Jack Highland

Bernard Jack Highland, 63, of Burlington, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at the Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney, Nebraska.

Jack was born on April 20, 1961 in Fort Morgan, Colorado. He was raised on his grandparent’s ranch about 18 miles south of Forth Morgan on what was called the South Star Route. While his mother Estelle worked in Greeley and the surrounding area, Jack lived with his grandparents. Estelle would come home every weekend and holidays to spend time with him.

When Jack was 3 years old, his mother met and married Murray Alan Highland and at that time, Jack left the ranch to go live with them. He spent most of every summer and many weekends and holidays at the ranch. His grandpa taught him all about tractors and farm machinery. He could back up a tractor, and hook it up to any piece of machinery, and drive anything on the place. When he was 14, he won a tractor driving competition at the county fair. Judges couldn’t believe how well he could handle a tractor at such a young age. He also learned about the cattle business and loved raising cows. He had lots of great stories from the ranch, from riding in his Aunt Carries little Red convertible, he was bigger than the car; to a wild ride the back of his uncle Lawrence’s pickup hunting antelope; and he and a couple of friends wrecking his Dad’s pickup when he was 14. 

Jack graduated from Berthoud High School in 1979. He had taken vocational training his senior year to learn mechanics. He attended those classes, but wasn’t too concerned about the other ones. He would much rather go help his Uncle Larry with cows and hay. That come to a screeching halt when his folks and uncle found out he was not going to graduate if he didn’t start going to classes. So he begrudgingly went back to school and did graduate.

When his grandfather passed away and the ranch was sold, Jack took it very hard and was kind of at a loss. His uncle Larry Highland gave him a job driving truck, where he discovered a new love. He mostly enjoyed hauling cows, but he pretty much hauled just about everything all over the United States. His insurance company actually recognized him for driving over a million miles without a claim. He had some great stories from his early years hauling cows, better known as the Ray Nix Chronicles. 

Jack tried a few other endeavors over the years. He ran a gravel pit around Yuma for a couple years, and he and his Dad ran an excavating business for a couple years as well. But trucking seemed to be his niche in this world.

In 2002, Jack met Sue Highland on a dating AP. They had their first date at the truck stop in Limon, CO. They hit it off right from the beginning and began dating. They were married at the Old Town Church on January 11, 2003, on a very cold and windy day. The heating system at the church left a lot to be desired, and it was so cold, you could see your breath. Everyone was huddled around the heating stove until just before the wedding started. It was short and sweet and then on to the reception that was nice and toasty.

Sue had two children from a previous marriage. Kylee was 14 and Justin was 10 when they married. This was quite the undertaking for a guy with no siblings and no children of his own. He was they father they needed and he adopted them in the spring of 2003. Life can be challenging and extremely interesting with a teenage girl, but Kylee and Jack had a common fondness for horses, so he was able to earn her trust. They had their battles of course. That just comes with teenagers in general, but girls are especially challenging. Justin told Jack once, “Just go with the flow Dad, don’t try to figure it out, it will just make your head hurt.” Justin tended to be a little easier. Jack never quite believed he was as innocent as made out to be, bus was cunning enough not to get caught.

In 2016, Jack and Sue bought a farm southeast of Burlington. Jack started raising corn, and then of course some cows got added to the mix. In 2020, he decided to switch to Alfalfa Hay.

The sunshine of Jack’s life were his four grandchildren; Nevaeh, Madelin, Leanna and Lucas. He loved them dearly. His aunt Carrie called one evening and said she needed to get rid of her little Shetland pony and if we wanted to come get her, we could have her for free. Now really what little girl doesn’t need a Shetland pony? So after getting approval from Jon and Kylee, Jack and Sue hitched up the trailer to the pickup and made a trip to South Dakota to get Sophie. He couldn’t wait to get back to Kansas and deliver it. That old pony lived a long long time and was a great gift for not only Nevaeh, but Maddie loved her too. Score Grandpa!! Christmas was his favorite holiday because all his kids and grandkids would be home.

Jack began to struggle the last couple years. His rheumatoid arthritis made it difficult to get in and out of tractors and trucks or work on machinery. His health had deteriorated over this last year. He was diagnosed with Afib in August and had gone to Kearney, NE to have a heart oblation procedure done. He had high hopes this was going to help and he would be able to finally get back to work. Unfortunately, more complications were discovered and although the doctors gave it their all to save him, his body said enough.

He is preceded in death by his parents Estelle and Murray Highland, his grandparents Bernard and Elizabeth Helget and Murry and Anna Highland, his aunt Jerri Highland, his in laws Raymond and Kathryn (Kay) Daniel and his sister-in-law June Daniel.

He is survived by his wife Sue of the home near Burlington, CO, his daughter Kylee (Jon) Martin of Kanorado, KS and his son Justin (Shelby) Highland of Cheyenne, WY. He is also survived by his four grandchildren Nevaeh, Madelin and Leanna Martin and Lucas Highland, uncles Larry, Cody (Phylis) and Dee (Cindy) Highland, as well as numerous cousins and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made out to the Jack Highland Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.