A Memorial Service for Earl Root will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska, with Mr. Joe Wilken officiating. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.
Earl Ransford Root, 81 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, died on Tuesday, April 3, 2024, surrounded by his family at Bryan Medical Center – East Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska. Earl was born on October 29, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut, the first of five children born to Gordon and Lois (Decker) Root. He received his education in East Hampton, Massachusetts and graduated with the class of 1961.
On June 19, 1961, Earl enlisted into the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO and served in the Strategic Air Command. Earl was honorably discharged in May of 1965.
On June 19, 1965, Earl was united in marriage to the love of his life, Mary Sprague, at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, NE. The couple made their home in Holdrege. They were blessed with two children: Lori and Lynn.
After the service, Earl was a contract worker back East, working primarily in Vermont and New York. The highlight for him during this time was working on a project for the Apollo Space Program. Earl and Mary then made their home in Holdrege, where he began his 36-year career working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, known today as Qwest Communications.
Earl made life fun at home. He found a true passion his backyard. He enjoyed gardening and growing flowers. He was known in the neighborhood for building large snow slides or forts in the back yard for the kids to play on. Together the family enjoyed spending time at Harlan Reservoir, teaching his kids the art of water skiing, camping, hunting, fishing and boating. Following his retirement, Earl and Mary bought a house at Glen Elder, Kansas which was truly his happy place.
Earl loved animals. From the many cats, dogs, and other random rodents, the Root household was always filled with four legged creatures. On more than one occasion, he would even surprise the family with a field mouse or baby rabbit. After one particularly sticky situation at Trinity Childcare, the Root children were asked to never bring an animal to show and tell again. His current campion, Homer, will greatly miss him.
Earl also liked to “collect” things. If anyone was in need of unopened McDonald’s happy meal toys, random hubcaps, or any board game known to mankind, Earl was the man to go to. Earl was a private person. But with his signature look of Hawaiian shirts and khakis (or plaid shirts with rock band t-shirts on the cooler days), he was a pretty hard person to miss in a crowd. He was usually hiding behind a camera if he could get away with it.
Earl was an avid reader, never throwing any of his subscribed magazines away – just in case he needed to read it again. He loved his gadgets and was a whiz on the computer. He was a quiet, but stubborn man that could talk your ear off when it came to politics or religion, but knew when a bad “dad” joke was in order. He loved his grandkids with a passion that was unsurpassed. With his love of Amazon and eBay, he showered them with gifts whenever he could.
Earl was a member of Holdrege Volunteer Fire Department from 1981 to 2005 and was Assistant Fire Chief from 1992-2005. He was also a dedicated EMT from 1983 to 2005. He was a past member of Bethel Lutheran Church, where he taught Sunday school and confirmation, and was active on the Church council. Earl and Mary were founding members of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Holdrege.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; and father-in-law, Bill Sprague; mother-in-law, Lorraine Gracey; and step-father-in-law, Jim Gracey.
Earl is survived by his wife, Mary Root of Holdrege; his children: Lori Vinzant and her husband, Josh of Bertrand, Nebraska; and Lynn Root and his wife, Lisa of Glen Elder, Kansas; four grandchildren: Kellan Vinzant, Kennan Vinzant, Hunter Root, and Hadley Root; his brothers: Allen Root of Gardner, Massachusetts.; Bill Root and his wife, Karen, of Charlotte, Vermont; his sisters: Rosemary Root of Essex Junction, Vermont, and Judy Couillard and her husband, Bernie, of Underhill, Vermont; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Gary Sprague and his wife, Jody of Ambler, Pennsylvania; Sue Long and her husband, Paul of Denver, Colorado; Carie Lynch and her husband, Dean of Holdrege; and Amy Ziemke and her husband, Pete of Lakewood, Colorado; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
There will not be a viewing or visitation. The family is honoring his wish for cremation.
Memorials in Earl’s honor and are kindly suggested to the family for future designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.