U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Obituaries Published May 3, 2008
Clifford Snavely
Clifford Elwood Snavely, 76, the son of Jessie and Francis (Baumbach) Snavely, was born Aug. 31, 1931, on a farm 11 miles northwest of Superior. He died Thursday at his home in Superior.
He started school at a country school but when he was six his family moved to Superior.
He worked at the Lyric Theater for two years and also for Blue Cross Serum Company.
In November of 1950, he moved to Los Angles where he worked for a Cadillac and Pon-iac dealer. He returned to Superior in June of 1952 to enter the Army with friends. Basic training was at Camp Roberts, California and he attended cooking school. He was awarded two bronze service stars, a good conduct medal, United Nations service medal, National Defense service medal, and the Korean service medal. After 18 months in Korea, he was honorably discharged on May 7, 1954.
He married Madonna Gaddis on Aug. 1, 1954, at the First Baptist Church in Superior. To this union three children were born.
He was employed in the lab department for Ideal Cement Company for more than 18 years. He was also self-employed as a house painter.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Superior VFW and American Legion posts.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife on April 19, 1993; a son, Curtis, on Oct. 2, 1975; five brothers, Oliver, Wendell, Raymond, Willis and Leo; and one sister, Arcele Reiman.
Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. Barney Freitag (Diana Lynn) of Superior; a son, Clinton Eugene, Hays; six grandchildren, Justin and Stephanie Freitag, both of Lincoln, Neb., Levi Walz, Abilene, Beau and Michael Jordan, Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Autumn Snavely, Hays; two great-grandchildren, Jasmine and Kaitlyn Walz, Abilene; and three sisters, Mrs. Delphos Shellhase (Donna June), Superior, Beverly Hart and Patty Winfree, both of Truth or Consequences, N.M.
Services were held on Monday from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, with the Rev.'s Art Taylor and Barbara Bauer officiating.
Pallbearers were Justin Freitag, Levi Walz, Donnie Shellhase, Ted Gaddis, Jerry Snavely, Scot Gaddis, Keith Shellhase and Larry Snavely. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Rust, David Gaddis, Clyde Waddle, Howard Warneking, Ron Frasier, Jim Loop and Bill Wager.
Interment with military rites was in the Evergreen Cemetery at Superior, Nebraska.
Gordon Burge
Gordon M. Burge, 84, the son of Percy and Lillian Burge, was born Aug. 3, 1923, in Clay Center, Neb. He died Jan. 17, at his son's home in Arroyo Seco, N.M.
After graduating from the Reserve Kan., high school, he entered the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he returned to Nebraska and started working for a linen cleaning company in Hastings, where he met his future wife Ivadell Mumby.
Memorial graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Edgar Cemetery. Pastor David King will officiate. Williams Funeral Home of Edgar is in charge of the local arrangements.
Oscar Schroeder
Oscar Walter Schroeder was born to Frederick William and Anna Marie (Bangert) Schroeder on March 12, 1922 on the farm southwest of Lawrence, where he lived all his life.
He attended the Zion Lutheran Parochial School southwest of Lawrence and Lawrence High School where he played basketball and baseball. Into his 30s he played with the Lawrence townteam.
He met Ella Amanda Mueller a teacher at Zion Lutheran in 1945 and they were married on Feb. 9, 1947, at Kiowa Lutheran Church near Davenport. They farmed all of their married life raising corn, milo, wheat, hogs, dairy cows and cattle.
He was active at Zion Lutheran and was a charter member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rosemont. He held several church offices including elder, general treasurer, mission treasurer and trustee. He was also on the Lawrence co-op board for six years.
Oscar and Ella enjoyed travel and visited Canada and many of the continental United States
The Schroeder Family was presented the Centennial Grass Award 1966. In 1986 they received a soil and water conservation stewardship award and in 2005 the Schroeders were recognized as a family who owned, operated and lived on the same farm for 100 years.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Terry Ernstmeyer (Linda) of Roca; sons Leonard, Superior, and Robert, Blue Hill; seven grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, 11 step-great-grandchildren, nine step-great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Elmer Schroeder.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ella; two sisters, Alice Schroeder and Elsie Meyer; and two brothers, Fred and George.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Calvary Lutheran Church, Rosemont. Pastor Michael Stock will officiate. Burial will be in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be today and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Williams Funeral Home Chapel, Superior.
