Jack Kreman

Jack Laverne Kreman

August 2, 2021

Crawford, Nebraska – Jack died peacefully at the age of 90 at the Ponderosa Villa in Crawford Nebraska. He was tended there with diligence and love by staff and by daughter Becky and grand-daughter Wendi. He died on August 2nd after a short separation from his beloved wife Marie, his steadfast partner of over 65 years.

He was born in Crawford, Nebraska to Gladys Reid Kreman and Theodore Kreman the second of four boys. He was predeceased by his wife Marie, his parents Gladys and Theodore and by his siblings Gene and Raymond Wayne. He is survived by his brother George (Ann), son David (Mary Jane) and daughter Rebecca; grandchildren, Jack (Lorissa), Adam (Caitie), Eric, Amanda, Andrew (Laura), Wendi and Aspen (Blake). He was also great-grandfather to Henry, Oliver, Dani, Jack, Link, Blake, Taylor, Preston, Morgan, Aiden, Grady, Parker, Tessa and Luke.

While his family is an important part of his legacy his love of his ranch and cattle will stand as a lasting monument to his hard work, intelligence and perserverance. Today we not only mourn his passing but also the passing of a way of life, for with him goes much of the history of life in the Pine Ridge and White River Valley.

Jack’s grandfather Henry immigrated to America in the late 1800’s where he served in the military. He served at Fort Robinson in the Calvary and fell in love with the beautiful Pine Ridge and White River Valley, this area would become his homestead. The love of the area continued with Jack’s father Ted who lived in Glen, Nebraska and to Jack himself who lived, ranched and raised a family less than 2 miles from the original homestead or Old Place. Jack grew up in Glen, Nebraska where he swam in the White River, climbed the buttes and played with his brothers, whom he loved dearly. He attended elementary school in Glen, then High School in Crawford graduating in 1949. He recalled spending time at Fort Robinson when the Fort housed prisoners of war from World War II and he watched his father work with the canine unit. He served honorably in the army during the Korean War and was justifiably proud of his military service until the day he died. He briefly lived in Oregon where he met Marie (the love of his life), he was immediately taken with her beauty and intelligence and they were rarely parted after their initial meeting. Jack and Marie were married in 1956 on July 21st. While they started their family in Saint Helens, Oregon Jack always wanted to return to Nebraska. He recalled that the skies of Nebraska were the bluest and he maintained that none were bluer. Jack and Marie purchased their ranch in 1963 and through their diligent work and perseverance he expanded his place which survived financial hardship, drought, floods, fires and occasional bad luck.

Jack loved to play cribbage, horseshoes and baseball and was a true Nebraska Cornhusker fan. Jack attended the Bethlehem Lutheran church faithfully until disability prevented his attendance. He didn’t love to travel but nevertheless tagged along with Marie often and he was able to see Germany, England and the majority of the United Sates. He retained the ability to read some Japanese after his stint in the Korean war and continued to work well past retirement age until illness forced him to retire when he handed the reins over to grand-daughter Wendi.

He will be missed by all who knew and loved him but the great sadness in our hearts is the passing of an era, watching him pass has been like watching a life step into history. It was a grand life that was well lived and it will be difficult for us to follow in his footsteps.

The solace that we cling to in our grief is that Jack and Marie were together for over 65 years and her death parted them but briefly. God in his grace will see that they are never again parted. Please remember the words of Ruth when you think of them together:

Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee For whither though goest I will go and where thou lodgest I will lodge Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried The LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me