U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
John Florea
AURORA -- John Florea, 95, of Aurora died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at the Hamilton Manor in Aurora.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Aurora First Christian Church. The Rev. Jay Mitchell will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Florea was born on Feb. 11, 1903, near Hopkins, Mo., to John William and Elnora (Killam) Florea. He grew up and was educated near Hopkins.
His mother died when he was 6 years old, and the family was separated and placed with other families. He stayed with neighbors and worked as a farm hand in the area.
He served a short stint in the U.S. Army, and in 1923, he and a friend came to Aurora, where his brother Fred was living. He worked on the Fred Splinter farm, where he met his future wife.
He married
Imogene Splinter on Dec. 15, 1925, at Aurora. They began farming in Hamilton County. They moved into Aurora in 1972. He continued farming for one more year, and then his son, Ron, took over the farming operation. They moved into Hamilton Manor in Aurora in November 1996.
He was a longtime member of the Aurora First Christian Church and served as a deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher for many years. He also served on the District 4-R school board, the Hamilton County Commission for 12 years, the Aurora zoning board from 1972 to 1992 and the Aurora Co-op elevator board for many years. He had been active in the Aurora Lions Club and served one term as district governor.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Ronald of Hampton; one daughter, Dorothy (Mrs. Bill) Bish of West Point; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and five sisters.
Patricia Leonard
GIBBON -- Patricia L. Leonard, 66, of Gibbon died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at her home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Godberson Mortuary in Gibbon. Burial will be in the Gibbon Riverside Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. and a rosary service will be from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to the Gibbon Emergency Unit Fund.
Mrs. Leonard was born on June 19, 1931, in Kearney to Lyle and Blanche (Hawke) Morgan. She attended school in Doniphan until the fourth grade. She then moved with her parents to Gibbon, where she graduated in 1949.
She married
Robert "Bob" Leonard on June 1, 1949, in Shelton. They lived in Gibbon. Besides raising a family, she was a bookkeeper for Doc Leonard and Leonard Sand and Gravel Cos. of Gibbon.
She was a member of St. James' Catholic Church of Kearney.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Lonny, Robby and Randy, all of Gibbon; 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a granddaughter.
Joseph Eskey
LINCOLN -- Joseph G. Eskey, 73, of Lincoln died March 11, 1998.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lincoln with the Rev. David Hintz officiating. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Park cemetery with full military rites by American Legion Post 3.
Rosary will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a rosary at 6 p.m., Friday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will continue an hour before services Saturday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Eskey was born on March 23, 1924, in Reading, Pa., to Joseph A. and Mary (Pluto) Eskey.
He worked as a letter carrier for 44 years.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, American Legion Post 3 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3606.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred (Ruth) Eskey; three sons, Leo Eskey of Fremont, Frank Eskey of Lincoln and Michael Eskey of Springfield, Va.; two daughters, Dolores (Mrs. George) Sweley of Wood River and Kathy (Mrs. Gary) Steinke of Lincoln; four stepdaughters, Connie (Mrs. Frank) Kormanec, Sherry Kidney, Jackie Quidato and Jean (Mrs. Frank) Bartlett, all of Lincoln; 23 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Agnes Schwendt of Trenton, N.J.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Hanora McLaughlin.
Dolores Sawyer
NORTH PLATTE -- Dolores Sawyer, 80, of North Platte died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill. The Rev. Mark Merkel will officiate. Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.
Mrs. Sawyer was born on Nov. 6, 1917, at Opportunity to Francis and Cecelia (Bowring) Grenier. She graduated from O'Neill High School.
She married
Harvey Sawyer on May 15, 1937, at Papillion. He died in 1979.
She worked at the Daylight Donut Bakery in North Platte. She and her husband owned the Nebraska Liquor Store in North Platte.
Survivors include one daughter, Harlene (Mrs. Harry) Stoltenberg of Grand Island; one son, Harlan Sawyer of North Platte; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; one sister, Ardis Schmidt of Norfolk; and one brother, Carroll "Mannie" Grenier of Fremont.
Janet Barry
HANSEN -- Janet Frances Barry, 58, of Hansen died Monday, March 16, 1998, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital at Hastings.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Greenwood cemetery in Trumbull. The Rev. Dean Clausing will officiate.
There will be no visitation or viewing.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.
Livingston-Butler Funeral Home of Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
She was born on July 8, 1939, in Hastings to Frank and Marie (Hemple) Barry. She was a janitor at the U.S. post office in Doniphan and a waitress at the Interstate Holiday Inn. She was a lifelong resident of Adams and Clay counties.
Survivors include a special friend, Ken Hegwood of Doniphan.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Bob Barry.
John Dobish
KEARNEY -- John Dobish, 89, of Kearney died Friday, March 13, 1998, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary in Kearney. The Rev. Dean Pofahl will officiate. Burial will be in Prairie Center cemetery at Haven's Chapel.
Visitation will be prior to services Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Prairie Center cemetery Fund.
Mr. Dobish was born on May 10, 1908, in a sod house in Howard County near Farwell to Frank and Mary Dobish.
He married
Eva Tuchel on Feb. 28, 1934, in Lexington. He farmed near Farwell until 1936, when they moved to the Riverdale area. He farmed and raised livestock there until retiring in 1990.
Survivors include one son, Don of Kearney; three grandsons; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Elsie Svitak of Chapman.
His wife died on Dec. 14, 1992. He also was preceded in death by two brothers.
