Earl joined the Air Force in 1951. He completed his basic training and was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he and JoAnne lived happily for four years. After ending his tour of duty the family returned to Lincoln. Soon he began his career with the Nebraska Air National Guard where he enjoyed a thirty year career in the military. After retiring from the Air Guard, he worked in maintenance at Lincoln Memorial Park and then as a Maintenance Technician at the Lincoln Correctional Center.
Earl was interested in many different things. He liked collecting toy John Deere tractors, amassing nearly 2000 at one time, and repairing and modifying them. He also collected and restored pedal tractors and pedal cars. Earl and JoAnne shared many interests, including camping, boating, motorcycle riding, playing cards, dancing, and socializing with their many groups of friends. Before retiring to a 55 plus community they spent 33 happy years on their acreage enjoying life in the country.
Earl is survived by his daughters Nancy (Jim) Biggs and Donna (Bob) Blake, all of Lincoln, as well as his grandchildren: Dan Biggs (Andrea Tremayne) of Lincoln; Melissa
(Andy) Moddrell of Westwood Hills, Kansas; Bret (Paige) Blake of Elkhorn; Jenna Blake of Lincoln; Lisa (Cory) Drum Greeley of Sioux City, Iowa; Leilani Drum (Derek Stoldt) of Fort Collins, Colorado; Jeremiah Lahm (Mino Bearcub) of Lawrence, Kansas; Elijah Lahm of Lincoln; and Isaiah Lahm of Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Renee Lahm of Lincoln; great-grandchildren: Max and James Moddrell, Barrett and Hattie Blake, Ryker Blake, Parese and Corinthian Greeley, Peregrine and Rafferty Stoldt, Kodiak and Kira Lahm, Chaytawn and Kanyon Lahm; great-great grandchild Melani Rose Greeley; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his wife JoAnne in 2013, his son Bruce in 2015, his parents, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Eleanor and Orin Peterson, his sister and brother-in-law Elaine and Jean Robertson, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Marilyn and Jerry Stevens, and nephew Russel Robertson.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Parkinson’s Nebraska or Nebraska Alzheimer’s Association