Walt Ambrose, 68, of Walnut, passed
away Tuesday, March 24, at Methodist
Hospital in Omaha.

Walter Joseph Ambrose, Jr. was
born in Missouri Valley, Iowa on
October 13, 1946 to Walter Sr. and
Thelma Ambrose. During his younger
years he helped his parents raise
cattle, hogs, milk cows and did
chores. Walt attended country
school during his elementary
years riding his bike to school
each day. In 1954, his parents
moved to a farm outside Council
Bluffs. While attending Lewis
Central High School he was
active in football, track and
choir.

Upon graduation Walt enlisted in
the Army. After much perseverance
he was accepted into the United
States Military Academy Prep
School. From 1966-1970 Walt
attended the United States
Military Academy at West Point,
New York. He graduated from
the Academy June 3, 1970.

Walt was married to Sharon
Elaine Eblen July 12, 1970.
They enjoyed 20 years of
military life making eighteen
moves in the first fourteen
years. Walt attended IOBC,
Airborne and Ranger School
at Fort Benning, Georgia.
While stationed at Fort Riley,
Kansas, they were blessed with
the birth of their daughter,
Jennifer Marie. After various
moves Walt was stationed for
three years at Kitzingen,
Germany. While in Germany
they were blessed with a son,
Benjamin Thomas.

Upon returning to the states
Walt was first stationed at
Fort Benning, Georgia and
then at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
where he commanded an aviation
unit. The family was fortunate
to be stationed in Alaska for
two years and then returned to
Fort Campbell for another three
year tour of duty.

In 1984, the family moved to
a farm outside of Walnut, Iowa.
For the next several years,
Walt simultaneously farmed
and served his country as an
officer on the National
Emergency Airborne Command
Post and the Strategic Nuclear
Planning Staff.

During his service to his
country he received many
awards and badges; Expert
Infantry Badge, Air Assault
Badge, Master Aviator Badge,
Joint Chief of Staff Badge,
Ranger Tab, Parachute Badge,
Joint Meritorious Unit Award,
Overseas Service Ribbon,
National Defense Service
Medal, Good Conduct Medal,
Army Achievement Medal, Army
Commendation Medal with 1st
Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious
Service Medal and Defense
Meritorious Service Medal.
He attended the Airborne,
Ranger, Rotary Wing Aviator,
Infantry Officer Basic and
Advanced Courses, and Command
and General Staff College.
Walt retired from military
service as a Lieutenant
Colonel in October of 1990.

Upon military retirement, Walt
continued to farm and run a
helicopter crop dusting service.
He also started a second career
with Union Pacific Railroad.
While employed with UP he
worked on the line in Colorado,
before being promoted to
coordinate maintenance
operations at UP Headquarters.
He retired from the railroad
in the fall of 2013.

Walt enjoyed working on his
farm raising yellow labs and
horses. His greatest joy was
helping Jennifer and Ben and
being grandpa to Sabien, Sammy,
Alli, and Alex.

Walt is survived by his wife,
Sharon; children, Jennifer (Andy)
Hahn of Eldridge, IA; Ben Ambrose
of Omaha, NE; grandchildren,
Sabien, Samantha, Allison and Alex
Ambrose; mother, Thelma Ambrose of
Walnut, Iowa; sisters, Josephine
(Bill) Heaps of Dunlap, Iowa;
Sandra (Leroy) Wood of Kellerton,
Iowa; Marie (Chuck) King of Houston,
Texas; and numerous nieces,
nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by
his father, Walter J. Ambrose, Sr.;
and his father- and mother-in-law,
Darrell and Virginia Eblen.

Funeral services will be held
Saturday, March 28, 10:30 a.m.,
at the First United Methodist
Church with Pastor Lanette
Plambeck officiating.

Interment will be in the
Atlantic Cemetery with Military
Rites by the Atlantic Color Guard.

Visitation with the family present
will be Friday, March 27, from
4-7 p.m., at the Roland Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the
family for a scholarship established
in Walt's name.