A Tribute to John Boehler
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January 8 2026
On December 31st of 2025, John Boehler will retired from Bruning Bank after 50 years of service in the banking industry. If you know John, you know he does not want a party or any kind of recognition, heck he is probably starting to sweat right now just reading this. In lieu of a party I thought I would try and summarize what John has meant to the bank and the community.
I started working with John in September of 2009 when I came to Bruning Bank. The Holdrege location was just a month old, and I was green behind my ears when it came to banking. I was eager to learn from someone who was regarded as one of the best in his trade. What I came to find out over the next 16 years- in my opinion, was not learning from one of the best but from THE Best.
John has an intense dedication to making a good loan, he wants the customers of the bank to receive the best service possible, and his employees to go above and beyond to achieve this service. John arrives at the bank before the sun comes up and is usually one of the last to leave. He went through the 80’s with the farm crisis, this experience and the desire to never go through that again drives his every decision.
If you come in for a loan, John strives to get you a yes or no answer in a day or less, reiterating that the customers of our bank receive the best service possible. He has helped many farmers, ranchers, and businessmen and women alike achieve their dreams. The mission statement of Bruning Bank is to “Assist clients to Build & Maintain Wealth” and John personifies it.
John is active in his church and has been a faithful community servant, serving on pretty much every board in the community at some point in time.
Working with John is an adventure. John is stubborn and likes to play devil’s advocate even when he agrees with you. He loves to joke around, watch sports of all kinds (even WWE), hunt, fish, and read everything he can. He has a wide range of knowledge and experience that I often draw upon when I have a banking or personal problem. I have spent countless hours in John’s office talking about business or just life in general. To me John has been a mentor, a father figure, and a friend. It will be hard looking across the lobby and not seeing him there.
John’s retirement is well deserved as he now shifts focus to spending more time with his family, grandkids, and their numerous activities. If you get the chance before the end of the year, stop into John’s office, shoot the bull, relish his laugh, and congratulate him on a job well done.
-Luke Thorell, President- Holdrege-