Roger W. Ebmeier

Funeral services for Roger W. Ebmeier will be conducted from the Saint John's Catholic Church in Smithfield, Nebraska on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Father Thomas Lux, officiating. Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand with military honors.

Roger Walter Ebmeier, 85, of rural Bertrand, died Monday morning, April 16, 2007 at his home following many years of declining health. He was born April 23, 1921 on a farm southwest of Bertrand in Gosper County, Nebraska, one of six children of Herman H. and Ella (Bunsen) Ebmeier.

He attended country school during elementary grades and graduated from Bertrand High School in 1939. After high school, Mr. Ebmeier engaged in farming with his father. At the start of WWII, Roger enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic and served three and a half years with postings in New York, Texas, Louisiana and Arizona.

After the war, Roger returned home and made a life-long career of farming and ranching. On August 22, 1949, he was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Clayton. They were blessed with four children: Larry, Patrick, Juli and Joyce.

Mr. Ebmeier was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Smithfield, Nebraska and was a charter member of the Collister-Carlson-Gulden American Legion Post # 67 in Bertrand, where he served as post commander for several years. He served the parish in many capacities over the years. He was a Lector and also helped collect the parish census.

Besides his wife, Shirley of rural Bertrand, he leaves these survivors: son, Larry Ebmeier, and his partner, Don Freed of Alpine, Texas; son, Patrick Ebmeier and his wife, Cathy of Bertrand; daughter, Julianne Wilcox and her husband, Tom of Bertrand; and daughter, Joyce Ebmeier and her partner, Jim Allgood of Lincoln, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Laura Ebmeier, of Prilep, Macedonia; T. J. Wilcox and his wife, Carla of Holdrege, Nebraska; Joseph Ebmeier and his wife, Deanna of Lincoln, Nebraska, Carrie Wilcox of Omaha, Nebraska, Cassandra Way and her husband, Dusty of Bertrand, Nebraska; and Anna Ebmeier of Bertrand; two great-grandchildren: Landon Way and Gracianne Wilcox; one brother, Lloyd Ebmeier of Bertrand, two sisters; Dorothea Kampfe of Gothenburg and Vida Forsberg and her husband, Roger of Hastings and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Richard and Marvin, one brother-in-law, Reuben Kampfe and one sister-in-law, Ethel Ebmeier.

Mr. Ebmeier will lie in state at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

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

The Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.