U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Lucinda P. Langer
Superior resident Lucinda Pearl (Ahrens) Langer, 92, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Palace Gardens Nursing Home in Homestead, Fla.
Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Superior with the Revs. James Brackett and Art Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Superior. Williams Funeral Home of Superior is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Langer was born Sept. 11, 1907, to Chris and Hattie (Martin) Ahrens in Jewell County, Kan. She attended Bethel School District 103 and graduated from Mankato High School in Kansas in 1924. On Aug. 13, 1924, she married Clay August Langer in Mankato. They lived on several farms in Jewell County before moving to Superior in 1937. In August 1989, her husband died.
She was a former member of Olive Hill Christian Church in Jewell County and a member of First Baptist Church in Superior where she served as choir director, pianist and deaconess. She was a past matron of Order of the Eastern Star Olive Chapter, past president of the Past Matrons Club, past regent of Daughters of the American Revolution Kitkihakee Chapter and past president of the Social Order of the Beauceant. She also was a member of Treble Clef, a local singing group. She sang at funerals.
Survivors are one daughter, Doris Vestal of Homestead; one brother, Chrissie Ahrens of Mankato; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Lois.
Gayle A. Hupf
Rural Holstein resident Gayle A. Hupf, 59, died Friday, July 28, 2000, at his home after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Prayer services are 8 p.m. today at Assumption Catholic Church near Roseland. Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Revs. Chris Kubat and Larry Gyhra officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Jackson-Wilson Funeral Home of Kenesaw is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Hupf was born April 8, 1941, to William and Marie (Ronnekamp) Hupf in Hastings. He graduated from Holstein High School in 1959. On Aug. 28, 1965, he married Claire Trausch near Roseland. He was a farmer in Holstein until his death.
He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church and a fourth degree knight of Knights of Columbus. He was a past member of Adams County Planning and Zoning Commission, Adams County Extension Board, Nebraska Cattlemen's Association, Nebraska Motor Carriers Association, Nebraska Fraternity of Master Anglers, Riveria Slot Club and Holstein Public School board.
Survivors are his wife; five sons, Stephen of Lincoln, Michael of San Leandro, Calif., Gregory of Durham, N.C., Phillip of Redmond, Wash., and Jason of Holstein; one sister, Mary Ann Heuertz of Holstein; one brother, Allan of Hastings; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be given to the Hastings Crisis Pregnancy Center or to the construction of an outdoor prayer garden at Assumption Catholic Church.
Donald G. Jackson
Fairfield resident Donald G. Jackson, 68, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel in Hastings with the Rev. Wanda Cassel officiating. Burial with military rites will be in the Fairfield Cemetery. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until services Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Jackson was born June 2, 1932, to Elmer Earl and Bertha Ellen (Etherton) Jackson in Jennings, Kan. From 1952-53 he served in the U.S. Army. On June 2, 1962, he married Violet L. Wahl in Hastings. He moved to Fairfield in 1965 where he was a butcher for Bauman's Butcher Shop. He retired in 1994.
Survivors are his wife; three daughters, Laurie Kolbet and Debbie Montey, both of Hastings, and Barbara Jackson of Fairfield; three sons, Robert, James and Randy, all of Fairfield; one sister, Betty Leach of Fairfield; two brothers, Wayne of Marquette and Kenneth of Fairfield; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Martha K. Curry
Inavale resident Martha K. (Berndt) Curry, 91, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Webster County Community Hospital in Red Cloud.
Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday at Simonson-Williams Funeral Home chapel in Red Cloud with the Rev. Stanley Schieffer officiating. Burial is 4 p.m. Wednesday at St. Rose Cemetery in Denison, Iowa.
Mrs. Curry was born Oct. 16, 1908, to William and Anna Helen (Mathias) Berndt in Earling, Iowa. She attended Earling public schools. On Sept. 15, 1938, she married John James Curry in Denison. They lived in the Denison area. On Feb. 10, 1988, her husband died. She moved to Inavale in 1990.
She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison.
Survivors are one daughter, Dorothy Williamson of Inavale; two brothers, Fred and Frank, both of Denison; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by five sisters and four brothers.
Jerry L. Coplen
Harvard resident Jerry L. Coplen, 44, died Friday, July 28, 2000, in an automobile accident near Harvard.
