Honorable John F. Wright

Wright, Honorable John F.

Dec 24, 1945 – Mar 18, 2018

Lincoln, NE. Nebraska Supreme Court Justice. Survived by wife, Debbie; children: Jane Jones (Brian), Charlie Wright, John F. Wright (Kristina), and Ellen Wright; five grandchildren; brother, Charles E. Wright (Suzy).

SERVICES Thursday, March 22nd at 2pm at First Plymouth Church, 2000 “D” Street in Lincoln.  Private Family Interment.   Memorials to People’s City Mission, 110 “Q” St., Lincoln, NE 68508.

 

 

14 Comments

  • Douglas Chappell Posted March 20, 2018 7:41 am

    I was John’s advanced mathematics teacher at Scottsbluff High School. He was an excellent student on top of being a great kid. His sister Marial was in my high school class (1953) and we were quite close friends. Brother Charlie was a little older but I heard many good stories about him from his sister. God bless John and his family. The Wright family is a large part of my memory bank. Even though I am 82, I have a good memory about those sorts of things..

  • Cathy Jolliffe Posted March 20, 2018 8:34 am

    So sorry to hear about your loss. Sending prayers to you and your family.

  • Jan Ford Posted March 20, 2018 10:06 am

    Our sincerest sympathies to Justice Wright’s family. Justice Wright worked with my husband Terry in the state capitol building and they often had lunch together. So when Terry mentioned to Justice Wright that he was getting married Justice Wright offered to perform the service. We had a beautiful wedding performed by Justice Wright in the Nebraska Supreme Court chambers. We were very grateful to Justice Wright for his generosity in making our wedding so special..

  • Charles Scriven Posted March 20, 2018 11:32 am

    Am very sad to hear of John’s passing. Was one of best childhood friends and spent lots of time at the Wright household. My sincerest condolences to Debbie and the family. God bless.

  • Vincent Valentino Posted March 20, 2018 2:08 pm

    A very thoughtful, gracious gentlemen, and legal scholar has passed from this world. Reverend Sykes, in To Kill A Mockingbird, tells Atticus FInch’s children, Scout, Dill, and Jem to stand after his closing argument, and as Atticus exits the courtroom, says…”Stand children, your father is passing by”. Justice John Wright deserves no less. My sincere condolences to his family.

  • Steve Davis Posted March 20, 2018 4:46 pm

    John and I met for the first time in September 1963 as new pledges at the Sigma Chi fraternity in Lincoln. This was the beginning of a lifelong–albeit separated by our careers–friendship. I had the privilege of sharing four very special years with him and he taught me through example about so many things. We had a saying in the fraternity that we would hold ourselves to “being men of good character”. John was that and so much more. I feel blessed to have known him, served with him in various leadership capacities at Sigma Chi and admired from afar his accomplishments as a stellar member of the Nebraska Supreme Court for all those many years. He was loyal, straightforward and honest. . .an exceptional man, an exceptional friend. He shall be missed greatly. My condolences to you, Deborah, and your four children and grandchildren. May your memories and John’s love sustain you in the days ahead. Steve Davis, Santa Fe, NM

  • Pamela Hickey Epstein Posted March 20, 2018 11:01 pm

    I am so sorry to hear of John’s death. He was such an honorable man and such a wonderful addition to the NE Supreme Court. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Prayers go out to his family. Keep your memories close and speak of him often.

  • Richard Sievers Posted March 21, 2018 12:53 pm

    John Wright and I were appointed at the same time to serve on the newly created Nebraska Court of Appeals, and quickly became very good friends, although not knowing each other previously given that he was from Scottsbluff and I was from Gering. John was many things to many people. He was a devoted father, husband, and friend. He was a smart, thoughtful and hard working judge who leaves a large mark in Nebraska Judicial history. John was also a clever prankster, a great storyteller, and although he never was on the Husker football coaching staff, he nonetheless was a dedicated (and opinioned) armchair coach. I will miss his friendship and his death is a significant loss to the Supreme Court, and the Nebraska judiciary as a whole. Although he had “ascended” to the Supreme Court I still had many occasions to work with him on various projects, as well as enjoy his friendship.. My wife Maggie and I sent our condolences to his wife Debbie and his children.

  • Mary Jacox Sloan Posted March 21, 2018 5:03 pm

    Debbie my mother, jo Jacox, thought the world of you, John, and your children. You were a rock for her when my dad died.. John was a big asset to SHS—his class & the whole school— being a character wasn’t so bad! You will be in my prayers.

  • Robert & Alexander Rapp Posted March 22, 2018 6:27 am

    Debbie & Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

  • Anne Winner Posted March 22, 2018 11:13 am

    A good man, “the genuine article,” as my dad used to say, and I imagine they’re talking it over now, two old prairie lawyers. Strong sense of direction, kind heart, dry wit, inimitable talent for story telling, delivered with a wry smirk and a twinkling eye. May perpetual light shine upon him, and may those who mourn him find comfort in such memories.

  • Molly Schwisow Posted March 22, 2018 1:50 pm

    I’m so sorry to hear about this loss. Ellen and I played soccer together as children and John was always a present and a positive influence at practices and games.

  • Dennis Arfmann Posted March 23, 2018 2:43 pm

    John was indeed “the genuine article” as my old law partner, Frank Winner, used to say. John was a delightful friend and a tough adversary, both in court and across a card table. Our thoughts are with you, Debbie.

  • Steve Baisch Posted September 4, 2023 5:03 am

    Debbie ,Jane, Charlie, John Floyd and Ellen,
    It only took me 5 years and 6 months to discover John’s passing. I was reminiscing about my time in Scottsbluff and your husband and father helped me with my legal dilemma. Of course, I still vividly remember John holding John Floyd in the hospital and how worried he was about his boy’s difficulty breathing. I’m not sure this note of condolence and respect will find your eyes. If so, I want you to know how much I admired Justice John Wright. He truly has left a lasting legacy!
    Respectfully,
    Steve Baisch, MD

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