John L. Ballard

John L. Ballard, 67, Lincoln, passed away on April 29, 2016, from kidney cancer. He was born in Fayetteville, AR to Roy and Iva (Sisemore) Ballard on August 25, 1948. John graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1966. He earned 3 degrees in industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas. He completed his Ph.D. in 1974 and joined the faculty of the University of Nebraska. He retired in 2011 with emeritus professor status. He was the associate dean of the College of Engineering from 1994 to 2007. John enjoyed all sports and was a loyal Razorback and St. Louis Cardinals fan. He got pleasure from playing golf especially with his sons, in a UNL league and with his Saturday morning group. John enjoyed cooking and smoking meat for friends. He was a member of the Executive Club. John is survived by his wife, Kay: his sons, Jared (girlfriend Sarah Stubbert) of Naples, Fla. and Drew of Ft. Myers, Fla.; his brother, Stephen (Nancy) Ballard of Fayetteville, Ark.; his step-mother, Kathleen Ballard of Fayetteville, Ark.; nephews, Slate (Rachel) Ballard of Madison, Conn., Dylan (Katie Jo) Ballard of Atlanta, Ga. and their children; nephews, Jerry and Christopher Patrick of Leawood, Kan.; step-sisters, Ann (Bill) Lohmar and Kathy (Len) Edens of Fayetteville, Ark. and their families. Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 3 at 2 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Friends are welcome to stop by the family home from 5 to 9 p.m. on Monday, May 2. Memorials, lieu of flowers, to Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering (AAIE) Academic Scholarship #3000213 (www.onlinegiving.uark.edu) or the American Cancer Society. Condolences at roperandsons.com.