Memorial services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at the United Church of Christ in Harvard and 3 p.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Wolbach with the Rev. Stan Crawford officiating. Private family burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach. There is no visitation. The remains were cremated. Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Coplen was born Feb. 8, 1956, to Aaron and Lillian (Dasher) Coplen in Fullerton. He graduated from high school in Wolbach in 1974. He worked at Lemmerman Hatchery in Palmer. In 1985 he married Marla Wahl. He worked at Western Landroller in Hastings and the Trumbull Co-op. On Sept. 16, 1989, he married Esther Hiebert in Henderson. He was employed by Aurora Co-op for the last 10 years.
He was a member of United Church of Christ in Harvard.
Survivors are his wife; three daughters, Lillian J. Coplen, Lena M. Coplen and Jeri L. Coplen, all of Harvard; his mother of Scotia; one brother, Ray of Central City; and seven sisters, Linda Moores of Scotia, Kathy Conroy of Chesapeake Beach, Md., Debbie Keeler of Aurora, Brenda Coplen of Palmer, Donna Coplen of North Platte, Teresa Coplen of Wolbach and Connie Lopez of Schuyler.
He was preceded in death by his father and two brothers.
Memorials may be given to the family or the Women's Fellowship of Harvard.
Paul V. Woller
Sutton resident Paul Victor Woller, 86, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Federated Church in Sutton with the Rev. Bill Jardine officiating. Burial will be in the Sutton Cemetery with military rites conducted by American Legion Post No. 61 of Sutton. Kohler Mortuary of Sutton is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Woller was born May 1, 1914, to the Rev. William C. and Emilie (Kautz) Woller in Chicago. He graduated in 1932 from Grand Island High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical science in 1939 from Hastings College and a master's degree in physical science from Northern Colorado University. On June 30, 1940, he married Carolyn D. "Connie" Marsh in Grand Island. He taught school in Hemingford, Millikin, Colo., and Cortez, Colo. He served in the U.S. Army with the 109th Evac Hospital in the European Theater in World War II. He then returned to Sutton where he taught physical science and math at Sutton Public Schools and later was principal for more than 30 years.
He was a member of the Federated Church where he served as choir director, board of trustees member, business management board member, a lay delegate to the annual conference of the United Church of Christ, UCC board of finance committee member and president of Congregational Laymen's Fellowship. He served on the Sutton City Council and as mayor for one term. He also was a member of Evening Star Lodge 49 A.F. & A.M. where he served as master and a member of American Legion Post No. 61.
Survivors are his wife; two sons, Paul of St. Michaels, Md., and Bruce of Boulder, Colo.; one sister, Ruth Whiteside of Denver; one brother, Roland of Denver; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the Sutton Educational Foundation or the Sutton Community Home.
Wayne E. 'Whitey' Duntz
Franklin resident Wayne E. "Whitey" Duntz, 83, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Franklin County Memorial Hospital in Franklin.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hutchins Funeral Home chapel in Franklin with the Revs. Dale and Rita Coakley officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Smith Center, Kan. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. until services Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Duntz was born March 28, 1917, to George Peter and Sadie (Niles) Duntz near Lebanon, Kan. He attended Crystal Plains rural school and later worked as a mechanic. On Dec. 24, 1937, he married Verna Gienau in Smith Center. They lived in Smith County, Kan., and moved to Franklin in 1954.
He was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Franklin and Pioneer Lodge of the I.O.O.F. in Franklin.
Survivors are his wife; two sons, Ronald of Hastings and Merrill of Clay Center; one daughter, Diane Duntz of Franklin; two sisters, Rose Sutton of Wofford Heights, Calif., and Alma Trimble of Whittier, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers; one sister; one grandchild; and two great-grandchildren.
Donald J. Elznic Sr.
Geneva resident Donald J. Elznic Sr., 72, died Thursday, July 27, 2000, in Geneva.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva with the Rev. Kim Dunker officiating. Burial will be in the Geneva Public Cemetery. Visitation began at noon today at the funeral home.
Mr. Elznic was born May 3, 1928, to James and Agnes (Kral) Elznic in Geneva. He served in the Korean War. His wife, Lois, preceded him in death.
Survivors are three sons, Donald J. Jr. of Salem, Ore., and Tim and Joe, both of Geneva; one daughter, Karla Slezak of Grand Island; one brother, Gary of Geneva; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Dorothy M. Pedersen
Franklin resident Dorothy Marie (Dunn) Pedersen, 57, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Franklin County Memorial Hospital in Franklin.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Grace Lutheran Church in Franklin with the Rev. Bruce Crabtree officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9-11 a.m. Wednesday at Hutchins Funeral Home in Franklin and 1 p.m. until services Wednesday at the church.
