U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentHenry Gewecke
Henry Herbert Gewecke, son of Adolph Gewecke and his wife Elizabeth Barchfeldt, was born near Moorefield on March 16, 1903. He spent his entire life in the Farnam-Moorefield area.
On March 12, 1924, he was united in marriage to Hester R. Carman at Norton, Kansas. To this union two daughters were born: Willa Eileen and Muriel Claire. The family moved to the present home northwest of Farnam in 1946. He enjoyed farm work and was conscientious in doing it, usually singing or whistling a tune as he worked. One of his greatest enjoyments was his grandchildren.
Henry Gewecke was a member of the Farnam Methodist Church, serving on the Board of Trustees at the time of his death.
He passed away unexpectedly at his farm, November 6, 1967, at the age of 64 years, 7 months and 18 days.
He is survived by his wife, Hester of Farnam; two daughters, Willa McCaa of Fairfield, California, and her husband, S. Sgt. Thomas McCaa; Muriel Kotschwar of Farnam and her husband, Leon Kotwschwar; five grandchildren: Timmy McCaa, Brent, Lana Jo, Perry and Bryan Kotschwar; four sisters: Ella E. Kister of Denver, Clara Wycoff of Farnam, Rose Dawson of Santa Ana, California and Anne Rodham of Denver; several nephews and nieces and friends.
Services were held at the Farnam Methodist Church Thursday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Conley Hinrichs. Dale Montgomery, Irvin Hess, Walt Kriemelmeyer and Lawrence Oberg sang, accompanied by Mrs. Raymond Smith. Pallbearers were Wayne Thomsen, Raymond Smith, Dale McNickle, George Edson and Glen Kotschwar. Interment was in the Farnam Cemetery.
Verna N. Grandstaff
Verna N. Craig Grandstaff, 76, of Gothenburg died April 9, 1998, at the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital.
She was born April 11, 1921, at Gothenburg to Gunner and Hattie Larson Young. She graduated from Brady High School and attended Kearney Teachers College.
On Jan. 13, 1940, she married Dale Craig at Stockville. They farmed in the Brady and Farnam areas until 1952, when they moved to Brady and later to Jeffrey Lake. He preceded her in death on July 18, 1974.
She was a school teacher, a caretaker at Jeffrey Lodge at Jeffrey Lake, a cook at the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital and she owned a dress shop in Valentine.
On Oct. 12, 1976, she married Floyd Grandstaff at Ainsworth. He preceded her in death on Nov. 21, 1980.
Mrs. Grandstaff was a member of the Gothenburg Catholic Church, Gothenburg Area Retired Teachers Association, Gothenburg Hospital Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and a longtime member of the Gothenburg Housing Authority Board. She was also a charter member of the Birthday Club, which includes Vonnie Derra, Yolanda Martin, Evelyn Elsasser, Jane Herrin, Ruth Rayburn, LaVerne Oman, Jean Clymer, Anita Stull and Marge Golter, who will serve as honorary bearers.
She was a loving mother and grandmother.
Surviving her are two daughters, RoJean (Dan) Stiffler of Parker, Colo., and Colleen (Mike) May of Brady; a son, Dennis (Joyce) Craig of Northglenn, Colo.; a sister, Violet Nevin of Fort Morgan, Colo.; a brother, Vernon (Norma) Young of North Platte; seven grandchildren, Jeff (Joan) Craig of Elsie, Jacque (Ken) Duggen of Fort Morgan, Dana (Christian Mercer) Stiffler of Cambridge, Mass., Dee Stiffler of Chicago, Cody May of Kearney and Crystal and Colton May of Brady; three step-grandchildren, Larry Osborn of Englewood, Colo., Terry (Nancy) Osborn of Sidney and Jeff (Sandy) Osborn of Northglenn; four great-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Viola Schroder; and a grandson, Jerry Craig.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Gothenburg, with the Rev. Donald O’Brien as celebrant. Private burial of the cremains will be in the Gaslin Cemetery south of Brady prior to services.
Source: The North Platte Telegraph April 10, 1998
William ‘Bill’ Hill
William D. (Bill) Hill, 80, of Farnam died Feb. 5, 1999, at Southview Manor in Cozad.
He was born June 2, 1918, in Marietta, Ohio, to Howard and Violet West Hill. He lived in Marietta until the age of 7, when he moved with his family to Nebraska for his father’s health. After his father’s death, he was adopted by his cousin and became the foster son of Mary and LeRoy Pierce of Gothenburg.
He attended Gothenburg Schools and played football for several years.
On Dec. 25, 1938, he married Maxine Boyle in Farnam. They celebrated 60 years together on Dec. 25, 1998.
