U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Obituaries Published Apr. 17, 2003
Freda Anderson
Freda Helen Anderson, 88, the daughter of John H. and Ver Berna C. (Hofts) Windhorst, was born Nov. 15, 1914, on the family farm at Deshler. She died Saturday at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville.
Feb. 20, 1949, she married Harold E. Anderson at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Deshler. They had three children, James, Lyle and Marylee. She and Harold first lived on a farm five miles south and one mile west of Courtland. In 1953, they purchased the farm two miles south of Courtland where they lived until 1986 when they retired and moved into town.
For 18 years, Freda was head cook at the Courtland High School lunchroom. She will be remembered for her love of baking, especially Swedish tea rings and rye bread.
She was an active member of Ada Lutheran Church, Ada WELCA, Naomi Circle, and Welcome In Club until she moved to the Belleville Health Care Center on Sept. 4, 1999.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1991; an infant brother, Elmer; her sister, Esther Lipker.
She is survived by her children, James Anderson, Bonsall, Calif.; Lyle Anderson, Courtland; Mrs. Dale Fischer (Marylee), Doniphan; brothers, Erwin Windhorst, Deshler, Eldon Windhorst, Hebron and Roy Windhorst, Deshler; and six grandchildren.
Services were held Wednesday at the Ada Lutheran Church, Courtland, with Pastor Shelby Bailey officiating. Burial was in Ada Lutheran Cemetery, Courtland.
These arrangements were by Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral home, Belleville.
Robert Cooper
Robert Ernest "Bob" Cooper, 73, the son of Ralph and Alberta (Long) Cooper, was born March 26, 1930, near Marysville. He died Thursday, April 10, at the Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home, Hebron.
He moved with his parents to Superior, Neb., where he graduated from high school. He was a member of Superior High's undefeated football team in 1949.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church at the time of his death.
On July 30, 1950, he married Marilyn N. Wilken at Grace Lutheran Church, Hebron. This union was blessed with two daughters, Janice and Rebecca. The couple started married life in Superior, moving to Belleville and Hebron and in 1988 to Clayton, N.M., for five years before returning to Hebron. He was a Debus bread truck driver for 10 years and then began his 30 year career as an independent insurance agent. During this time he was named to the "Millionaire Round Table" twice.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and taught youngsters how to hunt safely and catch the "big ones."
He was preceded in death by his death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn, Hebron; daughters, Mrs. James Buller (Janice), and Rebecca Strothkamp, all of Hebron; three grandchildren; a great-grandson, two brothers, Thomas or Rochester, Wash., and Jerry of Seattle, Wash.
Services were held Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church, Hebron, with the Rev. Richard Pfleiderer officiating. The body was cremated.
Price Funeral Home of Hebron, was in charge of arrangements.
Travis Ford
Cpt. Travis A. Ford died April 4, 2003, while defending his country over the skies of Iraq. He was born Nov. 19, 1972, to Harold and Josephine Ford in St. Paul. He grew up in Ogallala, where he excelled in athletics. Upon graduating in 1991, Travis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as an engineer equipment operator. While in the Reserves, he attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting. He was an avid Huskers fan and a member of the Nebraska Yell Squad. He was also a member of Phi Gamma Theta social fraternity.
In August, 1996, Travis married Deon Tipton of Superior. In April 2001, their daughter, Ashley Morgan was born. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, boxing and time with family and friends.
In May, 1997, he was commissioners as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He attended Field Artillery officer's Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla., and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines. He then served as a forward observer and later as the executive officer of Echo Battery. He was accepted for flight training through the Fleet Accession Program in Pensacola, Fla. In March, 2002, he earned his Wings of Gold. Following his additional training at camp Pendleton, Calif., he was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter squadron 267, flying the Ah-1 Super Cobra helicopter. In January, 2003, Capt. Ford deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Survivors include his wife, Deon, their daughter, Ashley, of Oceanside, Calif., his mother, Josephine, Ogallala, and his brothers, Alex, San Diego, Mike, Belton, Mo., Todd, Grant, and Matt, Chadron.
Services were held Wednesday at the Berean Church , North Platte, Burial was in Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.
