Herbert H. Hodge

At Our Jackson-Wilson Funeral Home, Kenesaw Location. Kenesaw resident, Herbert H. Hodge, 86, died Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at his home in Kenesaw, NE. Services will be Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10:30 at the First Baptist Church in Hastings; NE with Pastor Larry Havey officiating. Burial will be in the Parkview Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday. April 25, 2009 and Sunday, April 26, 2009 from 12 noon to 9 PM at the Jackson-Wilson Funeral Home, Kenesaw, NE and one hour prior to services at the church Monday. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Herbert was born January 12, 1923 to Grover and Cecelia (Hunzinger) Hodge in Harlan, Kentucky. He moved to Hastings in 1936 and he graduated from Hastings High School in 1941. He served in the 86th Infantry Division Company 342nd Infantry. He served in both the European and Pacific Theater of War. He attained the rank of Corporal while in Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry badge. He was also awarded American Service Medal-European African Middle Eastern Services medal Asiatic Pacific Service Medal-WWII Victory medal and the Good Conduct Medal. His tour of duty was from January 1943 to February 1946. He attended Hastings College. He married Patricia McEntee on October 18, 1950. He was owner and operator of the New Method Laundry and Dry Cleaners and he merged with Harold Hoff Cleaners and formed Deluxe Cleaning Services Inc and he was president of the company. He sold Deluxe Cleaners to Liberty Cleaners in 1950. Herbert then worked for Paul Spady Motors as a salesman until 1983. He was then appointed Laundry Manager at the V.A. Medical Center, Grand Island, NE. He retired from the V.A. in 1990. Herbert served as Mayor of Hastings from 1965 to 1969 and was on the Hastings City Council from 1970 to 1974. He served as President of the Nebr. Dry Cleaners; he was a 50 year member of the Midwest Lodge 317, Scottish rite member and Tehama Shrine Temple member. He also served as Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias where he was also a 50 year member; he was also a member of the American Legion and VFW. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and served on the Board of Trustees. He moved to Kenesaw in 1993. He served on the Kenesaw Village Board from 1998 until the time of his death. He was appointed chairman of the Kenesaw Board in 2004 and served in that capacity until 2006. He is survived by 1 daughter, Patti Kinder of Kearney, NE, 1 son Mark and wife Kym Hodge of Normal, Illinois, 5 grandchildren, Tjjohn Kinder, Megan Smith and husband Tim, Zachery Kinder, Preston and Makenna Hodge, 3 great grandchildren, Cooper and Jackson Smith and Garrett Kinder and 3 sister, Margaret, Gertrude and Betty. He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia, on February 11, 2004 his parents and 2 brothers. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church, in Hastings, NE.