Mrs. Pedersen was born April 12, 1943, to Robert and Marie (Bolle) Dunn in Omaha. She moved with her family at a young age to live south of Wilcox. In 1949 she moved to a farm northeast of Franklin. She attended Melrose District 61 school for eight years and graduated from Franklin High School in 1961. She completed a business course at Parks School of Business in Denver and then returned to Franklin. In 1962 she worked for the Franklin Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service office. On Dec. 1, 1963, she married Harold Pedersen. In 1986 she began working as a cashier at the Franklin Co-op Country Store.
Survivors are her husband; three sons, Robert of Smith Center, Kan., David of Franklin and Stanley of Lyons, Kan.; her mother of Franklin; four grandchildren; and five stepgrandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son and her father.
Marie D. Harms
Byron resident Marie D. (Fangmeyer) Harms, 92, died Friday, July 28, 2000, at Parkview Haven Nursing Home in Deshler.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Byron with the Rev. Howard Schroeder officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation is until 9:30 p.m. today at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Home in Belleville, Kan.
Mrs. Harms was born Aug. 24, 1907, to August and Anna (Vorderstrasse) Fangmeyer in Deshler. On Feb. 10, 1929, she married Reinhold W. Harms. He died Jan. 1, 1981.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Senior Citizens, Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Busy Bee Home Extension Group.
Survivors are three daughters, Lucille Johnson and Deloris Haney, both of Yuma, Ariz., and Arnita Garman of Lacey, Wash.; three sisters, Alvina Grummert of Beatrice, Irene Fangmeyer of Deshler and Louise Pequette of Rapid City, S.D.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the church or Parkview Haven Nursing Home in Deshler.
Frank J. Machovec
Superior resident the Rev. Frank J. Machovec, 71, died Sunday, July 30, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Rosary is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and services are 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Superior with Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz officiating. Burial with military rites will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior.
The Rev. Machovec was born Oct. 22, 1928, to Frank and Helen (Fisher) Machovec in Wahoo. He attended St. Wenceslaus school through 10th grade and graduated from Wahoo High School in 1947. From 1951-54 he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He held the rank of sergeant first class when he was honorably discharged. He received a degree in philosophy from St. Thomas Seminary in Denver and his theology degree from St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. On May 23, 1959, he was ordained a priest at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lincoln. He served parishes in York, Steinauer, Red Cloud, Hastings and Lincoln. He retired after serving more than 20 years in Superior and Nelson.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, VFW and the Elks Lodge. He received the Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Ribbon and two Bronze Service Stars.
Surviving is one brother, Marvin of Kingwood, Texas.
Jeaneane Gray
Former Hastings resident Jeaneane Gray, 56, of Amherst, Mass., died Saturday, July 29, 2000, at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worchester, Mass.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Adams, Mass., with the Rev. Don Gray officiating. Private family burial will be in Adams. Auge-Paciorek-Simmons Funeral Home of Adams is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Gray was born March 12, 1944, to Carl and Earlene Witt in Lincoln. She was raised in Hastings and graduated from Hastings Senior High School in 1962. She graduated from Hastings College in 1966. She worked several summers at the State Department in Washington, D.C. She taught at a junior college in Long Branch, N.J. On July 5, 1969, she married John Gray in Chicopee Falls, Mass. They recently moved to Amherst.
She was active in the First Baptist Church. She also belonged to several Christian youth groups, symphony and drama groups. She had been involved with Hastings Community Theater.
Survivors are her husband; two sons, Jeremy of North Adams, Mass., and Jason of Adams; her parents of Hastings; and one sister, Colleen Messing of Westward, Mass.
Memorials may be given to the church, 15 Commercial St., Adams MA 01220, Hastings College or the donor's choice.
Robert D. Ellis
Riverton resident Robert D. Ellis, 64, died Sunday, July 30, 2000, at his home.
Memorial services are 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Hastings. There is no visitation. The remains were cremated. Simonson-Williams Funeral Home of Red Cloud is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ellis was born Dec. 20, 1935, to Lloyd Dale and Marguerite (Tipton) Ellis in Topeka, Kan. He attended school in Topeka and two years of college at Washburn University in Topeka. On Jan. 4, 1959, he married Vedla J. Stilley in Topeka. He worked for Goodyear Tire Co. in Topeka for several years. He moved in 1965 to Kansas City, Mo., where he was a machinist for Trans-World Airlines. In 1978 he and his wife moved to Riverton where he was a carpenter.
