Ronald Lee Cool

Ronald Lee Cool, 77, of Elm Creek died Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, April 7th at the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney with the Rev. Dean Pofahl officiating. Friends and family are invited to gather immediately following the Memorial Service at the Elm Creek Lion’s Club Community Building. Inurnment will be held at a later date. Ronald Lee Cool was born on November 6, 1940, in Kearney, Nebraska. He was one of five children born to Ernest and Gertrude (Bauer) Cool. He grew up north of Miller and graduated in 1959, with the first high school class of the newly formed Sumner Eddyville Miller school system. After graduation, Ron worked for Jim Bailey (Miller, NE) until 1964. At that time he began his employment with the Sumner Eddyville Miller school system as a custodian and bus driver. In August of 1979, Ron began working for the Buffalo County Highway Department. He lived in the Miller-Sumner area until his retirement with the County in October 2006, after which he made Elm Creek, NE his home. Additionally, he enjoyed working part-time in the Miller area for Quail Oil during the 70s and 80s, and Randy and Jerry Bentley up until retirement. Ron was married to Judy Paben on June 1, 1963, in Amherst, NE. The couple lived in the Miller area where they had two children, Judi Ann, (Martin) and Richard Lee. They later divorced in 1983. While in Miller, Ron was active with the Miller Volunteer Fire Department and Village Board. In his retirement, Ron enjoyed daily drives, attending many of his grandson’s activities, going to Mom’s Kitchen in Elm Creek, Sapp Bros in Odessa, frequent visits to Tub’s Pub in Sumner, and keeping up with previous Buffalo County coworkers. Most recently he kept his daily lunch date with his grandson Joshua. He lived at Maple Manor in Elm Creek and enjoyed strong friendships with his fellow residents. Surviving relatives include his sisters Bobbie Pfeiffer of Kearney, NE, and Arda Renfrow and her husband Dick of Grand Island, NE; daughter Judi Ann Martin and husband Steve, and his grandson Joshua and wife Colleen all of Elm Creek, NE; son Richard Lee and husband Patrick McDonald of Mesa, AZ; and many nieces and nephews. Ronald was preceded in death by his parents; brother in-law Lewis (Bud) Olson; brother in-law Duane Pfeiffer; brother in-law Darrel Hough; sister Vera Hough; sister LaRea Schnacker; and brother in-law Wayne Schnacker. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Elm Creek Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 130, Elm Creek, NE 68836; Miller Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 146, Miller, NE 68858; or CHI Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, 10 East 31st Street, P.O. Box 1990, Kearney, NE 68848. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Service are entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Ron was known for his kind heart, his easy going personality, and he will be greatly missed.

Ronald Lee Cool

November 6, 1940 - April 3, 2018