Walter Vath

Walt Vath, 72, longtime Keith County resident, died Tuesday, October 1, 2013 in his home. Walt was born January 13, 1941 in Ogallala, the son of Jesse and Ombalena (German) Vath. He received his early education in Arthur County schools and then graduated from Ogallala High School in 1959. On June 7, 1959 Walt was united in marriage to LuElla "Lucky" Macklin in the Ogallala Methodist Church. The couple resided in Ogallala. Walt was employed by Oltman Pontiac dealership as a mechanic and later purchased the A & W Drive In on Highway 30. In 1978 Walt sold the restaurant and then worked at Goodall Electric for several years. He was a reserve officer for the Ogallala Police Dept and the Keith County Sheriff's Dept. He then started employment with Keith County Corrections as Chief Corrections Officer, retiring in 2006. Walt was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was a member of the Ogallala Volunteer Fire Department for thirty years. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, woodworking, gardening, trap shooting, rock collecting, and bird watching. He was a member of the Big Mac Sports Club, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Foundation. Preceding him in death were his parents, daughter Rhonda Leonard, infant daughters Penny Vath and Mikki Vath, brother Donald Horn, and sister Ada Tillinghast. Survivors include his wife Lucky Vath of Keystone, a son Doug Vath of Sidney, a daughter Candy Warner of Laramie, Wyo., three sisters Viola Anderson of Ogallala; Mary and her husband Louis Vath of Sutherland; and Helen Williams of Keystone. Son-in-law Joe Leonard of Ogallala; five grandchildren; Jesse (Erin) Bunnell of Kearney; Samuel Moyer and Danika Bunnell and her special friend Pete Fox, all of Laramie, Wyo.; Amanda (Ben) Oeltjen of Broken Bow; and LuElla (Scott) Stimka of Sidney; and six great-grandchildren: Carsen and Zoe Bunnell of Kearney; Addison and Ella Oeltjen of Broken Bow; and Jayden and Jordan Stimka of Sidney. The family chose cremation. A memorial service will be Saturday, Oct. 5, at 10 a.m. in New Hope Worship Center. Pastor Duane Dunwoody will officiate. Funeral Rites will be given by the Ogallala Honor Guard. Memorials have been established to the Ogallala Volunteer Fire Dept. and to the Keystone-Lemoyne Fire Dept.

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