Paul Huddleston

Paul E. Huddleston age 91 of Laurel, Nebraska died on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel, Nebraska. A celebration of life service will be held for both Paul and his wife Joan Huddleston on Friday, April 8, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Laurel with the Rev. Patrick Broz officiating.  Burial of their cremated remains will be at the Laurel cemetery at a later date.  Visitation will be on Thursday, April 7^th, at church, from 6-8:00 p.m. and will continue on Friday morning one hour prior to services.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel. Paul Eugene Huddleston, born in Laurel NE on October 22, 1930 to Everett Chester and Hazel Leila (Reigle) Huddleston. He attended K-12 at Laurel Public Schools, Laurel, NE graduating in 1948. Paul served in the United States Air Force as an Air 1st class Sergeant. He was stationed at Randolph Airforce Base (RAFB), San Antonio, TX from 1951-1955 and served as a Chaplain. Paul married the love of his life, Marcia Joan Marquardt on Aug. 17, 1952.  They moved to Cibilo, TX until he completed his Airforce service to his country. Paul and Joan moved back to Laurel in 1956.  He worked with his father in Huddleston’s Shoe and Harness Shop. He started working for Gene Sohler at the Laurel Sale Barn as a hog buyer.  He did this for many years.  He worked at Waldbaum’s in Wakefield and then became a custodian at the Laurel Concord Public Schools in 1989, retiring from there in 2003. Paul liked horses and had many of them through the years.  When the kids were young, he’d stop doing whatever he was doing and run them to the farm, to catch their horses.  He enjoyed all sports, but he loved watching his children and grandchildren compete.  In his younger years, he liked to fish and hunt.  Going to farm ponds, the rivers and streams near us were often evening adventures for the family. Paul was often found ‘clowning around’ at parades.  He was always up to the challenge of dressing up, handing out candy to kids and using his ventriloquist dolls to joke around, have fun and be silly. Paul is often remembered for always having Werther candies in his pocket.  He was known for handing them out to teachers and students.  Whenever he saw a student being kind or helpful, he would offer them candy.  He enjoyed talking to the children and watching their sporting events.  He loved to compete and play games.  Yard darts, bad mitten, carom, card games and dominos were what he mostly played with his kids and grandkids.  However, Joan and he enjoyed meeting friends and going to the track (dog and horse) and the casino for a game of slots. Paul was a kind and loving husband, father and grandfather.  He lovingly helped care for Joan for many years.  Paul and Joan would have been married 70 years in Aug., 2022.  Their life had many trials along the way, but it was definitely a love story to behold.  Joan died March 17th and he joined her in heaven 9 days later. Paul is survived by; two children Thomas Victor (Lori) Huddleston of Morris, OK; daughter Mary Jo “Jodie” (Steve) Thompson of Laurel; five grandchildren Amber (Tyler) Specht, Kyle (Mandi) Thompson, Alli Thompson, LCDR Robert (Heather) Huddleston, Collin (Hillary) Huddleston; 11 great grandchildren Zach Huddleston, Aiden and Lilly Huddleston, and Henry Huddleston, Ryleigh, Nora, and Evie Specht, Kayden, Nolan, Calli and Kenzi Thompson; a brother-in-law Dr. Victor C. (Kathy) Marquardt of Wilsonville, Oregon;  as well as nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, a brother Harry (Charlotte) Huddleston;  Sister Sharon (Gerald) Grimm, son Paul William (Billy), grandson Brian Joshua Huddleston, great granddaughter Joslynn Jo Specht.