Ron Lienemann has called Rushville home since 1986; even though it has only been 24 years he said it seems like Rushville has always been his home. “I can’t think of a better place to have been a parent and have raised my kids. I may have been from Nebraska but I will never go back, Rushville is my home,” Lienemann said.
During his early life Lienemann lived in the Great Plains state of Nebraska in a town called Sidney.
He said there are a number of similarities between Sidney and Rushville, both communities are about the same size and population, but there also are a few major differences.
Sidney is the 14th largest town in Nebraska. Another difference is the distance between towns. The nearest town to Sidney is hours away, while an 18 mile drive in any direction from Rushville will find another town.
Following graduation from high school year, Lienemann attended Wayne State, located in the northeast part of Nebraska, with the thought of becoming an attorney.
One defining factor in his choice regarding a school of higher education centered on athletics. At the time the young man thought of playing college football.
“I wanted to play college football and didn’t think I was quite the quality they needed at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, but at Wayne State I did OK,” Lienemann said with a laugh.
He graduated from college in the spring of 1975 with two degrees, a Political Science degree and a Business degree.
The next chapter of his life began with working a series of jobs, ending as assistant manager at an energy company.
“My father worked for the energy company (Rural Electric) so that is what I grew up around and was familiar with,” he said.
Little did Lienemann know that a few years later he would become a Hoosier.
“The last week of 1986 I moved to Rushville and replaced Joe Lower as the manager of the Rush County REMC,” he said.
A few years later he assumed double duties when he also took the helm of Shelby County REMC.
In May 1999 the two energy companies merged to form what is now known as RushShelby Energy.
When afforded the time, Lienemann likes to volunteer his services in his community. He recently was found helping rewire electric lines at the Rushville softball field snack bar, a project that is being completed and paid for in large part with donations thanks to the efforts of many volunteers.
“As a result of living in a small town sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves to get things accomplished. You can’t always wait on someone else to jump in. But in this case (at the softball field) I have really done very little. There are a lot of others who have done a lot more work here than me,” Lienemann said.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
