Ernest
Leonard Dobesh
Services
will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Grand Island.
The Rev. Daniel Bremer will officiate. Burial with full military
honors will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at All Faiths Funeral Home, with family
present after 6.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife of 61 years, Wilma; three
sons and daughters-in-law, Cletis and Beth Dobesh of Omaha, Gregory Dobesh of
Grand Island and Michael and Patty Dobesh of Wood River; two sisters, Lillian
Johnson of Holdrege and Margaret Skalka of Doniphan; and a sister-in-law, Margie
Dobesh of Kearney.
Also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren, Jon Dobesh of Lincoln, Brad
and Kelly Dobesh and Jennifer Dobesh, all of Wood River and Klesha and Josh Miller
of Crete; two stepgrandsons, Josh and Jake Van Pelt; five great-grandchildren
and a stepgreat-grandson.
Ernie, as he wanted to be called, was born July 31, 1921, at Spring Ranch in
Clay County, to John and Mary (Barta) Dobesh. At a young age, he went to work
in Aurora at Hamilton County Hybrid Seed Company, where later he became foreman.
In 1942, he took a voluntary induction in the Army, served in the Chemical Warfare
Service and was honorably discharged in 1945. In 1947, he graduated from the
International Detective Training School of Washington, D.C., and worked in that
field at various times until his death.
After his Army service, he began work in Kearney at the Cornhusker Hybrid Seed
Company as production manager. He also worked part time at the Kearney Foundry
and Well Drilling Company, and was a tax assessor for Buffalo County. He was
one of the first to introduce anhydrous ammonia in the state of Nebraska.
Ernie married Wilma Bangert on Sept. 15, 1946, at Zion Lutheran Church southwest
of Lawrence. In early 1952, Ernie and his family moved to a farm northeast of
Wood River and began farming, and were still involved until his death. During
that time, they also farmed in the Atkinson area.
Ernie was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Wood River for many years and
served on the building committee, finance committee and was church treasurer.
He was on the District 76 School Board and served as treasurer. He was the leader
of 76 Huskers 4-H Club, and was past ASCS committee man and FmHA committee man.
He was appointed to serve on the draft board during the Vietnam War. During that
time, two of his sons served in the Army.
He was a forerunner in the early years of Husker Harvest Days. Later he was the
farm manager and took over the farming of the site, the exhibit area and test
plots for a number of years. Ernie was a past member of the Chamber of Commerce,
the AIN board and the Industrial Foundation. He was a past member of the Grand
Island Rotary Club, and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the American
Legion Club, Platt Duetsche Society, the Saddle Club, and a board member of Crime
Stoppers. He was an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska and a
member of the Grand Island Port.
In late 1983, Ernie and his wife moved to Grand Island from the farm. They transferred
to Grace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. In 1988, Ernie was elected to the City
Council from Ward 2 and in 1990 he was elected Mayor. After his term he spent
his time at the farm. He enjoyed ice fishing, playing cards, visiting with friends
and family.Ernie's parents and sister, Julie Davidson, and brother,
Justus, both of Kearney, preceded him in death.