Mr. Hill served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946. His hobbies were hunting and fishing. He was a guide and host to three generations of hunters.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Doug (Rhonda) of Farnam and Dennis of Albuquerque, N.M.; five grandchildren, Chad (Jennifer) of Omaha, Jamie (Stephanie) of Hastings, Brandon of Kearney and Jessica and Carri of Farnam; a sister, Mary Burgess of Marietta; a sister-in-law, Sylvia Hill of Marietta; nieces and nephews; a cousin, Evalyn Keiser of Gothenburg; and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl Maria; his birth parents; a sister; six brothers; his foster parents; and foster sisters, Ada Maria Herlocker and Ramona Healey. A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Farnam United Methodist Church with the Rev. Eugene Beye and Robert Stevens officiating. Burial will be in the Farnam Cemetery with military honors graveside by the Farnam American Legion Post 288.
Source: The North Platte Telegraph, February 9, 1999.
Harold Lehman
Harold Lehman, 92, of Farnam, died June 2, 1996, at Gothenburg.
He was born March 7, 1904, at Sherman County to Lewis and Ida Finder Lehman. At the age of two, he moved with his parents, to Frontier County where he grew to young manhood.
On March 26, 1928, he married Viola May Johnson at Stockville and they made their home south of Farnam for nine years. Later they bought a farm north of Farnam where they lived until retirement when they moved to Farnam in March 1973. He was a longtime rancher and farmer in the Farnam community.
His wife preceded him in death on March 30, 1992.
He was a member of the Nebraska Hereford Association, and the American Hereford Association.
Survivors include three daughters, Della (Bill) Schnackenburg of Bella Vista, AR, Loree McCord of Hastings and Linda (Larry) Brower of Kimball; three sons, Marvin (Lisa) of Maxwell, Lewis (LaVonne) of Ainsworth and Jerry (Karen) of Farnam; 18 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, three brothers and two sisters.
Services were held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 6, 1996, at the Farnam Church of the Nazarene with Pastors Steve Bales and Ken Sawyer officiating. Burial was in the Farnam Cemetery.
Memorials to the Farnam Church of the Nazarene and the Farnam Senior Center.
The FREE PRESS, June 13, 1996, p. 10
Bernard Lindvall, Sr.
Bernard Alfred Lindvall, son of Alfred and Hanna Lindvall, was born at Galesburg, Illinois, September 29, 1874 and passed away at North Platte, Nebr. June 27, 1968, at the age of 93 years, 8 months and 28 days.
He moved with his parents to Kearney, Nebraska, at the age of three. Later in 1891, they moved to Holdrege, Nebr. where his father was engaged in the grocery business. He spent his boyhood and early manhood at Holdrege where he helped his father in the grocery store. He also farmed north of Holdrege.
In 1917, he and his family moved to Ingham, Nebr. and lived on the home farm which is 5 miles west of Farnam, until 1960 when he went to North Platte, where he resided in a small cottage near his oldest son, until two and one half years ago when it was necessary for him to have medical care.
In 1904, he was united in marriage to Louise Wehrs, who preceded him in death in 1940. To this union were born three children; Wehrs of North Platte, Mrs. L. C. (Lucile) Coleman, of Orlanda, Florida, and Bernie of Farnam. He was a member of the Swedish Baptist Church of Holdrege and attended the Methodist Church of Ingham.
He leaves to mourn his death, three children and eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the Farnam Methodist Church July 1, 1968, with Rev. James Staley officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Harold Bick, Mrs. Anton Kotschwar and Mrs. Raymond Smith. Pallbearers were Dale McNickle, Vernon Thomsen, Russell Wilcox, Kenneth Stevens, Wayne Thomsen and Glen Wintermute.
Helen Elaine Lindvall
Helen Elaine McNickle, the daughter of Harve and Lillie McNickle, was born May 22, 1919, at Farnam, Nebr. She spent the early years of her life around Farnam and graduated from Farnam High School in 1936. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for two years.
On June 8, 1941, she was united in marriage to Bernie Lindvall in a double ceremony with her sister at the Farnam Methodist Church. To this union four son, Jerry, Ronald, Keith and Robert were born.
She took off-campus and night classes at Kearney State College and received her B.A. degree in 1965. She taught school in Maxwell, Farnam, Eustis and Elwood. At the time of her final illness she was elementary principal and second grade teacher at Elwood.
Mrs. Lindvall was an active member of the Farnam United Methodist Church, serving on the church board as Christian Education chairman. She taught Sunday School for several years, was a member of the Women's Society of Christian service, led Girl Scouts and was involved in 4-H at the different judging contests. At the time of her passing she was a leader of the Knotty Chefs 4-H club.
Elaine passed away at the Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebr. April 22, 1969, at the age of 49 years and 11 months. She leaves to mourn her death, her husband, Bernie of Farnam, Nebr., four sons: Jerry and wife Anita; Keith, his wife, Sharon and son, Scott; Robert, his wife, Ruth and son, Todd, all of Lincoln, Nebr.; and Ronald of Ames, Iowa. Four brothers: Rex of Lancaster, Pa., Glen of Billings, Mont., Verne and Dale of Farnam, Nebr.; one sister Mrs. Vernon Thomsen of Chappell, Nebr. and several nephews,nieces and a host of friends and relatives.
Services were held April 25, 1969, at 2:00 p.m. at the Farnam School Auditorium with clergymen, Rev. Conley Hinrichs and Rev. Fred Baker officiating.
