Earl was born on a farm in Bellwood, NE (near Schuyler, NE) on January 30, 1931. He graduated from a rural school and Schuyler High School in 1949. He helped his father with the farming and during the Korean War he joined the Navy. He was a 3rd Class Radarman on the Battleship USS Beatty. He served for 4 years and Reserves for four years. When he was coming back from duty one day, his brother Dick surprised him by joining him on the same ship. During his years in service he married Geraldine Roddy in Lawrence, MA. Six months later she passed away from pancreatic cancer. When he came home he went to school in Omaha for heating, refrigeration, air conditioning and electronic technician. He married Roberta Smith and they had one daughter, Kimberley Ann French. He worked for the Civil Service at the General Services Administration in Omaha for 28 years. After his divorce, he purchased three old, brick duplexes in Dundee, doing all repairs, and working with GSA. On February 10, 1977 he married Marie Sukovaty. At the age of 55, he retired from the government, took up a real estate course and worked for Century 21 Jay. At age 60, he answered an ad on a Friday night and was at work on Monday morning for a federal building in Council Bluffs, which he serviced while in GSA. They began traveling and he started restoring Thunderbird convertibles and antiques from 1961-2004. He restored a 1957 two-story cabin which he moved to McGinn's Cabins in North Bend, NE, was an avid reader of all kinds of history, and loved western books and TV shows. Earl moved to Brookestone Village on June 4, 2021. He died peacefully on November 26, 2022 with his wife by his side.
Earl leaves to mourn his wife, Marie; daughter, Kimberley of Henderson, NV; and brother, Dean of Medford, OR; nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Lewis French; sister, Ina Mae Muhle and her husband, Don; brother, Dick French and his wife, Marilyn; and Dean's wife, Margie. He was a member of the Rejoice Lutheran Church in Millard, the Millard Legion Club, and The Thunderbird Club.
VISITATION: Wednesday, November 30, 12-2pm with FUNERAL SERVICE at 2pm and Interment to follow. All services at Westlawn-Hillcrest.
Memorials may be sent to Rejoice Lutheran Church, Alzheimer's Association, or to the family for further distribution.
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