U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Leonard McKibben
LAWNDALE, Calif. -- Leonard L. McKibben, 79, of Lawndale, Calif., formerly of Grand Island, died Friday, April 24, 1998, at his home.
Services were on Tuesday at Pierce Brothers Del Fox Mortuary in Lawndale.
Mr. McKibben was born on Jan. 15, 1919, in Grand Island to Lawrence and Lottie (Franklin) McKibben.
He married
Mildred Cole on Nov. 24, 1938. They lived in Grand Island.
He served in the U.S. Army and was a prisoner of war in World War II.
He and his brother, Harold, operated McKibben Transfer until he moved to California in 1957. He had his own business there with Mobil Oil Co. until his retirement.
He enjoyed sports, especially hunting and fishing. He was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Janice Fawcett of Germantown, Tenn.; two sons, Dennis of Atascadero, Calif., and Jerry of Playa Del Rey, Calif.; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; one brother, Harold of Hastings; and a sister, Betty Franz of Kearney.
He was preceded in death by a grandson and a brother.
Irene Rose
FREMONT, Calif. -- Irene Rose, 67, of Fremont, Calif., formerly of Grand Island, died Sunday, April 26, 1998, at Fremont.
Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, Calif. The Rev. David Sauer will officiate.
Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Rose was born on July 2, 1930, north of Grand Island to John and Marie (Reher) Petzoldt. She graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1948.
She married
LaVeine Rose on July 19, 1953, in Grand Island.
Survivors include three sons, Larry, Randy and Curtis, all of Fremont, Calif.; six grandchildren; one brother, Lenard Petzoldt of Newell, Iowa; and one sister, Florence Ruge of Grand Island.
Lt. Col. William Shaver
TAMPA, Fla. -- Retired Lt. Col. William C. Shaver, 62, of Tampa, Fla., formerly of Grand Island, died of cancer April 22, 1998, at his home.
Services were on Monday at the Florida National cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. The Rev. David Bamberry officiated. Military rites were conducted.
Blount-Curry-Roel Funeral Home of Tampa was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Perry Cancer Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, Fla.
Lt. Col. Shaver was born on Aug. 30, 1935, at Grand Island to William H.C. and Catherine M. (Humphrey) Shaver. He was educated in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1953.
He entered the U.S. Marine Corps on Aug. 9, 1955, and served 30 years, retiring in 1985.
He married
Shirley Buchfield on Feb. 8, 1958, at Oceanside, Calif. They lived in several locations while he served in the Marines. After his retirement from the Marine Corps, he graduated from North Carolina State University and went to work for National Bank in Tampa. He retired from banking in 1993 and remained in Tampa.
He enjoyed golfing and automobile racing, especially the Indianapolis 500.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Monica (Mrs. Charlie) Roper of Bealeton, Va., Lee Anne (Mrs. Jeff) Small of Hunington, W.Va., and Kelly Shaver of Roxboro, N.C.; six grandchildren; his mother, of Grand Island; three sisters, Nancy Starr of Anaheim, Calif., Juli (Mrs. Jim) Newlun of Republican City and Roberta (Mrs. Don) Filkins of Alda; and one brother, Tom Shaver of Grand Island.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Ellen Drommond
Ellen O. Drommond, 91, of the Grand Island Veterans Home died Saturday, April 25, 1998, at the home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at All Faiths Chapel at the veterans home. The Rev. Joel Schroeder will officiate.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday at the veterans home.
Military graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the St. Francis, Kan., Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the veterans home.
Kleine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Drommond was born on Aug. 16, 1906, at Haigler to Henry and Laverne (Hoover) McKinney. She graduated from Haigler High School in 1925.
She married
William Drommond in 1925 in Haigler. They lived on a farm near Haigler. She worked at McKinney Mercantile Co. for several years and then went to Denver, where she worked until World War II.
She joined the U.S. Army and served as a Wac at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Among her duties was to host President Truman whenever he came to the base. She was in an automobile accident in 1948. Due to her injuries, she lived with her mother at a care home in St. Francis, Kan., for 25 years. She had a short stay at a care home in Colby, Kan., before coming to the Grand Island Veterans Home to live.
She was a member of the American Legion in Haigler, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Royal Neighbors.
Survivors include several cousins, including Rodney Hoover of Arroyo Grande, Calif., her caregiver.
She was preceded in death by her husband.
Jeanie Groelz
Jeanie I. Groelz, 83, of the Grand Island Veterans Home, formerly of Phillips, died Sunday, April 26, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at All Faiths Chapel at the veterans home. The Rev. Tim Snyder will officiate. Burial will be in the Phillips Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to service time Friday at the chapel. Kleine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the occupational therapy program at the veterans home.
Edna Leth
Edna M. Leth, 74, of Grand Island died Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Faith United Methodist Church. The Rev. Richard Karohl will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the church or St. Francis Cancer Treatment Center.
Mrs. Leth was born on Oct. 15, 1923, in rural Polk County to Henry and Hattie (Longacre) Kumpf. She attended rural school near Osceola. She served in the U.S. Army from June 1944 until June 1946 as a surgical technician and staff sergeant.
She married
Harlan Leth on May 29, 1948, at York. They lived in Grand Island all their married
life and celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary. Mr. Leth died on March 1, 1996.
She worked at J.C. Penney for many years. She enjoyed baby-sitting, cooking, gardening and Nebraska football.
She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Mick Leth and Gregory Leth, both of Grand Island; one daughter, Barbara Leth of Grand Island; one grandson; and two sisters, Betty Morrow and Lena Hayes, both of Lincoln.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, George and Herman.
