U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Donald H. Klatt
Rural Bladen resident Donald H. Klatt, 59, died Monday, Feb. 17, 1997, at Franklin County Memorial Hospital in Franklin.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Merten-Butler Mortuary chapel in Blue Hill with the Rev. Vonda Crowe officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery southeast of Bladen.
Mr. Klatt was born April 20, 1937, to Herman and Mollie (Ross) Klatt in Bladen. On Nov. 25, 1962, he married Judith D. Meyer in Blue Hill. He was a lifetime farmer in the Bladen area.
Survivors are his wife; two sons, Jeff of Gibbon and Douglas of Superior; two sisters, Mary Kathman of Hastings and Helen Kathman of Glenvil; and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to Franklin County Memorial Hospital.
Thomas H. Thompson
Hebron resident Thomas H. Thompson, 82, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 1997, in Hebron.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Price Funeral Home chapel in Hebron with the Rev. Harold Laursen officiating. Burial will be in Deshler City Cemetery at Deshler. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today and 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Thompson was born Aug. 3, 1914, in Stockport, Ohio.
Survivors are his wife, Fern M.; one daughter, Sharon of Mansfield, Ohio; two sons, James and Eddie, both of Mansfield; one stepson, William Howard of Denver; one sister, Jeanette Gleason of Mansfield; and two stepgrandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Claude E. Norwood
Garden City, Kan., resident Claude E. Norwood, 64, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 1997, at his home.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Pohlman's Memorial Chapel in Russell, Kan. Burial will be in Russell City Cemetery.
Survivors are one stepson; three brothers, including Donald of Hastings; and one sister.
Robert H. Thomas
Hebron resident Robert Herman Thomas, 78, died Friday, Feb. 14, 1997, in his home.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Friday at Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron with the Rev. Bruce W. Berggren officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery at Hebron. Price Funeral Home of Hebron is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Thomas was born April 28, 1918, to Louis E. and Ethel (McKenzie) Thomas in Fairbury. He attended Hebron Public Schools and Hebron College and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in 1941. In 1943, he married Lucile Poppe. He taught mathematics and science at Alexandria High School. He later was a quality control chemist for Columbia Steel Casting Co. in Portland, Ore. He and his wife returned to Hebron where they owned and operated Thomas' Jewelers for 53 years.
He was active in Boy Scouts, Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, Thayer County Historical and Genealogical Society, Thayer County Livestock Feeders Association and Pork Producers. He received the 1980 Livestock Feeders Booster Award and numerous other awards for community activities.
Survivors are his wife; three sons, Robert Louis of Hebron, William Richard of Hebron and James Eugene of Lincoln; three daughters, Susan Marie Miller of Elmwood, Janet Kathryn Voss of Carleton and Nancy Elizabeth Hinrichs of Bruning; one brother, Richard of Scottsdale, Ariz., one sister, Ruth Johnson of Tucson, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Lucille M. Bush
Former Naponee resident Lucille Mae (Melton) Bush, 86, of Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma died Sunday, Feb. 16, 1997, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Wesleyan Church in Naponee with the Rev. Duane Lauber officiating. Burial will be in Naponee Cemetery. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Banta-Torrey Funeral Home in Alma.
Mrs. Bush was born Nov. 17, 1910, to Edgar Melton and Sadie Kilburn (Hoffman) Melton near Naponee. She grew up in the Naponee area. She attended Red Top Rural School. In May 1931 she married Dean Kenneth Romjue. They lived on farms in Franklin and Harlan counties. Their marriage ended in 1947. On July 23, 1949, she married Clifford Henry Bush in Red Cloud. They lived in the Naponee area. In 1967 they moved into Naponee. She worked at Gruwell Grocery and Locker for 10 years during the 1970s and 1980s. Her husband died May 14, 1976. In September 1995 she moved to Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma.
She was a member of the Wesleyan Church and a past member of Hicks-Siegel American Legion Post No. 364 Auxiliary, both of Naponee.
Survivors are three sons, Floyd Romjue of Manteca, Calif., Don Romjue of Oakdale, Calif., and Robert Romjue of Naponee; one daughter, Betty Hare of Independence, Iowa; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She also was preceded in death by an infant daughter and three brothers.
A memorial fund has been established.
