John Craig Furstenberg

John Craig Furstenberg, 82, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed into eternal life on August 28, 2024. 

John Furstenberg “Fursty”, the son of Jack and Betty Furstenberg, was born in Omaha during World War II; the oldest of their three children. Fursty attended Belvedere Elementary School, North High School (1960) and graduated University of Nebraska Omaha (1967) with a Business Major. 

After spending 24 years with Omaha National Bank, John joined the Omaha Home for Boys and served as their president and CEO for 23 years. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the renovation of all existing buildings, as well as expanding the campus to provide a Youth and Family Services building, an education and learning center, an energy plant and maintenance shop, and two new cottages. Additionally, John streamlined and solidified the Home’s investment and management procedures while actively seeking broad public awareness for the Home and its mission. Two of his major coordinating efforts with the community include becoming the base for the Omaha Police Department training unit and hosting an interactive program with College World Series teams to come practice at the newly renovated baseball field where the former Rosenblatt scoreboard lives on. 

John is a 30 year Rotarian, a member of the North High Vikings of Distinction, and an Inspector General Honorary 33⁰ member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. John also served in the Nebraska Air National Guard (1961-66).

Fursty was a member of the Shriner’s clown unit with over 500 performances as “Little Boy Blue”. He appeared on national television, in numerous circuses and won many entertainment awards. 

Other honors include the Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of their Ten Most Outstanding Men of the Year (1982), the American League of Business Boss of the Year (1984), UNO’s Distinguished Service Award (1978) and Hall of Fame Member (1982), FirsTier Banker of the Year (1986), Omaha Chamber of the Commerce Golden Spike Award (2000), Salvation Army’s DJ Hero Award (2004). 

John was married to Nancy Reasoner, a 34-year veteran child psychologist for Omaha Public Schools, from 1964 until her death to cancer in 2004. They have two children, Erica (1972) and Craig (1974). He was married to Mary Ellen Schindler (retired OPD Deputy Chief) from 2006 until his death. 

John is survived by his wife, Mary, his daughter Erica (Michael Carpino) and their children Gianna and Angelo, his son Craig and his daughter Jacallyn, his brother Scott, his sister Deb Rihn-Harvey, his stepchildren Bill Schindler (Gina) and their children Gianna, Joseph and Cecelia, Brian Schindler and Tim Hinde (Eliana). 

John is preceded in death by Nancy Reasoner, his parents Jack and Betty Furstenberg, his stepdaughter Katie Hinde, and his grandson Timothy Hinde III. 

Fursty’s legacy lives on in his family and friends as he is remembered, as stories are told, and as his civic and community work continues on. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Omaha Home for Boys in memory of John C. Furstenberg. 

Family, friends and colleagues are welcome to the Visitation for John on Friday, September 6, 2024, from to 5:00-7:00 PM and to his Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, September 7 at 11 AM. Both services will be held at Roeder Mortuary at 2727 N 108th Street, Omaha NE 68164