U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
H. William "Bill" Morris (1926-2003)
Bill Morris, 77, of Gothenburg, died August 6, 2003.
He was born April 26, 1926, at Gothenburg to Lee and Eva Adams Morris and attended school in Gothenburg. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II.
In 1946, he married LaDonna Carpenter and they made their home in Gothenburg. They were later divorced.
During his lifetime, he was an iron worker in construction and was employed with the City of Gothenburg for several years. He later worked at Monroe Auto Equipment Company in Cozad until his retirement.
On June 29, 1970, he married Doris Miller at Stapleton and the couple resided at Gothenburg.
He enjoyed his time at the "office" which was fishing on the river and the sandpits.
He was a member and present Commander of the Gothenburg V. F. W.
Survivors include his wife, Doris of Gothenburg; three sons, John (Holly) of Leonminster, Massachusetts, Terry Morris of Texas and Bill (Sherene) Morris of Grand Island; two step-sons, Kirk Brogie of Oklahoma and Bob White of Gothenburg; a step-daughter, Carol (John) Wilson of Johnson Lake; a sister, Mary (Scott) Ward of Gothenburg; a brother, Garald Morris of Gothenburg; two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Will, a step-daughter, Jean Kerper, and a brother, Gene.
A memorial has been established in his memory.
Graveside services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 11, 2003, at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell with Pastor Larry Viter officiating. Military honors were provided by the Gothenburg Honor Guard.
The Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Ray T. Peterson, age 73 (1930-2003)
Ray T. Peterson, 73, died August 6, 2003, at his home in Gothenburg, Nebraska.
He was born March 1, 1930 to Ralph Phillip and Donna M. (Stewart) Peterson at Gothenburg. He attended rural school District 90 north of Gothenburg through the eighth grade. He started his farming career as a young boy working on the family farm, and for many neighboring farmers, before entering the service. He served in the Army from 1951 to 1953 in the Korean War.
On November 18, 1956, he married Carolyn Kostman at the American Lutheran Church in Cozad, Nebraska. They moved to the farm northeast of Gothenburg and began their life together. Born to this union were two children, Kathy Nelson and Connie Malone.
He worked for Monroe (Tenneco) Automotive Equipment for 28 years, retiring in 1996. At age 57, he pursued and was proud to receive his G.E.D. His lifelong farming career continued until his death. He was very proud to receive a Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award on August 3, 2003, farming the land himself for over 50 years. He was a 50-year member of the United Methodist Church and also a member of the V.F.W., American Legion and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
He loved farming and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was very true blue, honest and loving. His dedication to farming, friends and family was his guiding light in life. He had an inborn affinity with animals and also enjoyed a good joke.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn, of Gothenburg; two daughters, Kathy Nelson of Gothenburg and Connie (Joe) Malone of Ogallala; six grandchildren, Janet Nelson of Omaha, Stacey Parker of Omaha, Jeremy Malone of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Troy Malone of Ogallala, Megan Malone of Ogallala and Jamie Malone of Ogallala; sisters-in-law, Valerie Peterson and Rose Kostman and a brother-in-law, Keith Kostman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Harlan, father-in-law Carl Kostman, mother-in-law Cecil Kostman and brother-in-law Kenneth Kostman.
Funeral services were held Saturday, August 9, 2003, 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Gothenburg, Nebraska, with Rev. Sharee Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Gothenburg Cemetery with military honors by the Gothenburg Honor Guard.
Memorials may be given to the Callahan Cancer Center of North Platte or donor's choice.
Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg was in charge of arrangements.
Byron F. Wightman, 95 (1907-2003)
Byron F. Wightman of Lexington, Nebraska, died on Monday, August 11, 2003, at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington at the age of 95 years.
Byron was born on August 29, 1907, at Brady, Nebraska, to Wesley Byron Wightman and Mary Christensen Wightman. Byron attended elementary school in rural schools near Brady and graduated from high school in Brady. He later attended both Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska, and planned to attend law school, but his education was sidelined by the farm depression.
On June 30, 1934, he married Bessie Mae Honnold at Monroe, Iowa. The family then moved to Brady, where Byron farmed in the Brady and Maxwell area until 1948 when the family moved to a farm between Sumner and Overton.
Byron and Bessie had four sons, all of whom survive. Wesley and his wife, Sarah, of Summerfield, Florida; John and his wife, Janet of Lexington; Paul and his wife, Carlene, of North Platte, Nebraska; and Rodney and his wife, Marla, of Summersville, West Virginia. An infant daughter preceded Byron in death.
Byron retired from farming in 1963 and moved to Lexington, where he sold real estate and served as a Justice of the Peace for several years. Byron's wife, Bessie, died on October 18, 1973.
He married Helen McFadden in 1974 and she preceded him in death in 1993.
Byron was a member of the United Methodist Church and Odd Fellows Lodge. He enjoyed activities and meals at the Lexington Grand Generation Center. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening and talking to people.
