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Kenneth E. Hunter, 84

Kenneth E. Hunter, 84, of Kennard, died Tuesday, September 25, 2012, while doing yard work at his home.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Grace Methodist Church in Kennard. Visitation will be 2-8 p.m. Friday with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Reichmuth Funeral Home, 21901 W. Maple Rd., Elkhorn. Interment will be in the Kennard Cemetery.

Kenneth Eugene Hunter was born on October 24, 1927, in Parsons, Kan., to Homer and Winifred (Williams) Hunter. Because of complications at birth, the doctor did not think that the baby would survive so he didn’t record the birth. He was a junior in high school before he obtained a birth certificate by presenting his grandmother’s Bible records, his school records and church records. His family moved a great deal so he attended grade school in many places including Union, Neb., Parsons, Kan., and Labette, Kan., before attending high school in Coffeyville, Kan.

He was drafted during World War II but wanted more control so he enlisted in the Army. He served his basic training at Camp Plushey in New Orleans, then served at Camp Stoneman in Pittsburg, Calif., for overseas training. He was packed and ready to get on the ship when they discovered that his records were lost. He was forced to stay at Camp Stoneman then sent to Fort Mason in San Francisco where he learned to help with customs and was a guard on a merchant marine ship. He later transferred to the 102nd Machines Record Unit at the Presidio in San Francisco. Ken spent a total of 18 months and 23 days in the U.S. Army. He later learned to fly on the GI Bill.

He married Helen "Sue" Ward on June 17, 1951 at the Methodist Church in Kennard.

He did not earn his high school diploma prior to joining the military because he was one history class short. After marrying, he took his last history class from his wife's Aunt Helen and earned his high school diploma from Altamont High School.

Mr. Hunter had worked at the shipyards in Richmond, Calif., Behlens in Columbus, Blair Gas Company, owned Berry’s Grocery store and owned Kremer Funeral Home.

He was very active in his community, serving on the fire department, rescue squad as an EMT, school board, town board, Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star.

In his spare time, he enjoyed boating, gardening and camping.

He is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Kathryn and Larry Lumpkin of Elkhorn and Kristine and Dave Warren of Kennard; eight grandchildren and their spouses, Tina and Warren Kittle, Paul and Ann Morrison, Timothy Cummings, Patrick Cummings, Erik and Sherisa Lumpkin, Katrina and Matthew Stoffel, Kristopher Warren and Matthew Warren; and 11 great-grandchildren; Elizabeth "Betsy" Morrison, Zachary Morrison, Lucas Morrison, Charlotte Kittle, Griffin Kittle, Graeme Kittle, Hunter Stoffel, Carlee Warren, Noah Warren, Rhen Cummings and Evelyn Cummings; and sister-in-law, Madeline Ward of Omaha.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; daughter, Karen and brother, William.

Memorials are suggested to Grace Methodist Church in Kennard.

#2 Brief obituary printed in the September 29, 2012 Omaha World-Herald (had no further information) (veteran flag)

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

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