Joseph Lawrence Giles was born April 14, 1926, at the family ranch a half mile west of Elsmere, to Charles M. and Astrid E. (Stav) Giles.
Joe began working in the hayfield at the age of seven with a team of horses and continued to work well into his 90s at whatever needed done on the ranch and farm. In his early teens, driving the cattle on horseback to the railroad in Halsey was a special event.
Joe went to school at Center Elsmere and graduated from the eighth grade at 12 years old. When taking exams there, he met 12-yearold Bonnie Keys, who later became the love of his life. Due to the war, Joe had to start and stop high school several times, but he made it through and graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1945.
Bonnie Arlene Keys and Joseph Lawrence Giles were married at her parents home on September 16, 1945, and were married for 63 years. After their marriage, Joe continued working for his father on the family ranch. He and Bonnie lived on the Huffman place when Jo Lynn, Karen Ann, Jerry Michael, and Marcia Sue were born.
In the spring of 1958, the family moved to their place one mile west of Ainsworth, where their last child, Erin Lee, was born.
Joe served on the Ainsworth School Board, the Ainsworth Irrigation Board during the construction of Merritt Dam, and the Board of Directors of the Commercial National Bank. He was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church, the Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. 1790, the Nebraska Angus Association, the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association, and the American Angus Association. Joe passed away on May 21, 2021, at his home, which was his great wish.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie; son, Mike; parents, Charley and Astrid Giles; brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Marylou Giles and Charles and Ina Jean Giles; sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Keith Keys; brother-in-law, John Sullivan; sons-in-law, Roger McCoy and Jerry Nance; and grandson-in-law, Korey Schow.
Survivors include daughters Jo McCoy of Ainsworth, Karen Nance of North Platte, Marcia Speck and husband Rod of Gothenburg, and Erin Allen and husband Terry of Ainsworth; eight grandchildren, Roxy Schow, James (Mandy) McCoy, Scott Speck, Adam Speck, Nathaniel (Leah) Allen, Lydia Allen, Benjamin Allen, and Gabriel Allen; two great-grandchildren, August Schow and Ruby Schow; sister, Ruth Sullivan of Broken Bow; brother-in-law, Ted Keys and wife Marlea of Elsmere; and nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth with Pastor David Randall officiating. Interment was in the Purdum Cemetery at Purdum, under the direction of the Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.