Lucille Gehrett
Lucille I. Gehrett, 97, Mankato, died Saturday at Jewell County Hospital Long Term Care. Survivors include her husband, Howard Gehrett, Mankato, and a son, Richard Gehrett, Birmingham, Ala.
Services will be at a later date. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, is in charge of arrangements.
William Carter
William G. "Bill" Carter, 72, died at Loma Linda VA Hospital in California Friday. He was born to Guy and Cora Carter, Mankato, Dec. 10, 1935.
He graduated from Mankato High School in 1954. He served in the Army for three and a half years. In 1961 he married Daris Hostetter.
Survivors include a son, Art Howell, Neb.; two grandchildren, Trevor and Skye; and three sisters, Roberta Blakeley, Salina, Dorothy Burger and Lillian Jeno, both of Belleville.
There will be a private family inurnment at a later date at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Mankato. Arrangements were made by Arrowhead After Care, Highlands, Calif.
Phyllis Soliday
Phyllis E. Soliday, 88, died last Tuesday at The Shepherd's Center, Cimarron. She was born March 30, 1920, the daughter of L. "Ira" and Ethel (Cole) Powell.
She grew up in Jewell County and graduated from Montrose High School in 1937. She attended Dodge City Community College and graduated from Ft. Hays College in 1962. She received her master's degree in education in 1970. Phyllis taught in the Cimarron Schools and retired in 1982.
Dec. 24, 1940, she married Edward Coast. He preceded her in death. She later married Ralph Wesley Soliday.
Memberships include Cimarron Church of the Nazarene, Gray County Over 50s Center, K.N.E.A., Retired Teachers Association, and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Survivors include three sons, Jim Coast, Cimarron, Lawrence Soliday, Spring Hill, Okla., and Carl Soliday, Neodesha; five daughters, Mrs. Ronald Burns (Kay,) Cimarron, Mrs. Carl Pickens (Betty), Ulysses, Mrs. Merrill Frink (Carol,) Moscow, Idaho, Mrs. Joe Kramer (Linda,) Keota, Okla., and Mrs. Chuck Butzine (Rosemary,) Greeley, Colo.; brother, Lavon Powell, Phoenix, Ariz.; two sisters, Loraine Frye, Winfield, and Una Snowbarger, Hutchinson; 18 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister.
Services were held Saturday at Cimarron Church of the Nazarene, with the Rev. Randall Harrell officiating. Graveside services were held at Burr Oak Cemetery at 2 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Keith Sears officiating. Funeral arrangements were made by Swaim Funeral Home, Cimarron.
Robert Lee Bradrick
Robert Lee Bradrick, 77, was born Oct. 25, 1930, on the Bradrick farm west of Formoso, Kansas. He was called home to be with the Lord on April 19, 2008. He was 77 years old.
Robert was born to Carl Birdsell Bradrick and Odessa (Dessie) Willella Dunn.
He attended Formoso Grade School, then in 1944 moved with his family to Mankato. Robert was a natural athlete and excelled in all sports. He graduated from Mankato High School in 1948. Robert was forever a Mankato Cougar. He was the 'unofficial' class history keeper and looked forward to the yearly Mankato High School Alumni gatherings until his health prevented him from attending.
Robert served as an officer on the Salina Police Force for many years then changed professions to become an insurance adjuster for the Salina region until his retirement.
Robert proudly served for 40 years in the Kansas National Guard. He was an excellent marksman and while in the Guards he won the National Champion Pistol Shoot for 22-38-45 caliber for single fire and double fire. This honor earned Robert the life-long nickname of "Dead eye.".
Robert had a wide range of interests and hobbies. He especially enjoyed gardening, coin collecting, golfing, hunting, fishing and reading. He also had an extensive collection of baseball cards, collected from his youth. Robert said he amassed his collection by saving the cards rather than clipping them to bicycle spokes like his brother and friends did.
