Funeral Services for 90-year old Jack Kreman of Crawford, NE, will be Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 10:00 AM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Crawford.
Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery in Glen, NE.
Mr Kreman was born on March 14, 1931, in Crawford, NE, and passed away on August 2, 2021, at Ponderosa Villa in Crawford.
A memorial has been established for the Crawford Rescue Unit and donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.
Jack Laverne Kreman was born March 14, 1931, in Crawford to Gladys Reid Kreman and Theodore Kreman, the second of four boys.
He died peacefully at the Ponderosa Villa in Crawford August 2, 2021 – a little more than 3 months after his beloved wife and steadfast partner of over 65 years Marie. He was tended at the Villa with diligence and love by staff and daughter Becky and granddaughter Wendi.
While his family is an important part of Jack’s legacy, his love of his ranch and cattle will stand as a lasting monument to his hard work, intelligence and perseverance. Today, we not only mourn his passing but also the passing of a way of life, for with him goes much of the history of life in the Pine Ridge and White River Valley.
Jack’s grandfather Henry immigrated to America in the late 1800’s and came to the area as a member of the U-S Cavalry posted to Fort Robinson. Henry fell in love with the beautiful Pine Ridge and White River Valley, an area that would become his homestead.
The love of the area continued with Jack’s father Ted. who lived in Glen, and to Jack himself, who lived, ranched and raised a family less than 2 miles from the original homestead – known in the family as the Old Place.
Jack grew up in Glen and swam in the White River, climbed the buttes, and played with his brothers, whom he loved dearly. He attended elementary school in Glen, then High School in Crawford, graduating in 1949.
He recalled spending time at Fort Robinson when the Fort housed prisoners-of=war during World War II, and he watched his father work with the canine unit. Jack served honorably himself in the Army during the Korean War and was justifiably proud of his military service until the day he died.
Jack briefly lived in Oregon, where he met Marie (the love of his life). He was immediately taken with her beauty and intelligence, and they were rarely parted after their initial meeting. Jack and Marie were married in 1956 on July 21st. While they started their family in Saint Helens, Ore, Jack always wanted to return to Nebraska. He recalled that the skies of Nebraska were the bluest and he maintained that none were bluer.
Jack and Marie purchased their ranch in 1963 and through their diligent work and perseverance, expanded it despite financial hardship, drought, floods, fires. and occasional bad luck.
Jack loved to play cribbage, horseshoes and baseball and was a true Nebraska Cornhusker fan. Jack attended the Bethlehem Lutheran church faithfully until disability prevented his attendance. He didn’t love to travel, but nevertheless tagged along with Marie often and he was able to see Germany, England, and the majority of the United Sates.
Jack retained the ability to read some Japanese after his stint in the Korean War and continued to work well past retirement age. When illness finally forced him to retire, he handed the reins over to grand-daughter Wendi.
Jack was predeceased by his wife Marie, his parents Gladys and Theodore, and by his siblings Gene and Raymond Wayne.
Jack is survived by his brother George (Ann), son David (Mary Jane) and daughter Rebecca; grandchildren, Jack (Lorissa), Adam (Caitie), Eric, Amanda, Andrew (Laura), Wendi and Aspen (Blake). He was also great-grandfather to Henry, Oliver, Dani, Jack, Link, Blake, Taylor, Preston, Morgan, Aiden, Grady, Parker, Tessa and Luke.
Jack will be missed by all who knew and loved him, but the great sadness in our hearts is the passing of an era, watching him pass has been like watching a life step into history. It was a grand life that was well lived and it will be difficult for us to follow in his footsteps.
The solace that we cling to in our grief is that Jack and Marie were together for over 65 years and her death parted them but briefly. God in his grace will see that they are never again parted. Please remember the words of Ruth when you think of them together:
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee For whither thou goest, I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people and thy God, my God Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried The LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me