Ronald C. Holsinger

SIDNEY -- Ronald C. Holsinger, 73, of Sidney died Thursday (Jan. 23, 2003) at the Denver Veterans Hospital. A memorial service will be held at Gehrig & Son Funeral Home Thursday, 10 a.m. Following the service, military honors will be held in Sidney at Greenwood Cemetery.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Gehrig & Son Funeral Home in Sidney is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the donor's choice.

Ronald Clair Holsinger was born Jan. 9, 1930, in Gordon, the son of Myron and Irene (Vandenberg) Holsinger of Gordon. In 1936, the family moved to Merriman. He graduated from Merriman High School in 1948 and worked for a year with the U.S. Geological Survey. In 1949, he enlisted with the United States Air Force and served as a communications expert in Saudi Arabia during the Korean War. He was also stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha and FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyo. He earned the rank of staff sergeant and the Good Conduct medal. In December 1953, he received an honorable discharge, returned to Nebraska, and enrolled at Chadron State College.

While attending college, he managed the Chadron Legion Club and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1958.

Following graduation from college, he met and later married Carolyn A. Gran. The two were united in marriage in June of 1960 at St. Leo Catholic Church in Gordon. To this union, three children were born including Stephen, Lisa and Roger.

The couple moved to Custer, S.D., where Ronald worked as an auto parts manager. He was then offered a teaching position in Palisade. The couple and their two children moved there where he taught and coached basketball.

The couple and their three children moved to Harrisburg in 1967, where he continued in education and coaching. The following year, the family moved to Dalton, where Ronald was a principal, continued with his coaching and taught history and driver's education.

In 1975, he began work with the Office of Mental Retardation in Scottsbluff and was employed in Sidney with Educational Service Unit 14. He continued with ESU 14 as a school liaison officer for 18 years until his retirement in 1993.

Prior to his retirement, he also worked many years as the caretaker at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds in Sidney.

Ronald was an avid fisherman who enjoyed all types of fishing but preferred to get in his "belly-boat" and work the rushes with his fly rod. He enjoyed the many trips he and his children took fishing in the Sandhills, including Shell, Smith and Walgren lakes.

In his younger years, Ronald played town-team baseball, enjoyed hunting and other outdoor activities. He also enjoyed spending time with his friends, socializing and always had a joke or observation to share.

Ronald is survived by his sons, Stephen of Sidney and Roger Holsinger and wife, Stephanie of Scottsbluff; and daughter, Lisa and husband, Tom Anthony of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren, Lucky Holsinger, Jordan Anthony, Andrew and Claire Holsinger; one sister, Sharlynn Bond of Graeagle, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents.