Paul J Cain,84, of Burwell, Nebraska was called home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 28, 2023, in Kearney, Nebraska.
Paul was born on February 26, 1939, to Don Robert Cain and Mary Ellen (Pokorney). He was baptized on April 9, 1939, Easter Sunday, and confirmed on December 27, 1953, the Sunday after Christmas, both at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burwell. He attended Burwell High School and graduated in 1957. He was homecoming king and named to all-conference football his junior year. He also loved acting and working on the yearbook.
He attended Kearney State Teacher’s College in 1957-58, initially wanting to become an industrial arts teacher. Paul then worked construction jobs in building grain elevators and various other structures. He enlisted in the United State Army in 1961 and served in Germany, at Dexheim near Mannheim in the 12th Engineer Battalion of Company D in the 8th Infantry Division of the Combat Engineers, where he earned the title of Sergeant and a proud Cold War Veteran. He returned to Burwell in 1964 and met the love of his life, Velma Jane Adams. They were married on June 26, 1965, at St John’s Lutheran Church and to this union two children were born Paul J Cain, Jr., and Candace Jane Cain.
Mr. Cain worked as a carpenter, painter, maintenance man, and farmer/rancher for 50 years and retired due to health reasons. At some point, Paul worked on some part of many, many homes in Burwell. He took great care and pride in his work.
One of the joys of his life was his horse racing days with his brother Don as the Cain Brothers racing team won the Ozark Downs in 1969. The special win of Paul’s life was the Nebraska Derby in 1973 when it was at Nebraska’s Big Rodeo. He spent over 75 years volunteering in various ways at Nebraska’s Big Rodeo as a 3rd generation volunteer and only missed the performances when he was in the Army.
Paul was a volunteer in various community organizations including the Boy Scouts, 4-H, and a proud supporter of the Burwell Speech Team and One-Act Play kids. He taught Sunday School and was a church elder and trustee. He would give of his time to anyone who needed it. He was an avid hunter and loved fishing.
In his retirement years, Paul loved riding his cart around town and greeting all of his friends and working on his classic 1971 pick-up and other engine projects with his daughter. He was a member of the Calamus Car Cruisers Club.
Those family members that passed before him included his parents; siblings: Rosemarie VanSlyke, Vonnie Cain, Betty Brass, John Corwin Cain; and the uncle he cared for, Edward Pokorney.
Paul is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years Velma Cain, son Rev. Paul Cain and wife Ann, daughter Candace Cain, his brother Don V. Cain, many nieces and nephews and a lifetime of dear friends he always cherished.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Burwell, Nebraska. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell. Pastor Adam Archer will officiate. Visitation will be Friday from 5 – 7 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church. Memorials are suggested to St. Johns Lutheran Church or the Burwell Veterans Park. Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell is in charge of arrangements.
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