Harold Ortmeier, 87, of Blair, passed away July 3, 2026, at The Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, Nebraska. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9 at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 at St. Francis Borgia with a rosary at 7 p.m.
Harold Anton Ortmeier was born October 25 1938, on his family farm in rural Cuming County, Nebraska to John (Fred) and Catherine (Grewe) Ortmeier. He graduated high school from Dodge High School in Dodge, Nebraska and college from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska earning both a Bachelors and Master’s degree in Education. While in high school and college he helped his father tend to the family farm, which was a cattle and hog operation and land of 280 acres. Using proceeds from the sale of two of his father’s steers, he made one of his best decisions and purchased an engagement ring for Betty Stangel of Dodge, Nebraska to start their life together. On August 12, 1959, he was united in marriage to Betty in Dodge, Nebraska.
Harold began his teaching career in Rocky Ford, Colorado as a teacher of Industrial Arts. He was able to continue his love of baseball and wrestling as a coach for both sports, helping the wrestling team win state both years. He loved his job and coaching, but needed to be home more for his growing family and when an opportunity to teach Industrial Arts and Math in Blair, Nebraska became available, Harold and Betty jumped at the chance to return to a smaller community closer to family.
In Blair, Harold and Betty built a long and great life, involving themselves at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, and being active in the school and community. Harold loved hunting and fishing and was passionate about the safety and education to be a compassionate hunter. He taught Hunter’s Safety courses for 26 years, and convinced his family you must be silent when fishing or you scare them all away, but really we know he just wanted the peace around so many girls! Harold was very proud of his involvement in the ABE/GED program on local, state, and national levels. He spent the later part of his life volunteering his time and skills to Desoto Bend Wildlife Rescue.
His church community and Catholic faith played a large role in Harold’s life. From being an altar boy as a child, an EMC, various committees and councils, to ultimately becoming a Faithful Navigator in The Knights of Columbus. He was a decent pancake flipper at the Sunday pancake feeds but probably a better socializer. Regardless, he loved being a part of the church and spending his time helping in any way he could. He also used his woodworking talents to create many projects over the years in service to the church. It meant a lot to him to help and spread his love of his Catholic faith.
If you knew Harold, you knew he loved telling a story. Whether it was about his time working as a teacher, his volunteering experiences in the community, or his family and friends, he never met someone he wouldn’t engage with. He was also stubborn as a mule and affectionately loved for it. Even though teaching shop was his day job, woodworking was also a passion of his. A favorite memory from the grandkids is when he built rocking horses with yarn hair and helped Santa Claus deliver them to the front porch for a shocking surprise on Christmas Eve. He loved to create something beautiful from nothing and helped many generations of students at Blair High School learn the skills in wood shop to do the same. He was proud to say “none of my students ever lost
a digit in my shop.” The smell of sawdust will always bring about fond memories
of an amazing craftsman for his family.
Harold was an amazing man with a long life filled with love and memories. He will be greatly missed.
Harold is survived by his daughters, Kelli (Ortmeier) Sonderup of Blair, NE, Kris Ortmeier of Bozeman, MT, and Kathi Ortmeier of Elkhorn, NE; sister Deana Mark of Denver, CO; sister-in-law Mary Svitak of Howells, NE, grandchildren, Jena (Wenz) and Bryan Vong of Albuquerque, NM, Megan (Wenz) Herron of Omaha, NE, Brad Wenz and Angela Bub of Appleton, WI, Jessica (Carson) Goldfish of Blair, NE, Kat Carson of Modale, IA, and William and Ariel Carson of Omaha, NE; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years Betty Ortmeier; his children, Kent Ortmeier and Karol (Ortmeier) Henricksen; parents, Fred and Catherine Ortmeier; siblings Cletus Ortmeier, Henrietta Tomka, Elizabeth Throener, and Ric Ortmeier; sister-in-law Mary Eifert; and son-in-law, Wayne Sonderup.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for later designation or to your favorite charity.