# In Memoriam Berri Balka Jack F. Kinney Francis W. Benedict Daniel D. Koukol Hon. William D. Blue Vance E. Leininger Russel E. Burford Jr. Jerre William Moreland Marianne Clare Larry W. Myers Hon. John E. Clark Hon. Jerry C. Nelson Howard B. Dooley James D. Owens Paul L. Douglas John K. Palmer John R. Doyle Kenneth H. Elson Hyman Polsky Richard T. Emery Kathleen M. Quinn C. Randy Endelman Georgiana F. Ruzicka Conrad C. Erickson Donald R. Sampson Patrick M. Ford Kristin Kay Schroeder Kenneth C. Fritzler Gordon S. Senift Sheldon M. Gallner Hon. Brian C. Silverman John J. Goc Raymond E. Speer II James T. Goetz Jerry C. Stirtz William H. Grant Willis L. Strong Jerome P. Grossman George R. Horner Arthur C. Toogood Guy J. Hugunin III Peter J. Vaughn Daniel D. Jewell Eugene P. Welch Albert M. Johnston Malcolm D. Young Thank you to In Memoriam Committee Chair Rex Schultze and Senior Lawyers Section Chair Robert T. Grimit for their time and effort put in to gathering information for this booklet as a special way to remember and honor those NSBA members that passed this year. # Berri Balka May 20, 1942 – May 19, 2013 Lincoln, NE Berri Balka, 70, died May 19, 2013. He was born May 20, 1942 to Berri Marvin and Charlotte (Bills) Balka in Oshkosh. He grew up in Garden County on a ranch near Lisco. Berri graduated from Garden County High School in Oshkosh, receiving a BA with honors from the University of Wyoming and Juris doctorate from the University of Nebraska. Berri served in the U.S. Army and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Parachute Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation and Aircraft Crewman Badge. Berri had a life-long love of politics. He served as the state of Nebraska Insurance Director 1976-1978 in the Exon administration, Tax Commissioner 1991-1999 for Gov. E. Benjamin Nelson and was currently serving as Legislative Aide to State Sen. Galen Hadley. Survivors include his wife of 35 years, Judy; daughter, Sara (Ryan) White and grandsons, Hudson and Lucas of Bloomington, Illinois; daughter, Ana (Steven) Ysma of Kiln, Mississippi; and sister, Sandra (Floyd) Schmitt of North Platte; niece, Michelle Okomoto and family; nephew, Galen Young and family. Francis W. “Bud” Benedict July 27, 1931 – October 15, 2012 Castle Rock, CO Francis Ward “Bud” Benedict, 81, passed away on October 15, 2012. He had put up a valiant fight against Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma since 2000. Bud was born in Lincoln, Nebraska to Albert and Frances Benedict on July 27, 1931. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a law degree, he moved the family to Chicago for three years, then to Marin County to work in the Legal Dept at Fireman’s Fund in San Francisco. After retiring from Fireman’s Fund, he and Barbara moved to Castle Rock, Colorado. Bud had a rich and full life and did everything with the utmost integrity. He was always active with his Church, and served on many boards offering his sound advice and years of experience. He loved to sail his boat in the San Francisco Bay, and spend time at his cabin in Lake Tahoe. His years in Colorado included lots of golf and snow skiing. Bud’s first love was always his wife and family and lots of time was spent every year traveling to stay with each of them in California, Arizona, Virginia, Boston, Ohio and Nebraska. Bud is survived by his loving wife, Victoria “Vickie” of six years, his children, Sharon (Allen) Luce, Susan (Nick) Hulsebos, Cathryn Benedict, Scott (Kelley) Benedict, and Vickie’s daughters, Cheryl Schenk and Michelle (Dennis) Bachman. Barbara Benedict his beloved wife of 52 years predeceased him in 2004. Hon. William D. Blue January 20, 1926 – January 14, 2013 Lincoln, NE The Honorable William D. Blue died on January 14, 2013, just a few days short of his 87th birthday. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II. Judge Blue graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1952. He practiced law with the Barney Pearson law firm in Lincoln for a few years, before joining the Lancaster County Attorney’s office, eventually becoming the chief deputy county attorney. Judge Blue was appointed to the Lancaster County District Court bench in July 1972. He served on that bench until he retired in December 1996. During his 24 years of service, Judge Blue was a mentor to a number of the judges who joined the Lancaster County District Court bench after him and to others across the state. # As a judge, Judge Blue was the judge you aspired to be. He was extremely fair and even-tempered. If you had to be in court, Judge Blue was the judge before whom you wanted to appear. He was courteous to