U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Obituaries Published Jan. 20, 2005
Joyce Weir
E. Joyce Weir, 76, Laramie, Wyo., died Saturday at Ivinson Memorial Hospital.
She was born July 31, 1928, in Republic County, Kan., the daughter of Milton J. and Florence (Rowley) Rhoads.
She lived in Laramie from April 1949 until her death. She was a dental assistant for Robert Willis. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and the United Presyterian Church of Laramie. She volunteered at Ivinson Memorial Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Roy Rhoads.
Survivors include her sons, Scot A. Weir, Rock Spings, Wyo.; and Kirk A. Weir, Laramie; a daughter, Mrs. Rodger Kendrick (Pam), Laramie; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the United Presbyterian Church. The Rev. James DeSmidt will officiate.
Services are under the direction of Rocky Mountain Funeral Home.
Vernon Melvin
Vernon Roy Melvin, 84, the son of Ervin and Pearl (Peters) Melvin, was born Jan. 12, 1921, on a farm south of Edgar. He died Sunday at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Hastings.
He attended elementary school at Angus, and graduated from Edgar High School with the class of 1940. He served his country with the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, being inducted in September, 1942, and honorably discharged in February 1946, as a sergeant. He was stationed in the Philippines and Japan.
Vernon married Catherine Wills on Jan. 25, 1953, at Lincoln, Neb. They had one daughter, Betty. Vernon worked at Superior Deshler for 31 years, retiring in 1984. He served on the Edgar City Council for six years and served as mayor for five years. He was a member of the Church of the Plains, serving on the church board for 21 years. He had also been a member of the Edgar American Legion Post, and past post commander.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Catherine, in 1993, a sister, Hazel Powell.
Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. David Brown (Betty), Lincoln, Neb. two granddaughters, three great- grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Alvin Kort (Arlene), and Shirley Melvin; two brothers, Leland Melvin and William Melvin all of Hastings.
Services will be held today (Thursday), at 2 p.m. at the Williams Funeral Home Chapel, Edgar. Pastor David King will officiate. Burial will be in the Edgar Cemetery.
Maggie McKinney
Maggie (Peggy) May McKinney, 100, the daughter of James and Flora Belle (Terrill) Moran, was born on Aug. 26, 1904, on a farm northeast of Hardy. She died Friday at the Superior Good Samaritan Center.
Maggie was one of seven children. She attended country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Hardy High School in 1922.
She taught in country schools for four years then attended Peru State College, graduating from the two year course.
She went to White Rock, S. D., where she taught the intermediate grades for three years. There she met Carl Landin and they were married at Rochester, Minn., in 1931.
They worked at the state hospital in Rochester the next several years . During the war they moved to Southern California and settled at Norwalk. Mr. Landin died in 1955. Maggie stayed the next three years on San Diego, before returning to nursing and worked at DeWitt Hospital at Auburn, Calif., until retirement.
At Auburn she met Edward McKinney. They were married at Virginia City, Nev., in 1963. After his retirement they moved to Sutherland to be near her youngest sister. They came to Superior in 1979. McKinney died in 1989.
Maggie was a member of the United Methodist Church in Superior. She entered the Good Samaritan Center in November, 2003.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husbands Carl and Edward; sisters, Agnes Braun, Alice Struve, Mary Moran, Amy Bocek and Louise Gries and one brother, Arthur Moran.
Wayne Critchfield
Wayne LaVerne Critchfield, 73, Andover, died Jan. 7.
He was born in Asherville Oct. 24, 1931, to John Critchfield and Esther L. Hillman Critchfield.
He served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1966 and then worked for Wichita area aircraft manufacturers. Most recently he worked as a taxi driver.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Survivors include a brother, Jay Critchfield, Andover; children, John E. Critchfield, Texas; Joyce, June and Julie, all of Mississippi; two grandchildren; and extended family in the Beloit and Asherville areas.
Funeral services were Jan. 17 at the Andover Cemetery. Military honors were provided by the United States Color Guard from Fort Riley. Hillside Funeral Home, Augusta, was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Dine
Dorothy Dine, 84, Emporia, died Jan. 13. Funeral services were Tuesday at Catharter Funeral Home, Emporia. The body was cremated. Burial will be at a later date.
Maxine Anderson
Maxine Anderson, 86, Randall, died Jan. 17 at Mitchell County Hospital. Services are tomorrow (Friday) at 10:30 a.m at Randall Community Church with Pastors Fred Anderson and Dan Daniels officiating. Burial is in Randall Cemetery.
