A One-Name Study for the BARNUM/BARNHAM Surname
From the Idaho Press Tribune, June 23, 2015: Ralph S. Barnum August 17, 1929 - June 18, 2015. Ralph was born in Hayes Center, Nebraska on August 17, 1929 and grew up on a cattle ranch in the Sand Hills of Nebraska near Stapleton. He became a cowboy as a young man and broke horses for nearby ranchers. He took pride in the fact that he could ride and "take the buck" out of any horse.
He joined the US Army and became a motor sergeant for the Second Armored Division in Bamberg, Germany. During his tour of duty there, he met Katharina Lunz who he described as the "prettiest girl he'd ever met". He was so in love with her that he re-enlisted in the Army for a second tour of duty. They were married in Germany and returned to the USA where Ralph was stationed at Fort Meade, MD. He was assigned to an honor guard unit at Arlington National Cemetery where he commanded the unit for the funerals of high ranking officers. Upon Ralph's discharge from the Army, the couple returned to the Sand Hills of Nebraska.
Ralph resumed cattle ranching, but a disease wiped out his entire herd. He then became a meat packer for Armour Meat Packing. He worked for the company in North Platte, NE, Denver, CO, St. Joseph, MO and retired at the Nampa, ID plant. After retirement, Ralph and Katharina bought a ranch in the Sand Hollow area near Caldwell, where they grew alfalfa and raised cattle. They moved to Nampa for good in 1997.
Ralph took up wood working as a hobby and he and Katharina became frequent volunteers at both the Caldwell and Nampa Senior Centers. The happy couple loved to go dancing and became active campers with the Caldwell Ramblers. Ralph and Katharina had enjoyed many years of camping with their family of four children. Ralph and Katharina enjoyed going on cruises and traveled to the Caribbean Sea, Panama Canal, the Rhine River in Germany and Alaska. They returned to Germany many times to visit their German family. Ralph and his wife joined the First United Presbyterian Church of Nampa with many of their family members. Ralph loved being a greeter at church with his dog, Nelly, on his lap. His warm, loving smile provided a wonderful welcome for everyone who attended worship service when he greeted. Ralph had a strong faith in God and he seldom missed a Sunday worship service.Â
His wife, Katharina, preceded him in death in 2014; sisters, Goldie Freeman, Eveland Schutt and Elda Weller. Ralph is survived by his four children, Rosaline Cisek, Larry Barnum, Barbara Edmonson and Patricia Linkhart. They all live in Idaho. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Louise James (in Nampa); brothers, Ora Barnum and Gerald, Jr. Barnum (in Nebraska).
A Research Guide to the Genealogy of the Barnum/Barnam/Barnham Family Worldwide
AncientFaces - Family History Photos
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