Jack J. Sweet

Jack J. Sweet, 75, of Clarks, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at his home near Clarks. Private family graveside services will be held at the Fullerton Cemetery with the burial of ashes. A celebration of life will be held at Beck’s Old Barn in Clarks on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. Solt-Wagner Funeral Home of Central City is assisting the family. 

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Jack was born in a blizzard on April 14, 1949, in Grand Island to Alfred and Rita (Goerl) Sweet. Jack remembers his dad telling him they had to stop and put chains on the tires to keep moving. He was confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Central City. Jack grew up on the family farm north of Clarks helping his mom and dad. He attended grades K-12 as a Clarks Blue Bomber. Jack was a proud member of the football team winning the conference and state football titles going undefeated. Jack also received All-Conference and All-State First Team honors. 

Jack married Coleen S. Noble on Jan. 13, 1973, and he always said that was the best day of his life. To this marriage, they were blessed with four children: Mandy, Jesse, Sami, and Sara, and were fortunate enough to have eight grandchildren: Anslei and Ellie Krance, Elanie and Easton Sweet, Kenslei and Kyler Carlson, and Adalyn and Bryston Stranberg. Jack loved his family and friends. He loved all animals and taking care of them, giving them their best life. He had a team of draft horses, a team of Persian horses and a team of mules. He built two wagons and loved driving the horses into town to give rides to anyone who wanted to hop on. He also enjoyed driving his Black Pete through the years hauling cattle and grain. Over the last few years he and his family have enjoyed lots of weekends at Calamus lake making memories at their cabin. 

He is survived by his wife, Coleen Sweet of Clarks; four children, Mandy (Chuck) Krance of Central City, Jesse (Barbee) Sweet of Clarks, Sami Stranberg (Brad Schmidt) of Central City, Richie Stranberg of Clarks, and Sara (Byron) Carlson of Polk; eight grandchildren; two sisters, Susan Sweet of Cotati, Calif., and Sally (Jack) Neel of Clarks; sister-in-law, Terri (Ed) Maslonka of Grand Island; and brother-in-law, Mike Noble of Central City. 

Jack is preceded in death by his parents; Coleen’s parents, Bob and Mary Anne Noble; and niece, Julie Dubas; and nephew, AJ Dubas.