U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Donald E. Hammer
Former Campbell resident Donald E. Hammer, 81, of Grand Island died Friday, June 9, 2000, at the Skilled Care of Grand Island.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home Chapel in Grand Island with the Rev. Onamae Waddel officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-9 p.m. Sunday, with family present 5-7 p.m.
Mr. Hammer was born Oct. 9, 1918, to Chris and Mabel (Smith) Hammer at Campbell. He attended school at Campbell. He moved to Roseland and began farming in 1947. On Dec. 20, 1952, he married Myrna Bundy in Ashland. He farmed until 1957 when he began trucking. He retired in 1983 from Nebraska By-Products as a truck driver. The couple moved to Grand Island in 1986. Mrs. Hammer died April 11, 1993.
Survivors are three sons, LaMoine of Mt. Vernon, Ill., Roland of Grand Island and Doug of Franklin; six daughters, LaVila Brannagan of Doniphan, Sharon Wert of Aurora, Janice Sodomka of St. Joseph, Mo., Nancy Lemmert of Sutherland, Donna Epley of Columbus and Judy Rea of Houston; one brother, Delbert of Carbondale, Colo.; 29 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, one brother and one grandson.
Memorials may be given to St. Francis Hospice or the donor's choice.
R.L. Martin
Former rural Minden resident R.L. Martin, 89, of Axtell, died Friday, June 9, 2000, at the Methodist Memorial Home in Holdrege.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church in Axtell with the Rev. H. Eldin Wells officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege. Visitation is 3-5 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Monday at Freeland-Layton Funeral Home in Axtell.
Robert L. Gipe
Hastings resident Robert L. Gipe, 74, of 1230 N. Cedar Ave. died Monday, June 12, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services with Masonic rites will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel in Hastings with the Rev. Jim Miller officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. until services Thursday at the funeral home.
Mr. Gipe was born Aug. 14, 1925, to George H. and Sadie (Wells) Gipe in Alma. He attended Alma High School. In 1943 he worked for Nash Finch in Kearney. On Sept. 6, 1943, he married Verlene Dehut in Phillipsburg, Kan. They moved to Adams County in 1944. From 1948-64 he worked for Midwest Distribution in Juniata. He owned and operated Bob's Texaco Service in Hastings from 1964-66. He worked in shipping at Mode O'Day in Hastings from 1965-73. He and his wife moved to Hastings in 1969. He became a service superintendent at Westland Modular in Hastings in 1973 and retired in 1980.
He was a member of the Eagles, Scottish Rite and a member and past master of Hastings Masonic Lodge No. 50 A.F. & A.M.
Survivors are his wife; three daughters, Kay Freid of Ruckersville, Va., Judy Berry of Longmont, Colo., and Mary Hulse of Oskaloosa, Kan.; one son, Larry of Grand Island; one brother, George Jr. of Montrose, Colo.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three sisters.
Memorials may be given to the Masonic Lodge No. 50 A.F. & A.M.
Melvin W. Pate
Former area resident Melvin W. Pate, 58, of Severance, Colo., died Sunday, June 11, 2000, in Severance.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Esbon, Kan., with the Rev. Laura Fricker officiating. Burial will be in the Esbon Cemetery with military rites conducted by Perry A. Lamb American Legion Post No. 368. Melby Mortuary of Mankato, Kan., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Pate was born Jan. 2, 1942, to Josiah and Goldie Mae (Ault) Pate in Jewell County, Kan. He graduated in 1960 from Fairfield High School. He then served seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in San Diego and Okinawa and did two tours of duty in Vietnam. In 1966 he married Miyoko Yara in Okinawa. He worked for Consolidated Freightways from 1971-93. He lived in North Platte, Cheyenne, Wyo., Casper, Wyo., and Billings, Mont. He also worked for Loveland Feed and Grain in Colorado from 1995-96. In 1984 he married Janet P. (Landers) Brown in Cheyenne. They lived in Tahlequah, Okla., and Loveland, Colo., before moving to Severance in 1998.
Survivors are his wife; one stepdaughter, Teresa Wilkey of Severance; one stepson, Travis Brown of Severance; one sister, Joan Hawkins of Tahlequah; and five stepgrandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the Melvin Pate Memorial Fund in care of the family.