Robert will be remembered for his strong determination to remain independent after losing both legs to atherosclerosis. He was able to live on his own for many years, still enjoying his hobbies and visits from family and friends.
Robert was a member of the Salina American Legion and the First Southern Baptist Church of Salina.
He is survived by his daughter, Vanessa, Kihei, Hawaii; his son, Mark, Arlington, Texas; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister Betty Hamilton, and husband, Marvin, Salina; many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Don and Jack, and a sister, Joyce.
Funeral services were Thursday, April 24, 2008, at the First Southern Baptist Church of Salina at 10 a.m. with Pastor Todd Bradrick, officiating. Robert's ashes were interred in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato, Kan.
Memorials may be made to the First Southern Baptist Church, Salina, Kansas.
-Paid Obituary-
Arno Sell
Arno George Sell, 80, son of Georg and Anna M. (Stroh) Sell was born July 4, 1927, near Chester. He died Saturday at Parkview Haven Nursing home, Deshler.
Arno valued his Christian education and was steadfast in his faith. He graduated from eighth grade at St. John Lutheran School in 1941 and graduated from Chester High School in 1945. He married Leona Gillespie on Oct. 2, 1949. To this union five children were born.
After their marriage, they lived on the farm northeast of Chester for a short time, then moved to Albuquerque, N.M., for two years where Arno worked as an electrician. They moved back to Nebraska and lived briefly in North Platte where Arno continued his work as an electrician. They then returned to Chester in 1951 to farm.
Arno was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Chester, Lutheran Laymen's League, St. John Lutheran School Board, secretary and chairman of St. John Lutheran Church and the Chester Fire Department.
Arno enjoyed deer hunting with his sons, Stuart and David, and other relatives and friends. He had a great love for farming and after retiring, he continued his involvement with farming by helping Roger Wiedel of Hebron for many years. Arno also enjoyed the beauty of flowers. He liked to give Leona flowers for special occasions and especially enjoyed fresh flowers in his home.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Lillian Wegener and Marthy Rose Willett; and one granddaughter, Alana Elting.
Paul Imler
Doniphan resident, Paul E. Imler, 74, died Thursday at his home.
A memorial service was held Monday at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan, with the Rev. Jocelyn Tupper officiating. Burial with military rites was in Cedarview Cemetery, Doniphan. Livingston-Butler-Volland Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Paul Everett Imler, youngest son of William A. and Nora Almyra Jane (Osborne) Imler, was born July 20, 1933, near the "Round Mound" northeast of Lovewell. He received his elementary education at the White Rock and Sweet Hill country schools and graduated from Montrose Rural High School in 1951 as salutatorian of his class. He then farmed with his father until being drafted into the U.S. Army in January of 1954. After basic training at Ft. Riley, he was sent to Ft. McClellan, Ala., for advanced training in chemical, biological and radiological warfare before being sent to Korea. In December, 1955, he was released from active duty and transferred into the army reserves at Ft. Ord, Calif. He received his honorable discharge on Dec. 2, 1962.
On Sept. 27, 1959, he married Eloise Dunstan at the Formoso Community Church. To this union four children were born, Randy, Brenda, Julie and Roger. Upon completing his military obligation he worked the next 42 years as an engineering equipment operator, until retiring in July of 1998. He worked with many different contractors on irrigation projects, road construction and soil conservation.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Wilma and Frances; and a brother, Glenn.
Survivors include his wife, Eloise Imler, Doniphan; children Randy Imler, Doniphan, Mrs. Dan Hansen (Brenda), Deweese, Julie Longfellow, Kearney. and Roger Imler, Doniphan;
grandchildren, Evan Hansen, Charlie Imler, Bailey Hansen, Taylor Hansen, Melissa Imler, Jaden Longfellow and Justin Imler; a sister, Mrs. Dale Rothchild (Twila), Mankato.
Rodney Furse
Rodney Dean Furse, 73, the son of Dean and Barbara (Ruby) Furse was born Aug. 25,1934, at Alma, Neb. He died April 22, at his home in Superior.
