Reinhold (Ron) Herman Blumanthal, 90, passed away at Skyview Nursing Home in Bridgeport Ne. on December 28th 2013, where he was a resident since January 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ron was born in Sutton Nebraska on July 7th 1923 to Ernest Sarah (Trautmann) Blumanthal. He was the 5th of 7 children. He spent his early childhood growing up during the Great Depression. He always said “the grapes of wrath” was a good example of how they lived and tried to survive at that time. They built a shack on the back of an old Model T and traveled from Nebraska up through South Dakota and ending up in Scottsbluff, Nebraska where his father finally found some work in the sugar beet and potato fields, working for various farmers. After his father passed away in 1938, he quit school to help support his mother and siblings with little more than a 6th grade education. They then moved to Geneva, Nebraska to be closer to family. One of his first jobs there was setting up bowling pins for 10 cents a day. He also did some work for the government WPA program. He was confirmed on June 8th 1941 in the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva, Nebraska.
In March of 1943 he was inducted into the United States Army where he served with the 34th “Red Bull” Infantry Division in the 3rd Army. He served as a machine gunner on a 3 or 4 man squad and after losing about a dozen men on his squad he said he thanked God for finally being transferred to a rifle company. He saw his 1st action in North Africa, then the invasion of Italy at Salerno, Monte Cassino and Volturno River where he was wounded. He was no longer able to perform combat duty and was shipped back to the states where he served as a military policeman in Colorado till the war was over. He was awarded the American Service Medal, African Middle Eastern Service Medal, WII victory medal, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star and Purple Heart and 4 campaign or battle stars.
After the war he moved to Alliance in 1946, where his brother Vic was living, and offered him work on a farm. He then hired out on the CB&Q Railroad as a car inspector, where he spent the next 38 years retiring from the Burlington Northern in 1983. He met his first wife Helen Stanis and were married in 1949, and to this union, one son was born, John Steven Blumanthal. They divorced and then he met his true love, Lillian Francis Morrish (Fran). They were married on December 5th 1953 and to this union their 7 children were born. They bought their first home at 518 West 2nd street in 1960 and raised their 7 children in this small 2 bedroom house where there was never a dull moment. He loved bowling and was on many leagues and won many trophies over the years, and then an injury stopped his bowling. He loved woodworking, making and selling his windmills, bird houses, and other wooden lawn ornaments, which he nailed up everywhere around the yard, on fences, building etc. He loved to camp and fish and to travel up to the Black Hills, mainly to Keystone where he and Fran would watch the tourists and meet new friends.
He is survived by his children Robert Blumanthal of Alliance, Rhonda Albrecht of Sturgis SD, Rick Blumanthal (Kami) of Alliance, Roxann McCarty (Roy) of Bridgeport, Rene Welch of Hemingford., Ralynn Blumanthal of Alliance., brother-in-law Tom Ackland of Sutton Ne., sister-in- law, Janice Blumanthal Schweitzer of Mitchell Ne., Sandy (Dean) Blumanthal of Henderson of NV., his grandchildren, Rachel Workman (Brad) Omaha Ne., Benjamin Blumanthal (Hannah) of Lincoln Ne., Eric McCarty (Lyndsy) of Gering Ne., Britni McCarty (David) of Bridgeport Ne., Jeremy Jordan of Amherst MA., Shannon Jordan (Patrick) of Columbia TN, Rebecca Maxwell (Andrew) of Casper WY, Eric Blumanthal of Hawaii, Hayden Blumanthal of Alliance, Lana Blumanthal of Alliance, Lilly Welch of Hemingford, Roy Thompson (Kristi) of Tilden Ne, and 12 Great Grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Frances, his daughter, Rebecca, his son, John, his brothers, Victor, Albert, Norman and his sisters, Dorothy Ackland, Irene Zebroff, Elizabeth Blumanthal, his son-in-law, Dale Albrecht and his daughter-in-law, Sandy Blumanthal.
Card and condolences may be sent to the family of Ron Blumanthal at P.O. Box 293, Bridgeport Nebraska, 69336
Memorial services and interment at the Alliance Cemetery will be at a later date.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.