Edward D. Dunn
Hastings resident Edward D. Dunn, 87, of 300 S. First Ave. died Saturday, June 10, 2000, at Good Samaritan Village Perkins Pavilion.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Friday at Simonson-Williams Funeral Home chapel in Red Cloud with the Rev. Mike Lehr officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Bloomington.
Mr. Dunn was born Jan. 19, 1913, to Hiriam and Maude (Moffett) Dunn in Bloomington. He graduated from Inavale High School in 1931. He was a field representative for the Agricultural Soil Conservation Service Office. On June 9, 1941, he married Phyllis Fuller. He served in the U.S. Army 5th Armored Division during World War II in the European Theatre of Operations. He then returned to Inavale where he was postmaster for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years. On March 29, 1971, his wife died. He retired in 1972. In 1984 he moved to Red Cloud and then to Hastings in 1993.
He was a member of Red Cloud VFW Sidlo Post No. 5641 and Bloomington American Legion Post.
Survivors are one daughter, Dixie Schriner of Hastings; one brother, Charles of Bloomington; one sister, Barbara Bean of Inavale; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by one sister and one brother.
Judy C. Brehm
Blue Hill resident Judy C. (Grosskopf) Brehm, 56, died Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at her home due to cancer.
Services are 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill with James Witt and the Rev. Donald Becker officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Merten-Butler Mortuary of Blue Hill is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brehm was born July 4, 1943, to Herman and Hildegard (Seemann) Grosskopf in Elgin. On Oct. 21, 1962, she married Larry L. Brehm in Elgin. They moved to Blue Hill were she was secretary for the Blue Hill School system for 26 years. She retired in 1999.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Survivors are her husband; one son, Kevin of Grand Island; one daughter, Kim Bailey of Hutchinson, Kan.; her mother of Blue Hill; two brothers, Harold of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Dennis of Loveland, Colo.; one sister, Kathy Lingusky of Bailey, Colo.; and three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and one brother.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Rogelio 'Roger' L. Candanoza
Edgar resident Rogelio "Roger" Leza Candanoza, 76, died Sunday, June 4, 2000, in Aurora.
Rosary was Friday at Mueller's Greenlee Funeral Home in Pasco, Wash., and services were Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Pasco. Burial was in the City View Cemetery in Pasco. Williams Funeral Home of Edgar was in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Candanoza was born July 7, 1923, to Jose Margarito and Celestina Candanoza in Cuidad Victoria Tamps, Mexico. He was founder and manager of Migrant Human Resource Development in Pasco. He married Maria Briones.
Survivors are his wife; five sons, Jose Rogelio of San Juan, Texas, Roberto of Austin, Texas, Michael of Euless, Texas, Roy of Kennewick, Wash., and Carlos of Pasco; four daughters, Yvonne Candanoza and Annabel Naccarato, both of Pasco, Irma Bermea of LaGrulla, Texas, and Celestina Horst of Edgar; one foster child, Guadalupe "Cande" Uresti of Austin; three sisters, Virginia Candanoza, Belen Maganas and Ofelia Candanoza, all of Austin; 15 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers.
Ervin C. Gemmer
Superior resident Ervin C. Gemmer, 80, died Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at Good Samaritan Center in Superior.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Church of Christ in Superior with the Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Bostwick Cemetery. Williams Funeral Home of Superior is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gemmer was born Dec. 19, 1919, to Otto and Anne (Plautz) Gemmer in Bostwick. He attended Bostwick schools. He then began farming with his father on the family farm near Bostwick. At age 35 he contracted polio. On Sept. 31, 1980, he married Betty Hall in Webber, Kan.
He did charity work for the Children's Hospital in Omaha.
Survivors are his wife; four stepchildren; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister.
Anna M. Schmer
Former Sutton resident Anna Marie (Schneller) Schmer, 85, of Blue Springs, Mo., died Sunday, June 11, 2000, at her home.
Memorial services are 10 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Sutton with the Rev. Steve Cox officiating. Burial will be Friday at the Sutton Cemetery. Webb-Freer Funeral Home of Blue Springs is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Schmer was born March 5, 1915, to Daniel and Hanna (Johnson) Schneller in Verona. She married Jesse Schmer. He died in October 1969. She had lived in Sutton and worked as a bookkeeper.
Survivors are two daughters, Rita Myers of Blue Springs and Nadine Haff of Tacoma, Wash.; one son, Dwane of Richardson, Texas; one sister, Ina Wendt of Hastings; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association or the donor's choice.
Joseph W. Keifer Jr.
