Leo Paul Henry Chingren of North Platte, Nebraska died unexpectedly at Great Plains Health in North Platte on March 2, 2021, at the age of 77.
Leo was born in North Platte, Nebraska on May 23, 1943, to Vernon and Grace (Bubak) Chingren. He grew up in North Platte where he worked at the Pawnee Spring Ranch when he was young, then graduated from North Platte High School in 1962.
While in high school, Leo joined the Nebraska Army National Guard and
this led to his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1963. He served aboard
the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk at Yankee Station, off the coast of Vietnam in the
Gulf of Tonkin. Following his discharge in '67, Leo lived in Arizona and
California before returning to North Platte in 1972.
On November 2, 1973, Leo married Coleen Maline in Oberlin, Kansas and they made their home in North Platte. Leo worked for Central Distributing, Fleec Brothers Trucking, NPPD as a Lineman, then hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad, working as a Lineman Electrician. He was a member of the IBEW Union and retired from the railroad as Electrical Foreman in 2012.
Leo enjoyed hunting, trout fishing, bird watching and NASCAR racing. He
also enjoyed helping take care of his grandkids and watching them in
their various activities. Leo especially loved his family and was proud
of his grandkids. He will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Chingren; mother and
stepfather, Grace and Louis Berniklau; brother, Dewitt Schroeder;
stepbrother, Bernie Berniklau; brother-in-law, Gus Maline; and in-laws,
Lloyd and Lila Maline.
Leo leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Coleen, and their children,
Stacy (Colton) Albrecht, Jacob (Katie) Chingren and Patrick Chingren
(Erica Silos), all of North Platte; grandchildren, Sophia and Jocelyn
Chingren and Cole Albrecht; and his brother, Lloyd (Susan) Chingren, of
Acton, CA. Survivors also include brothers-in-law, Allen (Susan) Maline, Carl (Darlene) Maline, Bill Maline and Bob (Sherry) Maline; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann (Rod) Karre, Ida Mae Lauer, Kathy (Charlie) Huebner and Sharron Maline; as well as many special nieces and nephews and other family.
Cremation was chosen. Services will be 2 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021,
at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, Nebraska with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska. For those unable to attend, services will be recorded and posted to odeanchapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family for later designation to local charities.
The memorial book may be signed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday with
family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C &
Sycamore in North Platte, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.