Floyd Rastede

Floyd Dennis Rastede was born on August 27, 1916 in Thurston, Nebraska to Albert and Ethel (Frey) Rastede. He grew up in the Thurston area attending grade school and graduating from Thurston High School in 1935. His parents died within 16 months of each other and Floyd and his brother Vernon went to live with their grandparents Charles and Cora Frey. As a young boy, Floyd enjoyed his pony “Ginger”, sports especially the baseball rivalry with Pender and playing the saxophone. He treasured the home that his grandparents provided for him and his brother and all the amenities of rural life, including parades, dances and hometown pride. Floyd attended Creighton University in 1937-1938 and Iowa State University in 1938-1939. Floyd was the first man from Thurston County to enlist in the Army Air Corps in 1940. He became a pilot, instructor and finally an operations manager in Italy flying 23 missions before the war ended and he returned to the United States and continued his instructor duties. Floyd was discharged in April of 1946 as a Major, with 2250 hours of flying time. Floyd married Helen Homann on June 10, 1941 and they were blessed with three children: Dennis, Lynn and JoAnne. Helen passed away in 1951. Floyd married Mary (Young) Heath on August 27, 1954 and with Mary’s two children James and Carol Sue, began a new life as one family in Valley, Nebraska. Floyd trained for three years as a watchmaker in Omaha before opening his own Jewelry Store in Valley, Nebraska in 1949. In 1959, he went to work for Western Electric until his retirement in 1980 while still remaining active in the jewelry business. Floyd enjoyed bowling, dancing, following the horse races, playing cribbage and pool and dining out. He was a member of the Valley American Legion Post #58 and the WWII Last Man’s Club. Floyd loved to have his family gather especially at the holidays where he would share his war stories with the grandchildren. He was very competitive and enjoyed winning no matter what the activity. Floyd passed on June 7, 2009 at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 92 years, 9 months and 11 days. He was preceded in death by his wives Helen and Mary and brother Vernon. Floyd is survived by sons and daughter-in-law Jim Heath of Papillion and Dennis and Claire Rastede of Omaha; daughters and sons-in-law Suzy Francis, Lynn and Al Tews and JoAnne and Terry Thomas all of Papillion; 17 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; and sister-in-law Jean Rastede of Omaha.

Floyd Rastede

August 27, 1916 - June 7, 2009