Ronnie C. Powell
April 25, 1947 - February 16, 2021

Ronnie C. Powell was born on April 25, 1947 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He passed away at home in Papillion, Nebraska on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. He was 73 years old.

Ronnie was raised on a farm off River Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Ronnie attended Armstrong High School class of 1965. He excelled in sports - basketball, football, and track & field. The physical benefits and mental discipline of which he would maintain throughout his life. He remembered his high school days as driving on back roads in fast cars & many innocent crushes.

In college, he was to study math, but his collegiate experience got cut short in its first year by a draft by the Army during the Vietnam War. Ronnie's father, Alexander Sr., a veteran himself, got wind of a draft from a friend he had served with. Knowing Ronnie would be drafted to the Army, and most certainly to the front lines of the war where he would be killed - as a great many black men were at that time - Alexander Sr. took his son to the office of the Air Force and voluntarily enrolled him into the service effectively saving his life.

During the war, he served overseas in Germany at Rammstein AFB in an artillery division loading bombs onto aircraft that flew into war. He then transferred briefly to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, and then again to Offutt AFB in Omaha where he was discharged. Ronnie was extremely proud to have fought for his country, and extremely proud to be a US Veteran. He would rarely be seen without wearing his commemorative Vietnam Veteran's cap.

During this time he also was to have been married twice, and had 3 children. Kimberly Powell from his first marriage. Kory Powell-McCoy and Kandiss Powell from his second, all of whom mourn the loss of their father this day.

He settled in Ralston, Nebraska after leaving the Air Force in 1981. Took a position at Mutual of Omaha as a systems analyst and then at First Data Resources as the same. He was one of very few people who could write code in an old DDT debugger language that these institutions used. He was a loyal and industrious employee and was always known, as in all parts of his life, to be very well-liked. Always there to offer a joke and a smile.

Ronnie, from a young age, developed an epic love for all-things James Brown and collected many, many albums through the years. He was never shy to show off his best funky chicken or mashed potato and perform his best vocal impersonation, which was admittedly darn good.

Ronnie's faith in God was a constant and ever prevailing force in his life. He was raised in the Methodist faith by his parents, and continued that tradition with his 2 children in Ralston at Trinity United Methodist Church where he would continue to practice his faith until he died. The Trinity family was a mainstay and a source of spiritual understanding, rejuvenation, community, and recreation for him. He attended many bible studies, church outings & gatherings, and helped with not only the weekly operations of the church as a layperson, but also participated in several committees over the years helping with others to make church life at Trinity a robust one. His bowling prowess in the church league was something he was particularly proud of. The relationships made through Trinity UMC have lasted a lifetime, and is a testament to the character of the people at this church.

Ronnie cherished all of his children, and genuinely believed Fatherhood to be his greatest accomplishment. He was always there to help with extra-curricular activities, whether coaching or simply driving to or picking up his kids. His son, Kory, played sports, as Ronnie did before him, and was involved in theatre and performance. Kandiss was also involved in dance, as well as science, and intellectual pursuits - ever the avid reader. Kim - who'd faith in God is as strong as her Father's

In his mid-life he began to take weightlifting seriously. Always strong and fit, his serious pursuit brought him into competitive body building and powerlifting. At this he excelled greatly, winning many 1st place trophies at various conferences and putting himself in record books at almost every competition. He thrived at the various gyms he belonged to over the years, becoming a familiar face and someone the younger generation of weightlifters could go to for advice and assistance. Weightlifting and the gym were almost as important as his faith, feeding him physically as much as his faith fueled him spiritually. He was always striving to beat his last best lift, ever-longing to better himself at his craft.

He spent his retirement this way - at the gym, at church, and talking with his children as much as he could. It didn't take much for him to feel satisfied and whole. Ronnie lived a full life of genuine good-nature and well-being. The love of his family and his day-to-day routine would be enough to sustain him until his death.

Ronnie is predeceased by his father and mother, Alexander "Zan" Powell, Sr. (a WW II Veteran) and Aggie "Doll Baby" Murphy Powell, and his older brother, Alexander "Junior" Powell, Jr. He leaves to cherish his memory: daughters, Kimberly Powell Davis (Lucious Davis) and Kandiss Powell (Jeffrey Hinrichs); son, Kory Powell-McCoy (Gary McCoy); brothers, Hon. Errol H. Powell (Patricia Green-Powell), Rev. Darnell Powell (Geraldine Powell); sister, Anita Powell Graham (Ernest Graham); two grandchildren, Shelby Davis and Lucious Davis, Jr.; a host of loving nieces and nephews; and other family and friends.

Graveside service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Forest Lawn Cemetery with military honors.

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