Walter A. "Walt" Sass

August 13, 2025

Age 86, of rural Kennard, passed away at his home on August 13, 2025.

Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, August 17, from 3 to 7 p.m., at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn. Private interment will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

Reichmuth Funeral Home Elkhorn, NE 68022 | (402)289-2222

#2 Pilot-Tribune, August 19, 2025

(veteran; photo)

Walter "Walt" Allen Sass

June 12, 1939 - August 13, 2025

Walter Allen "Walt" Sass was born June 12, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the fourth child of William and Lora (Frost) Sass. He was so small when born that he could fit in a shoe box. He had a difficult birth, and the doctor said he should be named after him (and he was).

He moved with his family to the farm south of Kennard, Nebraska when he was 5, and except for just a few years, he lived there for the rest of his life. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bennington, Nebraska and attended Elkhorn High School.

He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956-1958 and was stationed in Okinawa and Camp Pendleton. Even though he served in the Marines, he never learned to swim.

He met his wife Gloria (Raabe) at Sunset Speedway and they were married October 23, 1964.

Walt spent his life as a truck driver. His first trucking job was with B&S Trucking. The rest of his truck driving career was spent hauling groceries. He worked at the same location, but for three different companies: Safeway, Nash-Finch, and United AG. He was proud to say that throughout the changes, he always kept the same locker.

Walt and Gloria moved to the farm in 1970. He worked nights while trucking and farmed and raised cows in his spare time. He was very happy when he could hand the farming over to his son, Tim. In his retirement, he enjoyed being able to just help with the farming, having coffee at Cubby's, driving to check on everything going on in Tim and Troy's shops and taking care of his many cats and dogs. He also enjoyed watching old western movies, and he watched them over and over again.

He loved being a grandpa and became "PaPa Wally" when the great-grandkids came along. He enjoyed attending his granddaughter's sporting events and activities.

Walt was a father-figure and grandfather to many of his children's and grandchildren's friends, and several became a part of his family.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Rollie, his sisters Marie and Helen, and his son-in-law Mike.

He is survived by his wife Gloria, daughter Wendy Christensen, sons Tim (Tami) Sass and Troy Sass, Don (Tawnya) Rayman, his sister Sylvia Green, granddaughters, Cecelia Sass, Brooke (Drew) Harsin, Taylor Petersen, and Jessica (Devan) Murcek, his great-grandchildren Sophie, Blakely, Bridger, Halle, Devan, Harley, Audrey, Julian, Raeynn, Gavin and Lucas, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be held Sunday, August 17 from 3-7 PM at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn. Private interment will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

Gathering of family and friends 3-7pm August 17 Reichmuth Funeral Home - Omaha / Elkhorn 21901 W. Maple Rd. Elkhorn, NE 68022

Cemetery Details Prairie View Cemetery, County Road 38, Kennard, NE 68034

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

FindaGrave #286054913