Esther A. Matousek
St. Paul resident Esther A. (Poss) Spilinek Matousek, 94, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997, in Grand Island.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in Elba Cemetery. Jacobsen Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors are three sons, including Dale Spilinek of Hastings; one daughter; one stepdaughter; 22 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Wilma G. Wiedel
Hebron resident Wilma G. (Hissong) Wiedel, 75, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 1997, in Hebron.
Rosary is 7:30 p.m. today and services are 10 a.m. Saturday, both at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hebron with the Rev. Patrick Lyons officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Visitation is at Hebron Memorial Funeral Home in Hebron.
Mrs. Wiedel was born July 9, 1921, to Roy and Bertha (Vinkenberg) Hissong in Gilead. On Oct. 5, 1938, she married Cornelius Wiedel in Hebron.
She was a member of Sacred Hearth Catholic Church and St. Ann's Altar Society.
Survivors are her husband; two daughters, Idonna Kripah of Hebron and Diane Baxa of Beatrice; two sons, Roger and Lonnie, both of Hebron; one sister, Margaret Reese of Fairbury; one brother, Virgil Hissong of Melvern, Ark.; 19 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established.
Kathryn E. Fronning
Hastings resident Kathryn E. (White) Fronning, 76, of 1367 W. E St. No. 4 died Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997, at Good Samaritan Village Villa Grace.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Barbara Spangler officiating. Burial will be in Blue Valley Cemetery near Ayr. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Fronning was born March 15, 1920, to Asa and Maggie (Judy) White in Edgar. She married Ernest Fronning in 1948. He died July 23, 1975. She moved to Hastings in 1975.
Survivors are three sons, Gary of Juniata, Allen of Hastings and Jimmy Denny of Melbourne, Fla.; four sisters, Evelyn Anderson, Genevieve Royster and Melva Schurr, all of Hastings, and Merna DeJung of Edgar; and one brother, Dale White of Edgar.
She also was preceded in death by one son and two brothers.
Jacob D. Hogsett
Hastings resident Jacob D. Hogsett, 61, of Good Samaritan Village Villa Grace died there Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997.
Graveside services will be in Lamar Cemetery at Lamar. Remains will be cremated. Brand-Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hogsett was born Oct. 12, 1935, to Jacob and Annie (Redden) Hogsett in Imperial. He was a self-employed carpenter. He moved to Hastings 30 years ago.
Survivors are two daughters, three sons, one brother and four sisters.
Louise E. Billings
Former Hastings resident Louise E. (Nulph) Billings, 88, of Longmont, Colo., died Friday, Feb. 21, 1997, at Longmont United Hospital.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Central Presbyterian Church in Longmont with the Rev. Claude V. Ponting officiating. The remains will be cremated. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Ahlberg Funeral Chapel Inc. of Longmont is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Billings was born March 12, 1908, to William C. and Minnie B. (Hamilton) Nulph in Georgetown, Colo. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. On June 18, 1928, she married Chester W. Billings in Union County, Iowa. They lived in Mason City, Iowa. They moved to Hastings in 1942 and then to Longmont in 1957. He died on March 30, 1973. She taught two years in Iowa schools and 18 years in schools of the St. Vrain Valley at Longmont. After retirement in 1972, she taught an additional 15 years in the Adult Basic Education of the school district, and continued as a substitute teacher for the program until her death. She also taught several classes at the Longmont Senior Center after her retirement.
She was a member of Central Presbyterian Church, Delta Kappa Gamma Mu Chapter, Retired School Personnel of the St. Vrain Valley Schools and Rebecca Circle of Central Presbyterian Church; and was on the advisory board of the Longmont Senior Center. She served as superintendent of the junior high and senior high church school departments at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings for 20 years and also taught church school classes in Mason City and Longmont. She was named "Citizen of the Year" in 1982 by the Grand Order of the Elks in Longmont.
Survivors are one son, Gerald W. of Chicago; two daughters, Patricia A. Kleiber of Hastings and Carol J. Wille of Canon City, Colo.; one sister, Margaret Durham of Savoy, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by one son, Richard Dean, and two brothers.
Memorials may be given to Central Presbyterian Church in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry St., Longmont, CO 80501.
Leroy F. Vollertsen
Juniata resident Leroy F. Vollertsen, 75, died Monday, Feb. 24, 1997, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Graveside services with military rites are 2 p.m. Friday at Wyuka Cemetery in Nebraska City with the Rev. John Hodges officiating. Visitation is 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home in Hastings. The family will be present.
