Roger Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Nebraska (formerly of Bellwood), was killed Tuesday, June 21, 2011, near Pierceton, Indiana, in a motor vehicle accident.
Roger was born in Malcolm, Nebraska June 15, 1946, to August "Gussy" & Verna (Grant) Schmale.
He graduated from Malcolm High School in 1964, served in the U.S. Army (state side) during the Vietnam Conflict from 1966-68, was the owner/operator of Schmale Trucking & RGJ Trucking.
Roger was a life-long truck driver who hauled nearly anything, nearly everywhere.
Roger worked for many companies during his 50 years on the road, including the Bellwood Co-op, Ruzicka Brothers of Columbus, Seward Motor Freight, Le Benz, Strong Trucking, and most recently Moore Brothers Inc. He enjoyed a good John Wayne movie, Christmas and the 4th of July with family, and a good steak.
Roger is survived by son, Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Schmale, Banger, WA; daugther, Jody Schmale, Lincoln, NE; girlfriend Vicky Repenning and her family, Norfolk, NE; brother, Reuben Schmale, Seward, NE; sisters and brother-in-laws, Ravonna & Dave Cummings, Norfolk, NE; Ruth & Jack Ainsworth, Columbus, NE; aunt Donna Grant, Bennet, NE; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends. He was preceded in death by parents, August & Verna Schmale; brother, Raymond Schmale; aunts and uncles.
There will be a visitation from 9AM to 10:30AM, preceding a Memorial Service at 10:30AM on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011, at Kracl Funeral Chapel in David City; burial to follow at Bellwood Cemetery, located in Butler County, NE. The family asks for memorials in lieu of flowers.
Rig driver killed in U.S. 30 crash
A Nebraska man died Tuesday when he couldn't stop his tractor-trailer rig in time and slammed into the back of another rig slowing for a red light in Pierceton.
Roger A. Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Neb., died from extensive head and internal injuries after his rig rear-ended a rig driven by William C. Mendez, according to the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team.
Mendez, 40, of Chicago, told police he was headed west on U.S. 30 about 1 p.m. and started to slow for a red light at Indiana 13 when the crash occurred.
Police said it appeared Schmale was traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 mph and that he tried to brake at the last moment.
It took emergency responders more than an hour to peel back the wreckage to get to Schmale, the sheriff's department said.
Mendez was not injured in the crash.
Traffic was diverted from the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for about two hours until crews could remove the wreckage, police said.
Schmale's tractor-trailer rig was hauling large pieces of farm equipment.
The crash remains under investigation. There was no telephone number listed for Schmale.
Services Pending
Roger was born in Malcolm, Nebraska June 15, 1946, to August "Gussy" & Verna (Grant) Schmale.
He graduated from Malcolm High School in 1964, served in the U.S. Army (state side) during the Vietnam Conflict from 1966-68, was the owner/operator of Schmale Trucking & RGJ Trucking.
Roger was a life-long truck driver who hauled nearly anything, nearly everywhere.
Roger worked for many companies during his 50 years on the road, including the Bellwood Co-op, Ruzicka Brothers of Columbus, Seward Motor Freight, Le Benz, Strong Trucking, and most recently Moore Brothers Inc. He enjoyed a good John Wayne movie, Christmas and the 4th of July with family, and a good steak.
Roger is survived by son, Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Schmale, Banger, WA; daugther, Jody Schmale, Lincoln, NE; girlfriend Vicky Repenning and her family, Norfolk, NE; brother, Reuben Schmale, Seward, NE; sisters and brother-in-laws, Ravonna & Dave Cummings, Norfolk, NE; Ruth & Jack Ainsworth, Columbus, NE; aunt Donna Grant, Bennet, NE; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends. He was preceded in death by parents, August & Verna Schmale; brother, Raymond Schmale; aunts and uncles.
There will be a visitation from 9AM to 10:30AM, preceding a Memorial Service at 10:30AM on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011, at Kracl Funeral Chapel in David City; burial to follow at Bellwood Cemetery, located in Butler County, NE. The family asks for memorials in lieu of flowers.
Rig driver killed in U.S. 30 crash
A Nebraska man died Tuesday when he couldn't stop his tractor-trailer rig in time and slammed into the back of another rig slowing for a red light in Pierceton.
Roger A. Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Neb., died from extensive head and internal injuries after his rig rear-ended a rig driven by William C. Mendez, according to the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team.
Mendez, 40, of Chicago, told police he was headed west on U.S. 30 about 1 p.m. and started to slow for a red light at Indiana 13 when the crash occurred.
Police said it appeared Schmale was traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 mph and that he tried to brake at the last moment.
It took emergency responders more than an hour to peel back the wreckage to get to Schmale, the sheriff's department said.
Mendez was not injured in the crash.
Traffic was diverted from the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for about two hours until crews could remove the wreckage, police said.
Schmale's tractor-trailer rig was hauling large pieces of farm equipment.
The crash remains under investigation. There was no telephone number listed for Schmale.
Services Pending
Roger Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Nebraska (formerly of Bellwood), was killed Tuesday, June 21, 2011, near Pierceton, Indiana, in a motor vehicle accident.
