RIESSLAND, Robert F.

Robert F. Riessland, 85, of Grand Island died Thursday, August 11, 2005, at the VA of Greater Nebraska/Western Iowa Healthcare Grand Island campus. Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Mike McDermott will officiate. Burial will be at 3:00 P.M. Monday at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, NE. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Sunday at the church with a 7 P.M. vigil service. Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Riessland was born January 25, 1920, at Amherst, NE to Fred and Gertrude (Ripp) Riessland. He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Loucille of Grand Island; one son, Joe Riessland of Grand Island; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Sandy and Vance Smith and Susan and Bob Manemann all of San Diego, CA and Julie Melancon of Grand Island; two brothers, Dale and Swede Riessland both of Amherst. Additional survivors include four grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. Bob grew up in the Amherst area attending the Seratoria Country School, graduating from Amherst High School, and attended Kearney State Teachers College. He enlisted with the U.S. Navy Aviation Wing in February 1942, training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Chicago. He married Loucille Halbeisen on August 17, 1943, at Alameda Naval Air Base in Alameda, CA. He served on board the carrier, U.S.S. Enterprise. Bob was severely wounded May 14, 1945, in a Kamakaze attack on the Enterprise off of the coast of Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. Bob was awarded the Purple Heart, Asiatic Pacific and Good Conduct medals. Following his military service, he returned to work for the Union Pacific Railroad in Grand Island. He transferred to North Platte in 1972, retired as a conductor in 1978, and returned to Grand Island with his wife. Bob loved fishing and being outdoors. He had a great sense of humor, liked being with friends and playing cards with couples. He attended shipmate reunions of both the U.S.S. Enterprise and U.S.S. Waldron, keeping in touch with the men he had been with in those years of serving his country. He was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, VFW, DAV, Order of the Purple Heart and Union Pacific Retired Employees club of which he was a life-time member of all.