Burton Rader

Hastings resident, Burton F. Rader, 95, died Sunday, November 24, 2013 at Saint Francis Medical Center, Grand Island, Nebraska.

Services will be Saturday, November 30, 2013; 10:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church, 614 North Hastings Avenue, Hastings with Pastor Tony Dawson and Pastor Darrell Holzinger officiating. Burial with military rites by Hastings Veterans Organizations will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Nebraska. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, Hastings, Nebraska. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 27, 2013; 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., Friday, November 29, 2013; 9:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. with family present 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Burton was born September 6, 1918 to parents Frank and Laura (Biddle) Rader at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Hastings, Nebraska. They lived on a farm north of Trumbull, Nebraska. After graduation from Trumbull High School in 1936, he helped on the family farm until the fall of 1938, when he took a job on a farm in Little Sioux, Iowa until March-1939, at which time he moved back to Hastings and took a job at Debus Baking Co. On May 6, 1939 he married Freda M. McCormick in Mondamin, Iowa and lived in Hastings the rest of his life. He worked for Debus Baking Co. from March 1939 until 1953 with the exception of the war years of 1944-1945 when he served in the U. S. 5th Army in Italy during WWII. Burton was the head basketball coach at St. Cecilia for 3 years, 1942, 1943 and 1944, refereed basketball for 20 years, was an avid sports fan, including "loved those Huskers". In 1949 he started working part time, nights, with his Uncle, Lee Haggard, in the insurance and real estate business. In 1957 he and his wife purchased the business and worked together until retirement in September, 1983. His son, Larry, joined the firm in December of 1960. Burton was always proud of his family business with a fourth generation now involved in the business, including Larry, Rick and Dustin. He served on the Hastings City Council for two-two year terms, from 1952 thru 1956 and was always proud that his son, Larry, did the same in the same Ward that he had served 30 years later, 1984-1988. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, Trumbull and First United in Hastings. He served as Chairman of The Board, served on various committees, Sunday School boys teacher, sponsored youth fellowship. He served on the Chamber of Commerce Board, Sports Committee, helped start girls volleyball and boys basketball tournaments, served on the Southern Hills Country Club Board for many years was Finance Chairman of the Realty Board for 30 years, served on the Hastings Community Theatre Board, was a member of the V.F.W., American Legion, Eagles, Elks and was a long time member of the Hastings Realty Board. Burton loved playing cards, pitch and gin rummy with his daughter, Peggy and son, Roger, claimed himself the winner and wasn't finished teaching them yet. He was a well respected individual in Hastings and a great supporter of the City of Hastings.

Burton was preceded in death by his wife, Freda; parents; three brothers; one sister; one son, Roger Rader; and one daughter, Sandra (Rader) Schultz.

Survivors include:
Children & Spouses: Larry & Judy Rader - Hastings, NE
Peggy & Terry Sinnard - Gibbon, NE
Daughter-in-law: LaDonna Rader - Hastings, NE
Grandchildren & Spouses: Rick & Zolona Rader - Hastings, NE
Rodney & Lisa Rader - Grand Island, NE
Lisa & Kurt Berneburg - Austin, TX
Lori & Glen Lauter - Fairview, TX
Kimberly & Seth Krueger - Hastings, NE
Krystal & Timothy Hrbek, Sr. - Chandler, AZ
William & Jennifer Sinnard - Kearney, NE
Benjamin & Kara Sinnard - Waukesha, WI
Brandy & Matthew Tacha - Gibbon, NE
Great-Grandchildren: 25
Great-Great-Grandchildren: 5