U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Donald Sopchich
Donald J. Sopchich, 70, of Grand Island died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Beverly Healthcare Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Kleine Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
'Dan' Stauffer
80, Former Realtor
Danny "Dan" Stauffer, 80, of Grand Island died Friday, May 2, 2003, at the Bickford Cottage of Des Moines, Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Erin Curtis officiating. Burial will be in the Elm Creek Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Stauffer was born April 26, 1923, at Page to Daniel and Achsah (Ames) Stauffer.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Doris Stauffer; a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Kent and Linda Stauffer of Des Moines, Iowa; and a brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Hazel Stauffer of Kearney.
He is also survived by a grandson, Dillon Stauffer, and a granddaughter, Sidney Stauffer, both of Des Moines, Iowa.
He grew up in Page and Elm Creek. Following high school he attended Kearney State College.
He was united in marriage to Doris Dworak on July 18, 1952, in Elm Creek. The couple then lived in Grand Island throughout their marriage and he was employed at Farm Hand Equipment. He also was a Realtor in Grand Island for 20 years.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Kim S. Stauffer; two brothers, Harold and Loyd Stauffer; and a sister, Wilma Milbourne
Memorials may be made to the family.
Amanda Babb
FULLERTON -- Amanda K. Babb, 97, of Fullerton died Monday, May 5, 2003, at home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton. The Rev. David Mathke will officiate. Burial will be in the Fullerton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Babb was born May 6, 1905, in Hall County to John and Sophia (Hehenke) Knipphals.
Survivors of the immediate family include a son and daughter-in-law, Montelle and Doris Babb of Central City, and a daughter and son-in-law, Johnnita and Homer Horn of Fullerton.
Survivors also include 8 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
At an early age she moved from Phillips to Nance County to the Premer Ranch until age 10. She then moved to the farm where she resided until her death.
She married
Roy Babb on May 8, 1923, at Central City. They would have celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary. Mr. Babb passed away on April 30, 2003.
She enjoyed craft work. She had a big garden, milked cows and baked.
She was a member of the Extension Club, a 4-H leader for many years, charter member of the Old Timers Club and honorary member of the Garden Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband and three great-grandchildren.
Alice Brittain
CENTRAL CITY -- Alice M. Brittain, 82, of Central City died Monday, May 5, 2003, at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City.
Services are pending with Wagner Funeral Home in Central City.
Shirley Gustafson
CENTRAL CITY -- Shirley A. Gustafson, 78, of Central City died Monday, May 5, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services are pending with Wagner Funeral Home in Central City.
Arlene Laux
HASTINGS -- Arlene Laux, 78, of Hastings died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Perkins Pavilion.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings. The Revs. Carl H. Rehwaldt and Paul Dunbar will officiate. Burial will be in the Parkview cemetery at Hastings.
Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home in Hastings and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Mrs. Laux was born July 10, 1924, at Blue Hill to Edward and Bertha (G'dert) Schnase.
Survivors of the immediate family include her husband, Robert D. Laux of Hastings; two sons and daughters-in-law, Kenneth and Carol Laux and Danny and Debra Laux, all of Hastings; a brother, Larry Schnase of Hastings; and two sisters, Neva Semotan of Hastings and Shirley Hatfield of Bolivar, Mo.
Lee Nielsen
69, Former county agent
GREELEY -- Lee A. Nielsen, 69, of Greeley died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Howard County Hospital in St. Paul.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Greeley United Methodist Church. The Rev. Mike Anderson will officiate. Burial will be in the Greeley Methodist Cemetery, with military rites provided by the Greeley American Legion post.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Methodist Church.
T. J. Finn and Sons Mortuary in Greeley is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Nielsen was born Nov. 26, 1933, in Howard County to Herman and LaVerna (Christiansen) Nielsen.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Ann; three daughters and sons-in-law, LeaAnn and Gerald Dugan of Greeley, Tami and Larry Welch of St. Paul and Beth and Jack Mosier of Spalding; and two sons and daughters-in-law, Alan and Linda Nielsen of Greeley and Dale and Cindi Nielsen of Kilgore.
He is also survived by his father-in-law, Wesley Fox, and his wife, Margaret, of Kilgore; 18 grandchildren and their spouses, Amy and Scott Gonsior, Angie and Marshall Biddlecome, A.J. and Kyle Lee, Scott Dugan, Autumn Dugan, Ashley Dugan, Vanda and Juan Lopez, Laran Welch, Landry Welch, Layne Welch, Josh Nielsen, Katie Nielsen and her fiancé Curt Kniss, Doug Nielsen, Tyler Mosier, Megan Mosier, Trevor Mosier, Christopher Nielsen and Casey Nielsen; and four great-grandchildren.
He was raised in Howard County and attended rural Howard County Schools. He graduated from Scotia High School in 1951 and then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. While in college, Lee was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Fraternity. Lee was married
to Ann Fox on Dec. 19, 1954, at Kilgore. Lee then served six months in the U.S. Infantry and served in the Reserves for 10 years. Eighteen months of those years were spent at Geneva, where he trained to be a county agent. They moved to Greeley in 1958 and he served as county agent until 1989, when he retired.
He continued to be active, including being an EMT and fireman for the Greeley Volunteer Fire Department, was an instructor for the gun safety course and was an instructor for farm safety. He was always active with 4-H and was an assistant superintendent of the dorms at the State Fair and also at Ak-Sar-Ben. He was a member of the County Agents Association.
Lee loved woodworking and working in his huge garden. He enjoyed going fishing and following his grandchildren in their many activities.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Amber E. Dugan and Amber M. Dugan; and a brother-in-law, Ronald Fox.
Memorials may be given to the family. E-mailed condolences may be sent to mosier@usa.net.
Donald Stark
RAVENNA -- Donald Stark, 80, of Ravenna died Monday, May 5, 2003, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Highland Park cemetery at Ravenna. Those attending should meet at Rasmussen Mortuary prior to service time. The Rev. Rod Pruss will officiate.
Mr. Stark was born Dec. 4, 1922, in Buffalo County to William F. (Bill) and Ida (Betke) Stark.
Survivors of the immediate family include a sister, Helen Badura of Ravenna; and two nephews, Ron Kucera and Terry Kucera, both of Grand Island.
