CLIFFORD C. AND LAURA [ZELLER] SCHREIER
Clifford Schreier, born September 26, 1897, studied law at the
University of Nebraska and subsequently worked in banks at Fremont
and Allen, Nebraska, and also at Janousek, South Dakota. He returned
to Verdigre in 1925 and became associated with his brother, Oscar,
in Schreier Brothers’ Lumber Co.
On June 17, 1924, he married Laura Zeller, born in 1901 to Frederick
Zeller and Anastasia Rossman. She was secretary to the senior Mr.
Gurney at Yankton. The couple had three sons: Clifford L., Philip
L., and William R.
At an advanced age, Mr. Schreier remains active in the lumberyard.
He also served as Village Clerk for 18 years and was the chief of
the Verdigre Volunteer Fire Department and Director of the Verdigre
Cooperative Credit Association at one time. Cliff still enjoys
fishing locally.
Clifford L., “Bub,” the oldest son, was born living. He
served in the Army in WWII. Much of his adult life was spent as a
rural mail carrier. He succeeded his father as City Clerk and held
that position for 20 years. He was re-elected to the city council
several times and served numerous terms as mayor. He has also been a
pillar of the Improvement Club, serving most recently as Chairman of
the Verdigre Development Corporation. Clifford L.’s first wife was
Joan Hall, a teacher, whom he married May 28, 1946. They had two
children, Connie, born living, and Scott, born living. Connie is married to Leigh Kelly and they live in Tulsa,
Oklahoma. She is a lawyer and her husband is a professor of law at
the University of Tulsa. Scott is married to Patricia Riley of
Seattle. He is a Forestry Engineer and Pat is a clothing designer.
They live in Suquamish, Washington. After Bub’s divorce, he married
Mary Elford Engelhart of Lincoln. Mary was a member of the Museum
Board when the current museum complex was being developed.
Philip L. was born on living. He also served in the U. S.
Army. He attended UNL for two years on the G. I. Bill and
transferred to Denver University for their lumber dealer’s major.
Offered the management of a lumber yard in Stratton, Nebraska, he
left college. By this time he was married to Lona Leonard of
Ainsworth, whom he met at UNL. He returned to Verdigre and
Schreier’s Lumber Company after the death of his uncle Oscar, and
became manager. He served as a district director of the Nebraska
Lumber Dealer’s Association, was secretary of the Improvement Club
at the time of the Diamond Jubilee celebration, coordinating much of
these doings and was also police judge for Verdigre for several
years. He drew plans for and supervised the building when Schreier’s
Lumber Co. contracted to build the majority of the homes and many of
the commercial buildings in the new Niobrara. Many years of planning
and advising for a great number of new homes built in Verdigre were
good experience for this. The whole family enjoys fishing and
hunting together. Phil and Lona have seven children: Philip,
Stephen, Teresa, Mark, Chris, Clifford, and Cathy.
[pg 287 PHOTO The C. C. Schreier family - standing from left: C. L.
“Bub” Schreier, Mrs. C. C. [Laura] Schreier, Philip and wife Lona
Schreier, and William Schreier; seated from left: Mrs. C. L. [Mary}
Schreier; C. L. Schreier; and Mrs. William [Ann} Schreier]
Philip Michael, born living, is a Licensed Professor
Mechanical Engineer and now junior partner with Ferris Engineering
in Omaha. He is married to Jeanne Dendinger of Yankton, and they are
the parents of Paul, Luke, and Laura. She is a specialist in
education.
Stephen, born living, returned to Verdigre to become the
fourth generation of the family in the Schreier Lumber Yard after
receiving his business degree at UNL. He is active in the Lions
Club, serving as secretary one term, taught CCD, served on the
Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, and was Knox County Republican
Chairman, now serving as treasurer.
Teresa, born living, is married to Ralph Brock of Omaha. Both
attended UNL. They live in Renton, Washington, and have a son Colin.
Ralph is office manager of Chromalux Corporation and Teresa is
collections manager of a savings and loan. Colin was born in
Verdigre when they spent several years here and Ralph was an
electrician in the area.
Mark Leonard, born living, entered the Navy after
graduating from Chadron State and is now a Flight Officer, a
Lieutenant, who has flown off carriers in an EA6B. He lives in Oak
Harbor, Washington, and currently instructs electronics at Whidbey
Island Naval Base.
Clifford P., born living, is working for IBM in Rochester,
Minnesota, on new developments since receiving his electrical
engineering degree at UNL.
Cathy, born living, attended Kearney State and married
Brian Ferguson of Burwell. They have a son, Joseph Benjamin, and
live at Colorado Springs where he is a Coors Distributor and she
works for A. T. & T.
Lona, a teacher at Creighton, also taught Spanish and other subjects
for many years at Verdigre. She directed plays and was speech coach
when VHS had great talent winners at Conference, District, and a
State Champion Duet Team composed of Karen Zerbe and Liz Rakov. She
has been a member of the library board many years and is currently
chairman. Lona also wrote and published a book of poetry about
birds.
William R. was born living, to C. C. and Laura Schreier.
In 1946 he bought the school bus from Dale Smith. (At that time only
one bus was needed to transport high school students to and from
school.) He served two years in the army during the Korean War. In
1953 he took over the Verdigre Oil Company, which he still operates
though with Conoco. On September 7, 1950, he married Ann Wagner of
Creighton. The couple had three children: Joel, Mary, and Lois.
Joel, born living, is employed by U. S. Fidelity and Guaranty
Insurance Co. of Omaha. (He attended USD at Vermillion.) Joel
married Linda Schultz, a registered nurse. Mary V. married Gerald
Palermo of Merrick, Long Island, New York. She attended college at
Rapid City where he was stationed. After he graduated from
Spearfish, they returned to New York. Mary works for a newspaper and
Gerry is in a managerial position. Lois Ann, born living,
is a registered dietitian at King Faisal Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia.
Bill served on the Alpine Village Board of Directors.
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