Walter J. Mejstrik, 89, of Lincoln, formerly of Howells, passed away on April 18, 2019 at The Arbors in Lincoln. Funeral Mass will be 10:30am on Wednesday, April 24 at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in Howells with Rev. Stanley Schmit as celebrant. Burial with military honors will be at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Cemetery with lunch following at the church hall. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00pm to 7:00pm with Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00pm at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to the Howells Community Fund. Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home. Walter Jacob Mejstrik was born on February 2, 1930 in Howells to Lad and Helen (Konsel) Mejstrik. He was raised on the farm north of Howells and attended District 51 elementary school and graduated from Howells High School in 1947. He married JoAnn Bazata in May 1951 at St. John Nep. Church where they were life long members. After serving his country in the Army during the Korean War, they raised their four children on the family farm north of Howells. There the family operated a hen laying operation as well as raising cattle and hogs. Walter and family were very active in Cuming County 4-H and Walter was a 4-H leader for 20 years. In 1974, they moved into Howells. Walter was very active in Howells, owning and operating the NAPA store and Northeast Nebraska Automation, member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus. He was active in many community events as well as being mayor for two years. Walter enjoyed many activities including gardening especially tomatoes and watermelon, collecting western art and traveling with his wife. He and JoAnn traveled to their ‘ homeland’ Czech Republic 11 times. But his favorite activity was visiting. There was no such thing as a stranger to him. For the past 4 years, Walter was a resident with the Legacy community and at The Arbors in Lincoln. There he was known as Mr. Social and The Snickers Man. He loved to tease all the staff and they were all his ‘ favorite’. He is survived by his sons, Ron (Barb) Mejstrik of O’Neill and Patrick (Teresa) Mejstrik of Valley; daughter, Melissa (Dennis) Thorne of Lincoln, 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren; sisters, Anita Becky of Denver, CO and Orleitha Johnson of Montrose, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lad and Helen Mejstrik; wife, JoAnn; brother Robert; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Dorothy Mejstrik; and daughter-in-law, Karen Mejstrik.