Robert Ray Mack

Former Kenesaw resident, Robert R. Mack, 98, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2020 at the Sandhills Care Center, Ainsworth, NE.



Services will be Thursday, February 13th, 2020 at 10:30 am at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kenesaw with Pastor Paul Duffy officiating. Burial will be in the Kenesaw Cemetery, Kenesaw with military rites by the Hastings Veterans Assoc. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 5 pm to 7 pm with family present at the Apfel Funeral Home, Kenesaw. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.apfelfuneralhome.com. Apfel Funeral Home, Kenesaw is in care of the family.



Memorials may be given to the Kenesaw American Legion.



Robert was born April 28, 1921 to Ray and Esta (Preston) Mack in Kenesaw. He was very small at birth and was wrapped in towels, put in a shoe box and placed in the oven to keep him warm. Starting out so small no one would have imagined he would enjoy robust health all his life and live to be 98. He attended school in Kenesaw and graduated in 1940 from the Kenesaw High School. His father passed away when Robert was a teenager so to help support the family, he hauled coal on Saturdays during the school year and delivered ice in the summertime. Robert married Ruth Louise Steiner on April 24, 1942. To this union were born two daughters, Rita and Roanne.



Robert served in the United States Army from August 3, 1942 to November 3, 1945. Ruth was able to go with him as long as he were stationed stateside. They lived in San Diego, Riverside CA, Camp Pickett, Virginia and Fort Dix, NJ. He was shipped overseas on “The Queen Mary” and served during the European Theater. His job was to drive a tractor pulling a 90 mm anti-aircraft gun.



Upon returning to Kenesaw Robert worked various jobs, hauling bricks, owning a soda fountain, working on the railroad, working as a mechanic and was part owner of a well drilling business. He moved his family to a farm near Heartwell where they farmed until he retired in 1990.



Robert enjoyed mechanics, farming and yard work.



He is survived by his two daughters, Rita (Roland) Paddock of Ainsworth, NE and Roanne Mack of Lincoln, NE, two grandchildren, Andrew (Christy) Paddock of Ainsworth, NE and Amy Jo (Robert) Gillam of Independence, MO and four great grandchildren, Shylo and Emmett Paddock and Alyssa and Alex Gillam.



He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ruth and one brother Howard.