Richard J. “Dick” Ingerle, 86, of Elba, died Dec. 10, 2017, at CHI Health Saint Francis in Grand Island, surrounded by his family.
Richard James Ingerle was born on Feb. 3, 1931, in Lincoln, the son of Louis V. and Jean M. (Kellenbarger) Ingerle. He grew up in Elba, where he received his education at Elba Public School and was a 1949 graduate of Elba High School.
He enlisted in the United States Air Force on Sept. 11, 1950. He was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, where he served as a radar gunner on B36 bombers. He was discharged on Sept. 10, 1954. He then attended Gonzaga University in Spokane from 1954-55.
He returned to Elba, where he worked in the family gravel business.
He was united in marriage to Coleen D. Piper on Oct. 25, 1963. He returned to continue his education from 1963-65, attending Kearney State College. Dick then taught music in Wallace, Sutherland and Elba schools.
In 1979, he started Tri-County Sand and Gravel in Elba, along with other members of the Ingerle family.
From 1987-96, he taught industrial technology at University of Nebraska at Kearney, and he also developed and ran the mine safety training program for the state of Nebraska.
Dick was a member of the Elba United Methodist Church, Carl Mogensen American Legion Post 119 of St. Paul and the Elks. He had served as the chairman of the Housing Authority in Elba, was president of the Musicians Union in Grand Island from 1963-65 and played the sax and clarinet with 32 different bands.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Amanda Mewis.
Dick is survived by his wife, Coleen D. of Elba; son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey (Vickie) Ingerle of Cheyenne, Wyoming; daughter and son-in-law, Debra (Randy) Mewis of Kearney; grandchildren, Cary Ingerle, Robert Ingerle and Ashley Ingerle, all of Cheyenne, Nikona and Jon Crocker of Kearney; two great-grandchildren, Jac and Charlie Crocker of Kearney; brother and sister-in-law, Allen (Edna) Ingerle of Elba; sister, Carol Maxwell of Challis, Idaho; and nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Elba EMTs or Elba United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be shared at petersfuneralhome.net.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Peters Funeral Home, St. Paul, with the Rev. Mike Anderson and Pastor Cheryl Anderson officiating. Inurnment will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 18, at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with military honors. Peters Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.