Paul Edward Kral

Paul E. Kral, 94, went home to be with the Lord on September 19, 2025, at College View Assisted Living Hastings, Nebraska.

Rosary will be Thursday, September 25, 2025, 7:00 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, September 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m. both at St. Anne Catholic Church, Campbell, Nebraska with Father Douglas Dietrich officiating. Inurnment with military rites by Willie Fierstein Post #169 and the Marine Honor Guard will be in St. Anne Catholic Cemetery, Campbell, Nebraska. There will be no visitation or viewing.  A memorial has been established to be designated at a later date.  The service will be live-streamed on Merten-Butler Mortuary’s website.  To view the service, go to Paul’s obituary and click on the play button towards the bottom of the page.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com. Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.

Paul was born on February 14, 1931, to Charles and Catherine (Zubrod) on a farm southeast of Campbell, Nebraska.  He was the youngest of 5 children: Leonard, Marge, Marvin and Chuck. He went to a country school called Five Star and he graduated from Campbell High School in 1949.  He entered the Marines in May 1952 and served until April 1954.  On August 25, 1956, he married Denise “Dee Dee” Doyle at St. Anne Catholic Church. They moved to a farm between Campbell and Bladen where they were blessed with six children: Michelle, Tim, Terry, Tom, Tony and Todd.  Later, in 1988 Paul and Dee Dee moved to Blue Hill and retired there in 1993.  He continued to help on the farm every day. 

 Paul farmed all his life raising corn, milo, and wheat. He also milked Holstein cows for 25 years.  Hard manual work, patience, and a loving family were the keys to his success.  He saw how farming changed over time—from planting two rows of corn with open tractors to using large tractors with GPS. He also saw the switch from picking corn by hand with horses and unloading it with a scoop, to using big combines with twelve-row corn heads that could unload while moving.  Paul was on the School Board, multiple church boards, Housing Authority Board and was a member of Willie Fierstein Post #169. He maintained the Ash Hollow golf course in Blue Hill for many years.  His pastimes included riding his motorcycle, walking his dogs, golfing, and hunting for golf balls.                                                    

Paul is survived by his daughter Michelle (Terry) Altice of Littleton, Colorado, son Tim (Teri) Kral of Arizona, Terry (Debra) Kral of Aurora, Colorado, Tom Kral of Henderson, Colorado, Tony (Karla) Kral of Bladen, and Todd (Melinda) Kral of Campbell; his grandchildren Lindsey, Cristen, Nick, Darryl, Sydney, Seth, Tanner, McKenna, Trevor and Jake; and his great grandchildren Malachi, Nehemiah, Levi, Emalee, Ariella, Camryn and Adaline.

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