U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Richard Barnett
Richard Barnett was born on July 23, 1945 at Grant, Neb. He was the second of nine children born to Charles and Loveta Rowley Barnett.
Richard grew up in the Grant community where he attended school, graduating from Perkins County High School in Grant in 1963. Richard worked for Chuck Tharp during high school and after graduation for three years.
Richard joined the United States Marine Corps in 1966 and served in Vietnam as a radio operator until his discharge in 1969. He was wounded in Vietnam and received the Purple Heart medal. He served with the Marine Corps Reserve until 1972.
After his discharge in 1969, Richard returned to Grant and began his career with Milford Hoaglen at M&M; Manufacturing, working as a welder and steel shop related duties.
He was married
to Denise Graham on Aug. 3, 1973 in Grant. They made their home in Grant until 2003 when Richard moved to Gretna, Neb., where he was employed by Trailer-Pro as a shop technician.
He had developed a malignancy and retired in August of 2006 due to failing health. They returned to Madrid, Neb., a couple of weeks ago and Richard was transferred to the Perkins County Community Hospital in Grant where he died on Sunday, May 13, 2007. He had reached the age of 61.
While living in Grant, Richard served on the planning commission for several years.
Richard was preceded in death by his father and two brothers, an infant, Frank, and Carl who died in the Vietnam War.
He is survived by his wife, Denise of Gretna; two sons, Justin and his wife Aimee of Pleasant Dale, Neb., and Tyrel of Gretna; one daughter, Sharise and her husband Butch Lorenz of Guernsey, Wyo.; five grandchildren; his mother Loveta and her husband Don Short of Madrid; two brothers, Jim of Yukon, Okla., and Ernie of Madrid; four sisters, Norma Kelley of Altamonte Springs, Fla., Karon Harris of Grant, Sharon Zavorka of Torrington, Wyo., and Kim Earl of Cheyenne, Wyo.; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Sally Ruggia-Haden officiating. Burial was in the Grant cemetery with a military tribute. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Fred R. Beggs
Fred R. Beggs, 60, of McPherson, Kan., formerly of Imperial, Neb., died May 9, 2007, at Via Christi-St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita, Kan.
He was born April 10, 1947 in Winfield, Kan. to Richard P. and Ovella (Hawkins) Beggs.
He graduated from Oxford High School in 1965.
On April 2, 1966, he married
Donna E. Prather at Oxford, Kan.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in McPherson, Kan. and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
He was preceded in death by a son, Richard, who died in 1974.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; daughters, Michelle Hobson of McPherson, Kan. and Marsha Wilson of Hastings, Neb.; mother, Ovella Beggs of Winfield, Kan.; sisters, Marcella Schultz of Hutchinson, Kan. and Margaret Smith of Winfield, Kan.; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 14, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in McPherson with Rev. Les Cantrell officiating.
Interment followed at 2:30 p.m. at the Oxford cemetery in Oxford, Kan. with military honors.
Memorial donations can be made to the First Baptist Church.
Stockham Family Funeral Home of McPherson, Kan. was in charge of arrangements.
Gerayne Holscher
Gerayne Holscher, 71, of North Platte, was buried at McPherson National cemetery at Maxwell on April 23, 2007.
She and her husband, Don, had one child, Jill Titus, of Imperial. They were well known in the area, having attended many of the family activities including those of their son-in-law, Rick Titus, and three grandchildren, Ali, Dani and Jaime.
Gerayne had come to Imperial for rehabilitation after knee surgery and other health complications and died unexpectedly at Chase County Community Hospital on April 16, 2007.
Ethel Mueller
Ethel Mae Mueller was born March 7, 1916, in Richardson County, Neb., to Worthy and Nellie (Crouch) Bacon. As a young girl she attended Pleasant Valley country school southwest of Dawson, Neb.
Ethel married
Arnold D. Mueller on July 29, 1933 at Oregon, Mo. The couple then settled on a farm in the southeast corner of Richardson County where they made their home and were blessed with four sons.
Arnold was employed by the railroad for 33 years and his work brought the family to Wauneta, Neb., where they settled in 1943.
Arnold passed away in 1984 and Ethel soon after moved to Imperial where she had made her home until present.
Ethel passed away Tuesday, afternoon, May 1, 2007, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial. She was 91 years of age.
Ethel had many hobbies including quilting, crocheting, reading, sewing, playing cards and she loved to dance. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wauneta and the VFW Post #4688 Auxiliary of Imperial.
Survivors include sons, Jerry Mueller and wife, Thelma, of Troy, Mont., Richard Mueller and Jane Crawford of Imperial, Charles Mueller of Norfolk, Va.; 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arnold, in 1984; son, Alan, in 1980; sister, Fern Troutman, and three brothers, Roy, Ray and Charles.
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon, May 5 at 2 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial, with Robert Harmon officiating.
Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.
A memorial has been established to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Casketbearers were Rick Mueller, Don Mueller, Marvin Mueller, Kevin Mueller, Danny Mueller and Justin Mueller.
Music was provided by soloist Ron Moritz and pianist Marcia Bauerle.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
David K. Barnes
David K. Barnes, age 22, of Ogallala, Neb. passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Bryan LGH West in Lincoln as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
David was born Aug. 5, 1984 in Grant, Neb. the son of David S. Mary (Wheeler) Barnes.
