- Date Of Birth: July 31, 1918
- Date Of Death: July 7, 2013
- State: Idaho
Robert Neil Ground, 94, of Boise, Idaho passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 7, 2013.
Bob was born July 31, 1918, in the family home in Juniata, Nebraska, the third of seven children, to Lawrence Arthur Ground and Flossie Viola Campbell Ground. He attended elementary school in Hayland, Nebraska and graduated from Prosser High School in 1936. For the next 4 years, he helped on the family farm and worked on nearby farms harvesting wheat and corn and milking cows. He took jobs like custom combining from Texas to Canada one summer. He and his brother, Larry also did grain harvesting in Minnesota, using grain binders and threshing machines. They also stayed and hand-picked a hundred bushels of corn a day.
In the summer of 1940, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he was in a company that repaired trucks. He trained to become a machinist in Texas; and then left for overseas. Crossing the ocean took 15 days and they first landed in Scotland; then trucked to Liverpool, England from where they were sent in the first wave of the invasion of Africa. He worked as the only American in a British motor pool in Algiers to help with their American made equipment.
His company then worked their way thru Tunisia and Sicily to eventually land on the tip of Italy; then on to Naples and Rome. While in Italy American planes miscalculated bomb targets and dropped 6 bombs on his company. Many lives were lost.
Exactly 3 years overseas, his name was drawn out of a hat for a month long furlough and he headed home from Florence. The war ended and he was discharged in the spring of 1945.
He worked as a mechanic for Garrett Freight Lines and the family was transferred to Portland, Oregon where he was the shop foreman.
In July, 1950, they moved to Baker, Idaho near Salmon to help Wilma’s Dad run his ranch. Money was scarce, so he worked on a dam near Chester, Montana one winter, and was hired by Morrison Knudsen to work on the fill across the Great Salt Lake for the railroad for three years. They then returned to Salmon, bought the ranch and worked it until selling it in 1967 and moving to Pocatello. Retirement was boring for this man who loved to work and in 1969, he took a job as a mechanic for farm equipment in Meridian. They moved to Boise and he traveled daily in the Treasure valley, Oregon, and Nevada servicing John Deer and New Holland farm equipment until 1982 when Bob retired.
For the next 20 years Bob and Wilma took their fifth wheel trailer every year to southern California from January through March. He loved to be warm and had a special gift for the game of golf which he played as often as possible. They enjoyed the fellowship of many wonderful neighbors everywhere. Throughout the years, he also enjoyed bowling and making crafty creations such as airplanes and rocking chairs from beer cans; colorful patio lights and macramé lawn chairs.
Always ready and willing to extend a helping hand, he made lasting friends wherever he went. His joy and love of family was always evident.
This man of few words loved his country and its flag and the freedom it stands for.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma; son and wife, Gary and Billie Ground in Boise, Idaho; grandchildren, Amye and Dave Madsen of Donnelly, Idaho and Kevin and Margaret Ground of Meridian, Idaho; great grandchildren, Brandon Ground and Alyssa Ground; two sisters, Marion Duncan in Florida and Mildred Day in California; and many nieces and nephews. Four step grandchildren, John now serving in the U.S. Marines, Jacob, Shanae and Keitha also held a special place in his heart.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard and Lawrence; and two sisters, Dorothy and Lois.