Services for former area resident Joseph William Keifer Jr., 72, of Tucson, Ariz., who died Oct. 17, 1999, at his home, are 11 a.m. Saturday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home chapel in Superior with the Rev. Harold Backus officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Superior.
Orvis Okerlund
Former Hastings resident Orvis Okerlund, 85, of Kearney died Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at Lakeview Nursing Center in Grand Island.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney with the Rev. Russ Sommerfeld officiating. Burial will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery in Frost, Minn. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today at O'Brien-Straatmann-Apfel Funeral Home in Kearney.
Mr. Okerlund was born Nov. 7, 1914, to the Rev. Nicholas and Hannah (Graseth) Okerlund in Frost. He attended schools in Minnesota and Iowa. On Dec. 28, 1937, he married Alpha Gronfor in Frost. They operated telephone exchanges in Frost and Lehigh, Iowa. They then moved to Wall Lake, Iowa, where he was a city engineer. He also worked as city clerk for Pocahontas, Iowa, and was city manager for Manchester, Iowa. He then worked as health care administrator for Good Samaritan Society in Hastings for 16 years. He retired in 1980.
He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, Iowa City Managers Association, Toastmasters, Senior Hospitality Center board, National Board of the Good Samaritan Society and the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Lois Okerlund of Kearney; three sons, Gene of Fargo, N.D., Neil of Minneapolis and David of Clear Lake, Iowa; three sisters, Myrtle Proehl of Boise, Idaho, Hannah Fyrand of Montivideo, Minn., and Berniece Sterling of Campbell, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three sisters.
Memorials may be given to the church or the Kearney Senior Hospitality Center in Kearney.
Martha E. Preissler
Former area resident Martha E. (Trausch) Preissler, 92, of Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island died Monday, June 12, 2000, at Tiffany Square.
Rosary is 7:30 p.m. today at Kleine Funeral Home in Grand Island and services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Giltner with the Revs. Victor Derwinski, Frank Hoelck and John Keefe officiating. Burial is 2 p.m. Friday in the Harvard Cemetery. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Preissler was born July 5, 1907, to Mathias and Catherine (Kaiser) Trausch in Roseland. She attended Assumption Catholic Church School in Juniata. From 1937-38 she worked at K&R in Hastings. On Sept. 12, 1938, she married Joseph R. Preissler in Hastings. They moved to California where she worked at Diamond Walnut Co. In 1939 they returned to Nebraska and farmed near Harvard. In 1944 they moved to a farm near Giltner. On May 29, 1987, her husband died. In 1993 she moved to Grand Island. She moved to Tiffany Square in 1995.
She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Giltner and Altar Society.
Survivors are one daughter, Patricia Preissler of Grand Island; three sons, Ronald of Fremont, Donald of Omaha and Gerald of Giltner; two brothers, Charles of Riverside, Calif., and Vern of Sun City, Ariz.; three sisters, Laurine Preissler of Harvard and Susan Thaut and Jeanette Svoboda, both of Hastings; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by five brothers.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Gloy I. Welch
Hastings resident Gloy Iva (Sullivan) Welch, 99, of Good Samaritan Village Perkins Pavilion died Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at Perkins Pavilion.
A memorial service will be in Wheatland, Wyo. A private family burial will follow. There is no viewing or visitation. The remains were cremated. Butler-Volland Funeral Home of Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Welch was born Nov. 14, 1900, to Lee W. and Mary M. (Whipkey) Sullivan in Merricourt, N.D. She married Earl W. Grissom and he died in 1931. She was post master at Benchland, Mont., for 13 years and retired in 1960. She moved from Salt Lake City to Hastings in 1993.
She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and Daughters of the American Revolution, both in Hastings.
Survivors are three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Lee Bowen; one brother; two sisters; and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association or the donor's choice.
Agnes M. Smidt
Hastings resident Agnes Margaret (Genschmer) Smidt, 88, of The Homestead died Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at First St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings with the Rev. Harold Stromer officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today at Butler-Volland Funeral Home in Hastings and one hour prior to services Saturday at the church.
Mrs. Smidt was born Oct. 23, 1911, to Edward C. and Clara T. (Zimmerman) Genschmer in Harvard. She graduated from Harvard High School. In 1937 she married Elmer Smidt. She moved from Trumbull to Hastings in 1957. In 1988 her husband died.
