SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Antone Ball Sr., 89, of South Sioux City passed away Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, at a local hospital.
Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel, with the Rev. Robert Rook of Peace Reformed Church officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Antone was born Dec. 17, 1917, in Decatur, Neb., to Walter "Whiskers" and Rosa (Marks) Ball. He was baptized a Methodist. He grew up, attended school and graduated from Decatur High School in Decatur. He served honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was married to Doris E. Gardner in 1935. He later married Verna Livingston at United Methodist Church in South Sioux City in 1974. He came to Sioux City in 1941, where he resided until 1970, when he moved to South Sioux City. Antone was employed with Armour & Company for 23 years. He was also a leading race horse owner and trainer in the Siouxland area.
Antone was an avid reader and father figure to many at the race tracks. He enjoyed horses, story telling, yodeling and being a conversationalist.
Survivors include his wife, Verna of South Sioux City; children, Antone E. and Muraine "Dutch" Ball Jr. of Sioux City, Kaye F. and Russ Ahrendt of Sergeant Bluff, Marlene and Robert Miller of South Sioux City, Marvin and Nancy Franke of Las Vegas, Nev., Melvin and Vicki Franke of Pierre, S.D., and Charlene M. Franke of Minneapolis, Minn.; grandchildren, Gunnery Sgt., U.S.M.C., A. Tyler and Tanya Ball of San Antonio, Texas, Deanna K. Ball of Edmond, Okla., Shanal Majercak of South Sioux City, Terry Miller of Phoenix, Ariz., and Shay and Jeff Gebauer of Sioux City; a special great-grandson Ryan Majercak; 10 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Eva Beck of Omaha, Mildred Taurman of Utica, Mont., and Frances Ball of Hot Springs, Ark.
He was preceded in death by sisters, Leona Canelly, Grace Jensen, Magill Ball, Jessie Ulmer and Myrtle French; and a brother, Louis Ball.