U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Ella A. Peetzke
Former Tribland area resident Ella A. (Yost) Peetzke, 98, of Phoenix, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in Phoenix.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home in Hastings with the Rev. Carl H. Rehwaldt officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings.
Mrs. Peetzke was born July 1, 1901, to Ludwig and Emma (Feierstein) Yost in Harvard. She graduated from Harvard High School and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On Nov. 17, 1928, she married Eugene A. Peetzke in Beatrice. She was an elementary teacher in the Giltner schools. On Feb. 25, 1990, her husband died. She moved to Arizona in 1992.
She was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women's Missionary League and the World War I Auxiliary.
Survivors are one daughter, Peggy Cronin of Phoenix; two sisters, Pearl Hammond of Chico, Calif., and Doris Ryan of Boise, Idaho; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters.
Memorials may be given to the Faith Lutheran Church.
Ralph Williams
Former Lawrence resident Ralph Louis Williams, 78, of White Salmon, Wash., died Dec. 12, 1999, in Lake Stevens, Wash.
Services were held Dec. 17 at Gardner Funeral Home chapel in White Salmon.
Mr. Williams was born Feb. 2, 1921, to Ralph and Margaret Caroline (Dean) Williams in Lawrence. He served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. On Jan. 29, 1946, he married Pauline E. Arends in Lincoln. He worked as a truck driver.
He was a member of the American Legion Kent-Kailey Post No. 45 in Lawrence and was a Nebraska adjutant to the National American Legion Convention in Washington, D.C. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge in Hastings and White Salmon.
Survivors are his wife; one son, Richard of White Salmon; two brothers, Robert of Garden City, Kan., and James of Lawrence; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters.
Memorials may be given to the Grace Baptist Church in White Salmon.
Dwight C. Aumiller
Sutton resident Dwight Coral Aumiller, 71, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services are 10 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Sutton with the Rev. Elizabeth Hanley officiating. Burial will be in the Harvard Cemetery with military rites conducted by Allan Jones VFW Post No. 5539 of Harvard.
Mr. Aumiller was born Dec. 15, 1928, to Winslow and Zolda (Ritter) Aumiller near Selden, Kan. He attended rural country school near Selden. During the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Army. He later worked on the railroad and then as a truck driver during harvest. He also worked at Pioneer Hybrids. On Oct. 7, 1989, he married Susan L. "Sue" Pelowski in Hastings. They moved to Sutton in 1996.
He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church and the Allan Jones VFW Post No. 5539.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Jennifer Pelowski of Sutton; one sister, Lana Parker of Dodge City, Kan.; and one brother, Carroll of Harvard.
He was preceded in death by one sister and two brothers.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Gerald N. 'Jerry' Gauthier
Former Hastings resident Gerald N. "Jerry" Gauthier, 73, of Methodist Memorial Homes in Holdrege, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at Phelps County Hospital in Holdrege.
Rosary is 7 p.m. Friday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel in Hastings and services are 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Hastings with the Rev. David F. Bourek officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Mr. Gauthier was born May 20, 1926, to Lucien and Petronolene (Grant) Gauthier in Willow City, N.D. He graduated from Rolla High School in North Dakota. From 1944-46 he served in the U.S. Navy. He then returned to Hastings. On June 7, 1949, he married Jean Mary Roth in Hastings. They lived in Hastings where he worked in drywall construction and was the former owner of ArtCraft Drywall Co. His wife preceded him in death. He moved to Holdrege three years ago.
He was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.
Survivors are three daughters, Mary Ann Melfi of Williamsburg, Va., Kim Oerter of Holdrege and Gail Bailey of Jefferson, Wis.; five sons, Anthony J. of Grand Island, Mike of Aurora, Jeff of Loveland, Colo., Bill of Lincoln and Patrick of Providence, R.I.; two sisters, Theresa Olson of Rochester, Minn., and Rosemary Schweitzer of Lincoln; five brothers, Ernest and Armand, both of Hastings, Leo of Lincoln, Marlin of Omaha and Francis of Grand Island; and 13 grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by one daughter, Jeanette Marie; and one sister.
Memorials may go to the donor's choice.
Laura M. Phillips
Hastings resident Laura Marie Phillips, 93, of Good Samaritan Village Villa Grace died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at her home.
Services are pending with Butler-Volland Funeral Home.
Mary J. Scholtz
Former Hastings resident Mary Jo (Frasier) Scholtz, 73, of Grand Island, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Kleine Funeral Home chapel in Grand Island. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m.
Mrs. Scholtz was born Jan. 28, 1926, to Charles and Maude (Ready) Frasier in Hastings. She grew up in Hastings and graduated from Hastings Senior High School. On Aug. 23, 1946, she married Raymond Scholtz in Hastings. She worked as a dental assistant. Later, she and her husband moved to Grand Island. On Dec. 30, 1978, her husband died. She then worked at Engleman School in Grand Island as a crossing guard and lunch room attendant.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Hastings High School Alumni. She also was active in Boy Scouts and Campfire Girls.
