Leo Chingren

L eo C hingren, of North Platte, died unexpectedly at Great Plains Health on March 2, 2021, at the age of 77.

Leo was born in North Platte on May 23, 1943, to Vernon and Grace Chingren. He grew up in North Platte where he worked at the Pawnee Spring Ranch when he was young then graduated from NPHS in 1962.

While in high school Leo joined the Nebraska Army National Guard and this led to his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1963. He served at Yankee Station, off the coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin, aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. Following his discharge in '67, Leo lived in Arizona and California before returning to North Platte in 1972.

On November 2, 1973, Leo married Coleen Maline in Oberlin, KS, and they made their home in North Platte. Leo worked for Central Distributing, Fleec Brothers Trucking, NPPD as a Lineman then hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad, working as a Lineman Electrician. He was a member of the IBEW Union and retired from the railroad as Electrical Foreman in 2012.

Leo enjoyed hunting, trout fishing, bird watching and NASCAR. He especially loved his family and was proud of his grandkids. He enjoyed helping take care of the grandkids and watching them in their various activities. Leo will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Chingren; mother and stepfather, Grace and Louis Berniklau; brother, Dewitt Schroeder; stepbrother, Bernie Berniklau; brother-in-law, Gus Maline; and in-laws, Lloyd and Lila Maline.

Leo leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Coleen, and their children, Stacy (Colton) Albrecht, Jacob (Katie) Chingren and Patrick Chingren (Erica Silos), all of North Platte; grandchildren, Sophia and Jocelyn Chingren and Cole Albrecht; and his brother, Lloyd (Susan) Chingren, of Acton, CA.

Survivors also include brothers-in-law, Allen (Susan) Maline, Carl (Darlene) Maline, Bill Maline and Bob (Sherry) Maline; sisters-in-law, Mary Ann (Rod) Karre, Ida Mae Lauer, Rose Maline, Kathy (Charlie) Huebner and Sharron Maline; as well as many special nieces and nephews and other family.

Cremation was chosen. Services will be 2 p.m. on Friday, March 5, 2021, at Odean Colonial Chapel with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. For those unable to attend, services will be recorded and posted to odeanchapel.com.

The memorial book may be signed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family for later designation to local charities.