Eric C. Walston

Hastings resident, Eric C. Walston, 48, passed away Sunday, January 25, 2026, at CHI Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, NE.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026, at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, NE with Pastors Joel Remmers and Chad Power officiating. Burial will be at Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Smithfield, NE at a later date. Visitation will be 2-7 p.m. Friday, January 30, 2026 with family present 5-7 p.m. at Butler Volland Funeral Home, Hastings, NE. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to https://everloved.com/life-of/eric-walston/, First St. Paul’s Youth Ministries, or Scouting America, Hastings, NE: Pack 207 & Troop 207. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Eric’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. 

Eric was born January 18, 1978, in Kearney, Nebraska, to Ken & the late Christiann Walston. He graduated from Bertrand High School in 1996. He served in the United States Navy from 1996 to 2002. Eric married the love of his life, Jessica Johnson on June 9, 2006; they raised four children Christopher, Adalaide, Thatcher & Elias. Eric was a member of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the Eagles Club, Scouting America, NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials), Nebraska Weed Control Association and was the Adams County Weed Superintendent. Eric was a man of great love, generosity, courage, and strength. Through Eric, God taught us to serve others with brotherly love, to spread joy and laughter unashamedly, to make spontaneous memories, and to love fiercely. Eric will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his love of the outdoors, his wild ideas, his random facts, and the joy he brought to those around him. His memory will live on in the countless moments shared and the lives he touched.

Eric was preceded in death by his son, Christopher; Mother, Christiann Walston; Grandparents, Norris Renken, Marvin & Sue Brand, Jimmy Walston Sr.; Infant siblings, Zachary & Kendra.

SURVIVORS:
Wife & Children:
Jessica Walston – Hastings, NE
Adalaide, Thatcher & Elias
Father & Spouse:
Ken & Pamela Walston – Hastings, NE 
Mother-in-law & Spouse: 
Charlene & Ron Panowicz - Kearney, NE
Father-in-law & Spouse:
Wade & RaJean Johnson – Holdrege, NE
Grandmother: 
Jeanie Renken – Bertrand, NE
Grandmother-in-law: 
Lila Johnson – Holdrege, NE
Siblings: 
Trevor (Amy) Walston – Holdrege, NE 
Kendra (Alex) Haile – Doniphan, NE 
Angel (Cameron Piatt) Prattini – Hastings, NE 
Mike Aguilar – Ridgecrest, CA
Siblings-in-law: 
Amy (Scott) Walker – Holdrege, NE 
Trent (Michelle) Johnson – Funk, NE
Numerous Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, other extended family and many friends.