U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
'Vic' Thompson
AURORA -- Norman Victor "Vic" Thompson, 73, of Aurora died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 1998, at Memorial Hospital in Aurora.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora. The Rev. Joe Scahill will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
Mr. Thompson was born on July 22, 1924, at El Dorado, Kan., to Stephen Victor and Olivia (Hale) Thompson. He grew up and was educated at El Dorado and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1941. He attended Wichita University.
He served during World War II in the U.S. Army Air Force from Nov. 4, 1942, to Nov. 17, 1945.
He married
Margaret Foster on Feb. 24, 1946, at Winfield, Kan. They lived in Wichita, Kan., Chicago and several construction sites in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. They moved to Nebraska on a construction job in 1953.
They moved to Aurora in 1962, and he began working as a parts man for Wortman Motors. He began selling life insurance in 1965, and they owned and operated the SYA Cafe in Aurora. He began working for Red Rooster Auto Supply in Grand Island in 1973 and retired after 14 years. Mrs. Thompson died on Aug. 26, 1987. Since his retirement, Mr. Thompson had been in failing health.
He was a member of the Aurora United Methodist Church, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars since 1946 and Aurora Post 4993.
Survivors include two sons, Michael of Sutton and Norman of Alta Vista, Kan.; two daughters, Stephanie Penner and Dawn Haymart, both of Aurora; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Tom Thompson of Houston; and a sister, Janie Morris of Wichita, Kan.
Thelma Trauernicht
Beatrice -- Thelma C. Trauernicht, 79, of Beatrice died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1998, at Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell. The Rev. Rick Danforth will officiate. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran cemetery of rural Pickrell. A family prayer service will be at 10:15 a.m. Friday in the church basement.
Visitation will be until 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Fox Funeral Home in Beatrice and one hour before services Friday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Zion Lutheran cemetery Association or Lutheran Family Services.
Mrs. Trauernicht was born on March 1, 1918, at Lincoln to Thee and Tena (Parde) Jurgens. She grew up on a farm between Filley and Adams and attended Olney School near Filley.
She married
Martin Trauernicht on Oct. 9, 1935, at Zion Lutheran Church at rural Pickrell. They lived and farmed near Pickrell until moving to Beatrice in 1979.
She raised St. Bernard dogs for five years, enjoyed quilting and card playing and was involved in several volunteer activities.
She was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell and was a member of the Ladies Aid.
Survivors include two daughters, Vivian (Mrs. Elmer) Schuster of Filley and Hilda Mae (Mrs. Robert) Lenners of Grand Island; two sons, Lorenz Trauernicht of Pickrell and Richard Trauernicht of Tulsa, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one sister, Carline (Mrs. Ernest) Mencl of Beatrice; and two brothers, P.J. Jurgens and Wilfred Jurgens, both of Filley.
Her husband died on Oct. 24, 1988. She also was preceded in death by one granddaughter, four sisters and two brothers.
Bernice Gettko
PLEASANT HILL, Iowa -- Bernice Gettko, 89, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, died of congestive heart failure Jan. 15, 1998, at Parkridge Manor in Pleasant Hill.
Services were Monday at Iles Grandview Park Funeral Home in Des Moines, Iowa. Burial was in Chapel Hill cemetery at Des Moines.
Memorials are suggested to Grace Church or the Commission of the Blind.
Mrs. Gettko was born at Chapman to Lewis and Minnie (Dye) Powell. She grew up at Central City and had spent the past 40 years in Des Moines.
She worked at Look Magazine for 14 years, retiring in 1971.
She was a member of Grace Church and the Independent Order of the Foresters.
Survivors include two daughters, Delores Lou Zichek of Grand Island and Joy Turner of Des Moines, Iowa; one son, Jerry C. May of Hutchinson, Kan.; and one sister, Kathleen Nichols of Sun City, Ariz.
Ernest Harmon
Ernest R. Harmon, 87, of the Grand Island Veterans Home died Monday, May 18, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services are pending with Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.
Karlene Olson
STROMSBURG - Karlene Olson, 73, of Stromsburg died Monday, May 18, 1998, at Hearthstone in York.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Stromsburg Baptist Church. The Rev. Duane Tweeten will officiate. Burial will be in the Stromsburg Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Palmer Funeral Home in Stromsburg.
Opal Rohman
RAVENNA - Opal LaVaughn Rohman, 75, of Ravenna died Sunday, May 17, 1998, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Highland Park cemetery in Ravenna. The Rev. Arnold Kramer will officiate. Those planning to attend should meet at Rasmussen Mortuary in Ravenna prior to service time.
Mrs. Rohman was born on Aug. 25, 1922, on a farm near Gibbon to Ross and Gladys (DeBrie) Burton. The family moved to Poole when she was 2 years old. She attended school in Poole for 10 years. The family moved to Ravenna in 1937, and she graduated from Ravenna High School in 1939.
She married
George Rohman on Oct. 16, 1964. The couple lived in Ravenna. Mrs. Rohman lived her entire life in Buffalo County.
Survivors include three nephews and one niece.
She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother, Bud.
Mary Wood
GREELEY - Mary T. Wood, 86, of Greeley died Monday, May 18, 1998, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley. The Rev. Gerald Carlson will officiate. Burial will be in Sacred Heart cemetery at Greeley.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., with rosaries at 4 and 7 p.m., Tuesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
T.J. Finn and Sons Mortuary of Greeley is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Wood was born on Oct. 23, 1911, at Greeley to James and Anna (Faherty) McManus. She was raised at Greeley and attended Sacred Heart School, graduating in 1930.
She married
Orren Wood on April 22, 1932, at Greeley. Mrs. Wood was the bookkeeper for the family business, Wood Brothers Implement Dealership. Mr. Wood died on March 12, 1981. Mrs. Wood then moved into the town of Greeley.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley and a local study group. She was involved in many activities at the senior center and enjoyed flowers and gardening.
Survivors include two sons, Orren W. Wood Jr. and Robert J. Wood, both of Greeley; five daughters, Jean (Mrs. Harvey) Butcher of Greeley, Jane (Mrs. Dick) Kittridge of Grand Island, Janet (Mrs. Dan) Kelly of Omaha, Judy (Mrs. Ed) Warner of St. Paul and Jill (Mrs. Terry) Torson of Kearney; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Kathryn Edwards of Lafayette, Colo.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one grandson; one great-granddaughter; and three brothers, James, Patrick and Edward.
