James "Huey" W Ronnberg

Funeral Services for James W. "Huey" Ronnberg will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Dan Wiese officiating. Interment will be held in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska with military honors provided by the Bertrand Veterans Organization in conjunction with the United States Army Military Honor Guard.

James Wesley "Huey" Ronnberg, 75 years of age, of Nebraska City, Nebraska (formerly of Bertrand and Holdrege) passed away on Friday, October 7, 2016 at the Nebraska City Care and Rehabilitation Center. James was born June 3, 1941 at Bertrand, the eldest of three children born to Otto M. and Viola Sophia Augusta (Maaske) Ronnberg. His formative years were in Bertrand, where he received his education from Bertrand Community School and was a member of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Following his education, he was inducted into the United States Army and served his country from March 17, 1960 until his honorable discharge on February 21, 1963. He then continued to serve in the Army Reserves until October 16, 1964.

In 1970, Huey moved to Torrance, California and worked for a small furniture company and helped with maintenance at an apartment close to his sister, Marleen. In 1974, he followed Ed & Marleen to Kodiak, Alaska and worked at a fish processing plant. He loved being outdoors and enjoyed Alaska. He stayed there until 1976, when his grandmother's health required him to return home. Most of his adult life was spent working at Holdrege Monument with Richard Loar and traveling around Nebraska. He could also be found helping at the local VFW and Elks Lodge.

He was a huge Cornhusker fan, loved socializing, sharing stories with his buddies and walking or riding his bike around Holdrege. He was happy with the simple things in life and didn't care for material things. He was happiest being with his family and friends, pet sitting for his neighbors and sharing his stories.

As his health declined, he moved to the Nebraska City Care and Rehabilitation Center. It was difficult for him to be so far away from his friends, but it didn't take long before he was joking with staff, regaling them with his stories and listening and learning about their lives. He remembered them on their birthdays and always had a smile and a joke to cheer them up.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents: Robert Lee and Mina (Koop) Maaske.

Huey is survived by his sister, Marleen Hoffman and her husband, Ed of Anchorage, Alaska; brother, Terry Ronnberg of Mesa, Arizona; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Huey's honor 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 in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.