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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Herbert R.
Downing
February 7, 1918 – March 1, 2006
Obituary
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FUNERAL SERVICES FOR
Herbert R. Downing Age - 88 2/7/1918 - 3/1/2006 Funeral Service 2:00 P.M., Saturday, March 4, 2006 United Methodist Church Seward, Nebraska VISITATION 1:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M., Friday, March 3, 2006 Family receiving friends from 7:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M. Wood-Zabka Funeral Home INTERMENT Private family interment at Seward Cemetery with full military honors by VFW Post No. 4755 MEMORIALS Seward United Methodist Church or Hospice of Tabitha 4720 Randolph Street Lincoln, NE 68510 |
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Herbert Ross Downing was born on February 7, 1918 on the family farm near Bee, Nebraska, the son of Willard Ross and Adah Pearle (Soss) Downing. He attended Rocky Corner School and in 1928 moved to a farm near Seward. Herb graduated from Seward High School in 1935. After graduation he farmed and was a custom harvester. In 1941, he entered the Army and after basic training in Texas was stationed in Nome, Alaska. He married Ruth Marie Behrens on April 30, 1944 in Seward, Nebraska. Herb was honorably discharged from the Army in 1945 serving as a Staff Sgt. He farmed near Bee for 56 years and drove a school bus for Seward Public Schools for 26 years. Herb was instrumental in organizing the Seward Horseshoe Club and creating the Seward Horseshoe Court in 1993. He competed in six World Horseshoe Tournaments and numerous State Tournaments. On July 4, 2004 the courts in Seward were named the Herb Downing Horseshoe Courts. In his retirement years, he enjoyed wood crafting and he and Ruth participated in many craft shows. He was a life member of the Seward VFW Post No. 4755 and the Seward American Legion Post No. 33. Herb was a member of the Seward United Methodist Church for 66 years. Herb passed away on March 1, 2006 in Seward, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Pearle Downing; his brothers, Robert Bob Downing and Gene Downing. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Ruth Downing, Seward; daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Rev. Paul Mitchell, Topeka, KS, Susie and Lon Nuttelman, Quincy, IL, Sandy and Tom Perrin, Aurora, CO, and Deb and Larry Heidtbrink, Malcolm; granddaughters and spouses, Jill and Steve Smith, Stephanie and Jeff Dickson; grandsons and spouses, Rev. Andrew and Sandy Mitchell, Nathan and Heather Nuttelman, Jason and Rochelle Nuttelman, Brent and Josie Nordmeyer, Kane and Julana Nordmeyer and grandsons, Paul James Mitchell, Josh Nuttelman and Tyler Heidtbrink and fianc, Megan Strauss; great grandsons, Nolan and Zachary Nuttelman and Max and Kale Nordmeyer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Charles and Roena Downing, Fort Collins, CO, Donald and Shirley Downing, Lincoln, George and Betty Downing, Seward; sister-in-law, Vera Dougherty, Lincoln; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Merle and Phyllis Beckler, Seward and J.T. Cattle, Seward and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Herb. |
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