Richard H. Rohnke

Funeral Services for Richard H. Rohnke will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at the Moses Hill Covenant Church in rural Loomis, Nebraska with Pastor Craig Roberts officiating. Interment will follow at the Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the U.S. Army Military Honors Team.

Richard Henry Rohnke, 81 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Richard was born on June 20, 1934 in Franklin County, Nebraska, to Frank Albert and Katie Marie (Pollman) Rohnke. Richard received his education from Hildreth High School graduating with the class of 1952. He later graduated from Milford Tech in 1958.

On January 13, 1954, Richard was inducted into the United States Army and served his country during the Korean Conflict Era in Germany. He was honorably discharged on December 28, 1955.

Owning his own trucks, he hauled milk to the Oxford Cheese Plant. Truck driving was his life time passion.

On February 2, 1957, he was united in marriage to Janice Mae Mattson and to this union five children were born: Sharon Kay, Douglas Ray, Brian Lee, Brenda Jean, and Ruth Ann. The family made their home in Oxford, Nebraska and later moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. Janice passed away on May 6, 1995
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On July 18, 2009 he was united in marriage to Almetta (Jacobson) Schmidt and the couple made their home at Holdrege.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Sharon and a son, Douglas in infancy; siblings: Gustave Rohnke, Katie Schluntz and husband, Pete, Rosie Loschen and her husband, Harold, Albert Rohnke and Eddy Rohnke; half siblings: Weert Frerichs and wife, Maurine, John Frerichs and wife, Irene and Marie Frerichs; and brother-in-law, Herman Frerichs.

Richard leaves to celebrate his life: his wife, Almetta Rohnke of Holdrege; children: Brian Rohnke and his wife, Cindy of Topeka, Kansas, Brenda Sonnenfeld and her husband, Brian, of Kearney, Nebraska, Ruth Frederickson and her husband, Matthew of Lincoln, Nebraska; step-children: Vicki Baxter and her husband, John of Arapahoe, Nebraska, Valeri Broeker and her husband, Wesley of Orleans, Nebraska; four grandchildren; 7 step-grandsons; 15 step great-grandchildren; sister, Adeline Frerichs of Gurley, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Virgene Wilke and husband, Merlin of Holdrege and Susie Rohnke of California; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 19, 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 Richard'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.