all those who appeared before him. It did not matter to him whether you were a lawyer from a prestigious law firm, a solo practitioner who had just hung out a shingle or a pro se litigant. He treated all those who appeared before him as he viewed them - equal. During his tenure on the bench, he was invited to sit with the Nebraska Supreme Court to hear cases. He wrote opinions on several occasions. He served on several Supreme Court committees, including the Practice and Procedure Committee that drafted the Nebraska Pattern Jury Instructions. In addition to being fair minded and kind, Judge Blue was a man with a great sense of humor. A good example of his humor was when one of his boys was talking with him about burial versus cremation. In pure Bill Blue fashion, he responded: “As Bob Hope said . ‘Surprise me’!” Finally, paraphrasing one of his boys: Bill Blue was a man of principle. He was compassionate and curious, very interested in people. He was a class act. He is survived by his son, John W. Blue, and his wife, Sharry, of Ann Arbor Mich.; and daughter-in-law, Barbara Blue, of Chicago. He is also survived by his youngest son, James R. Blue, and his wife, Susanne, of Lincoln. His grandchildren are Daniel, Laura, Megan and Michael Blue. His step-children are Kristin Johnson, and husband, Ken; Robin Whitten, and husband, John; and Scott Walters. Step-grandchildren are John Whitten, Emily Whitten, Melanie Cohavi, Erik Johnson, Peter Johnson, Matthew Johnson, and David Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved Auntie Es, his first wife, Mary Elizabeth (Kinsinger) Blue and Marilyn (Coffey) Blue. Russel E. Burford Jr. April 8, 1948 – October 15, 2012 Omaha, NE Russel E. Burford Jr. passed away October 15, 2012. He received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and his J.D. from the University of Michigan in 1974. He was admitted to practice in Michigan, Washington D.C., California and Nebraska in 2000. He was a solo practitioner in Omaha and was previously employed by Chiquita Brands International. He was preceded in death by his parents, Russel Sr. and Helen Burford. He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Burford. Marianne Clare April 15, 1949 – August 27, 2013 Omaha, NE Marianne Clare passed away August 27, 2013. She received her undergraduate degree from Dana College and graduated from Creighton University School of Law in 1975, a member of the first class to occupy The Ahmanson Law Center. At the beginning of her legal career, she served as a deputy county attorney in North Platte. She later returned to Omaha to a solo practice before joining the law firm of Marks, Clare, Hopkins & Rauth. She evenutally became a partner in the firm of Marks, Clare and Hopkins before her retirement. Judge Gary Randall said of his former law partner, “she was a brilliant attorney and loved serving the needs of her clients.” She will be remembered for her Irish wit and devotion to family, friends, and clients. She is survived by her son, Kelly Vainiunas, former spouse Gus Vainiunas, sisters Jeanne Nolan and Denise Clare, brother John Clare, and uncle John Minton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rosemary and Truman Clare. Hon. John E. Clark October 26, 1924 – January 19, 2013 Omaha, NE The Honorable John E. Clark, 88, died January 19, 2013. John was born in Omaha to Pearl and Amy (Briggs) Clark. Like many of his generation, John’s views and values were profoundly influenced by the Great Depression and World War II, when he served in the U. S. Navy in the Pacific Theater aboard LST 919. He graduated from Creighton University Law School in 1951 and began a long and distinguished career as a Public Servant, holding the positions of FBI agent, Douglas County Deputy Attorney, Omaha Municipal Court Judge, and Douglas County District Court Judge. He was preceded in death by wife Patricia; parents; brother Tom; sister-in-law Mildred Clark; brother- in-law Ray Kenney; and son-in-law Gary Rasher. He is survived by sons, Jim (Debi) Clark, Bill (Pam) Clark; daughters, Kathryn Clark, all Omaha, Mary Jane Rasher, Highlands Ranch, CO; grandchildren, Allie ( Dave) Marchetti, Bellevue, Kayla, Michael, Bobby, and David Clark, Nicole, and Dan Carroll, all of Omaha; great grandchildren, Mackenzie, and Gabriella Marchetti, Bellevue; brother- and sister-in-law, Bill and Ann Kenney, Omaha; sister-in-law Martha Kenney, St. Petersburg, nieces and nephews. Dr. Howard B. Dooley October 6, 1916 - May 15, 2013 Aurora, NE Dr. Howard B. Dooley, 96, died in Aurora on May 15, 2013. Howard was born on October 6, 1916, in Palmer to Isaac Turner Dooley and Katherine M (Badgley) Dooley.