Richard F. Trofholz, 81, of Blair, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Blair Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Richard F. Trofholz was born July 3, 1929, to Edward and Bertha (Ingold) Trofholz. He was raised in Columbus and attended Kramer High School.

He entered the U.S. Marine Corps on July 12, 1948, and was honorably discharged on July 13, 1952. While in the Marines, he received the Korean Campaign Good Conduct and other medals, and achieved the rank of sergeant.

During the Korean War, he was a loader on Tank A-33, 3rd Platoon A Company with the 1st Marine Brigade guarding the Pusan Perimeter in South Korea in August and September of 1950. His tank unit was the first to take down the Russian T34 tanks used by the North Koreans. The tank unit then moved on to lead the invasion at Inchon landing in mid-September, 1950.

Upon his return to Columbus, he worked selling Quonset huts for about a year before taking a job with the local natural gas company. He eventually transferred to Blair and retired from the gas company in the early 1990s after 39 years of service.

He married Dorothy Lawson on July 16, 1965, in Ainsworth. On Nov. 4, 1999, he married Stella Hendrickson.

Known around town as "Whammy," he enjoyed duck and deer hunting, Nebraska athletics, gardening, fishing, reunions with his Korean War veteran buddies and a good cold beer at quitting time. He enjoyed spending time with his friends at the Blue Ribbon, George's Place, The Corner Bar and Legion Club in Blair.

He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, the Blair Volunteer Fire Department and the Blair Eagles Club.

He is survived by his brothers and sister-in-law, Vernon and Marilyn Trofholz of York and Edward Trofholz Jr. of Columbus; brother-in-law and wife, Robert and Violet Lawson of Blair; numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his two wives, Dorothy and Stella; brothers, Robert and Lawrence; sisters, Lorraine Trofholz and Elinore Kruse.