Mr. Vollertsen was born Sept. 21, 1921, to Armin and Hulda (Benty) Vollertsen in Herman, Mo. On Feb. 12, 1942, he married Phyllis Darlene Goering in Brock. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-45 in the European African Middle Eastern Theater. He was a salesman for Archer-Daniels Midlands. He retired in 1976. In 1992 he moved to Juniata from Nebraska City.
He was a member of American Legion Post No. 8 in Nebraska City and the VFW in Hastings.
Survivors are his wife; one son, Roger of Holdrege; one daughter, Nancy Hauptman of Juniata; one brother, Kenny of Auburn; three sisters, Myrtle Flanagan of Springfield, Helen Dean of Douglas and Evelyn Varino of Omaha; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother.
Memorials may be given to the family's choice.
Lona L. Shafer
Former Doniphan resident Lona L. (Haskins) Shafer, 72, of Wood River died Thursday, Feb. 20, 1997, at her home after a lengthy bout with cancer.
Memorial services were Monday at Wood River Elementary Gym with the Rev. Larry Nothstine officiating. Her remains were cremated. Burial will be in Fort McPherson Cemetery at Maxwell at a later date. Apfel Funeral Home of Wood River was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Shafer was born Sept. 5, 1924, to William and Lona (Davis) Haskins on a farm near Republican City. She attended school in Republican City, graduating in 1941. In 1945 she graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in home economics. She was a research assistant for the university. On June 17, 1947, she married Jack Shafer in Republican City. They lived in Doniphan and Arapahoe before moving to a farm south of Wood River in 1951. In 1970 she graduated from Kearney State College with a degree in elementary education. She taught at Wood River Elementary School from 1970-89.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Grand Island Area Graduate Home Economists and Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for Educators. She was a pianist, organist and choir member for many years.
Survivors are her husband; one son, Charles of Sioux Falls, S.D., three daughters, Jill Hill of Springfield, Va., Susie Powell of Grand Island and Robin Keralis of Mashoko, Zimbabwe; two brothers, William Haskins of Doniphan and Francis Haskins of Lincoln; and 18 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, David; and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Ground Water Foundation, St. Francis Hospice or Nebraska Ornithologists' Union.
Nick K. Noel
Hastings resident Nick K. Noel, 85, of 901 N. Bellevue Ave. died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at Cozad Community Hospital in Cozad.
Memorial services are 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Carl W. Utley and Cheryl Ann Elfond officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery. Butler-Volland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Noel was born Dec. 15, 1911, to Fred W. and Mary (Kellen) Noel in Logan, Kan. He was raised on a farm in Kansas. After moving to Hastings, he married Florence Belz. She died in October 1947. On Dec. 28, 1950, he married Hilda (Wolters) Beale in Lexington. He owned and operated Noel Auto Service in Hastings. After his retirement, he did maintenance work for Norwest Bank and Herberger's.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Optimist Club.
Survivors are his wife of Harvard; one son, Nick R. of Cozad; two stepdaughters, Barbara Soucek of Paonia, Colo., and Nancy Heeren of Ridgway, Colo.; six grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by a sister and one stepgrandchild.
Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church or Optimist Club.
Ruth File
Superior resident Ruth (Cooper) File, 81, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, in Tulsa, Okla.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home chapel in Superior with the Rev. James Nichols officiating. Burial will be in Hardy Cemetery at Hardy. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until services Friday at the funeral home.
Mrs. File was born Nov. 15, 1915, to Harmon and Bertha (Whiting) Cooper near Hardy. She married Kenneth File. He died in May 1993.
Survivors are one son, Duane of Byron; three sisters, Mae Niessen and Leatha Fuller, both of Superior, and Bernice Hansen of Hardy; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
James T. Kral
Rural Bladen resident James T. Kral, 68, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1997, at his home.
Wake services are 7 p.m. Sunday and services are 10 a.m. Monday, both at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Campbell with the Rev. James Schrader officiating. Burial with military rites will be in East Lawn Cemetery at Bladen. Simonson-Williams Funeral Home of Red Cloud is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kral was born Aug. 2, 1928, to Frank and Alice (Goodwin) Kral on the family farm southwest of Bladen. He attended Catherton rural school. He graduated from Bladen High School in 1946. He farmed. He served in the Korean War from 1951-53. On Sept. 10, 1955, he married Virginia Holthaus in Campbell. They farmed southwest of Bladen.
