Robert Ball Obituary (2022) – Butte, MT
Robert Ball
August 14, 1944 – May 11, 2022
Robert Henry Ball, long time resident of Reno Nevada, passed away on Wednesday May 11, 2022. He was born August 14, 1944 in Vancouver Washington to Alexander and Zoreen Ball (Kruzich). When he was young his family relocated to Montana where he and his siblings were raised. He attended Butte High School and then enlisted in the US Marines. He was initially stationed at the former Marine Corps Air Station in El Toro, Santa Ana, California and served in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he specialized as a Small Arms Technician and Mortarman with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and honorably discharged in 1968. Following his commitment in military service, he embarked on a plumbing apprenticeship program in Washington State. He had a long career as a commercial plumber in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and finally settling in Nevada with the UA Local 350 where he worked on most all of the casinos in Reno and surrounding areas. He spent much of his recreational time camping and fishing at Pyramid Lake as well as deep sea fishing in Westport Washington and the Oregon coast. When he wasn’t fishing he enjoyed mingling at the American Legion Hall and dabbing in masonry work where he built a beautiful outdoor kitchen. In his later years, he looked forward to watching and gambling on NFL football games as well as frequenting Club Cal Neva Casino where he had luck with the slot machines and enjoyed the kindness of the hostesses at the Top Deck Restaurant as one of their regular patrons . He will be remembered for many things, like his love for jelly bellies and other sweets, his raw and unfiltered personality and most importantly his generous heart. He was loved more than he realized and will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by many. Bob was predeceased by his parents; brother, Michael Thomas Ball; sister, Marceline Johanson; Uncles Henry and Tony Kruzich and respective family members. He is survived by his daughter Michelle Jackson; grandchild, Zachariah and great-grandson, Xavier; brother, Jerry and Paula Ball; sister, Susie Maroncelli; brother-in-law, Don Johanson; half-sisters, Bonnie and Bill DeHaan Gingerich and Mary and Norm Ross Goodnough; Nieces, Lori and Mike Bishop and Jacqueline Maroncelli and Robert Yoder; nephew, Don Johanson; other great nieces, nephew, cousins and loyal friend, Tim Haninger. Bob will be interred in the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley Nevada. There will be a Celebration of Life with full military honors held at a later date. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations can be made in his memory to any veterans’ organization of your choice or ones that were important to him such as Wounded Warrior Project or DAV.org. Online condolences, memories and pictures can be added and viewed at https://affinityburialcremation.com/book-of-memories/4935885/Ball-Robert-Henry/index.php.
Published by The Montana Standard on May 29, 2022.