Harvey J. Henning

Harvey J. Henning died Wednesday evening surrounded by his family just four days short of his 92nd birthday. Funeral services will be Friday, September 18, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Kearney. Rev. Eric Lesher will officiate. Burial with military rites provided by the Kearney American Legion Post #52, V.F.W. Post #759 and the Nebraska National Guard Military Honors Team will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, September 17 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. Harvey was an entrepreneur who grew Cash Wa Candy Company into what is now known as Cash-Wa Distributing, Harvey will forever be remembered as an incredibly friendly, unassuming, welcoming friend to everyone he met. Those who met him will never forget his friendship, humor, kindness and ability to connect with people. Born September 13, 1923, to Martha (Daake) and Edward Henning, he married Betty Saathoff Henning with whom he recently celebrated his 68th wedding anniversary. Henning spent his entire life in the Kearney area. He grew up on a farm near Haven’s Chapel, north of town, and graduated from Kearney High School in 1941. He worked his entire life at Cash-Wa, starting with deliveries on bicycles around town as a teen to eventually buying and growing the business. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-1946, Henning returned to Kearney and eventually purchased the business in 1957. He was an avid golfer and outdoorsman, enjoyed playing cards with friends, loved spending time at the ranch working outdoors with cattle and horses. He enjoyed spending weekends during the summer at Johnson Lake playing golf, fishing and entertaining friends. Most of all, he was a loving, dedicated father to five sons. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Rob Morris Lodge, Scottish Rite, the Jesters, Fort Kearney Shrine Club, and the Kearney Cosmopolitan Club. He held numerous leadership positions in professional organizations associated with Cash Wa's business. He was a philanthropist, supporting numerous charities focused on making Kearney a better place. A believer in higher education, Harvey and Betty recently established the Henning Family Scholarship Fund with the University of Nebraska Foundation as a permanent endowment to provide annual financial aid forever to undergraduate students at the University of Nebraska – Kearney. Survivors include his wife Betty of Kearney, son Tom and wife Mary of Kearney, daughter-in-law Judy of Kearney, son Greg and his wife Sue of North Platte, son Bob and his wife Michele of Kearney, and son Steve and his wife Stacey of Pacific Palisades, California. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren, Chad and his wife Melisa Henning of Kearney, Michelle and her husband Andy Harter of Kearney, Stacy and her husband Jeremy Hurt of Kearney, Nicole and her husband Jason McNeil of Shanghai, China, Matthew and his fiancé Jamalee Jenkins of Amherst, Kaleena and her husband Brian Shannon of Lincoln, and Christopher Henning of Pacific Palisades; and nine great-grandchildren, Logan, Ethan and Kyler Harter of Kearney, Makenna, Cecil and Bailey Henning of Kearney, Kennedy and Kassidy Hurt of Kearney and Colette McNeil of Shanghai, China. . He is preceded in death by his parents, son Gary, granddaughter Bari Lou Henning, and sister LaVonne Sheen, all of Kearney. Memorials will be to the First Lutheran Church and the "Henning Family Scholarship” fund at the University of Nebraska Foundation. PDF Printable Version

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Harvey J. Henning

September 13, 1923 - September 9, 2015