U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Russell Latta
Red Cloud resident Russell Latta, 82, died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1996, at Webster County Hospital in Red Cloud.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Red Cloud with the Rev. Al Trucano officiating. Burial will be in Red Cloud Cemetery at Red Cloud. Simonson-Williams Funeral Home of Red Cloud is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Latta was born Nov. 7, 1914, to George Earl and Ethel (Osborn) Latta at Cowles. He grew up in Webster County and graduated from Cowles High School. He also attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
He married June Malick Aug. 31, 1937, in Orland, Calif. They lived and farmed northeast of Red Cloud. He worked a time for the Webster County Weed Authority and was Webster County Assessor from 1971-77. His wife died May 18, 1987.
He was a member of the Cowles United Methodist Church and Charity Lodge 53 A.F. & A.M. in Red Cloud.
Survivors are two sons, George of Blue Hill and James of Beatrice; a daughter, Kylie Dunkin of Red Cloud; two sisters, Roxine Pavelka and Betty Peters, both of Hastings; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by a son, Steven.
Memorials may be given to the Cowles United Methodist Women.
LaVila 'Vi' M. Kula
Hastings resident LaVila "Vi" M. (Ochsner) Kula, 81, of 302 E. 12th St. died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1996 at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Monday at the Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. David F. Bourek officiating. Private family burial will be at a later date in Parkview Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
Mrs. Kula was born Jan. 7, 1915 to Henry C. and Grace C. (Lofing) Ochsner in Sutton. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1933 and attended Hastings College. On Nov. 15, 1948, she married Edward J. Kula. She was employed by Hastings National Bank, which later became First National Bank, retiring in 1977 after 32 years of service.
She was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
Survivors are her husband; one stepson, Stanley Kula of Huntington Beach, Calif.; one sister, Virginia M. Halloran of Hastings; and four stepgrandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the American Lung Association.
Dale E. Adamson
Nelson resident Dale E. Adamson, 77, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, at the Good Samaritan Center in Nelson.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Nelson Community United Church of Christ in Nelson with the Rev. Royce Buchtel officiating. Burial will be in Nelson Cemetery with military rites provided by the Nelson Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts. Visitation will be until 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at Klawitter-Price Funeral Home in Nelson.
Mr. Adamson was born Feb. 19, 1919, to Hugh McKinley and Annie Myra (Wright) Adamson near Nelson. He graduated from Nelson High School and attended the University of Nebraska for one year. He married Marjorie Clare Becker Oct. 20, 1946, in Peru.
He served in the U.S. Army in World War II from 1943-45 and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the Nelson American Legion and VFW posts and had served as post commander and District 13 commander for VFW. He also had served as the Nuckolls County veterans' service officer and president of the Nuckolls County Fair Board.
He was a member of Nelson Community United Church of Christ.
Survivors are his wife; four daughters, Nancy Fuller of Mableton, Ga.; Beverly Sutherland of Omaha; Sharon Wenig of Kearney; and Janet Adamson of Lincoln; one son, Dean of York; two sisters, Halle Grummert and Helen Wilhelms, both of Superior; two brothers, Earl of Nelson and Joseph of Lincoln; two grandchildren; and stepgrandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Vincent Schifferns
Hastings resident Vincent Schifferns, 53, of 521 S. Boston Ave. died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital as the result of an automobile accident.
Rosary is 7:30 p.m. Monday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel. Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert A. Matya officiating. Private family burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be 1-9 p.m. Saturday, 1-9 p.m. Sunday at 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Mr. Schifferns was born July 28, 1943, to Walter and Marie (Seyler) Schifferns in Roseland. His father died when he was young. He graduated from Roseland High School. He was a machinist for Ingersoll-Dresser Pump Co.
He married Kathleen Waters March 15, 1992. He was a member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church and Knights of Pythias.