He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church, Campbell American Legion and Blue Hill VFW. He served on the Webster County Fair Board, state Ethanol Board, Catherland Board, St. Ann's Cemetery Board and Bladen Board of Education.
Survivors are his wife; two sons, Mike of Campbell and Brad of Bladen; one sister, Helen Houk of Claymont, Del.; two brothers, Francis of Salina, Kan., and Creighton of Aurora, Colo.; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established.
Fred Boom
Former Webster County resident Fred Boom, 75, of Knoxville, Iowa, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at Veterans Medical Center in Knoxville.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Simonson-Williams Funeral Home chapel in Red Cloud with the Rev. Alvin Trucano officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery at Bladen.
Mr. Boom was born July 19, 1921, to John T. and Anna (Novak) Boom in Blue Hill. He moved to Lebanon, Kan., with his family as a young boy. They later moved to Red Cloud. He graduated from Red Cloud High School. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a mechanic in the European Theatre of Operations. He was discharged in November 1945. In December 1946 he moved to the Veterans Center in Knoxville. In 1969 he returned to Nebraska. In 1982 he returned to Knoxville.
Survivors are two sisters, Wilma B. Arsenault of Tampa, Fla., and Louise G. Rychecky of Crete; two brothers, Stanley of Red Cloud and Albert of Hastings.
He was preceded in death by a sister.
Dorothy L. Fries
Upland resident Dorothy L. Fries, 77, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1997, at Grand View Manor in Campbell.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Upland United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bill Jardine officiating. Burial will be in Upland Cemetery. Visitation is 3-5 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. today at Layton Funeral Home in Minden.
Miss Fries was born Jan. 16, 1920, to Alfred and Lena (Imhof) Fries in Upland. She grew up in the Upland area. She attended Upland School. She worked in the family home until 1973. She then worked at Pioneer Village in Minden, Franklin County Hospital in Franklin and Kearney County Community Hospital in Minden. She retired in 1989.
She was a member of Upland United Methodist Church where she had been janitor for more than 20 years. She was active in the church. She also was janitor for Koch Agri Services.
Survivors are two brothers, Donald of Mason City and Vernon of Upland;
Memorials may be given to Upland United Methodist Church.
Erna M. England
Sutton resident Erna Magdalena (Ehly) Griess England, 85, died Friday, Jan. 31, 1997, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hope Reformed Church in Sutton with the Rev. George Horner officiating. Burial will be in Sutton Cemetery. Kohler Mortuary of Sutton is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. England was born April 30, 1911, to Joseph J. and Christina Ehly south of Henderson in York County. She graduated from Sutton High School in 1928 with a diploma in normal training. She graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in education. She taught in country schools in Fillmore and Clay counties and finished her teaching career in Sutton. She taught for 281/2 years. After retiring she continued to teach, helping students make up work over the summer months. On Aug. 9, 1936, she married Ruben A. Griess of Sutton. They operated family farms in York and Clay counties and owned and operated several business in Sutton, including the Paris Cafe and Erna's Floral and Gift. Her husband died July 23, 1957. On Aug. 15, 1970, she married Clayton England. They moved to a farm in northwest Clay County near Eldorado. They later retired and returned to Sutton. Her husband preceded her in death.
She was a member of Reformed Church and attended Hope Reformed Church in Sutton. She also was a member of numerous civic and social organizations including the Clay County Education Association, Nebraska State Education Association, National Education Association, Hastings/Sutton Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Clay County Historical Society, Sutton Garden Club, Sutton Woman's Club, Sutton Chamber of Commerce, Sutton Alumni Association, Sutton Centennial Committee and Luther French Dugout Committee.
Survivors are one daughter, Joanne Hock of Chandler, Ariz.; three sons, Jim Griess of Malcolm, Ted Griess of Minden and Ruben Griess of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; two stepdaughters, Jean England Wampler of Grand Island and Cheryl Figi of Sutton; three sisters, Olinda Nuss of Hastings, Johanna Ehly of Sutton and Elsie Dias of Lodi, Calif.; one brother, Reiney Ehly of Kearney; 12 grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by a stepson, Larry England; one brother and one sister.
Memorials may be given to the Hope Reformed Church.