Rod grew up in the Alma area graduating from Alma High School. After high school, he furthered his education by attending University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Rod had held numerous jobs which included working with his family at the Alma and Red Cloud newspapers. He retired to Superior from Los Angeles, Calif., in 1996.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Roger Lyn Furse; and nephew, Roger Lyn Furse Jr.
Survivors include his wife, Jacque Fitzgerald, Superior; children: Rochelle Rae Furse, Costa Mesa, Calif.; Seri Kay Charleston, Omaha; Teresa Colanino, Allegany, N. Y., Ronn Calanino, Atlanta, Ga., step-children: Joe Fitzgerald, Bakersfield, Calif.; Danny Fitzgerald, Chicago, Ill., and Chris Fitzgerald, Superior; a sister, Judy Cigler, Billings, Mont., five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were Friday at the Williams Funeral Home Chapel in Red Cloud, Pastor James Stark officiated. Burial was in the Alma Cemetery, Alma, Neb. The body was cremated.
Maybelle Ahrens
Maybelle Ahrens, 89, of Superior died Monday.
Services are planned for 10:30 a.m., Saturday at the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel, Superior. Pastor Jim Stark, will officiate.
Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato.
Friends may call or stop by to sign the book Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Megrue-Price Funeral Home.
Virginia Schleufer
Virginia Ann Schleufer, 88, the daughter of Harry I. and Lora E. (Harris) Shaw, was born Aug. 25, 1919, near Nelson. She died Saturday at the Good Samaritan Center, Nelson.
Virginia started school at the "Brown" country school near Nelson and continued in the Nelson schools graduating with the Class of 1938 from Nelson High School. After graduating, she worked at the ASC farm office and Jim House's Drug Store in Nelson until her marriage.
On April 9, 1943, she married Elmer H. R. Schleufer at Fort Collins, Colo. He was in the Army, and they lived at his duty stations, among which were Tulsa, Okla., and Wichita Falls, Texas until his was discharged. They returned to a farm near Nora and began farming. Children born to this union were Irvin and Barbara. Elmer died of a brain tumor on March 27, 1948.
On December 15, 1948 she married Lester H. E. Schleufer (Elmer's brother). To this union was born a daughter, Shirley. They continued to live on and operate the farm until their retirement. They moved to Superior, in the fall of 1974. Lester died May 5, 2001.
They vacationed with their family, traveling to many states. After they retired, they purchased a travel trailer and stayed 12 winters at the VIP Park at LaFeria, Texas. They enjoyed camping and fishing at Lovewell Lake during the summers. They attended Shaw family reunions at locations in Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, and Nebraska.
She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church, where she was active in the choir and Women's Circle. She enjoyed sewing as a member of the Brodstone Hospital Auxiliary. Her hobbies were gardening, raising flowers and embroidery.
She is survived by her son, Irvin Schleufer, Nelson, daughters, Mrs. Roy Stutzman (Barbara), Nora; and Mrs. Dale Peters (Shirley), Hastings; and a brother, Harry Shaw, Elkhorn, Wisc., a sister Mrs. Ed Schultz (Bertha Mae), Superior; grandchildren, Dana Schleufer, Beatrice; Daniel Schleufer, Ruskin, Mrs. Andy Baalman (Lisa), Salina, Mrs. Tony Bennett, (Cori), McPherson, Tim Stutzman, Nelson, Mrs. Mike Folkerts (Laura), Albert, Kan., Mrs. Jeromi Wagner (Vicky), Superior, Michael Peters, Hastings, great-grandchildren, Crystal Jordening, Katie Schleufer, Jonathon Schleufer, Christopher Dirks, Jessica Dirks, James Nelson, Amanda Bennett, Kaytlyn Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Megan Bennett, Matt Stice, Megan Stice, Maci Stutzman, Tanner Stutzman, Kyleene Folkerts, Alexis Folkerts, Keegan Wagner, Christian Wagner, Hailey Peters and Courtney Peters.
Services were Wednesday at Salem Lutheran Church, Superior. Interment followed at the Salem Lutheran Cemetery. Pastor Barbara Bauer officiated.
Williams Funeral Home, Superior, handled arrangements.
