U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
John Linus Paschang
The Most Rev. John Linus Paschang, 103, retired bishop of the Grand Island Diocese and the world's oldest bishop at the time of his death, died Sunday, March 21, 1999, at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Cathedral with the Most Rev. Lawrence McNamara, bishop of the Grand Island Diocese, officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m., with a rosary at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at the cathedral.
Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bishop Paschang was born on Oct. 5, 1895, at Hemingford to Casper and Gertrude (Fisher) Paschang. He was educated at St. Anthony's Parochial School in St. Charles and Conception College in Conception, Mo.
He entered St. John's Seminary at Collegeville, Minn., in September 1916 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1921. He was pastor of St. Rose's Parish in Hooper from 1921 to 1923 and entered Catholic University of America at Washington, D.C., in the fall of 1923. He received his doctorate in canon law in 1925 and his Ph.D. in 1927. During the summer months, he studied civil law at Columbia University.
He became pastor of Holy Cross in Omaha in 1927.
He was consecrated as the fourth bishop of the Grand Island Diocese on Oct. 9, 1951. In 21 years as bishop, he presided over 59 priest ordinations and approved construction of 33 churches, 15 parish houses, 13 schools, 11 parish centers, six convents and additions to four hospitals.
Mandatory retirement forced Bishop Paschang to retire in 1972.
He played the violin well and gave his valued violin to the Sisters of Charity to be raffled off to help in their missionary work. Bishop Paschang established the Damian Leper Relief Fund in 1976.
Bishop Paschang lived in his own home until failing health forced his move to St. Joseph's Retirement Home in West Point in 1992. On Oct. 12, 1995, he returned to Grand Island to celebrate his 100th birthday with a Mass of Celebration at St. Mary's Cathedral.
He served as chaplain of the Omaha Council of the Knights of Columbus for 10 years and state chaplain from 1942 to 1944.
Survivors include one sister, Ann Peter of Columbia, Miss.
Bishop Paschang was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe, Frank and the Rev. Anthony; and four sisters, Wilhemina, Dorothy, Elizabeth and Justine.
Marie Robar
Marie Robar, 87, of Grand Island died Sunday, March 21, 1999, at Park Place Health Care and Rehab Center.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society.
Mrs. Robar was born on April 12, 1911, at St. Paul to George and Rose (Marquis) Graves.
She married
Ernest J. Robar in 1931.
Survivors include one grandson, Rick Sperlan.
Mrs. Robar was preceded in death by her husband and one daughter, Jean Sperlan.
Ned Carlson
CENTRAL CITY -- Ned Conrad Carlson, 87, of Central City died Sunday, March 21, 1999, at the Grand Island Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Central City. The Rev. Debra Tompsett-Welch will officiate. Burial will be in the Central City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Solt Funeral Home in Central City.
Mr. Carlson was born on Sept. 26, 1911, at Central City to Jonas Gunnar and Henrietta (Anderson) Carlson. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1930 after his family moved to Lincoln.
The family returned to Central City in 1933, and Mr. Carlson worked in the family shoe store for eight years. During World War II, he served as a tail gunner in the U.S. Air Force. He later worked as the bulk agent for Standard Oil for 32 years.
He married
Bonnie Norgard on Oct. 9, 1952, in Lincoln. After his retirement from Standard Oil, he spent 10 years as groundskeeper of the Central City ball fields.
Mr. Carlson received the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award and was a member of American Legion Post 6 and the Central City school board.
He enjoyed the outdoors, horses and Nebraska football.
Survivors include five sons, Randy of North Platte and Barry, Jeff, Kent and Mark, all of Central City; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his wife, three sisters and one brother.
Alvie Coulter
ALBION -- Alvie F. Coulter, 97, of Albion died Monday, March 22, 1999, at Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Center in Albion.
Services are pending with Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
Gerald Hatt
DANNEBROG -- Gerald Hatt, 73, of Dannebrog died Saturday, March 20, 1999, at his home.
Services are pending with Jacobsen Funeral Home of St. Paul.
Patricia Knowinski
FULLERTON -- Patricia Ann Knowinski, 60, of Fullerton died Sunday, March 21, 1999, at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fullerton. The Rev. Don Cleary will officiate. Burial will be in the Fullerton Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., with a vigil service at 7 p.m. followed by a rosary, Tuesday at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton.
Mrs. Knowinski was born on Sept. 18, 1938, at Central City to Reuben and Maxine (Gleason) Carlson. She attended Merrick County rural schools and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1956.
She worked at Tranbarger Variety Store in Fullerton.
She married
Donald Knowinski on Nov. 23, 1957, in Fullerton. They lived on a farm east of town.
She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church and St. Ann's Altar Society.
She enjoyed sewing, bird-watching, gardening and flowers.
Survivors include her husband; four sons, Kenneth and David, both of Fullerton, Russell of Henderson and Allen of Hastings; two daughters, Kathleen (Mrs. Donald) Voichahoske of Fullerton and Kristina Knowinksi of Wahoo; 11 grandchildren; her mother, Maxine Bryer of Central City; one brother, Dwain Carlson of Roca; and one sister, Della (Mrs. Gene) Cunnigham of Schuyler.
She was preceded in death by one grandson.
Phyllis Lainson
HASTINGS -- Phyllis Hurley Lainson, 79, of Hastings died Saturday, March 20, 1999, at her home.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Hastings with the Rev. Carl W. Utley officiating. There will be no visitation.
Butler-Volland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to Pooh Corner Day Care Center.
Maggie Niklaus
AURORA -- Maggie Niklaus, 107, of Aurora, Hamilton County's oldest resident, died Monday, March 22, 1999, in Memorial Community Care at Memorial Hospital in Aurora.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Aurora First Christian Church with the Rev. Jay Mitchell officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery in Trumbull.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 pm. Thursday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
