U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Herbert Gruwell
AURORA -- Herbert Louallen Gruwell, 76, of Aurora died Sunday, March 14, 1999, at a York hospital from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Aurora Messiah Lutheran Church. The Rev. Shari Duminy will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Gruwell was born on March 26, 1922, in Phillips County, Kan., to Raymond and Louise (Hecht) Gruwell. He grew up in Naponee and graduated from Naponee High School.
He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, from Dec. 29, 1942, to Feb. 20, 1946.
He married
Betty Gates on Nov. 13, 1946. He worked for Bushman Construction from 1953 to 1971 and lived in Kansas and Nebraska. He began working for Bonnavilla Homes in Aurora in August 1971 and retired in August 1986.
He was a member of the Lutheran church and the American Legion of Naponee and had received his 50-year pin.
Following his retirement, he enjoyed fishing, camping, boating and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Alan of Grand Island; four daughters, Diana Honore of Grand Island, Linda Madsen of Lincoln, Janet Toll of Salina, Kan., and Connie Gruwell of Lincoln; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lawrence of Littleton, Colo., and Donald of Superior; and one sister, Delna Chisholm of Beatrice.
He was preceded in death by a grandson and a brother, Merlin.
Laura Hargens
CAIRO -- Laura J. Hargens, 50, of Cairo died Monday, March 15, 1999, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Cairo United Methodist Church. The Rev. Alan Davis will officiate. Burial will be in Cameron cemetery north of Wood River.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the church. Apfel Funeral Home of Cairo is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the church.
Mrs. Hargens was born on Oct. 7, 1948, at Grand Island to Franklin and Sarah (Thomas) Myers. She grew up in the Cairo area and attended school in Cairo. She graduated from Cairo High School.
She married
Ron Hargens on Dec. 2, 1966, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island. The couple lived on a farm south of Cairo throughout their marriage. She worked with her husband on the farm. She also volunteered for many years at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
She was a member of the Cairo United Methodist Church, the Eastern Star and United Methodist Women. She enjoyed golf, fishing, traveling, camping and being outdoors.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Marty of Cairo; one daughter, Monica Madsen of Hebron; three grandchildren; her mother, of Cairo; one brother, Louis Myers of Cairo; and three sisters, Linda Zahl of Stratton, Louise Ford of Cairo and Leanne Whetstone of Lincoln.
She was preceded in death by her father.
Ngu Le
SHELTON -- Ngu T. Le, 90, of Shelton died Sunday, March 14, 1999, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Private family services were on Monday at Godberson Mortuary in Gibbon. Following cremation, the family will have private burial rites at a later date.
'Pars' Parsons
HORDVILLE -- E.N. "Pars" Parsons, 75, of Hordville died Monday, March 15, 1999, at Hamilton Manor in Aurora.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Baptist Church in Hordville. The Rev. Darryl Keeney will officiate. Burial will be in Lindale cemetery near Hordville.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Solt Funeral Home in Central City.
Mr. Parsons was born on Feb. 8, 1924, in Arnold to Emory and Gertrude (Maxson) Parsons. After his parents died, he moved to Central City from Arnold at age 10 to live with his sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Ed Rasmussen. He attended Central City Elementary and Central City High School.
He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946. While in the South Pacific, he served in New Caldonia, Halandia and Guadalcanal. He also went to Biak Island; Finch Haven; Port Moresby, New Guinea; Sydney and Brisbane, Australia; and the Philippines.
He married
Shirley Marceline Jones on July 11, 1948, in Hordville. He worked at the Co-op Creamery Association in Central City from 1946 to 1951 as a cream route man and manager. He was assistant manager at Farmer's Co-op in Hordville from 1954 to 1986. He retired in 1986. Mrs. Parsons died on May 21, 1995.
Mr. Parsons was affiliated with the First Baptist Church. He served on the Hordville school and village boards and Hordville Volunteer Fire Department. He was a member of the Lions Club, American Legion Post 6 in Central City and Grand Island Eagles Club.
He loved his cabin and teaching kids to water-ski. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker and Chicago Bears fan.
Survivors include one son, Rich "Rhea" Parsons of Hordville; two grandchildren; and one sister, Flora Beatty of Merna.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Vera Rasmussen, Berle and Arleeta Parsons.
Jo Ann Connolly
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- Jo Ann Connolly, 68, of Hot Springs, Ark., died Monday, March 15, 1999, at her home.
Burial will be at a later date in Grand Island.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's favorite charity.
Gross Funeral Home of Hot Springs is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Connolly was born on July 16, 1930, in Loup City.
She was a member of St. John's Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, William Connolly; three sons, Richard Smith of Omaha, John Smith of Rapid City, S.D., and Paul Smith of Omaha; two daughters, Patricia Reid of Cedar City, Utah, and Laura Miller of Silver City, Iowa; and two sisters, Jeannie Branson of Grand Island and Henrietta McFadden of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Marilyn "Jean" Hornby
Marilyn "Jean" Hornby, 66, of 2423 Del Monte Ave. died Thursday, March 11, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. C. Roger Nelson will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the church or the donor's choice.
Margie Jones
BROKEN BOW -- Margie Ruth Jones, 56, of Broken Bow died Friday, March 12, 1999, at Jennie Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow. The Rev. Cliff Reynolds will officiate. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Govier Brothers Mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to the family and to the Huntington's Chorea Association.
Mrs. Jones was born on May 11, 1942, at Lushton to Ernest and Ethel Lucille (Swisher) Ondrak. At an early age, she moved with her family to Arnold, where she attended school.
She married
Donald L. Jones on June 21, 1959, at Broken Bow. She worked at the Bow Inn in Broken Bow for a few years. Later she worked at Jennie Melham Memorial Medical Center for 15 years and Sandhills Manor Nursing for two years in the dietary department. They moved to Merna in 1988. She was diagnosed with Huntington's chorea 10 years ago and had been a resident at Sandhills Manor Nursing Home in Broken Bow since 1995.
She was a 4-H leader and volunteer, a Boy Scout leader and a member of the Broken Bow women's bowling league. She enjoyed camping, fishing and bowling. She loved children and animals.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Doug Jones of Merna, Casey Jones of Broken Bow and Josh Jones of Broken Bow; three daughters, Candy (Mrs. Stewart) Smith of Lexington, Carla (Mrs. Monte) Clark of Broken Bow and Kristi Jones of Merna; 14 grandchildren; her mother, of Arnold; one brother, Floyd Ondrak of Arnold; and one sister, Josephine Dailey of Montebello, Calif.
She was preceded in death by one grandson; her father; and one sister, Annie Mars.
