Thomas R. “Tom” Ramirez, age 96, of Lodgepole, NE passed away at the Miller Memorial Care Center in Chappell on Saturday, March 12, 2016. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, March 17th with Father Matthew Koperski officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery north of Lodgepole. A wake service will be at 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 16th. Both services will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chappell. Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Wednesday from 1-4:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made in Tom’s name to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or in care of the family for future designation. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Tom’s care and funeral arrangements.

Thomas R. Ramirez, one of nine children born to Melecio and Venita (Reyes) Ramirez was born on December 21, 1919 in El Centro, CA. At the age of three they moved back to the family ranch in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Tom worked on the ranch until he was twenty-one. He then returned to the United States and worked picking cotton in Texas. In 1950, he began working with the Union Pacific Railroad in Julesburg, CO. He was later transferred to Colton, NE where he worked until his retirement in 1979. In March of 1953, he went on a blind date with Ruby Barron and soon after married her. After sixty-two years of marriage, he still told her “goodnight honey” and gave her a kiss.

Tom enjoyed fishing, gardening, carpentry, attending social events and visiting with family and friends. In their younger years Tom and Ruby loved to dance. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
He will be greatly missed by his wife: Ruby of Lodgepole; son: Andy and wife Shelly Ramirez of Denver, CO; daughter: Benita Ramirez-Adams and husband Merle of Arapahoe, NE, son: Anthony Ramirez of Lodgepole; sisters: Maria Ramirez of Arizona and Jesusa Ramirez of Mexico City, Mexico; his in-laws: Nellie Rodriguez and Patty Zamora both of Kansas City, KS, Tony Barron and husband Charles of North Platte, NE, Mary Lou Robles and husband Reyes of Lexington, NE, Veronica Perez of Arapahoe, Jennie Blea of Atwood, CO, Susie Duarte and husband Jessie of Bertrand, NE and Bob Barron and wife Candy of Greeley, CO; (4) grandchildren: Autumn Ramirez, Christopher Petri, Thomas Adams and Tia Ramirez and (1) great-grandchild: Zoe Petri.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, daughter-in-law: Jayne From, grandson: Jeremy Ramirez and numerous brothers, sisters and extended family members.