May 5, 1928 – December 10, 2020
Harold LeRoy Slaight, 92, passed away peacefully at Lincoln’s St. Elizabeth Hospital on December 10, 2020.
Harold was born in humble beginnings in Bedford, Iowa to H. Wesley and Beulah (Tally) Slaight on May 5, 1928. He loved sharing stories of his work on the farm, his motorcycle, and starting his own business with a new truck, hauling rock from Weeping Water, Nebraska. That business was cut short when he was drafted by the U.S. Army, ultimately spending 9 months in Korea hauling troops and supplies to and from the front lines.
Following his time in the service, Harold began dating a young lady he met at the Missionary Church camp in Weeping Water, Nebraska. The romance grew and soon he and Lois Stahly were married in her hometown of Milford, Nebraska. Harold graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts from Northwest Missouri State College on the G.I. Bill. His first teaching job moved he and his bride to Colfax, Iowa, then to Friend, Nebraska and they finally settled in Lincoln, Nebraska where he taught Industrial Arts, then Driver Education. He taught at Lincoln High School, then moved to East High where he played a major role in the design of their driving range. Harold completed his master’s degree in Safety Education from Central Missouri State College and retired from Lincoln High School in 1990.
After retirement from public schools, Harold worked with new drivers, both local and international, through Southeast Community College. Harold had a passion for teenagers; not only teaching public high school for 35 years, but also teaching high schoolers in Sunday School for many years at the Missionary Church. Later, he taught adult Sunday School at the First Church of the Nazarene. In later years, he stayed involved by digging through piles of jokes through the week, sharing the perfect funny with the senior class he attended. His love for God was evident in every everything he did.
Harold is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lois (Stahly) Slaight, his daughter Lynda (Slaight) York, husband Jeff, and grandchildren Katy and Scott. He is also survived by his son Steve Slaight, wife Colleen (Libby) and grandchildren Corrie and Jake plus many nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.
A family/friends graveside service, with military honors, will be held on Friday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m.at Wyuka Cemetery in Lincoln, Nebraska. A celebration of life/memorial service is being planned for this coming spring. Any memorials may be given to Connecting Pointe Church in Lincoln, or Gideons International.
Lois, our prayers of comfort in Jesus are with you. Our family has a fond memories of you and Harold during our fellowship at First Church – Connecting Pointe.
On behalf of myself and my mother, Lucille, I want to express our condolences to you and your family. My mother lived next door to you and Harold for 12 years. I remember the kindness of Harold who was always being helpful moving her trash cans back up from the curb and spraying and pulling weeds from her yard (haha). Our prayers are thinking of you and Harold.
Harold was a wonderful, kind, caring, helpful man. He loved the Lord and was very faithful and endeavored to carry out God’s mission for his life. He was an inspiration in our Pathfinders Sunday School Class. We enjoyed his joke he gave at the beginning of the class. It set the tone for the class to relax and participate in the lesson.
Harold was a man who saw something to be done and he did it. He was very helpful to his neighbors. He will be missed.