Charles Edward "Ed" Mincer, 87, of Hamburg, died May 23, 2010 at the Ambassador in Sidney. He was born March 25, 1923 in rural Hamburg to Charles E. and Marcia M. (Forney) Mincer, Sr.
He grew up on the family orchard, which was founded in 1890. He was home schooled then attended Militia Hollow, a one-room school. He then stayed in Hamburg with his grandmother to attend high school. He graduated salutatorian of the Class of 1941 at Hamburg High School.
He worked at his father's orchard and Catron Orchard in Nebraska City, as well as doing some labor jobs in Nebraska and Minnesota from 1941-48. He then attended Peru State College, graduating with a teaching certificate in July of 1949. He taught at Essex for a year.
He married Greta Elizabeth "Liz" Boettner of Rock Port, Mo. They farmed with John Boettner in Missouri.
He married Edna Stalling on May 28, 1959 at Omaha. He farmed and attended University of Nebraska-Omaha while increasing the work he did at the family orchard. He took over the operations of Mincer Orchard and opened the Mincer Orchard retail location in 1960 with the help of Dick Teachout. He erected the current structure in 1976. He sold Mincer Orchard to Martin Mincer in 1998 and continued to raise strawberries until 2006.
He was a member of Kiwanis for over 23 years. He served on the Grape Community Hospital Board, was a member of the Masons for more than 60 years and was the grand marshal for the Popcorn Day parade in 1995.
He is survived by wife Edna Mincer of Hamburg; children Gary Mincer of Cape Canaveral, Fla., Charles Craig Mincer and wife Connie of Lake Toxaway, N.C., Kerry Sue Scardina and husband Jack of Omaha, David Mincer and wife Beth of Hamburg, and Marty Mincer of Hamburg; eight grandchildren: Dustin Barnes, Heather Metz, Nathan Metz, Sean Metz, Kelly Pruitt, Aaron Mincer, Caleb Mincer and Elayna Mincer; son-in-law Mike Metz of Fairfield; siblings Margaret Bryant and husband Tom and Darryl Mincer and wife Sarah, all of Redding, Calif.; brother-in-law Walter Ursdevenicz of Omaha; and other family and friends.
He was preceded by daughter Mary DiAnn Metz and sister Lois Ursdevenicz.
Funeral services were May 27 at United Trinity Church in Hamburg with Rev. Mel Hurst and Rev. Sara Malone officiating. Burial was at Hamburg Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Clint Hlavaty, Nathan Metz, Sean Metz, Dustin Barnes, Aaron Mincer, Caleb Mincer and Donn Metheny. Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Smalley and Hamburg Kiwanis Club members. Music was by Amy McCord and Ray Williams. Memorial book was attended by Shelly Hlavaty and Heather Metz.