She was a member of First St. Paul's Lutheran Church, West Blue Extension Club and the 4-C Club.
Survivors are two sons, Dale of Wood River and Gary of Lakeville, Minn.; one daughter, Carol Thompson of Hastings; two sisters, Violet Chatterson of Ravenna and Lenora Plum of Hastings; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers; one sister; and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the church or to the family.
Laveta P. Feis
Former area resident Laveta P. (Cory) Feis, 90, of Kearney died Thursday, June 15, 2000, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Hastings with the Rev. Earl Higgins officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation is noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home in Hastings.
Mrs. Feis was born Jan. 13, 1910, to Clem and Elizabeth (Rosch) Cory in Campbell. She graduated from Campbell High School. On July 16, 1929, she married Gordon Feis. They lived in Franklin for 25 years where she worked for J.C. Penney's and Tilfords Department Store. In 1963 she and her husband moved to Hastings where she was a psychiatric technician at the Hastings Regional Center. On Feb. 10, 1974, her husband died. She retired in 1975 and worked as a foster grandmother for 22 years.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She also was a member of the Friendly Dozen Club and a 50-year member of Rebekah Lodge, both in Franklin.
Survivors are one daughter, Gwen Sterner of Kearney; two sons, Gillys of Rocklin, Calif., and Gillford of Hastings; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Memorials may be given to the church or to Pooh Corner.
Charles F. Samuelson
Former area resident Charles Firman "Sam" Samuelson, 81, of Bella Vista, Ark., died Wednesday, June 14, 2000, at his home.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Bella Vista Community Church in Bella Vista with Richard Lindman officiating. The remains were cremated. Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory of Bella Vista is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Samuelson was born Sept. 28, 1918, to Leon and Velma (Satchell) Samuelson in Hildreth. He graduated in 1936 from Franklin High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business and a law degree in 1942 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On Sept. 6, 1941, he married Helen Virginia Johnson. He played in several dance bands during the 1930s. In the mid-1940s, he returned to Franklin and practiced law with his father. In 1982 he retired and moved to Bella Vista.
He was a former member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and a 32nd Degree Mason. He played in several dance bands and the UNL marching band. He also was active in the Shriners in Nebraska and Arkansas.
Survivors are his wife; one son, Robert of Bentonville, Ark.; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Common Cause, Contribution Department, 1250 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington D.C. 20036.
Stella I. Marietta
Former Mankato, Kan., resident Stella Irene (Thomas) Kelly Marietta, 87, of Midland, Texas, died Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at her home.
Services were Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Andrews, Texas, with the Rev. Cameron Gavon officiating. Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mankato. Melby Mortuary of Mankato is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Marietta was born Feb. 24, 1913, to Edward and Maymie Thomas in Harlan, Kan. She married Glenn O. Marietta in Mankato. He preceded her in death. She moved from Andrews to Midland in 1998.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Andrews.
Survivors are three daughters, Carolyn Golz of Nashville, Ark., Kathryn Whaley of Midland and Myrna Siebert of Aloha, Ore.; one son, Harold Kelly of Farmington, Ark.; one sister, Gladys Freed of Belleville, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Morris I. Lott
Former Sutton resident Morris I. Lott, 79, of Henderson died Thursday, June 15, 2000, at the Henderson Nursing Home.
Graveside services are 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sutton Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Jardine officiating and military rites conducted by American Legion Post No. 61 of Sutton. The remains will be cremated. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Kohler Mortuary in Sutton.
Mr. Lott was born Sept. 17, 1920, to Albert and Florence (Thulin) Lott in Lincoln. He attended school in Fairmont. From 1940-45 he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in the South Pacific. On Aug. 5, 1942, he married Jean Brandt in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His wife died Jan. 7, 1971. On June 6, 1972, he married Rosella Rachow in Sutton. He worked for Smith Brothers Implement in Sutton until retiring in 1982. On March 30, 1999, his wife died.
Survivors are four daughters, Norma Jean Hurst of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Shirley Ann Huff of Edmonton, Alberta, Florence Adel Simpson of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and Eva Marie Yanda of Byecroft, Alberta; three stepdaughters, Lula Calkins and Lois Barker, both of Sutton, and Lola Larabee of Indo, Calif.; two half sisters, Lois Schultz of Lincoln and Barbara Slabough of Fairmont; one stepsister, Wyona Lusk of New Albany, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; and 12 stepgrandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by one son, Morris Jr., and one brother.