Carpenter Memorial Chapel, North Platte, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Gonder
Charles Averell Gonder was born in Carrol County, Mo., on May 31, 1919, to George and Elizabeth Bell Gonder. He died April 11, 2003 at Hemphill, Texas.
He attended schools in Carrollton, Mo., as an honor student and attended the University of Missouri. He was united in marriage to Eleanor Nadine Musick in Carrollton, Mo., in 1937. This union was blessed with four children. He was a navy veteran and served in the Pacific at Pearl Harbor.
After returning from the war, he was a supervisor with Co-op Oil Refineries for many years in Phillipsburg, Kan., and later at Coffeyville, Kan. To Averill, or "Pop" Gonder as he was known to his family, was a fierce competitor and loved any kind of game. He especially loved cards and had master credits in bridge., He enjoyed all sports and was known for his athletic abilities. Outdoors was where he wanted to be as an avid hunter and fisherman. He continued to play golf and go dancing until a few weeks before his death.
He was an accomplished musician and played many musical instruments including the violin, guitar, banjo, piano, organ and keyboard. He was an innovator and in the early fifties built his own version of a pop-up camper that fit on the back of a pickup. He named the camper the
Mrs. G' in honor of his wife, Eleanor, who assisted him with the project. He later took over more ambitious projects and built a pontoon boathouse, giving his family and friends hours of enjoyment. He assembled a "kit" T.V. and built the cabinet for the family's first television. Friends questioned this ambitious project and asked why he just didn't buy a T.V. His answer "because it cost less and it was a challenge."
He was especially proud that at the age of 80, never having any computer experience, he checked out a book to study and with one hour of instruction was "surfing the net with the best of them." This gave him an opportunity to keep in close contact with family, especially his grandchildren.
He was always active in church work where he shared his musical talent. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eleanor; son, Charles Averill Gonder, Jr.; and brother, Truman Dale Gonder. He leaves to mourn his daughter, Patricia Cleveland, and her husband, Conley, Webber, Kan.; Barb Tweedy, Republican City, Neb.; Kathy Gonder, Mankato, Kan., brothers, Dr. William and Mrs. Gonder, Jefferson City, Mo.; brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Burl Musick, Carrollton, Mo.; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter, numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Interment will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Coffeyville, Kan.
Services will be at Ford Wulf Bruns Mortuary, Coffeyville, Kan., today (Thursday).
Donna Hare
Donna Frances Roe Hare, 76, Charlotte, N.C., died Friday at Wilora Lakes nursing home.
A memorial service will be held at Calvary Church of the Nazarene, at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A graveside service will be held at Olive Hill Cemetery southwest of Superior at a later date.
Born Dec. 19, 1926, in Jewell County to the late Francis Leroy Roe and Gladys Chamberlain Roe, Donna attended high School in Superior and graduated from business college in Lincoln, Neb.
She married Charles Louis Hare, Sr. on July 4, 1946, he died in September 1995. She is survived by her children; Charles Hare, Jr., Austin, Texas; Elizabeth Brunmeier, Raleigh, N. C.; Michael Hare, Atlanta, Ga.; Maribeth Hare, Salina, and Charlene Williams, Charlotte, N.C.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren as well as a sister, Fern Graham, Sun City, Ariz., and aunts, Verla Roe, Superior and Winifred Uhley, West Covina, Calif.
Arrangements are by Carolina Funeral and Cremation Center.
Allen Harriger
Allen Samuel Harriger, 88, the son of Fredrick A. and Lena (Waterman) Harriger, was born Dec. 28, 1914, in Beaver Crossing. He died Thursday at his home in Superior.
He attended Exeter Public School and graduated from Exeter High School. He married Eleanor McCowin on Dec. 18, 1942 in Curtis, Neb. He enlisted in the United States Army on March 28, 1942, and was honorably discharged on Jan. 16, 1946.
He was employed with the Chicago North Western Railroad serving as a depot agent.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church, VFW, Legion, Kiwanis, IOOF, Elks, Masons and the Superior Country Club, all of Superior. His hobbies included golfing and fishing.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Eleanor on Jan. 1, 1994; and one brother, Henry.
