(Photo) (Veteran)

Loren Melvin Berlie, 91 of Blair, died January 29th, 2016 at his home. A Funeral service will be held Monday, February 1st at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ravenna with burial following at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Rockville. Visitation will be Sunday, January 31st at Saint Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair starting at 5 PM with a Vigil at 7 PM.

Loren Melvin Berlie, Mel, son of Fred and Sylvia Berlie was born July 31st, 1924 in Riverton, NE and went to Our Lord on January 29, 2016. He was one of 11 brothers and sisters. Mel married Geraldine Hewitt-Powers on September 28, 1964. He served in WWII in the pacific theater. He and Geraldine owned the Poor Boy Shoe Shop in Boelus for 39 years. Additionally, they enjoyed being Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause for the young and old for 35 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 201 and worked on the county election board. He was a Eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s in Rockville.

Mel is survived his wife, Geraldine, 12 children: Leonard (Patsy) Powers, James (Susan) Powers, Camilla (Jim) Sinner, Mary (Wayne) Flora, Larry Berlie, Esther (Roger) Adams, Linda (Delbert) Linden, Virginia (George) Burgess, Christina Powers, David (Nila) Powers, Charles (Sharon) Powers, Joan (Leonard) Jurek; 40 grandchildren, 82 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters, and four children: Franklin Powers, Leila (Berlie) Nelson, Gerald Powers, and Raymond Powers.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

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