Survivors are his wife; two daughters, Lorinda Schifferns of Hastings and Tonya Gilson of Muskegon, Mich.; two sons, Michael of Hastings and Kevin of Grand Island; three stepdaughters, Rhonda Keim of Fairview, Kan., Pauline Folsom of Denton, Kan., and Monique Allen of Oneida, Kan.; a stepson, Brian Neis of Hastings; his parents, Art and Marie Schifferns of Roseland; two sisters, Therese Craft of Hastings and Sheila Williamson of Roseland; two brothers, Kenneth of Hastings and Gene of Gretna; four grandchildren; and eight stepgrandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Vern L. Stephens
Mankato, Kan., resident Vern L. Stephens, 79, died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1996, at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato.
Memorial services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Christian Church in Mankato with the Rev. Thaddeus Hinkle officiating. Burial with military rites by VFW Post 7830 will be in Ionia Cemetery at Ionia, Kan. The remains were cremated.
Mr. Stephens was born May 7, 1917, to William M. and Alta G. (Cline) Stephens in Ionia. He was a lifelong resident of the Mankato area. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a truck driver for a road construction company and had worked for Dubuque Packing. He was a member of VFW Post No. 7830 of Mankato.
Survivors are two brothers, Glen of Mankato and Merle of Geneva; and two sisters, Margaret Bowden of Wichita, Kan., and Mary Belle McNight of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Melby Mortuary of Mankato is in charge of arrangements.
Frank E. Brower
Geneva resident Frank E. Brower, 92, died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1996 in Geneva.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Prince of of Peace Lutheran Church in Geneva with the Rev. Donald Olson officiating. Burial will be in Geneva Public Cemetery. Visitation is today and prior to services Saturday at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva.
Mr. Brower was born June 27, 1904 to John and Minnie (Folwell) Brower in Fairmont. He was a lifelong resident of the Fairmont and Geneva areas. He was a retired farmer.
Survivors are his wife, Rozella J. of Geneva; and two sisters, Edna Garrett of Fairmont and Mildred McDonald of York.
Memorials may be given to Geneva Rescue Unit or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
Alma E. Mohler
Hebron resident Alma E. (Collman) Mohler, 91, died Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1996 in Deshler.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron with the Rev. Bruce W. Berggren officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Hebron. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today and 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Price Funeral Home in Hebron.
Mrs. Mohler was born Oct. 6 1905 to Harm and Lena (Polfus) Collman near Hardy. She was a homemaker. She married Emmet Cooper and Ole Mohler. Both preceded her in death. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and a former member of American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors are two sons, Merle Cooper of Littleton, Colo., and Lloyd Cooper of Council Bluffs, Iowa; three sisters, Wyonna Jaycox of Hastings, Margaret Geisler of Gresham, Ore., and Kathryn Brettmann of Deshler; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by an infant son and one brother.
Memorials may be given to Grace Lutheran Church or the donor's choice.
Arthur J. Krueger
Ayr resident Arthur J. Krueger, 99, died Friday, Dec. 27, 1996, at Good Samaritan Village, Perkins Pavilion in Hastings.
Services are 10 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill with the Rev. Robert Seible officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery north of Blue Hill.
Krueger was born Nov. 19, 1897, in Adams County to Frederick C. and Mathilda (Kottwitz) Krueger. He married Ida A. Bachman April 28, 1918, in Blue Hill. She died March 8, 1995. He was a lifetime resident of the area and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Survivors are a son, Virgil of Kent, Wash.; a daughter, Marlyce Brown of Hastings; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; one step-great grandchild; and four great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, two brothers and six sisters.
Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Virgina I. Derr
Superior resident Virginia I. (Newlun) Derr, 74, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, at Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Superior with the Rev. Joan Gaines officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery at Superior. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1-8 p.m. Sunday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior.
Mrs. Derr was born Sept. 7, 1922, to Charles Emit and Jane Amelia (Moran) Newlun in Aurora, where she lived until moving to Superior in 1969. She attended Aurora schools and graduated from Aurora High School.
