Alvin E. Schoenrock

Alvin Ernest Schoenrock was born into mortality on November 19, 1927 at Fairbury, Nebraska, the third and youngest child of John August Schoenrock and Adeline Kriesel Schoenrock. He departed this life on February 5, 2016 at Beatrice, Nebraska at the age of 88. On April 3, 1955 he married Barbara Joyce Morris at Fairbury. To this union were born two sons, Mark and Merrell. He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years Barbara; grandparents Gustav and Emma Schoenrock and Albert and Emilie Kriesel; his parents John and Adeline Schoenrock; brother Carl and his wife Geneva Schoenrock; sister Elsie and her husband Oliver Maxon; grandson Tyler Schoenrock; grandson in law Jacob Smith; and great-granddaughter Sloane LeMonte. He is survived by son Mark and his wife Denise Schoenrock; son Merrell Schoenrock; grand-daughters Christie Grayson, Nikki and her husband Ray Keller, Sarah and her husband Josh LeMonte, Olivia and her husband John Spence; great grandchildren Avery and Jaden Smith, Ivan, Maia and Gideon Keller; and numerous other family and friends.

He was baptized into the Christian faith at Gladstone Zion United Church of Christ in 1928. He grew to manhood during the years of the Great Depression on the family farm west of Fairbury and was an honor graduate of the Fairbury High School Class of 1945. He was President of the Fairbury Future Farmers of America Chapter as a Junior. After high school graduation he began his career as a life-long entrepreneur by selling pony saddles in rural Jefferson County. He was a noted Jefferson County farmer and agribusinessman. From 1951-1953 he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was the honor graduate of his basic training class. As a drill sergeant, he trained young soldiers going to war and received numerous thanks for the demanding training that preserved them in combat in Korea. Upon returning to Fairbury after the war, he resumed his farming and ranching endeavors. He served as an Eaton grain bin dealer for many years during the 1960s and 1970s. Many of his grain bins still proudly stand in the area over 50 years later, a testament to his professionalism and fine workmanship. There were few challenges in life that he did not pursue. He was a pilot, owned an oil rig, was widely travelled, was widely read and had a keen interest in national and world affairs. In 2005 for their 50th anniversary, Alvin and Barbara toured the Caribbean.

In 1980, he and Barbara moved to Lincoln to be closer to medical care that he needed as a result of his military service. A proud American, Nebraskan, and Cornhusker, noble husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he now goes to join those generations of his family and profession who have gone before. He leaves a legacy of hard work, courage, integrity, discipline and patriotism. His life was a credit to his generation of Americans. He will be sorely missed here by his family and friends, but now continues on in a happy reunion in Heaven.

Services will be Friday, February 12, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home Chapel with Sharon Schuster officiating. The family will greet friends Thursday February 11th from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Fairbury VFW in lieu of flowers. Burial in the Fairbury Cemetery. Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.