Marjorie Merritt
Marjorie Smith Merritt, 76, San Bernadino, Calif., died Nov. 24. The daughter of Hattie (Oplinger) Smith and Charles E. Smith, she was born Jan. 8, 1928, in Allentown, Pa., and moved to Jewell when she was 11. She graduated from Jewell Rural High School in 1945 and attended school at Bethany College where she met and married Joseph L. Merritt. After moving to California in 1955, she continued her education, earning a master's degree in library science from the University of Southern California. She worked for the San Bernardino County Library until retirement. After her husband's death in 1996 she went to work for the San Bernardino Law Library where she remained until faling ill in July 2004. She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Michael Hubbard (Sarah), Murrieta, Calif.; a son, Charles, Fairfax, Va.; and four grandchildren. Services were in San Bernardino, Calif. Brial at Jewell City Cemetary are pending.
Obituaries Published Feb. 10, 2005
Ed Shoemaker
E.D. "Ed" Shoemaker, 71, Amarillo, Texas, died Dec. 21.
He was born March 8, 1933, to Earl and Minnie Shoemaker in Jewell County.
Ed attended a one-room country schoolhouse in the country, graduated from Glen Elder High School and attended Brown Mackie Business College, Salina. He played minor league baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers farm club and was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean conflict. He married Mary Sue Williams, Pueblo, Colo., on July 7, 1956.
Ed retired from Woolworth-Woolco after 32 years as general manager in Amarillo. He them founded High Plains Transmissions Service and most recently was employed by the AC Nellson company. He was a member of Kiwanis and a past board member of Goodwill Industries. He and his wife were among the founding families of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church.
His hobbies included hunting, fishing, outdoor cooking and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister.
Survivors, besides his wife, include a daughter, Mrs. Tom Kitts (Terri Susan), Amarillo; a son, Greg Shoemaker, Lubbock, Texas; a grandson; and a sister, Myrth Stephens, Kerrville, Texas.
Freda Rudolph
Freda Rudolph, 95, Smith Center, died Feb. 5 at Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center.
Services were Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. in the Simmons-Olliff-Boeve Chapel, Smith Center, with the Rev. Merlyn Watts officiating. Burial was in the Leasburg Cemetery south of Cedar.
Nellie Wanklyn
Nellie Maude Wanklyn, 94, died Feb. 6 at Mitchell County Hospital Beloit.
The daughter of Gilbert Elias King and Carrie Evalena (Skinner) King, she was born April 10, 1910, at Home, Kan.
Nellie attended Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia and received a Normal Teaching Certificate. Nellie was a teacher for the Summerfield, Grimes and Barklow schools.
She married Arthur William Wanklyn on Nov. 19, 1934 ,in Beatrice, Neb.
The couple moved from rural Marshall County near Beattie in 1956 to their present farm in southern Republic County.
Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, husband on June 16, 1986, a sister, Edith Prigel and a brother, Nelson King.
Nellie is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Ken Russell (Mary), Abilene; three sons, Gilbert, La Grange, Ga.; Mark, Lakin; and Allan, Jewell; a sister, Dorothy Hardman, Marysville; 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a brother-in-law, Henry Prigel, Marysville.
Services are today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. at the Ada Lutheran Church, rural Courtland, conducted by Pastor Shelby Bailey. Graveside services and intermenty are at 2 p.m. at the Union Cemetery, Beattie. Services are directed by Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville.
Edna Sankey
Edna Victoria Sankey, 96, the daughter of Victor and Amelia (Othberg) Erickson, was born June 20, 1908, west of Scandia. She died at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville. She was baptized and later confirmed in the Amana Lutheran Church of Scandia. The family moved into Scandia in 1910 and she attended the public schools of Scandia graduating with the class of 1927. She was a member of the Normal Training class that year. She married John H. Sankey on July 21, 1927, at Scandia. To this union, three children, Norman, Don and Joan, were born. They resided for 48 years at Republic until Jonn's death on Sept. 5, 1974. Edna continued to live in Republic until her death. In later years, Edna was a graduate of geriatric nursing and worked many years at the nursing home at Republic and the long term care unit of the hospital at Belleville. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband's patents, Mr. and Mrs.. Harmon Sankey, her husband, John; and her brother, Vernon Erickson. She is now survived by her children Norman, Republic, Don, Belleville, and Mrs. William Free (Joan), Cleveland, Okla.; five grandchildren, Julie Dietz, Jill Kelman, Sherry Bowlin, Victoria Rice and Ron Sankey; nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Services were held Saturday at the Amana Lutheran Church, Scandia, with Pastor Joyce Beam, and Shelby Bailey officiating. Burial was in the Scandia Lutheran Cemetery.
Otto Moeller
Otto Wilhelm Karl Moeller, 87, the son of Henry and Minnie (Eitzmann) Moeller, was born Aug. 5, 1917, on a farm near Hardy. He was one of seven children. He died Jan. 31, at the Good Samaritan Center in Nelson.
He was baptized Aug. 13, 1917, and confirmed on Oct. 18, 1931, at St. Peters Lutheran Church, Byron.
His father died when Otto was only four months old. His mother raised him on the family farm. He attended Prairie Dell Country School. He married Wilma Mussmann, on April 20, 1945, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Ruskin. This union was blessed with two daughters, Debra and Diane.
