Funeral Services for Claude Cole, age 85, of O'Neill, will be at 11:00 AM Tuesday, February 6, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church in O'Neill. Military Honors will follow at the church conducted by the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93. Burial will be at 2:00 PM in the Star Cemetery, northeast of O'Neill, followed by a time of fellowship at the Dorsey Community Church. Visitation will be Monday from 5- 8PM with a 7PM Prayer Service, at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.  Claude passed away Thursday, February 1, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to; O'Neill Methodist Church, the Dorsey Community Church, or Verdigre Community Chorus.

Claude Alton Cole was born on August 13, 1932 at Star, NE, the fourth child born to Charles and Floramae (Harzke) Cole. He attended Cedar Corner district school through the eighth grade, then graduated from O'Neill High School in 1950. In school Claude was very active in anything musical, drama and sports. He attended Wayne State College for two years and because of the Korean War, he joined the US Navy in the summer of 1952. He received his training in damage control at San Diego and Ford Island. Claude served for four years of active duty and four years in the reserves. During his time of active duty he was stationed at Pearl in Oahu, HI and the last eighteen months at Cabiness Base in Corpus Christi, TX. He was a member of the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93.

He met Gladys Akeson while singing in choir and attending YAF at the First Methodist Church in Honolulu. They were married June 19, 1955, and became the parents of five children, David Charles, Lani Aline, John Arthur, Bruce Eric, and Lori Lynette.

Claude was very active in his community and church work. He served the rural school board for 25 years and was a 4-H leader for 25 years while raising his children. Though he lived an hour from the fairgrounds and milked cows twice a day, he was always there helping them wash and teaching them how to prepare their beef, dairy and horse projects and also donated trophies. He took the kids to many district and state shows.  He served both on the township board, Federal Land Bank Board, and was president of the Holt/Boyd Pork Producers and while a 4-H member himself raised registered Berkshire hogs.

Claude and Gladys have farmed the Sunny Slope Farm for many years. The farm was homesteaded by his great grandfather, Daniel Ridgeway and five generations have farmed and ranched this land. He milked cows, raised hogs, cows, horses and chickens. Claude also raised irrigated crops, first doing it with a towline.

He was raised in the Dorsey Presbyterian Church by his parents until he started high school then went to the Methodist Church and has been a member there for about 60 years. He was also a member of the Builders SS Class for 55 years and was song leader for 10 years.

Music has been very important in his life and he started singing solos while in high school and has sung with choirs in churches in Hawaii, Corpus Christi and O'Neill and was a member of the Verdigre Community Chorus for 25 years. He was also a member of the SD/NE Mass Men's Chorus. Claude has sung at about 50 weddings and over 250 funerals in several states. In 2013 Claude was chosen to be the Grand Marshall of the Nebraska State Fair.

Claude is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gladys of O'Neill, children and spouses, David Cole and wife Dala of Whitehall, MT, Lani Heiser and husband Lonn of Aurora, NE, Bruce Cole of O'Neill, NE, Lori Hollenbeck and husband Matt of Olathe, KS. 10 grandchildren, Emily Marie Maynes and husband James, Joshua David Cole, Stephanie Anne Vinson and husband Matt, Thane Robert Burtch, Carrie LaRee Aylward and husband Paul, Michaela Dawn Brehm and husband Micah, Daniel Cole Heiser, Rachel Nicole Hollenbeck, Sarah Ashley Hollenbeck, and Leah Karena Hollenbeck,  9 great grandchildren, Aaron, Paityn and Blake Maynes, Will, Lily and Violet Brehm, and Zoe, Ellie and Witt Vinson, sister, Brenda Wedige and husband Don of Atkinson, NE, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his infant son, John, infant twin great granddaughters, parents, Charles and Floramae Cole, two sisters, Delta Tharnish and husband Ed, Cleone Klinetobe and husband Wayne, infant brother, Ridgeway Lloyd, parents in law, James and Aline Akeson, sister in law, Gail Steffen and husband Don and nephew Daniel Steffen.