She attended the Assembly of God Church in years past and was attending the First Presbyterian Church in Superior at the time of her death. She also was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Survivors are her husband, Melvin; three daughters, Melva J. Gressley of Monett, Mo., Jenny L. Kellogg of Olsburg, Kan., and Betty Jo Schram of Everett, Wash.; two sisters, Velma Gray of Aurora and Naomi Shedd of Richmond, Calif.; a brother, Bill Newlun of Dunsmuir, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Loretta I. Zubrod
Former Adams County resident Loretta I. (Boudreau) Zubrod, 87, of La Mirada, Calif., died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 1996, in La Mirada.
Services are 10 a.m. Monday at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert A. Matya officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery. Butler-Volland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Zubrod was born Oct. 25, 1909, to Adjiter and Virginia (LaPorte) Boudreau in Campbell. She married Edward P. Zubrod in 1931. They farmed southwest of Holstein. She was a homemaker. Her husband died Sept. 3, 1982. She moved to La Mirada in 1985.
Survivors are a son, Burnell of Whittier, Calif.; two sisters, Ethel Zubrod of Hastings and Alma Walsh of Lincoln; and five grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Charlotte Zubrod, and five sisters.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Tadd Q. Ellis
Hastings resident Tadd Q. Ellis, 28, of 1617 N. St. Joseph Ave. died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, at Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. David Ritter officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens north of Hastings.
Mr. Ellis was born April 10, 1968, to Quincy J. and Deanna R. (Korgan) Ellis in Hastings. He was the owner and operator of Ellis Disposal Service.
He was a member of the International Motor Contest Association.
Survivors are his mother and stepfather, Deanna R. and Ronald L. Block of Beatrice; his father; one brother, Todd Q. of Hastings; and grandmothers, Mrs. Herman Korgan of Hastings and Bertha R. Ellis of Campbell.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers.
Memorials may be given to the Tadd Q. Ellis Memorial Fund.
Charles H. Pettit
Burr Oak, Kan., resident Charles Hughes "Sonny" Pettit, 80, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, in Superior.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior with the Rev. Mark Imel officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Superior. Visitation is today 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 1-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pettit was born July 5, 1916, near Burr Oak to Joseph Pettit and Mary Karnatz. He attended rural schools in Jewell County Kan. On Dec. 31, 1949, he married Dora Leota Mallam in Mankato, Kan. He was a member of the Superior Eagles Lodge. He was the orchestra leader of Sonny Pettit and The Stateliners 30 years.
Survivors are his wife; two daughters, Connie Duffy of Superior and Patty Whitten of Guide Rock; one sister-in-law, Ellis Pettit of Superior; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, one sister and a son-in-law.
Edward L. Janda
Former Lawrence resident Edward L. Janda, 75, of Grand Island died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island with the Rev. Martin Egging officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island. Visitation is 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Blessed Sacrament with a rosary recited at 4:30 p.m.
Janda was born June 27, 1921, to Albert and Clara (Jirousek) Janda on a farm east of Lawrence. He attended grade school at District 57, a rural school and high school in Lawrence. He volunteered for the U.S. Army, serving during World War II. He served in the ground crew of the Air Transport Command in the Hawaiian Island and South Pacific on Canton Island. He received an honorary medal for Distinguished Service and Reserve Honorary Discharge.
In 1946, he married Clara Skalka at Assumption Church in Deweese. They had five children. He farmed with his brother near Lawrence after his discharge. He served two terms to the Board of Nebraska Farmer's Union. He also served on the Farmer's Union Creamery Board. He was president and first-vice president of Central States Dairy. He also served on the National Milk Federation Board and Redistricting Board. In 1970, the family moved to Grand Island where he started Janda's Tire Center, retiring in 1993. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He was also a member of Katholic Delnick, a Bohemian Catholic workman organization, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the American Legion.