Survivors include his two sisters, Mrs. Harold Mathews (Medora), York, and Irene Ivers, Richland, Wash.
Services were held Monday from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, with Pastor Dorthea Fairbanks officiating.
Interment with flag presentation by the American Legion St. Mihiel Post was in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Helena Nejeschchleb
Helena Danisow Nejeschchleb was born May 9, 1916, in Smolensk, Russia, to Jacob and Vera Danisow. She died in Marantha Manor, Springfield, Mo., on Apr. 9 at the age of 86 years, and 11 months.
She was the oldest daughter of five children; three brothers, and one sister. Helena lived on a farm that raised thoroughbreds, wheat, oats, and apple orchards. She had many fond memories of riding horses bareback, helping her father tend to the other animals, and working in the fields.
She married Robert Spellman in 1933, and had two children: Valentina and Adolph. Robert died in a tragic drowning accident in 1941. She later married Dimitri Laluk with whom she had twin boys, with Tony the only one surviving. Dimitri was killed in 1945, during World War II, in Italy. However, Helena, her children, and parents had immigrated to West Germany in 1943, where they remained until Feb. 1952. She later married Gabriel Nejeschchleb and they proceeded to leave for America. Helena's parents stayed behind. Helena and her family arrived in Mankato, in Feb. 1952. She cooked and Gabe did maintenance work for Jack Turner for several years. As time passed, Helena worked at the Jewell County Hospital as a cook and kitchen supervisor. She loved her job, the patients, and her co-workers. Helena's hobbies included baking, gardening, visiting with friends over coffee and cake, and taking long walks with the neighborhood ladies.
She was very proud of her children, grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. In 1998, Helena moved in with her daughter Valentina and son-in-law, James Vaughan. She traveled extensively with them to Canada as well as other states, and took many trips to the Branson shows.
Helena was preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, and infant son.
Helena is survived by: daughter, Valentina Vaughan, Springfield, Mo.; two sons, Adolph Laluk, Superior, Neb., Tony Laluk, Wichita; nine grandchildren; and a host of great grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Funeral mass was held Apr. 12 at 11 a.m., at St. Theresa's Catholic Church,Mankato, with Father Allen Scheer officiating. Vigil services were held Apr. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary, Mankato. Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery, Mankato. Melby Mortuary, Mankato was in charge of arrangements.
Kester Johnson
Kester D. Johnson, 95, the son of Lawrence and ArBelle (Lawson) Johnson was born Aug. 17, 1907, at Waterville, Kan. He died Wednesday, April 9, at the Good Samaritan Center, Superior.
He is survived by his wife, Mae Johnson, Superior, sons; Jerry Johnson, Superior and Robert Johnson, Oceanside, Calif.; a sister, Alice Buresh, Lincoln, Neb., and three grandsons.
A full obituary will run at a later date along with memorial service information. Williams Funeral Home, Superior, is in charge of the arrangements.
Anna Kathman
Anna F. Kathman, 81, of SilverRidge Assisted Living Community, Gretna, Neb. died April 9.
Rosary service was Friday at Butler-Volland Chapel, Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Father Michael Houlihan officiating. Burial was in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Neb.
Anna F. Kathman was born May 1, 1921 in Winnett, Mont., to Carl and Ada (Byford) Schmidt. She married George A. Kathman on May 19, 1942 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Helena, Mont. They moved to a farm south of Lawrence, where they farmed until their retirement in 1979 and then moved to Hastings. She was member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and the Altar Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George, Oct. 15, 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Virginia Joblonski.
Survivors include sons David, Superior, Dennis Bellevue; daughters, Kathy Dunagan, Lincoln, Neb.; Mrs. Gary Miner (Linda), Cedar Falls, Iowa; JoAnne Kathman, Omaha; and Mrs. Dale Hermsen (Laura), Gretna; 12 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter.
Butler-Volland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gail Kincheloe
Gail Leon Kincheloe was born June 25, 1939 at the home of his parents, Glen Wilbur and Celia C. Norton Kincheloe, west of Ionia, in Odessa Township, Jewell County. He died Apr. 11 in the Salina Regional Health Center, at the age of 63 years.
