Nicholas "Shorty Ranger, Nick" Henry Reinert
Nick Reinert, Best known as
Nick Reinhert, about 74 years of age, better known around Lusk as "Shorty Ranger", died Tuesday about 5:00 o'clock p.m. at the Spencer Hospital from a heart attack.
"Shorty" had been in failing health for the past few years. About 2:00 o'clock Monday morning he went down on the street and asked Night Officer, Dan Webster to take him to the Spencer Hospital. "I am awfully sick, and I believe I'm going to die," he told Officer Webster.
"Shorty" came to Lusk in 1928 when Mr. and Mrs. Fred Runge opened the Ranger Hotel and he was employed there as man of all work until the Runges sold the hotel to Roy Chamberlain. In recent years he had been employed by Jerry Dull at various kinds of work at the Oasis Bar and the Club Billiards. For many years he was employed by Mr. and Mrs. Runge at the Drake Hotel in Alliance, Nebr. Before that he was a mechanic with the Burlington Railroad shops at Havelock, Neb., near Lincoln, and was said to be an expert mechanic.
"Shorty" was born in Russia, in a town named Ketch, near the Black Sea. He spent several years in the Russian Army under the Czar, and was in many engagements in the Russo-Japanese war, being wounded several times. He also had two brothers who took part in the war with the Japs, but said he did not know whether they survived or not. As soon after the close of the war as possible he came to America.
Although small of stature, "Shorty" was powerful physically and during his early days in America he made his living boxing and wrestling.
Although in later years much of his time was spent working in bars, he was a man of temperate habits and seldom ever took a drink of liquor. His employers describe him as "strictly honest in every particular and a loyal and dependable friend."
Funeral services will be conducted from the Peet Chapel at 2:00 o'clock Thursday afternoon, with interment in the Lusk cemetery. Rev. Lawrence P. Juell officiating.
The Lusk Herald
September 22, 1949
Last Rites Held For Nick Reinert
Last rites were conducted for Nick Reinert from the Peet Chapel on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 15, at 2 o'clock, with Rev. Lawrence P. Juell officiating.
The songs, "Old Rugged Cross" and "Rock of Ages," were sung by a quartet composed of Rex Yocum, Don Unruh, Mrs. Edna DeCastro and Mrs. Betty Fernau with Miss Alice Fowler as the accompanist.
Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery with Joe Miller, Ray Jenkins, Frank Long, Harry Vickory, Leo Deuel and James Hoblit acting as casket bearers.