Earl M. Pace

Earl Martin Pace, age 88 of Ralston, died Saturday, November 3, 2012 in Wahoo. He was born April 25, 1924 near Shelby, Nebraska, the eldest son of Pearl and Claribel (Thompson) Pace. He was delivered by the area mid-wife, his grandmother Annie Thompson, and was immediately placed near the stove as he only weighed about four pounds. Earl and his brother, Roy, attended various rural schools in both Polk and Butler Counties. After graduating as Valedictorian of the class of 1941 of Ulysses, Nebraska High School, Earl became a farm laborer. He enlisted in the United States the Marine Corps in 1943. During WWII, he saw action at Guam, Iwo Jima, and participated in the occupation at Tintsien, China. He was honorably discharged in 1946 but remained active in the Marine Corps Reserves. Later, during the Korean Conflict, he was called back to active duty serving in Korea for 14 months. Between the wars, he attended Dana College in Blair and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1950. While at Dana, Earl won All Conference honors in football. He married Charlotte Hunsche in Herman, NE on June 4, 1949. Earl began his career in education teaching math and coaching at Blair High School in the fall of 1952. He also completed his Masters Degree at the University of Nebraska while teaching at Blair. In 1955, he became High School Principal at Blair. In the fall of 1966, Earl was asked to become the Principal of Ralston High School and then went on to become the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance for the Ralston Public Schools. He earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Nebraska Schoolmasters' Club. The Nebraska Association of School Administrators cited him for outstanding administrative leadership. Both groups noted Earl's expertise in school business management his continuous involvement in negotiations, his experience as a legislative liaison for the schools, his involvement in professional development of administrators and his promotion of improved school insurance coverage. While living in Blair, Earl played fast pitch softball on the Korshoj Construction team for many years, and also played in the slow pitch league. Earl was a member of the first Board of Directors for Camp Fontanelle and served as its first Treasurer and later as Chairman. Earl was active in many organizations including Ralston American Legion Post #373, Millard VFW Post #8334, Ralston Boys Baseball Association, Ralston Chamber of Commerce, Ralston Lions Club, Phi Delta Kappa, Nebraska School Business Officials, American School Business Officials. Among the awards he earned were the Ralston Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year, the Golden Glove and Service Awards from the Ralston Boys Baseball Association, the City of Ralston Community Service Award, and the Special Donor Award from the American Red Cross for his donation of 92 pints of blood. Following his retirement, Earl found joy in substitute teaching in the Ralston and Millard Public Schools. He became very involved with the Ralston Senior Citizens Center, opening the building and making coffee each morning, and was a regular at the Cribbage table. His neighbors on South 79th Avenue in Ralston were among his most cherished friends. Earl spent hours tending his garden each summer and found enjoyment in canning and sharing his garden produce with neighbors, family and friends. He treasured the relationships he shared in the duck blind and fishing boat. His four grandchildren held a special place in his heart. He and Scott were roommates during Earl's last year in his home. He rode his scooter to cheer for Paige at her softball and basketball games. Joseph graduated as Class Valedictorian sixty years to the day after Earl had done so. And Carrie was Senior Class President just as her grandfather was. One of the highlights of Earl's life, and one of his proudest moments, was the trip he made with the Honor Flight of the Heartland to Washington, DC to visit the WWII and Korean War Veterans Memorials. He is survived by his daughter Cindy (Greg) Nabity, Wahoo; son Tom (Nikki) Pace, Omaha; grandchildren Scott, Caroline, Joseph, and Paige, all Omaha; aunts Velma Olson, Genoa, Doreen (Bill) Mohr, Columbus, Mahala Thompson, Cheyenne, WY; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Jean Pace, Omaha, Bud and Pat Hunsche, Blair, Bob and Marian Christensen, Arvada, CO. Earl was preceeded in death by his wife Charlotte (Hunsche); parents Pearl and Claribel (Thompson); and brother Roy.