He attended Ionia elementary school and graduated from Ionia Rural High School in 1957. Gail was inducted in the Army in June 1962, receiving training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Fort Gordon, Ga., and Fort Sill, Okla., before being sent to Karlsrub, Germany. He serve there until May 1964 when he received his honorable discharge. A highlight was a trip with two friends to Paris and on to the Rock of Gibraltar.
Gail has had many occupations in his lifetime: farming, employment at Richardsons's Mfg., Cawker City; construction with Kents of Tipton; as a backhoe operator near Ithaca, N.Y. and with Central Colorado Construction Co., managed by Lewis Williams, a good friend.
Health conditions forced his retirement from work in 1978.
Gail was honest, dependable, cheerful, good natured, lover of nature and animals. He always made sure that his pets, dogs and many cats, were well taken care of. He enjoyed relatives and special friends and spent many hours on the phone to them. He was a mechanic for cars, trucks and tractors. He enjoyed watching the weather and predicting what would happen. He always kept up on the latest news.
His hobbies were traveling, Denver Broncos football on TV, listening to daily news and weather, fishing, cooking, crossword puzzles, computer games, music and keeping in touch with family and friends.
Gail was preceded in death by grandparents, Floyd and Celeste Stites Kincheloe and Ralph and Louise Haseltine Norton; father, Glen W. Kincheloe and a favorite niece, Anita Louise Slaughter.
Survivors include: his mother, Celia Norton Kincheloe, Cawker City; daughter, Lana R. Mabrey, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.; step-son, Capt. Ronald M. Jones, Mannheim, Germany; sister, Marjorie Slaughter, Laramie, Wyo.; a grandson; four aunts; nieces and nephews.
Gail was privileged to have ancestors who fought for and settled in America so he could enjoy membership in the Society of Sons Of the American Republic. Being of English descent he was a direct descendant of twelve Mayflower Pilgrims and had life memberships in the Kansas Pilgrim Descendants Society and in the General Mayflower Society of Plymouth, Mass.
Funeral services were held Apr. 15 at United Methodist Church, Ionia, with Pastor Laura Fricker officiating. Honors rendered by American Legion Post #279. Interment in Ionia Cemetery. Arrangements were made by McDonald Roberts Funeral Service.
Blanche Statz
Services for Blanche Statz, 80, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Nelson Community United Church of Christ. Burial will be in the Nelson Cemetery.
Klawitter-Price Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Harold Tambke
Harold Tambke, a Ruskin resident, died Tuesday. Service arrangements are pending at the Price Funeral Home, Hebron.
Grace Walum
Grace LaJune Crooks Walum, 87, the daughter of Vernie H. and Gladys M. (Lewis) Gallop, was born June 16, 1915, on a farm in Boyd County. She died April 8 at the Nelson Good Samaritan Center.
She attended Moniwi Grade School and graduated from Lynch High School in 1934. She married Kenneth (Ted) Crooks on Nov. 30, 1935, in Gering, Neb. This union was blessed with three children, Pat, Kenneth and Linda. They lived in Lynch, Neb., until his death in 1965. Grace moved to Kent, Wash., in 1968.
She married Elmer Walum in March, 1988. They moved to Nelson in 1992. Grace was a beautician, worked as a receptionist and was a member of the Rebbeka Lodge.
She had recently moved to the Nelson Good Samaritan Center.
Preceding her in death were her parents her first husband, Ted, on June 22, 1965; second husband, Elmer, on April 26, 1996, and one brother, Wilbur.
Survivors include her daughters, Mrs. Duane Ehlers (Pat), and Mrs. Floyd Tucker (Linda), and a son, Kenneth, all of Nelson; four stepchildren all of Seattle, Wash.; eight grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and one sister, Babe Baker, Seattle.
Services were held Sunday from the Nelson Community United Church of Christ with the Rev. Dr. Ralph Sturdy officiating.
Services were also held Monday from the United Methodist Church, Lynch , with Pastor Donna Carpenter officiating.
Interment was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Lynch, Neb.
Klawitter-Price Funeral Home, Nelson, was in charge of arrangements.