Survivors are a son; four daughters, Mary Shelton of Beatrice, Linda Goodman of Geneva, Alice Grosbach of Omaha and Leona Partington of Grand Island; seven grandchildren; a brother, John A Janda of Lawrence; and two sisters, Eleanor Petr of Wauneta and Margaret Hubl of Trenton.
He was preceded in death by his wife; one brother, Theodore Janda; and triplet infant grandsons.
A memorial fund has been established in memory of Edward and Clara Janda at Central Catholic High School or Lawrence Cemetery.
Harold F. Scott
Hastings resident Harold F. Scott, 74, of 3200 W. 70th St. died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Juniata Community Church in Juniata with the Rev. Tom Murray officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Juniata Cemetery. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home.
Mr. Scott was born Feb. 15, 1922, to Edward Elijah and Luella (Farris) Scott in Pine Bluff, Wyo. He moved to Corning, Iowa, with his family at a young age. He grew up in the Corning area except for 11/2 years spent in Idaho. He graduated from Corning High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II (1942-1945) as a tail gunner on a B-17 bomber in the European Theater. His plane was shot down on his 42nd mission and he became a prisoner of war in Germany. He and a buddy escaped from the Black Hunger March. They were cared for by a German family for two weeks. He finished his escape with an English tank division. On March 17, 1946, he married Juanita Alice Hamm at her home near Clarinda, Iowa. They moved to Juniata from Clarinda in 1954. In 1981 they moved four miles north of Hastings. He was a printer and Wells Fargo Guard before working as a psychiatric technician at Hastings Regional Center for 18 years. He also worked three years at the Gerald T. Whalen Energy Center.
He was a member of Juniata Community Church, American Legion Post No. 365, DAV and American Ex-Prisoners of War. He kept bees for several years.
Survivors are his wife; three daughters, Diana Scott of St. Joseph, Mo., and Sandy Smith and Gwenyth Schutte, both of Hastings; one son, Herb of Juniata; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
Memorials may be given to Juniata Community Church.
Franklin W. Hoblyn
Mason City resident Franklin W. Hoblyn, 95, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 1996, in Mason City.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Ansley. Burial will be in Ansley Cemetery. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Broken Bow is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors are two daughters, including Rachel Sloggett of Hastings; two sons; one brother; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.
Otelia O. Bartels
Hastings resident Otelia O. (Grams) Bartels, 97, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996, at Good Samaritan Village Villa Grace.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at GSV All Saints Chapel with the Rev. Dean Clausing officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at Campbell. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home.
Mrs. Bartels was born Jan. 30, 1899, to Jacob and Emilie (Sommerfeld) Grams in Franklin County. On March 24, 1920, she married Herman Bartels. He died in December 1928. She was a licensed practical nurse.
Survivors are two daughters, Ruby Trambly of Hastings and Betty Frohling of Grand Island; one son, Lloyd Bartels of Campbell; five grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Cemetery or GSV All Saints Chapel.
JoAnn M. (Finke) Jeppesen
Ruskin resident JoAnn M. (Finke) Jeppesen, 53, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 1996, in Ruskin.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ruskin with the Rev. Bill Waterman officiating. Burial will be in Spring Creek Cemetery at Ruskin. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today at Price Funeral Home in Hebron and one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.
Mrs. Jeppesen was born Aug. 3, 1943, to William C. and Edna Finke in Kiowa. She married Warren G. Jeppesen. He preceded her in death.
Survivors are three daughters, Tammy Schoenhals of Guide Rock, Theresa Hoke of Liverpool, N.Y., and Sandra Shaw of Ruskin; five brothers, Donald Finke of Lincoln, Darrel Finke, Robert Finke and Roger Finke, all of Deshler, and Norbert Finke of Hebron; three sisters, Lila Hineline of Lincoln, Donna Hajek of Champion and Judy Pagel of Deshler; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or the family's choice.
