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EARL W. STOKES, 85

Earl W. Stokes, 85, of Blair, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at First United Methodist Church in Blair. Interment will be in the Herman Cemetery.

Earl W. Stokes was born Oct. 16, 1923 on a farm west of Herman to Jay P. and Maude (Arnold) Stokes.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church in a class held at Hill Creek School. He graduated from Herman High School in 1940.

After graduating, he worked for various farmers in Tekamah, Walthill, Fremont and Herman.

In 1940 he met Doris Christiansen at a dance in Arlington and they were married in 1942. The couple had one daughter.

In 1953, they moved to Blair and purchased a tank-wagon from Clyde Nelson. This became Stokes Oil Company, which he operated for 38 years, retiring in 1991.

Mr. Stokes served several years on the Blair City Council; was a 52-year member of the Blair Fire Department; and was a charter member of the Blair Rescue Squad.

After retiring, the couple traveled to Minnesota to fish and to Arizona to escape the winter. Never one to stay too long, he was always anxious to return to Blair and the “coffee group.” Mr. Stokes enjoyed his yard and most of all, he enjoyed his great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Doris; granddaughter and husband, Kimberly and Jon Arrington; two great-grandchildren, Nickolas and Mikayla Arrington; sister, Mardell Wulf; brother-in-law, Ivan Christiansen; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carolyn Standen; five brothers and three sisters: Jim, Shirley, Lester, Jay Jr., Louis, Laura Petersen, Marjorie Katt, and Luella Rohlfs.

Memorials are suggested to the Blair Fire and Rescue Department or First United Methodist Church in Blair.

# 2 - - from Pilot-Tribune, October 6, 2009

(picture & caption: “Blair volunteer firefighters salute longtime firefighter Earl Stokes, who died on September 26 at age 85. Stokes was a 52-year member of the volunteer fire department and a charter member of the Blair Rescue Squad. Below, Stokes’ fire equipment rides on the back of a firetruck in his honor.)

# 3 - - Omaha World-Herald, September 28, 2009

STOKES, EARL, Age 85, Blair.

Survived by wife Doris; granddaughter, Kimberly Joy and Jon Arrington, Omaha; great-grandchildren, Nickolas and Mikayla; sister, Mardelle Wulf, Blair.

SERVICES 10am, Tues. at First United Methodist Church, Blair. Burial in the Herman Cemetery. VISITATION will begin at 12 pm Mon. with family receiving friends from 6-8 pm. Memorials to the Blair Fire and Rescue Squad, and First United Methodist Church, Blair.

CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME, Blair, NE 402-426-2191

#4 Funeral Leaflet

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Earl W. Stokes

Born October 16, 1923 Herman, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest July 23, 2009 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Service 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 29, 2009 First United Methodist Church Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Denny Silk. Organist: Ann Thiemann. Vocalist: Karna Dam. Vocal Selections: “Amazing Grace”, “On Eagle’s Wings”

Casketbearers: Philip Katt, Ron Livermore, Henry Neef, Mitchell Rahlfs, Don Kuhr, Jon Arrington

Honorary Casketbearers: Henry Smith, Dennis Saunders, Blair Volunteer Fire and Rescue Members

Graveside Services: Herman Cemetery, Herman, Nebraska

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave Memorial # 98579204