U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
'Ike' Bergen
Isaac "Ike" Bergen, 78, of Grand Island, formerly of Aurora, died Monday, March 8, 1999, at the Grand Island Veterans Home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora. The Rev. Karl Larson will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.
Mr. Bergen was born on April 30, 1920, south of Hampton to John and Katherine (Kliewer) Bergen. He grew up and was educated near rural Henderson.
He married
Irene Anderson on Sept. 6, 1942, at Marquette. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from Sept. 15, 1942, to Nov. 1, 1945.
They moved to Milford, where he attended Milford Trade School to learn the auto body repair business. They moved to Aurora in 1949, and he worked for Vetter Brothers. They moved to Stromsburg in 1954, and he ran Ike's Body Shop until it was destroyed by fire. He moved to Grand Island in 1957 to sell insurance.
They returned to Aurora in 1958, and he operated Ike's Body Shop. Mrs. Bergen died on Sept. 8, 1972. Following her death, Mr. Bergen retired and moved to Central City for a time. He then moved to Grand Island and, due to failing health, entered the Grand Island Veterans Home, where he had lived for five years.
He attended the Aurora Evangelical Covenant Church and belonged to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include two daughters, Marilyn (Mrs. Dale) Ratzlaff of Bradshaw and Karen (Mrs. Keith) Jackson of Mound, Minn.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Alma (Mrs. Edward) Siemens of Hesston, Kan.
Other than his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Lila; four brothers and one sister.
Jimmy Michel
Jimmy Eddie Michel, 64, of 2020 W. Waugh St. died Friday, March 5, 1999, at the home of his son James in Joplin, Mo.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Kleine Funeral Home with the Rev. George Wheat officiating. Mr. Michel was cremated. Burial will be in the Grand Island City cemetery for both Mr. Michel and his wife, Lawanna Michel, who died in 1995.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Michel was born on July 22, 1934, at Chappell to John B. and Evelyn (Stutzman) Michel. He moved to Shelton as a young boy and was educated there. He graduated from Shelton High School, where he was All-Conference in football and basketball.
He joined the U.S. Army on Nov. 11, 1954, and was stationed in Texas, California and Germany. He served on the rifle team. He was discharged on Oct. 11, 1956, and moved to North Platte in 1957. He worked for Fairacres Dairy there.
He married
Lawanna "Lee" Tucker on Nov. 2, 1957, in North Platte. He transferred to Grand Island in 1972 and worked for Roberts Dairy. He later worked for Elias & Knuth, Miller and Paine and retired in 1996 from Dillard's. Mrs. Michel died on Jan. 14, 1995.
After retiring, Mr. Michel traveled and did carpentry work for his family and friends. In the last few months of 1998, he went to live with his son in Joplin. During his illness, he received care from his son James and daughter-in-law Julie in their home.
He enjoyed Nebraska football, woodworking, camping, water skiing, bowling and watching his children and grandchildren participate in sports and school activities. He was a member of the Eagles, Elks, several bowling leagues and coached boys baseball, girls softball and youth bowling.
Survivors include two sons, James Michel of Joplin and Jay of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three daughters, Debora (Mrs. Jim) Encinger, Julie (Mrs. John) Hartford and Deanna (Mrs. Joel) Carlson, all of Grand Island; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Jerry Michel of Breaux Bridge, La.; and two sisters, Dixie (Mrs. Les) Rice of Wallace and Shirley (Mrs. Duane) Musil of Colorado Springs.
Other than his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents.
Clarence Karsten
Clarence L. Karsten, 76, of Grand Island died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 11 a.m., with a family prayer service at 10:45 a.m., Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. Robert Harms will officiate.
Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kearney Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.
Survivors include his wife, Grace; two daughters, Maxine (Mrs. Ron) Erpelding of Gibbon and Beth (Mrs. Larry) Janecek of Gering; one son, Rod Karsten of Grand Island; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Elizabeth Smith of Bertrand, Florence Montgomery of Norfolk, Lila Rishel of Gothenburg and Fern Karsten of Portland, Ore.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Albert, Herman and Walter; and two sisters, Edna Hayward and Mabel Hemstrom.
Loye Carriker
BURWELL -- Loye G. Carriker, 89, of Burwell died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at the Valley County Nursing Home in Ord.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church in Burwell with the Rev. Roger Gillming officiating. Burial will be in Cottonwood cemetery in Burwell.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Eberle-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell.
Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church Building Fund.
Vivian Holloway
BURWELL -- Vivian Holloway, 84, of Burwell died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at her daughter's home in Eugene, Ore.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church in Burwell. The Rev. Rolly Salts will officiate. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Eberle-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell.
Memorials are suggested to the church.
Esther Bauer
MINDEN -- Esther C. Bauer, 88, of Minden died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at the Bethany Home in Minden.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Minden Cemetery. The Rev. Volney Lofgreen will officiate.
There will be no public visitation.
Layton Funeral Home in Minden is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Bauer was born on June 30, 1910, in Kearney County to Hans and Lovina (Larsen) Christensen. She grew up in the Minden area and attended Minden High School.
She married
Clarence Bauer on Dec. 29, 1928. They lived in Minden, where they owned and operated Bauer Motor Service for many years.
She was a member of the First Christian Church in Minden and was very active in the church until her health failed. She was a Sunday school teacher, CYF sponsor and state CWF president.
She enjoyed gardening and china painting and was a longtime member of the Minden Garden Club.
Survivors include one son, Larry Bauer of Minden; one daughter, Judith Nelson of Grand Island; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother.
Romana Hemmer
HUMPHREY -- Romana V. Hemmer, 73, of Humphrey died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey. The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell will officiate. Burial will be in St. Francis cemetery in Humphrey.
Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at Duesman Funeral Chapel in Humphrey. Visitation will continue from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the church. A Christian Mothers rosary will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, and a rosary/Scripture service will be at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Arthritis Foundation or the donor's choice.
Mrs. Hemmer was born on July 19, 1925, at St. Bernard in rural Lindsay to Peter and Angela (Weidner) Herchenbach. She was educated at St. Bernard's Catholic School.
She married
Wilfred A. Hemmer on May 2, 1945, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in rural Lindsay. They lived in the Lindsay and Cornlea communities and moved to Humphrey in 1974. She was a homemaker and farmed with her husband.
She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in Humphrey, its Christian Mothers Society and some card clubs.
Survivors include three sons, Richard of Humphrey, Donald of Prior Lake, Minn., and Allan of Grand Island; six daughters, Joan (Mrs. Kenneth) Frisch of Humphrey, Jolene (Mrs. Dave) Boothby of Fresno, Calif., Jane (Mrs. Roy) Schumacher of Omaha, Susan (Mrs. Randy) Smith of Shelby and Peggy (Mrs. Dale) Olmer and Debra (Mrs. Jack) Kessler, both of Columbus; 21 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; one step great-grandchild; two brothers, Louis of Lindsay and Jerry of Humphrey; and three sisters, Iona Dempsy of Omaha, Elda Mae (Mrs. Lee) Hemmer of Norfolk and Mary (Mrs. Ivan) VanDyke of Norfolk.
Her husband died on Aug. 19, 1983. She also was preceded in death by one grandson and two brothers, Mark and Eugene.