Survivors are three sons, Michael of Omaha, Jeffrey of Grand Island and Douglas of Scottsbluff; two daughters, Susan Peplow of Springfield and Amy Jo Svoboda of Firth; one sister, Eva Taylor of Yuma, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by four sisters; two brothers; and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the Research Division of the American Heart Association.
Bertha L. Fritz
Minden resident Bertha L. (Lieske) Fritz, 89, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at Lancaster Manor in Lincoln.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Minden with the Rev. Donald Becker officiating. Burial will be in the Minden Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. Friday at Layton Funeral Home in Minden.
Mrs. Fritz was born Nov. 7, 1910, to Ferdinand and Emma (Janssen) Lieske near Upland. She grew up near Upland and attended school there. On Sept. 27, 1934, she married Leland Fritz. They lived in Upland until 1956 when they moved to Minden. She worked for J.M. McDonald's in Minden and then for Pioneer Village in Minden for 19 years. In 1987 her husband died.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Survivors are one daughter, LaVonne "Vonnie" Sanders of Lincoln; one son, Bruce of Hastings; one brother, Gerald of Kearney; one sister, Dorothy Kimle of Hastings; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by three brothers.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.
Verleen Caulkins
Former Tribland area resident Verleen (Whitlake) Caulkins, 88, of Grand Island, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home chapel in Grand Island with the Rev. Richard Karohl officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island. Visitation is 3-9 p.m. Tuesday with family receiving friends from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Caulkins was born July 29, 1911, to George and Clara (Korgan) Whitlake in Clay County. She was raised in Clay County and graduated from Harvard High School in 1930. She then graduated from Kearney State Teachers College and taught school in rural Clay County from 1931-33. On June 17, 1933, she married Robert Caulkins in Aurora. They lived in Giltner and then Chapman, where she worked as a bookkeeper for Chicago Lumber Co. In 1958 they moved to Grand Island where she worked as bookkeeper for Glade Tire Service for 18 years. In 1972 she began working for Ahrens Auto Service in Grand Island as a bookkeeper. She retired in 1992.
She was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church and various church organizations. She also was a member of the Live and Learn Club.
Survivors are her husband; one son, Sterling of Phillips; two daughters, Virginia Denson-Eilders of Solomon, Kan., and Connie Braithwaite of Berwyn; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers.
Memorials may be given to the Faith United Methodist Church.
Lawrence H. Ahlman
Hebron resident Lawrence H. Ahlman, 83, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000, at his home.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church in Hebron with the Rev. Bruce Berggren officiating. Burial will be in the Hebron City Cemetery. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hebron Memorial Funeral Home in Hebron.
Mr. Ahlman was born Aug. 9, 1916, to Emil W. and Anna (Rabe) Ahlman in Pierce. He attended school in Pierce and worked there until joining the Civil Conservation Corp. based in Hebron. On June 29, 1940, he married Pauline Northrup in Belleville, Kan. They moved to Fairbury where he worked for the Fairbury Hatchery. He later built and managed his own chicken hatchery in Fairbury until 1947 when he moved to Hebron. He managed the Hebron Hatchery. He also owned and managed motels in Hebron and Superior. In 1990 his wife died.
Survivors are three sons, Dennis of Littleton, Colo., Gary of Edinburg, Texas, and Larry of McAllen, Texas; one daughter, Connie Behring of Hebron; one brother, Frederick of Mankato, Kan.; one sister, Linda Cox of Oxford, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established.
Pauline M. Partridge
Hastings resident Pauline M. (Myers) Partridge, 84, of 718 N. Minnesota Ave., died Friday, Jan. 14, 2000, at the Haven Home in Kenesaw.
Memorial services are 1 p.m. Wednesday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel in Hastings with the Rev. Harold D. Stromer officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. There is no viewing. The remains were cremated. Butler-Volland Funeral Home of Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Partridge was born March 1, 1915, to William and Mattie (Hines) Myers in Denman. She graduated in 1934 from Kenesaw High School. In 1938 she married Rolland Partridge in Hastings. She worked at the Naval Ammunition Depot near Hastings during World War II until it closed. Her husband preceded her in death in 1948. On Dec. 21, 1949, she married Virgil Partridge. She and her husband operated the Balt-A-Mart grocery store in Hastings for several years. In 1982 her husband died.
She was a member of First St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Survivors are one stepdaughter, Beverly Ehly of Kenesaw; one sister, Evelyn Powell of Omaha; four stepgrandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one sister.
Memorials may be given to First St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings.
Lloyd K. Blau
Harvard resident Lloyd Kenneth Blau, 79, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2000, at his home.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at McLaughlin Funeral Home in Clay Center with the Rev. John Green officiating. Burial will be in the Lawrence Cemetery with military rites conducted by Lawrence American Legion Post No. 45. Visitation is 6-9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. until services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Blau was born Feb. 4, 1920, to Carl Lugwig and Myrtle Mae (Smith) Blau in Deweese. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 94th Armed Field Battalion 4th Division. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Normandy battles and Rhineland. On Sept. 17, 1947, he married Verna Irene Snell in Minden. They lived in Fairfield until 1974 when they moved to Harvard. He worked as a welder and a mechanic. He was employed by Morrison Quirk, T-L Irrigation and M&P hog confinement operation near Hastings. On Nov. 16, 1987, his wife died.