In addition to his four sons and daughters-in-law, Byron is survived by nine grandchildren, Mark (Anne) Wightman of Longmont, Colorado; Jack (Anna) Wightman of Omaha, Nebraska; JoLynne (Paulo) Wightman of Leo, Indiana; Pamela (Ron) Moseley of Orange Park, Florida; Jeffrey (Gail) Wightman of Lexington; Sondra (Brad) Fischer of Emalah, Germany; Sean (Amy) Wightman of Independence, West Virginia; Jill Wightman of Cochabamba, Bolivia; and Matthew (Stephanie) of Columbia, Missouri; and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Melva Norris of Brady. In addition to his wives and infant daughter, he was preceded in death by two grandsons, Wayne Wightman and Rod Wightman; a brother, Roger Wightman; and his sister, Elna Bills
Funeral services will be Friday, August 15, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Pastor Todd Karges, officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the First United Methodist Church, Lexington Foundation, or donor's choice.
Almor Sylvester Juel, 68 (1935-2003)
Almor Sylvester Juel, 68, died October 4, 2003, in Pasadena, Texas. He was born on March 29, 1935, in the Sand Hills of Nebraska.
He moved his family to Roswell, New Mexico, Amarillo, Houston, and finally settling in Pasadena, Texas in 1969. He was a carpenter for many years building homes before becoming a Journeyman Electrician as well as the Director of Maintenance for St. Pius V Catholic Church.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Diana Juel.
He is survived by his loving wife, Hideko of 45 years; five sons, Chris (Jennifer) Juel, Leroy (Sherri) Juel, Steven (Tracy) Juel, Victor (Malinda) Juel, and Martin (Dede) Juel; two sisters, Mary Schnackenburg of Gothenburg, Nebraska, Dorothy (Don) Carr of Missouri; one brother, Vernon (Sally) Juel Lewis of Modesto, California; two sisters-in-law, Betty Juel of Lexington, Nebraska, and Karen Juel of Denver, Pennsylvania; nine grandchildren, David, Tyler, Justin, Ashlee, Kyle, Janie, Clayton, Heather and Kallie Juel, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation was at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2003. Vigil and Rosary followed at the Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Thursday, October 9, at Pius V Church in Pasadena, Texas.
Interment was in the Grandview Cemetery.
Memorials can be sent to: St. Pius V Church, 824 S. Main, Pasadena, Texas, 77506.
Darlene M. Schutz, 76 (1926-2003)
Darlene M. Schutz, 76, of Longmont, formerly of Nebraska, died October 5, 2003, at Assisted Living.
She was born December 2, 1926 in Gosper County, Nebraska, to Jon and Bertha (Brauner) Holst. After her father's death, her mother remarried to Charley Helms, who raised her. She was baptized December 25, 1926 and confirmed December 12, 1940 in Nebraska.
She graduated from Arapahoe High school in Nebraska in May, 1944.
While in Nebraska, she worked in the Cornhusker Ordinance Plant during World War II. She also worked at the William Bros. Store in Arapahoe, Nebraska, the O.P.A. office, and was a teacher for Gosper County Schools.
She married Verne L. Anderson December 29, 1946, at Immaunuel Lutheran Church. They lived in Arapahoe and later moved to Elwood, Nebraska. After her husband's death, Mrs. Schutz moved to Lexington, Nebraska and alter married Leonard A. Schutz on August 17, 1958 at Trinity Lutheran Church.
In November 1959, Mrs. Schutz moved to Denver. While in Colorado, she worked at a jewelry store in Thorton, Neo-Data in Boulder and Boulder Valley Schools for 13 years as a Food Service Manager. While working at her many jobs, she also catered events for 30 years.
She retired to Elwood, Nebraska in 1981. She then moved to Longmont from Elwood in 1993 to be near her children.
She was a member of VFW Auxiliary #5136 in Lexington, Nebraska; a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Longmont where she was active in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League; Anna Circle and Messiah Women's Guild; and was a member of Northern Colorado Porcelain Artists.
She enjoyed China painting, art and gardening.
She is preceded in death by her father, mother, step-father, her first husband in 1955; her second husband in 1995; a daughter, Cheryl Anderson; a son, Dale Anderson and a sister Delores Luella.
She is survived by three sons, Galen (Debbie) Anderson, Ray Anderson (Dee) and Kevin (Lynn) Schutz; one daughter, Sherry (Martin) Nolan; two step-sons, James (Rhonda) Schutz and John (Diane) Schutz; 11 grandchildren, Tammy Chaffee, Johnna Harrison, Jeremiah, Melissa and Justin Anderson, Christopher Nolan, Coy and Cody Roberts, Kristi Rosales and Jonathan and Adam Loomis, and four great-grandchildren, Zand and Hendrix Chaffee, and Ethan and Kurt Loomis.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 9, at 10:30 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church in Longmont with Rev. Kent Schnegelberger and Tom Vanderbloemen of the church officiating. Graveside service and interment will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, October 10, at Elwood Cemetery in Elwood, Nebraska.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Hour or Messiah Lutheran Church in Longmont or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood, in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry Street, Longmont, Colorado, 80501.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood.
The Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad is in charge of local arrangements.