Roger was born in Malcolm, Nebraska June 15, 1946, to August "Gussy" & Verna (Grant) Schmale.
He graduated from Malcolm High School in 1964, served in the U.S. Army (state side) during the Vietnam Conflict from 1966-68, was the owner/operator of Schmale Trucking & RGJ Trucking.
Roger was a life-long truck driver who hauled nearly anything, nearly everywhere.
Roger worked for many companies during his 50 years on the road, including the Bellwood Co-op, Ruzicka Brothers of Columbus, Seward Motor Freight, Le Benz, Strong Trucking, and most recently Moore Brothers Inc. He enjoyed a good John Wayne movie, Christmas and the 4th of July with family, and a good steak.
Roger is survived by son, Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Schmale, Banger, WA; daugther, Jody Schmale, Lincoln, NE; girlfriend Vicky Repenning and her family, Norfolk, NE; brother, Reuben Schmale, Seward, NE; sisters and brother-in-laws, Ravonna & Dave Cummings, Norfolk, NE; Ruth & Jack Ainsworth, Columbus, NE; aunt Donna Grant, Bennet, NE; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends. He was preceded in death by parents, August & Verna Schmale; brother, Raymond Schmale; aunts and uncles.
There will be a visitation from 9AM to 10:30AM, preceding a Memorial Service at 10:30AM on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011, at Kracl Funeral Chapel in David City; burial to follow at Bellwood Cemetery, located in Butler County, NE. The family asks for memorials in lieu of flowers.
Rig driver killed in U.S. 30 crash
A Nebraska man died Tuesday when he couldn't stop his tractor-trailer rig in time and slammed into the back of another rig slowing for a red light in Pierceton.
Roger A. Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Neb., died from extensive head and internal injuries after his rig rear-ended a rig driven by William C. Mendez, according to the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team.
Mendez, 40, of Chicago, told police he was headed west on U.S. 30 about 1 p.m. and started to slow for a red light at Indiana 13 when the crash occurred.
Police said it appeared Schmale was traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 mph and that he tried to brake at the last moment.
It took emergency responders more than an hour to peel back the wreckage to get to Schmale, the sheriff's department said.
Mendez was not injured in the crash.
Traffic was diverted from the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for about two hours until crews could remove the wreckage, police said.
Schmale's tractor-trailer rig was hauling large pieces of farm equipment.
The crash remains under investigation. There was no telephone number listed for Schmale.
Services Pending
Roger was born in Malcolm, Nebraska June 15, 1946, to August "Gussy" & Verna (Grant) Schmale.
He graduated from Malcolm High School in 1964, served in the U.S. Army (state side) during the Vietnam Conflict from 1966-68, was the owner/operator of Schmale Trucking & RGJ Trucking.
Roger was a life-long truck driver who hauled nearly anything, nearly everywhere.
Roger worked for many companies during his 50 years on the road, including the Bellwood Co-op, Ruzicka Brothers of Columbus, Seward Motor Freight, Le Benz, Strong Trucking, and most recently Moore Brothers Inc. He enjoyed a good John Wayne movie, Christmas and the 4th of July with family, and a good steak.
Roger is survived by son, Petty Officer 2nd Class Gary Schmale, Banger, WA; daugther, Jody Schmale, Lincoln, NE; girlfriend Vicky Repenning and her family, Norfolk, NE; brother, Reuben Schmale, Seward, NE; sisters and brother-in-laws, Ravonna & Dave Cummings, Norfolk, NE; Ruth & Jack Ainsworth, Columbus, NE; aunt Donna Grant, Bennet, NE; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family, and friends. He was preceded in death by parents, August & Verna Schmale; brother, Raymond Schmale; aunts and uncles.
There will be a visitation from 9AM to 10:30AM, preceding a Memorial Service at 10:30AM on Saturday, July 2nd, 2011, at Kracl Funeral Chapel in David City; burial to follow at Bellwood Cemetery, located in Butler County, NE. The family asks for memorials in lieu of flowers.
Rig driver killed in U.S. 30 crash
A Nebraska man died Tuesday when he couldn't stop his tractor-trailer rig in time and slammed into the back of another rig slowing for a red light in Pierceton.
Roger A. Schmale, 65, of Norfolk, Neb., died from extensive head and internal injuries after his rig rear-ended a rig driven by William C. Mendez, according to the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team.
Mendez, 40, of Chicago, told police he was headed west on U.S. 30 about 1 p.m. and started to slow for a red light at Indiana 13 when the crash occurred.
Police said it appeared Schmale was traveling at the posted speed limit of 45 mph and that he tried to brake at the last moment.
It took emergency responders more than an hour to peel back the wreckage to get to Schmale, the sheriff's department said.
Mendez was not injured in the crash.
Traffic was diverted from the westbound lanes of U.S. 30 for about two hours until crews could remove the wreckage, police said.
Schmale's tractor-trailer rig was hauling large pieces of farm equipment.
The crash remains under investigation. There was no telephone number listed for Schmale.
Services Pending
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