William “John”, Thacker, Jr., died at his home in Kimball on December 4, 2024. Cremation has been held and memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball with Randy Bohac officiating. Friends may visit www.cantrellfh.com to view his tribute wall and share condolences and stories with the family. Memorials may be given in his memory to the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department. The services for John have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home.
William John Thacker, Jr. was born in Bethesda, Maryland on December 28, 1952, the son of William “John”, Sr. and Barbara Ann (Torrance) Thacker. He moved with his family at an early age to Kimball. John attended the Kimball Public Schools and graduated from the Kimball County High School in 1970. John was married to Cynthia Box on July 1, 1972. He enlisted in the US Army in 1972 and was honorably discharged in 1975. He worked for Jim O’Brien at Kimball Laundry and Dry Cleaning until working for the Kimball Police Department, then, being elected as Kimball County Sheriff for 15 years, a job he truly loved. He then moved to Bakersfield, California where he worked for TIC as a Safety Supervisor until returning to Kimball in 2004. He held various other jobs in and around Kimball, including working at Cabela’s and Schwan’s. John enjoyed fishing trips with his dad and friends in Canada, wood carving, cooking and camping at Red Feather Lakes with his family. He also loved being involved with the Kimball Community and talking about it’s history and would visit with anyone. His family and friends were very important to him.
Survivors include his father William John Thacker, Sr. of Kimball., son William Brian Thacker of Kimball, NE; daughters Tanya (Chuck) Frakes of Kimball, NE and Heather (Jesse) Williamson of Dix, NE; sisters Sherri Reed of Grand Junction, CO., Cindy Webb of New Orleans, LA and Toni Faustman of Hays, KS; grandchildren Makayla and Madison Williamson, Kylie Fiehtner, Payton and Hayden Thacker. He was preceded in death by his mother, wife and grandson Connor.