He attended schools in Ogallala and graduated from the Ogallala High School in 2003. During his primary school years he participated in basketball, track, cross country and golf. He joined the Army Reserve in 2002 and served in the 1013th QM Company until the time of his death. He served in Iraq from July of 2004 until October of 2005. He was awarded the Driver and Mechanic Badge, US Army Commendation Medal, US Army Reserve Components Achievement, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
David was pursuing a degree in business at Southeast Community College and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, working toward becoming a CPA. He was employed by Hillcrest Country Club in Lincoln. His hobbies included golfing, spending time with his family and friends and he loved to play poker.
Survivors include his parents, David S. and Mary Barnes, of Ogallala; one sister, Elisha Barnes, of Lincoln; one brother, Ryan Barnes, of Lincoln; grandparents, James Wheeler of Ogallala, Shirley Barnes of Imperial and Charles and Genie Barnes of Imperial; great grandmothers, Catherine Meisenbach of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Mary Barnes of Imperial; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Kay Wheeler.
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 30, 2007 at St. Luke's Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at St. Luke's Catholic Church with Father Bryan Ernest officiating.
Burial will be in the Ogallala cemetery with military honors by the Keith Co. Veterans' Organizations and David's Army Reserve Unit.
A memorial has been established in his memory. Online condolences may be sent at gubserfuneralhome.com. Gubser Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ethel Mueller
Ethel Mueller, age 91, of Imperial, Neb. died Tuesday, May 1, 2007, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home.
All arrangements are pending.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Justin L. Ellicott
Justin Lee Ellicott was born July 20, 1960, at Scottsbluff, Neb. to George and Dorothy (Hinkle) Ellicott.
As a young man, he moved with his family from the original Ellicott ranch at Harrison, Neb. to several different locations in the state of Colorado, after his father became an extension agent.
Justin graduated from Eads High School in Eads, Colo. in 1978. He furthered his education by attending Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. He then transferred to Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colo. where he received his degree in animal science in December of 1982.
Justin married
Ivonette Jean Stolz on May 21, 1983, at Bethune, Colo. To this union two children were born: Allison and Tanner Justin (TJ).
They settled in Sunray, Texas, where they were both employed at Suntex Pork and later they moved to Schickley, Neb. where they were both employed at Cornhusker Swine.
After 14 years they moved north of Wauneta, Neb. in 1998, where they have made their home until present.
Justin passed away Wednesday evening, April 25, 2007, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Neb. He was 46 years of age.
Justin was a member of the United Methodist Church of Wauneta; a 4-H leader, taking several judging teams to the 4-H national livestock judging contest in Louisville, Ky.; a past member of the Chase County 4-H Extension Board; and a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie #3472 of Imperial, Neb.
Justin enjoyed watching his children participate in athletics, school activities and compete in showing animals at the county fair. He enjoyed hunting, raising livestock and he especially loved livestock judging.
Survivors include parents, George and Dorothy Ellicott, of Eads, Colo.; wife, Ivy, of Wauneta, Neb.; daughter, Allison Nichole, at home in Wauneta, Neb.; son, Tanner Justin (TJ), at home in Wauneta, Neb.; brother, David Ellicott, and wife, Tami, of Platteville, Colo.; father and mother-in-law, Phil and Betty Stolz, of Bethune, Colo.; brothers-in-law, Doug Stolz of Bethune, Colo., John Stolz of Byers, Colo., James Stolz and wife, DeDe, of Burlington, Colo.; nephews and nieces, Matt and Sara Ellicott of Gem, Kan., Summer and Dustin Owen of Lamar, Colo., Aranda and Ashlin Stolz of Burlington, Colo. and Tyler Ellicott of Platteville, Colo.
Justin was preceded in death by his grandparents and one sister, Jacque.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 28, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Wauneta, Neb. with Pastor Judy Dye officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Lucille McBride.
Casketbearers were Jeff Mizer, Justin Phillips, Gary Lee, Craig Poppe, Jay Nordhausen and Jerry Kuenning.
Honorary casketbearers were Justin's college livestock judging team consisting of Tim Amen, Kelly Vickers, Pat Walsh, Luke Lind, Dave Daley and Lee Benjamin.
Interment was at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Justin's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Wesley Van Vleet, Jr.
Wesley Van Vleet, Jr. Age 81, passed away Sunday, April 22, 2007 at a San Antonio hospital. He was born Jan. 5, 1926 in Kenesaw, Neb. to Wesley D. Sr. and Anita Gwinn Van Vleet.
Wesley served his country in the United States Navy.
On Jan. 25, 1968 he married
Betty Jo Bailey. She preceded him in death in 1996.
He was a member of the VFW and American Legion. He participated in several Rodeo Associations, 4-H and American Quarter Horse Association. He loved to dance and play dominos.
Survivors include three daughters, Virginia L. Fear; Annette Kennedy and husband ,Larry, all of Sutherland, Neb. and Pam Leibhart and husband, Brad, of Imperial, Neb.; three sons, Gary O'Berg of Oklahoma City, Okla., Dan O'Berg and wife, Carolyn, of Columbus, Neb., and Morris Van Vleet and wife, Ruth Ann, of Kearney, Neb.; also, special friend, Marlene Pape; 17 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wesley was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty Jo; two daughters, Trisha A. Greene and Mary J. Elder; two sons, Kenneth J. Van Vleet and Michael S. Van Vleet; a brother, Eugene Van Vleet and granddaughter, Katie Kennedy.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to the Silver Sage Senior Center in Bandera.
Memorial services will be held today, Thursday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church.
Interment will be in Chase County, Neb.
Arrangements are entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.
