August W. "Whitey" Westphal

August W. “Whitey” Westphal, age 91, of North Ridgeville, passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus following a sudden illness. He was born in Fremont, Nebraska and had been a resident to f North Ridgeville since 1986 moving from Falls Church, Virginia. He previously lived in Cleveland. August worked as a conductor for the Chicago-Northwestern’s Railroad. He was also the manager of the Legislation and Education Department of the Cleveland branch of United Transportation Union. He served in Washington DC as a lobbyist to Congress and was director of Legislative research for United Transportation Union from 1965-1981. Whitey was also President Emeritus of NARVRE for the past 16 years. He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Westlake and the North Star Masonic Lodge 638 in Cleveland, where he had been a member since 1967. Playing golf and fishing were activities he enjoyed doing. Survivors include his sons, Lynn (Margaret) Westphal and Rodney Westphal both of North Ridgeville; grandchildren Jeffrey (Lori) Guggenbiller, Jenni (Nathan) Lizanich, Jason (Katie) Westphal and Nicole (Russell) Clouse; great grandchildren CC, Charlie, Kaia, Cole, Gretchen, Stella and Russell IV; brother, Ronald (Juliet) Westphal of Arlington, Texas; sisters, Joyce Westphal of Fremont, Nebraska, Victoria (Bill) Wellstead of Waco, Texas, Beverly (Don) Rice of Fremont, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gretchen (nee Hoefs) in 2008; parents, August and Ruby (nee Millar) Westphal and daughter-in-law, Karen Westphal in 2011. Friends may call Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. at the Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville. A Masonic Service will be held on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Funeral Service will be held Thursday at 10:00 am at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 28455 Center Ridge Rd., Westlake. Pastor Sherman Bishop will officiate. Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, Avon. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made in Whitey's name to Friends Helping Friends, 21135 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park, 44126. For further information or to send an online condolence please visit www.bognerfamilyfuneralhome.com

August W. "Whitey" Westphal

June 25, 1926 - March 25, 2018