After Otto and Wilma were married, they lived on the family farm where Otto was born. Otto farmed and raised livestock on the home place. In February, 2004, he entered the Good Samaritan Center.
He was a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church, Byron for 87 years. He was Sunday school superintendent and a member of the church council. He was a board member of the Byron State Bank, the Byron Co-op and a member of the Byron Lions Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Henry Moeller, Ferdinand Moeller, and William Moeller; and three sisters, Emma Grube, Freida Lulf, and Rose Rogge.
He is survived by his wife, Wilma, Nelson; daughters, Mrs. Tim McDowell, (Debra), Cheyenne, Wyo. and Mrs. Steve Gebers (Diane), Nora; three grandchildren: Jamie Gebers, Nathan McDowell, and Caleigh McDowell; a sister-in-law, Leona Moeller, Byron.
Services were held Thursday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, rural Byron wit the Rev. Daryl Nelson and Connie Raess, PMA, officiating.
Pallbearers were Kenneth Moeller, Bruce Freitag, Harlan Eitzmann, Greg Eitzmann, Harvey Rogge and Marvin Lulf. Honorary bearers were Russell Schroeder, Larry Biltoft, Dennis Moeller, Delvin Moeller, Verlan Mussman, Conrad Nelson and Berwyn Mussmann.
Interment was in the St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery.
Ahrendts Funeral Home, Deshler, was in charge of arrangements.
Deloris Drudik
Dolores Mary Drudik, 83, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Buescher) Schroer, was born Nov. 18, 1921, on a farm near Mt. Clare. She died Saturday at Brodstone Memorial Hospital.
Raised on the farm, she attended St. Stephens School. She married Vernon Menke on Nov. 18, 1941, at St. Stephens Catholic Church. This union was blessed with four children, Janet, James, Lucinda and Melvin. He preceded her in death. She later married Albert Drudik on Feb. 1, 1955, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lawrence. This union was blessed with two children, Ronald and Arlan.
Dolores lived in the St. Stephens and Lawrence area all her life. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society and numerous card clubs.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husbands, Vernon and Albert, one stepson, Bernard Drudik, two step-daughters, Lorraine Spade and Norma Kohmetscher; two brothers, Alfred and Ernest Schroer and two sons-in-law, Wayne Reinsch and Lou Kessler.
Survivors include her children, Janet Reinsch, Geneva; James Menke, Nelson; Lucinda Kessler, Lincoln, Neb.; Melvin Menke, Superior; Ronald Drudik, Juniata; and Arlan Drudik, Nelson; 15 grandchildren; 17 step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 31 step-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Raymond Schroer, Nelson and Hubert Schroer, and one sister, Mrs. Leonard Buschkoetter all of Lawrence.
Mass of Christian burial was held Tuesday from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence, with Fr. Andrew Menke and Fr. Dennis Hunt officiating. Rosary services were held Monday from the Klawitter-Price Funeral Home, Nelson. Lector was Lavern Schroer.
Pallbearers were Mark Reinsch, Beau Utecht, Adam Drudik, Justin Drudik, Rod Kohmetscher and Tom Towne.
Interment was in the St. Stephens Cemetery, Lawrence, Neb.
Doris Schultz
Doris M. Schultz, 81, Bruning died Monday at Geneva. Services will be Friday, 1:30 p.m., at Klawitter-Price Funeral Home, Nelson. Price Funeral Home, Hebron is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Gene Poppe
Robert Gene Poppe, 55, was born Dec. 8, 1949 in Deshler, to Walter and Marie (Ehlers) Poppe. He died Jan. 29. Robert attended St. John's Lutheran School in Chester, a one-room school house, through the 8th grade and graduated from Chester High School in 1968. He served in the United States military from 1970-1976. He worked at Citizen's Grain and Riggs Construction, both of Chester, and for numerous local farmers. He married in 1975 and from this union were born one daughter and two sons. In 1982 the Poppe family moved to Shelby. In 1987, he began working for the Village of Shelby. During this time he served on several boards. In 1987 he joined the volunteer fire department in Shelby and for six years served as the fire chief. Poppe was a member of the Lincoln,Neb., American Legion Post. His favorite pastime was socializing with friends, whether it was in Shelby, at various celebrations throughout Nebraska, or attending the Country Stampede at Manhattan. Survivors include one daughter, Daisy Jane, Shelby; two sons, Lucas Leon, Lincoln, Neb., and Matthew Allen, Columbus, Neb., a brother Floyd Poppe, Beatrice; sisters Mrs. Loren Bohling (Arlene) and Mrs. Lyle Watkins (Maxine all of Chester; Mrs. Larry Harms (Phyllis), Lincoln, Neb., brothers Marvin Poppe, Belleville, Melvin Poppe, Sutton, and a twin brother Richard Poppe, Byron. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marie (Ehlers) Poppe; a brother, Lavern, and a sister, Lenetta.