He was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Inavale.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Gayle Oakman of Grand Island; his mother of Topeka; two sisters, Verna Hayes of Topeka and Janet Fouts of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the family.
Emma 'Jeanne' Anderson
Former area resident Emma “Jeanne” (Aker) Anderson, 69, of Phoenix died Monday, July 31, 2000, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha while waiting for a liver transplant.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Polk with the Rev. Dr. Jeffery Thurman officiating. Burial will be in the Polk Cemetery. Solt Funeral Home of Polk is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Anderson was born July 9, 1931, to Lyman and Anna (Koenig) Aker in Hastings. She attended school in Harvard through sixth grade and graduated from Polk High School in 1948. She then attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On March 10, 1951, she married Eric LeRoy “Lee” Anderson in Lincoln. They lived in Polk, New Jersey and New York. They moved to Harvard to farm for two years and then to Polk to farm. She worked at a bank in York, the Nebraska Natural Gas Co. and for the state Fish and Wildlife Department in Grand Island. In 1971 she and her husband moved to Atoka, Okla., where they owned and operated Thunderbird Lodge Motel for 18 years. She graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla., with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Oklahoma for three years and then transferred to California. She and her husband lived in Los Angeles and San Bernadino for two years. They lived in St. Paul, Minn., for nine years where she worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She also worked for the Corps of Engineers for a short time in Germany. They moved to Phoenix in June 1999.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Polk and American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 160.
Survivors are her husband; three daughters, Tonya Anderson of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Lisa Anderson and Jill Anderson, both of Phoenix; and one grandchild.
She was preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.
Ruby M. Jackson
Franklin resident Ruby Marie (Scharff) Jackson, 82, died Monday, July 31, 2000, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church in Franklin with the Rev. Bruce Crabtree officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today at Hutchins Funeral Home in Franklin and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
Mrs. Jackson was born April 6, 1918, to Otto Fred and Karen Johanna (Jensen) Scharff near Minden. She attended rural school in the Upland and Holstein areas and high school in Upland. On Sept. 5, 1937, she married Ernest H. Jackson in Upland. They moved to Riverton in 1935 and then to a farm east of Riverton in 1938. In 1968 they moved to a farm north of Franklin and moved into Franklin in 1983.
She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, its Hope Circle and its quilters group. She was a volunteer for several years at the Franklin Nursing Center in Franklin.
Survivors are her husband; two daughters, Karen Israelson of Omaha and Kathleen Janssen of Franklin; one brother, Vern Scharff of Atkinson; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
Maria Weller
Kenesaw resident Maria (Schroyer) Weller, 27, died Sunday, July 30, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home chapel in Clay Center, Kan., with the Rev. Torrey Jaspers officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, Kan. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Weller was born June 22, 1973, to Charles and Marie (Chung Dok) Schroyer in Stuttgart, Germany. She graduated from Wakefield High School in 1991. On May 20, 1992, she married Joseph Weller. They lived in Clay Center, Kan., until moving to Kearney in 1994. They moved to Kenesaw in 1995 where she worked with her husband in a dry wall contracting company. She attended Central Community College-Hastings.
She was a volunteer with Girl Scouts.
Survivors are her husband; two daughters, Karly M. Weller and Sophia J. Weller, both of Kenesaw; her parents of Junction City, Kan.; and her grandmother, Zelda Green of Oakland, Md.
Memorials may be given to the Maria Lynn Weller memorial fund in care of the funeral home, 918 Seventh, Clay Center, KS 67432.
Maurine V. Kleier
Hastings resident Maurine V. (Roberts) Kleier, 90, died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000, at the Haven Home in Kenesaw.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings with the Rev. Donald Boeschen officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Visitation is 1-9 p.m. Thursday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home in Hastings and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Mrs. Kleier was born Feb. 17, 1910, to Ross and Mabel (Ground) Roberts. She attended grade school in Prosser and graduated from Kenesaw High School. She then graduated from Hastings Business College. On Sept. 5, 1934, she married Arthur Kleier. They farmed near Roseland, Prosser and Ayr until retiring in 1968. They then lived in Hastings. On March 13, 1987, her husband died. She moved to the Haven Home in Kenesaw in January.
She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Survivors are three daughters, Lois Berlie-Rutherford, Marie Ochsner and Verna Catchpool, all of Hastings; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by two sisters.
Memorials may be given to the church.
