(Veteran)

North, William V. Sep 10, 1925 - May 5, 2016 William Verne North, a resident of Ralston, Nebraska for more than 55 years, died May 5, 2016 at the age of 90. Born in Pawnee City, Nebraska, Bill North moved as a boy to a Brookfield, Missouri farm where he grew up to marry the coal miner's daughter next door, Leola June (Schaefer) North on August 10, 1947. Married for nearly 69 years, she preceded him in death by one week. After graduating from Brookfield High School, Bill served in the Army during World War II from 1943-1946, stationed in Japan. Upon completion of his degree from the University of Nebraska and licensure as a Professional Engineer, he first opened a lumberyard before returning as a civilian to serve his country through the Army Corps of Engineers for nearly thirty years. During the Cold War, Bill North oversaw preparations for nuclear war, through participation in the design of NORAD in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and he designed and supervised fallout shelters over a three state region for fifteen years. Later in his career as a Civil Engineer, he designed Post Offices and other projects for the U.S. Government, retiring in 1982. His avocations included management of a number of family rental properties, and handyman design projects. He and his wife Leola bought an 80-acre farm near Lincoln, Nebraska where they enjoyed fishing, barbecues, and recreating for 37 years. Every year they traveled to Colorado on vacation, beginning with their honeymoon, enjoying elk, mountain streams and hikes to waterfalls in their beloved Rockies. Mr. North served in a number of leadership positions at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ralston, where he and Leola were members, and led Cub Scouts when his son was young. William North is survived by his daughter Verlee A. Copeland and husband Ellis of York, Maine; son Steven and wife Pam of Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife Leola, his parents Everett and Cora Icel North, a sister Elizabeth, and a brother John North precede him in death. GRAVESIDE SERVICES will be held for both Bill and his wife Leola on Monday, May 9 at 11am at Cedar Dale Cemetery in Papillion, Nebraska. Kahler-Dolce Mortuary 441 N. Washington St Papillion NE 402-339-3232 www.kahlerdolcemortuary.com

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