne, Wyoming

Grandchildren: Megan (Lee) Dreyer of Lincoln, Nebraska, Ryan (Madeline) Boyle of Whitefish, Montana, Caitlin (Matthew) Smith of Cozad, Nebraska, Rachael Cover of Tampa, Florida, Kelly Cover, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Shane Boyle & fiancé Catherine Archer of Fort Worth, Texas, Joshua Boyle & fiancé Laura Jaye Oullette of Fort Walton Beach, Florida and Travis Boyle of El Paso, Texas

Great Grandsons: Mile & Maxwell Dreyer of Lincoln, Nebraska and another Great Grandchild due in September.

Condolences and personal reflections may be left at elwoodfuneralhome.com

Viewing and visitation will be Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 1 PM till 5 PM at Elwood Funeral Home, Elwood, Nebraska. Rosary will be Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM at St. John's Catholic Church in Smithfield, Nebraska. Funeral Mass will be Friday, August 9, 2013 at 10 AM at St. John's Catholic Church in Smithfield, Nebraska with Father Thomas Lux, officiating. Burial will be Friday, August 9, 2013 at 2 PM at North Platte Cemetery in North Platte, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to be given in his name. Elwood Funeral Home, Elwood, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.