Josiah E. Van Der Hart

I have seen Him, I have know Him for He dains to walk with me. And the glory of His presence, shall be mine eternally!

Josiah Van Der Hart was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Mark and Dorcas Van Der Hart on November 13th, 1999. At the age of 13, on June 26th 2013 Josiah trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. In his early years he worked around the family automotive shops and especially enjoyed doing auto body repair with his brother Gabe. In the Fall of 2017, at the age of 18, he started work at Henton Trenching, he enjoyed it very much and eventually became a crew foreman. He was united in marriage to Lydia Meader on September 17th, 2021, and lived in Blair, Nebraska. They were blessed with one son, Matthew, on July 14th, 2022. Josiah peacefully passed into eternity to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on August 8th 2025 after a long battle with Leukemia cancer.

He was born with a cleft palate, which he received surgery for at the age of two years old. He spoke of looking forward to heaven where it would be healed and he could fully sing!

It was recalled that Josiah said very few words till about the age of two when on a family trip. He was given had some cappuccino and started talking a "million miles an hour" and has talked a lot ever since! As the youngest in the family he got pranked a lot, but it wasn't long and he learned to be nimble and out-wit almost anyone. He was a practical joker, but also didn't mind being the victim of practical jokes also. In the spring of 2013 at the family farm place Josiah and his sister Julia found and raised two pet raccoons, Josiah racoon was named "Diesel". Diesel was quite a character, and brought a lot of amusement wherever he went.

Josiah adored his family, and always jumped at the opportunity to buy Matthew a new toy! As a family they enjoyed cooking breakfast at the lake, going on bike rides, going to the zoo and at times going for a boat ride on the lake. He enjoyed doing yard work and landscaping, especially with old equipment pieces. He had a soft spot in his heart for the young people in his life and could be found playing legos with the young children or having conversation with teenagers.

In a particular way his coworkers enjoyed his contagious laugh where he would laugh so hard he would be out of breath! He was a willing worker and a "Johnny on the spot" where ever he was needed.

In 2023, at the age of 23 he was diagnosed with Leukemia cancer, he endured patiently the many difficult procedures and treatments, as he fought for as much time as possible with his family. He was always grateful to the medical staff who did all they could to treat his cancer, understanding that Gods will would be best. He recently came across the Scripture text at Philippians 1:20 and it was a real blessing for him personally to consider. He simply desired and believed that God would be glorified either in His life or death. It reads "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death". Josiah was at perfect peace with God and would smile, right to the end, and say, "I can't wait to see my Saviour". He was also earnest to the end wanting everyone to know the importance of living with purpose because tomorrow isn't promised. And that Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ would consider whom they serve Matthew 6:24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

To those who don't yet know the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior, Josiah would sigh with burden and long that they make the needed time to pursue their peace with God, through Christ alone. Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

Josiah is survived by his loving wife, Lydia; son, Matthew; parents, Mark and Dorcas Van Der Hart; siblings, Priscilla Frazier (Joel), Mary Rama, Joshua (Bethany), Gabriel, David (Grace), Levi (Elizabeth), Michael, Julia Wentz (Jonathan); grandmother, Ann Van Der Hart and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, other loving family and friends.  Preceded in death by his sister, Deborah Van Der Hart; grandfather, Henry Van Der Hart; grandparents, Samuel and Dorothy Eadie; sister-in-law, Merry Van Der Hart, as well as, niece and nephew, Esther & Timothy Van Der Hart.

Services will be held on Thursday (8/14/2025) at the Kennard Auditorium, 305 W 2nd Street, Kennard, NE 68034.  Visitation will be from 9:00 - 11:00 AM with Funeral Service at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow at Kennard Cemetery in Kennard, NE. Please direct memorials to the family.