U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Phyllis Loontjer
COLUMBUS -- Phyllis A. Loontjer, 41, of Columbus, formerly of Grand Island, died Monday, March 30, 1998, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Columbus. The Rev. Lyle K. Schoen will officiate. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial cemetery at Columbus.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McKown Funeral Home in Columbus. Further visitation will be one hour before services Friday at the church.
A memorial has been established to the Loontjer children.
Mrs. Loontjer was born on May 1, 1956, at Beatrice to L.O. and Katheryn (Grinage) Sebree. She graduated from high school in Hebron in 1973.
She married
Michael Loontjer on April 12, 1975, at Hebron. She lived in Hebron, Deshler and Grand Island before moving to Columbus in 1988.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Josh Loontjer of Columbus; three daughters, Angela Loontjer, Crystal Loontjer and Misty Loontjer, all of Columbus; her parents, of Hebron; a sister, Sandra Pettey of Bradshaw and a brother, Darrel Sebree of Lincoln.
She was preceded in death by one son, Andrew Loontjer.
Betty Van Raam
SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. -- Betty J. Van Raam, 73, of Sun City West, Ariz., formerly of Grand Island, died March 16, 1998, in Arizona.
Mrs. Van Raam was cremated.
Mrs. Van Raam was born on Dec. 28, 1924, in Grand Island to C.A. and Alma H. Snyder. She attended Lincoln Elementary School, Walnut Junior High and Grand Island Senior High.
Survivors include her husband, Rudy Van Raam; and one brother, Charles Snyder of Lawrence, Kan.
She was preceded in death by one son, Robert Wellman Jr.; one sister, Ora Mae Welsh; and two brothers, Orville and Robert Snyder.
Arlene Pedersen
Arlene M. Pedersen, 63, of 1524 N. Kruse died Monday, March 30, 1998, at her home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the chapel of St. Pauls Lutheran Church. The Rev. John D. Russell will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
There will be no visitation. Kleine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the church.
Miss Pedersen was born on Oct. 18, 1934, at Dannebrog to Peter C. and Johanna C. (Petersen) Pedersen. She grew up and was educated at Dannebrog and at the Grand Island Business College. She had worked as a secretary for Platte Valley Construction Co. for the past 44 years.
She was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church, the Eagles Auxiliary and the Grand Island Saddle Club.
Survivors include one son, Billie J. Pedersen of Grand Island; four grandsons; three brothers, Phillip of Helena, Mont., Lyman of Buena Park, Calif., and Byron of Santa Ana, Calif.; and two sisters, Betty Gould of Omaha and Marian (Mrs. John) Bowers of Grand Island.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Christian, Alvin, Gordon and Edgar.
Gary Phifer
Gary Lee Phifer, 54, of Grand Island died Tuesday, March 31, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at the All Faiths Chapel at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Visitation will begin at 8:30 a.m. The Rev. Roland Going will officiate.
Additional services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Loup City. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. The Rev. Leon Zimmerman will officiate.
Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery at Loup City.
Additional visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Loup City Volunteer Fire Department or American Legion Baseball.
Mr. Phifer was born on Feb. 29, 1944, at St. Francis, Kan., to John and Blanche (Knapp) Phifer. He attended first through sixth grades in a one-room county school at Benkelman and seventh through ninth grades at Haigler School. He graduated from Stratton High School and attended McCook Junior College.
He entered the U.S. Army on May 19, 1965. He was an expert sharpshooter and first-class missileman. He was discharged on May 18, 1967.
After his discharge, he lived in Loup City, where he worked for Nebraska Public Power District, Tri Valley Equipment, Scoular Grain Co. in Omaha and several other local businesses.
He was a member of the Lutheran faith. He was a life member of American Legion Post 48 and was a volunteer fireman for the Loup City Fire Department.
Survivors include his parents, of Loup City; a sister, Marsha (Mrs. Ronald) Akerson of Aurora; and a brother, Gail F. Phifer of St. Petersburg, Fla.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Leo Philbert Phifer.
Marshall Spradlin
Marshall C. Spradlin, 81, of Grand Island died Monday, March 30, 1998, at Manor Care in Overland Park, Kan.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home. The Rev. Jocelyn Tupper will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church.
'Al' Weil
John Alexander "Al" Weil, 75, of Grand Island died Tuesday, March 31, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Gollaher Chapel at Trinity United Methodist Church. The Rev. George Wheat will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Weil was born on Jan. 7, 1923, at Lincoln to Johan and Mollie (Trebelhorn) Weil. He grew up and was educated in Lincoln.
He entered the U.S. Army on Dec. 23, 1940, served during World War II and was discharged on Oct. 15, 1945.
He married
Stella Pirnie on Nov. 10, 1985, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island. The couple lived in Grand Island throughout their marriage.
Mr. Weil ran the Legion Club for many years and later operated the Flamingo, the Peacock Lounge, BT's Lounge and the Balcony. He also worked for Island Landhandlers and was a truck driver at St. Libory.
He attended Trinity United Methodist Church and was a member of the United Veterans Club, Eagles, Platt-Duetsche, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Grand Island Sheriff's Posse, Saddle Club and Big Brothers.
He enjoyed music, dancing, family reunions, fishing, horseback riding and riding motorcycles.
Survivors include his wife; one stepson, Dennis Stark of Grand Island; one brother, John Reinhardt of McMimmville, Ore.; two sisters, Freda Bevard of Johnstown, Colo., and Elizabeth Palesro of Dearborn, Mich.; and two stepsisters, Mary Allan of Cairo and Freida Sneider of Cozad.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Ritter and Amelia Barmes; and two stepbrothers, George Reinhardt and Alex Reinhardt.
