Bill Blackburn

Funeral services for Ray William "Bill" Blackburn will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church of Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday July 23, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend David Sites, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Ray William "Bill" Blackburn, 76 years of age, was born on the family farm in Harlan County, Nebraska on August 7, l932 and passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was the youngest of three children born to Ray and Etta (Huston) Blackburn. He attended the Ragan community school, graduating salutatorian of his class in l949 and receiving a Regent's scholarship to the University of Nebraska. He also played baseball on the Holdrege Legion team and was baptized in the Ragan Baptist Church.

Bill joined the United States Navy on February 18, l952. After boot camp in San Diego, he attended Airman School in Norman, Oklahoma and Electronics School in Millington, Tennessee. He was assigned to a VP-2 Squadron at Whidby Island, Washington and flew patrol missions from Alaska and Japan. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged from active duty in l956 and from reserve duty in l960.

On August 16, 1958, he married Barbara Ann Viren, daughter of Ernie and Margaret (Raile) Viren at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege. At the time of their marriage, he was engaged in farming. Three children were born to their family; William Ernst, Thomas Michael, and Daniel Scott. Bill and his father-in-law built their home on 14th Avenue in l963. The Blackburn's celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in August of 2008.

At the time of his marriage, Bill became a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church. He served as Trustee, usher, Luther League sponsor, Cub Master of Pack 212, on the Altar Guild and played on the church softball teams. In his later years, he very much enjoyed the men's early morning Bible study.

Bill coached Little League baseball and basketball teams for 18 years, served on the Fire Department and Rescue Unit for nine years, and was Treasurer and Director of the Holdrege Rotary Club. He was a member of the Masonic Jachin Lodge #146 for fifty years and the Tehama Shrine. Other organizational memberships included the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans, BPOE, and the Jaycees.

In l959, Mr. Blackburn began working for the Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company. In l964, he decided to finish his education using the GI Bill. While a full-time student, he continued working as a service man and a part time clerk for the J C Penny Store. He completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Education at Kearney State College in l969 and his Master of Science Degree in Business Education in l970. As a graduate assistant, he taught office machine classes at the college. His Educational Specialist Degree in Administration was completed in l980. He held a Professional Administrative and Supervisory Certificate for grades K-12, all districts, with endorsements as a Superintendent of Schools and Basic Business and General Office Education.

In l969 Mr. Blackburn began teaching as an Accounting Instructor at Central Technical Community College in Hastings, Nebraska. He became the Business Administrator for the South Central Mental Health Center in Kearney, Nebraska in l974. He also served as the Phelps County Superintendent of Education and the principal of Hastings Catholic Schools in Hastings, Nebraska. From l981 through l986, he served as superintendent of Republican City Schools in Republican City, Nebraska, until it closed. In l988, he became the superintendent of Dawson-Verdon Consolidated Schools in Dawson, Nebraska until his retirement. He enjoyed his tenure in small schools because of the close personal contact with students and family involvement. After his retirement in l993, he kept active as a substitute teaching in many area schools and occasionally helping the stage crews in the play productions directed by his wife.

As an administrator he served as chairman of the Advisory Council for E.S.U. 11, as well as chairman of its Committee for Pre-School Handicapped Children. He also served on the Advisory Council of E.S.U.#4 and state accreditation External visitation teams. He was a member of the American Association of School Administrators, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, Nebraska Rural Community School Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Nebraska School Board Association, the National Education Association, the Nebraska State Education Association, and the Central Technical Community College Education Association for which he was president and chief negotiator and was awarded its Spark Plug award for his leadership.

Although most of his professional life was spent in the field of education, he was also licensed in insurance sales and annuities, variable contracts, life, health, and accident. In retirement, he also worked planting trees for the Tri-Basin Natural Resource District, a job he enjoyed tremendously because of the opportunity to be outside and the pride he took in seeing the trees grow.

He enjoyed traveling with his family and helped his father-in-law in the construction of the family cabin at Johnson Lake. In 2008, he and his wife were crowned the King and Queen of Swedish Days.

He leaves to mourn his wife Barbara Ann, daughter-in-law Christine Johnson of Columbus, Nebraska, and her children, Heidi Blackburn of Salina, Kansas, Molly Blackburn of Lincoln, Nebraska, Michael Blackburn of Omaha, Nebraska, and Lydia Johnson still at home; his son Tom Blackburn and his wife Norma of Superior, Nebraska, and their children Raile and Sierra; and his son Dan Blackburn and his wife Jillian of Burlington, New Jersey, and their children Piper, Hunter, and William. His sister Margie Lippstreu and her husband Stanley of Hastings, his sister Lucy Richardson and her husband Clint of Superior as well as other relatives and friends.

Besides his parents, Bill was proceeded in death by his son William E. Blackburn; his father and mother- in-law Ernie and Margaret Viren.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting friends from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. A presentation of Masonic Rites will be delivered by the Jachin Lodge #146 A.F. & A.M. of Holdrege at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

A memorial has been established and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.