AURORA -- Howard H. Engert Hurd, 80, of Aurora died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, at his home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary chapel. The Rev. Joe Scahill will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.Mr. Hurd was born Oct. 13, 1921, at Canandaigua, N.Y., to Fred and Irene (Brown) Engert. He was an orphan train rider and was raised by James and Martha Hurd. He grew up in Stromsburg, attended District 25 School and graduated from Stromsburg High School.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served from 1942 to 1945. After the war, he drove taxicabs and worked for Meadow Brook Hospital driving an ambulance in New York.

He married Gladys E. Finn on Oct. 30, 1952, in Greeley, Colo. He began driving a truck as an owner/operator and over the years he worked for Eisemae Chemicals, Seward Motor Freight, Monfort and G.I. Moving and Storage.

He was a member of the VFW. He did public speaking at schools, care centers and the Plainsman Museum on his involvement in the Orphan Train Heritage Society of America. He enjoyed playing cards and bowling.

Survivors include his wife; five sons and daughters-in-law, James and Maureen Engert of Sidney, William and Jill Engert of Jefferson, S.D., Renard and Annie Engert of Grand Island, Loren and Cheiko Engert of Dalhart, Texas, and Carlin and Chris Engert of Aurora; five daughters and sons-in-law, Gladys and Lyal Gustafson of Madison, Wis., Frances and Brian Weisgerber of Boonsboro, Md., Renee and Chuck Enderle, and Martha and Luis Hernandez, all of Aurora, and Lorene and Jerry Landers of Lincoln; 37 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Idona Swedenburg of Clarks; and a sister and brother-in-law, Imogene and Everett Lorman of Stromsburg.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Thomas Haas and Gary Engert, and a daughter, Marjorie Kidd.
Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, Nebraska , 18 Jan, 2002.