James Donald Hoblit

James Donald Hoblit

James Hoblit, 62, Niobrara resident for the past 34 years, died in the Niobrara Memorial Hospital about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. He had been hospitalized for over three months.

Funeral services will be held from the Peet Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Friday with Masonic services. Military graveside rites will also be conducted.

Mr. Hoblit first came to Lance Creek about 1926. the Hoblit family moved to Lusk in 1933 where he was a partner in opening the C. & H. Refinery. In 1940 he purchased a ranch about half mile west of Lusk.

Relatives request memorial donations may go to the Cancer fund.

He is survived by his wife, Annabelle, daughter, Mrs. C. E. Hollon; five brothers and sisters, Mrs. James Smith of Keeline, Graydon of Lusk, Gordon (Bill) of Lusk, Robert of Martin, S.D. Mrs, Don Hollenbeck of Casper. His first wife, Emma preceded him in death in 1940.

The Lusk Herald
April, 1959
Funeral services for James Hoblit Are Held Friday

Funeral services were held Friday at 2:00 p.m. from the Peet Chapel for James D. Hoblit, 62, who died April 28. Rev. Jacob Nein officiated. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery. Masonic rites were accorded the deceased by Harmony Lodge No. 24 with the American Legion giving final military rites.

A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Walter Fernau, Mrs. Robert Bramlet, Harry Lyon and Dr. Richard Collins sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Nearer My God to Thee." Mrs. J. P. Watson was organist.

Active pallbearers were Louis Tschacher, Martin Glandt, Emit Bone, Owen Harness, J. Wesley Wolfe, Roy Chamberlain, Clarence Patton and C. E. Marvin. Honorary pallbearers were Marvin Skillings, Jimmy Rodgers, Fred Sheaman, Ivan Maxwell, Fred Kettler, D. A. Shoopman, George Gibson, Frank Bautch, Ira Roth, Joe Kuhn, Bob Macey, Barney Miller, Eddie Plumb, Dr. O.E. Torkelson, Duff Hollon, A. F. DeCAstro, S. W. Boyd, C. W. Spacht, Charlie Hitshew, P.P. Brown, C. W. Irwin, H. J. Templeton, T. A. Godfrey, Melvin Lambert and Harry Boner.

James Donald Hoblit, the eldest son of Melvin and Mary Wiley Hoblit, was born Jan. 12, 1897 in Keya Paha County near Brocksburg, Neb. His early youth was spent at the family home and his education was obtained in Sioux City, Iowa.

Entering the field of employment at an early age, one of his first positions was with the Standard Oil company at Whiting, Ind. His interest in the oil industry and especially refining of oil continued throughout his life and for many years he was employed by the Ohio Oil Company at Salt Creek and Lance Creek.

He came to Niobrara County in 1917, first living in the Keeline community and making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Lee.

With the entrance of the United States into World War I, he enlisted in the Signal Corps and served in that capacity until the end of the war. He received his discharge at Colorado College, Colorado Springs. Upon his return to this community, he met and married Miss Emma Wagner April 19, 1920 in Upton. They were the parents of one daughter, Donnabelle, now Mrs. C. E. (Jerry) Hollon. Mrs. Hoblit died Aug. 13, 1940.

In 1933 he entered into partnership with Roy Chamberlain of Lusk and established the C & H Refinery. He became sole owner of the establishment in 1937 and had continued to operate the business until the time of his death. In 1939 he purchased the land adjoining the refinery known as the McClure and Bradley property and engaged in the ranching business. On Jan. 15, 1942 he and Miss Annabelle Lore were married at Kimball, Neb. The couple made their home at the Hoblit ranch west of Lusk.

Mr. Hoblit was a charter member of Witen-Dupes Post No. 4 of the American Legion and a charter member of Lusk Lodge 24 and a 32 degree Scottish Rite mason and a member of Custer Lodge No. 21 I.O.O.F. of Lusk.

Following an illness of three months, Mr. Hoblit died Tues. evening April 28, at the Niobrara Memorial Hospital. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Mary Hoblit, in 1948, his father, Melvin Hoblit in 1949, and one sister, Mrs. Charles Kabler, in 1956.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Annabelle Hoblit; daughter, Mrs. C. E. Hollon; three grandchildren, James Duff, Heidi and Holli Hollon, all of Lusk; two sisters; Mrs. Don Hollenbeck of Casper and Mrs. James Smith of Keeline; three brothers: Morton (Bob ) Hoblit of Martin, S.D; Gordon (Bill) Hoblit and Graydon (Bud) Hoblit of Lusk, and numerous other relatives.

Out of town relatives here for trhe services were Mrs. Don Hollenbeck, Gordon Hollenbeck, Charles Kobler, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Turner, Casper; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Hollenbeck and son, Laramie; Mr. and Mrs. Bob Hoblit and daughters, Mrs. Marguerite Whitaker, Mrs. Jack Krus, Martin, S.D.; Mrs. Charlie Hoag, Wheatland; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Walker, Mrs. Elmer Essex, Alliance, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs, Arthur Denton, Minitare, Nebr.; Mrs. Jennie Smith, Cheyenne; Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Kibbee, Igloo, S.D.

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