Allen Ray Spangler

Allen Ray “Swede” Spangler, age 77 of Gretna, Nebraska passed away on Friday, April 24, 2015 at Gretna Community Living Center. Allen, son of Wilson and Clara (Miller) Spangler, was born September 6, 1937, in Callaway, Nebraska. He attended elementary school at Redfern District 113 and graduated from Callaway High School in 1955. He then entered the Marine Corps in San Diego and served in California and Pearl Harbor. He was honorably discharged in 1959. When he returned home, he worked with his father on the family farm in Custer County south of Callaway. In 1960, he joined the Custer Public Power District as a serviceman and lineman. Starting in the fall of 1966, Allen started studying electrical engineering at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in June 1970. After receiving his degree, Allen accepted a position with the Omaha Public Power District as an engineer in the System Planning department. During Allen’s early years with OPPD, he returned to UNL to obtain his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1973. Allen’s career at OPPD saw him holding a number of positions in management. Allen retired from OPPD as the Manager of the Syracuse Center. Allen was an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Ralston. He held various leadership roles in the church including Administrative Board Chairperson and treasurer. Allen was a great role model not only for his nieces and nephews but also his little brothers from the Big Brother Big Sister of the Midlands. He was such a selfless Christian person who quite often put others first. He thoroughly enjoyed attending many of his family’s events, often traveling from one end of the state to the other. He could always be counted on to supply M&M’s to enjoy while watching the event. Allen was a lifelong Husker fan, holding season tickets and attending a wide variety of sporting events through the years. He started with football season tickets in the early 1960’s. In leisure time, the hobbies he enjoyed were bowling, golfing, Jigsaw puzzles, attending sporting events (anything Husker and NASCAR) and working in his gardens on his acreage near Gretna. He had quite a collection of Husker memorabilia that he obtained through the years. Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson and Clara Spangler. He is survived by his brother Irvin Spangler and wife Gladys of Callaway, NE, brother Dean Spangler and wife Carol of Oconto, NE, sister Marilyn Morrison and husband Fred of O’Neill, NE, and numerous nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews. Memorials can be directed to Callaway United Methodist Church , Trinity United Methodist Church of Ralston, or the Donor’s Choice. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ralston, Nebraska, with Reverend Tom Buckley officiating. You are encouraged to wear your Husker red in memory of Allen. Visitation will be held Monday, April 27, 2015, from 5-7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ralston, and Wednesday, April 29, 2015, from 10-11 a.m. at Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway. Graveside Service with Military Honors will be Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Callaway with Reverend Chad Boling officiating. Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway is in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.