John W. Moats, 76, of Wolbach, passed away on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Arbor Care Center in Fullerton.

To honor John’s wishes, there will not be a public service. A Private Family Inurnment will be held in the North Logan Cemetery in Howard County, Nebraska. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul is assisting the family.

John was born on February 12, 1949, the only child of John Henry and Opal Laural (Hale) Moats in Omaha, Nebraska. He received his education at Omaha North High School, graduating in 1967. He entered the United States Navy in 1967 and was honorably discharged in 1970. He graduated from the Omaha Police Academy in 1971. He worked for the Omaha Police Department until 1976. John worked for the Las Vegas Marshals Department for numerous years. He returned to Nebraska and was Chief of Police in Madison, Nebraska. John was the owner and operator of Timberwolf Lounge in Leigh, Nebraska. He was united in marriage to Vicki Lake on April 3, 2014, in Kearney, Nebraska. His hobbies included hunting and weightlifting. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the American Legion Club.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Vicki Moats of Wolbach; four daughters, Amber Barber of Wamego, KS, Kristy Moats of Las Vegas, NV, Tara Moats of California, and Aimee Moats of Omaha.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Opal Moats.