Elmer F. Kamrath

Elmer F. Kamrath, 88, of Ponca, NE passed away on Saturday, February 16, 2013 while surrounded by his family at the Elms Health Care Center in Ponca, NE.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, NE with Rev. Dr. Bud Christenson officiating. Burial will be in Silver Ridge Cemetery in rural Ponca with military rites conducted by the Ponca American Legion Post #117. Visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca. Online condolences to the family may be posted at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Elmer was born in rural Ponca, NE on May 4, 1924, to Frank and Elsie (Harder) Kamrath. He grew up on a farm in rural Ponca. He graduated from Ponca High School in 1942. He served in the Navy during WWII and while in the Navy he crossed the equator three times. Elmer married Ramona Nelson on June 15, 1947 at the Faith Lutheran parsonage in Maskell, NE. The couple lived in several different communities in the Tri-State area and returned to Ponca in 1954. Some of the companies Elmer worked for were Sioux City Motor, Fairmont Foods, and Anson Schram. After working at Farmers Coop for 18 years he retired and went to work at A-1 Mist Sprayers until 2009.He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca, the Ponca American Legion Post #117, and was a co-founder and lifetime member of the Ponca Rodeo Association. He enjoyed horses and driving the rural countryside. He was a friend to all and never knew a stranger.Survivors include three children, DiAnna Buerger of Wayne, NE, Kevin Kamrath (Deb Condreay) of Monroe, NE, and Kimberly (Leo) Rohan of Emerson, NE; five grandchildren, Christopher Chattom, Candace Bernhagen, Tracy (Jason) Habrock, Heidi Rohan and Will (Katie) Rohan; eleven great-grandchildren, Beverly, Harrison, Hannah and Gabriel Bernhagen, Caitlyn and Gracie Jepsen, Collin and Ramona Chattom, Jackson and Ashtyn Habrock, and Morgan Rohde-Rohan; 2 great-great grandchildren, Hayden Newman and Zehn Arneson; a brother, Marvin (Glenda) Kamrath of Sheldon, IA; a sister, Dorothy Becker of Okabena MN; a brother-in-law, Dale (Catherine) Nelson of Pender, NE; sisters-in-law, Leona Bottoroff and Twila Taylor of Ponca, NE, and Mavis Nelson of Maskell, NE. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ramona; a brother, Willie Kamrath; a sister, Mildred Lukken, and several brother and sister-in-laws.Honorary casket bearers will be the Ponca Rodeo Association. Casket bearers will be his grandchildren, Christopher Chattom, Candace Bernhagen, Tracy Habrock, Heidi Rohan and Will Rohan and nephews, Dennis Lukken, Scott Bottorff and Donnie Taylor.