He was a member of the VFW Post No. 1346 of Hastings.
Survivors are three daughters, Irene Bevard of Abilene, Kan., Janice Jacobsen of Scotia and Kathleen Guenther of Jackson, Mich.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He also was preceded in death by two brothers and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Leonard J. Czaplewski
Loup City resident Leonard J. Czaplewski, 77, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000, at Howard County Community Hospital in St. Paul.
Wake services are 7:30 p.m. today and services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City with the Rev. Reginald A. Urban officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City with military rites conducted by American Legion Post No. 48 and VFW Post No. 7027 of Loup City. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. today at the church. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors are his wife; three daughters; three sons, including Mike of Hastings; one brother; two sisters; 20 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Muriel 'Joy' Jones
Holdrege resident Muriel "Joy" (Holley) Jones, 70, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2000, at BryanLGH Hospital in Lincoln.
Wake services are 7 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson-Harris Funeral Home in Holdrege. Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at All Saint's Catholic Church in Holdrege with the Rev. John Zastrow officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and after the wake service until 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Jones taught school in Hildreth for four years.
Survivors are two daughters, including Peggy Hatt of Hastings; one son; one brother; and seven grandchildren.
Don S. Helzer
Former Inland resident Don Solomon Helzer, 68, of Greensboro, N.C., died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, at his home.
Services were Dec. 20, 1999, at Forbis & Dick Funeral Home chapel in Greensboro.
Mr. Helzer was born Jan. 14, 1931, to Solomon Albert and Gladys (Ruebsamen) Helzer in Inland. He moved in 1956 to Atlanta. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. On Nov. 22, 1956, he married Saralynn Newman. They moved to Greensboro in 1967 where he worked as a sales engineer until retirement.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. He was a past master of Masonic Lodge No. 674 and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.
Survivors are his wife; two daughters, Donna Louise Helzer and Ellen Helzer Poole, both of Greensboro; and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Kanab, UT 84741-5001.
Gary 'Steve' Stewart
Hastings resident Gary "Steve" Stewart, 53, of 405 W. Third St. No. 4, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000, at his home.
Memorial services are 10 a.m. Thursday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel in Hastings with the Rev. Steve Markle officiating. Burial will be at a later date. There is no visitation. The remains were cremated.
Mr. Stewart was born Sept. 12, 1946, to Estel and Martha (Brent) Stewart in Pratt, Kan. He graduated from Elkhart High School in Kansas. From 1966-70 he served as a medic in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Nha Trang Air Force Base in Vietnam. He worked for General Electric as a quality assurance inspector, sold real estate and was a barber. He then owned a water softener company and was president of Stewart Industries Inc. in Hastings.
He was a member of the Elks Club.
Survivors are one daughter, Rana Stewart of Albuquerque, N.M.; his parents of Hastings; and two brothers, Bill of Jackson, Miss., and Ken of Hastings.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Mary Lanning Hospice.
Delphia Jordan
Burr Oak, Kan., resident Delphia (Williams) Jordan, 83, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2000, at Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Church of the Nazarene in Burr Oak with the Rev. Harold Lamb officiating. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today at Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior.
Mrs. Jordan was born Dec. 11, 1916, to Walter Irving and Ellen Margaret (Demaray) Williams near Burr Oak. She graduated from Burr Oak High School. On July 24, 1937, she married Loren L. Jordan. From 1937-42 she lived in Oregon and returned to Burr Oak. She worked with her husband and maintained rental property. On April 15, 1990, her husband died.
She was a member of the Burr Oak Church of the Nazarene and its Ladies Group. She served on the church board and taught Sunday School.
Survivors are one son, Gary Dean of Burr Oak; one daughter, Linda Kay of Burr Oak; and one grandchild.
She also was preceded in death by one brother.
Memorials may be given to the family at Rural Route 1, P.O. Box 165, Burr Oak, KS 66936.
Jeffery Karr
Blue Hill resident Jeffery Karr, 33, died Monday, Jan. 17, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are pending with Simonson-Williams Funeral Home of Red Cloud.
Thelma Hamilton
Geneva resident Thelma (Johnson) Hamilton, 93, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000, in Geneva.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Geneva with the Rev. Brian Kottas officiating. Burial will be in the Geneva Public Cemetery. Visitation is at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva.
Mrs. Hamilton was born Oct. 16, 1906, to Frank and Grace (Purdum) Johnson in North Loup. She married Howard W. Hamilton. He preceded her in death.
Survivors are one daughter, Georgia Nichols of Dallas; one son, Robert of Godfrey, Ill.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the Howard W. and Thelma J. Hamilton Book Fund at Geneva Public Library or Howard W. Hamilton Geneva Alumni Scholarship Fund.
