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Harvey Aronson helped reshape the skylines of Omaha and Lincoln.
He was in charge of additions to Memorial Stadium in Lincoln and Mutual of Omaha, the Henry Doorly Zoo and Joslyn Art Museum, all in Omaha.
“His greatest professional achievement was the Woodmen Tower,” said Aronson's grandson Tom Aronson of Los Angeles.
These buildings stand as monuments to the former president of the Building Group of Kiewit Corp.
Harvey Aronson of Omaha died Sunday at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home. He was 86 and died after a long illness, said his wife, Phyllis Aronson.
He earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1988, Aronson retired after 41 years with Kiewit, having started at the company as an estimating engineer.
Aronson was on the Salvation Army, Methodist Hospital and Mutual of Omaha Money Market boards.
During his Kiewit tenure, he handled the firm's charitable contributions, his wife said.
Aronson served with the 7th Army's 44th Infantry Division in World War II. He received the battlefield commission of 2nd lieutenant in Germany. During his tour, he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
“He was very proud of his career in the service,” she said.
She described him as “a man of very good character,” “a perfectionist” and a man with a “very strong personality.”
He was preceded in death by his first wife Lenore and son Robert.
Harvey Aronson's survivors include daughters Patti Kramish of Denver and Nancy Somberg of Camarillo, Calif.; stepdaughters Sue Rudy of Louisville, Ky., and Nancy Richter of Palm Beach, Fla.; 15 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
A memorial service was held Wednesday at Temple Israel.
Contact the writer:
444-1165, sue.truax@owh.com
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