U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Twila Mae Schilke
Twila Mae Hogsett Schilke, age 75, of Imperial, Neb. departed this life on Sunday, April 15, 2007, at her home in rural Imperial.
Twila was born on Nov. 22, 1931 to Ray and Dora (North) Hogsett, the youngest surviving child of their 10 children. She was baptized and confirmed on Feb. 25, 1951 at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial, Neb. by Reverend W.A. Meyer.
She attended the one room school house at Mt. Tabor in rural Lamar and attended high school in Holyoke, Colo. As a young girl, Twila loved to ice skate, rollerskate and swimming in the watering hole with her siblings.
On Sept. 17, 1950, Twila was united in marriage to Robert J. Schilke at Zion Lutheran Church by Reverend W.A. Meyer. The couple was blessed with two children: Robert R. and Judy K.
Bob and Twila made their home in rural Chase County where she was actively involved with the farming and cattle operation. Together for 56 years, they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and traveling.
To Twila, her family and friends were everything. She especially enjoyed attending her family reunions, cooking with her granddaughters and raising roses. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and devoted her time to the Ladies Aid and was actively involved in the breast cancer support group.
Twila was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Dora Hogsett; brothers, Oliver, Cliff, Clyde, Marvin and Ed Hogsett.
Twila will be sadly missed by her husband, Robert; son, Robert R. Schilke; daughter, Judy Brandt, and husband, Troy; grandsons: Robert and wife, Candace, Casey and Cole Schilke; granddaughters, Shelbi and Skye Brandt; great grandchildren, Blake and Brooke Schilke; sister, Fern Morse, of Albuquerque, N.M. and brother, Vernon Hogsett, of Longmont, Colo.; brothers-in-law, Darty and Marla Schilke, Larry and Diann Schilke and sisters-in-law, Lois Schilke, Doris Schilke and Helen Schilke, all of Imperial, along with many nieces and nephews and their families and all of her special friends that she made through the years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial, Neb. with Rev. David Kahle officiating.
Organist was Dr. J. Gordon Christensen.
Casketbearers were Gayle Vrbas, Mike Nelson, Shawn Jones, Dick Williams, Jerry Morse, Don Weiss Jr. and Larry Schilke.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Walter A. Kutz
Walter A. Kutz, 88 of rural Hayes Center, Neb. died on April 16, 2007 at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis, Neb.
Walter Adolph Kutz was born on Oct. 3, 1918 in McDonald, Kan. to Adolph and Martha (Schultz) Kutz.
He grew up with one sister, Mary Mae (Kutz) Duvel.
He attended school in Max, Neb. and graduated at Benkleman High School. He attended college for one year at the University of Nebraska at Kearney before enlisting in the Air Force in 1941. He was a pilot with Lt. Col. James "Jimmie" Doolittle's Eighth Air Force Fighter Squadron in WWII in the European campaign. He was discharged as a Lieutenant in 1946 in St. Louis, Mo.
He returned to Nebraska and married
Bertha Agnes (Klumpe) on Sept. 11, 1946. He moved to Hayes County and purchased his farm in 1954. He was a progressive farmer/rancher until his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Adolph; his wife, Bertha; and his sister, Mary Mae Duvel.
He is survived by his brother-in-law Marvin Klumpe (Sylvia) and sister-in-law, Arlene Williams (Dwight). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
The rosary was held on Wednesday, April 18, at 7 p.m. at the St. James Catholic Church in Curtis, Neb.
The memorial funeral mass will be at 10:30 today, Thursday, April 19, at the St. James Catholic Church with a dinner following at Klehn hall.
Inurnment for Bertha and Walter will be held at the Benkelman cemetery following the dinner.
Irvine (Bob) Brown
Bob Brown was born Sept. 19, 1912 to John and Rossa Brown in rural Dundy County where they homesteaded.
Bob attended Rollwitz School until after the eighth grade and then had to end his schooling to help out on the family ranch and farm.
He married
Iris Beard on June 8, 1940 and they lived on the family ranch and farm. To this union were born Gweneth Ileene on Sept, 7, 1941, Mabel Lorene on Aug. 17, 1943 and Stanley Irvin on March 28, 1947.
Bob was a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church at Crete, Neb. and a member of the Elks Lodge in Wray, Colo. He was active in helping all his children with their 4-H projects.
On June 5, 1970, Bob married
Helen Odell and gained three step-children. They are Karen Liptrap and husband, Bob, Steve Traxler and wife, Bren, and Craig Odell and wife, DeeAnn.
Bob and Helen continued to live on the ranch until they retired in 1998. At the time of his death, they were at home at 423 W. 6th Street in Imperial, Neb.
The family was very fortunate to have had such wonderful nurses to care for Dad during the last few years. Connie Greiss and Kayla Holmes were the best and so good to him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lorene Grimes; daughter, Gweneth; grandsons, William and Billie Joe Pawnee and one granddaughter, Candy Jo Westrand.
Survivors include his wife, Helen; daughter, Mabel Jensen, and husband, Toni, of Sterling, Colo.; son, Stan Brown and wife, Judy, of Lincoln, Neb; step-children, Karen Liptrap of Colorado Springs, Colo., Steve Traxler of Aurora and Craig Odell of Gurley, Neb. Grandchildren include Tami Ruch, and husband, Dale, Jerry Westrand, Melissa Brown, Peggy Gonzales, Carolyn Pawnee, Sam Pawnee, Jodie Odell, Krystle Odell, Angie Odell, Alan Traxler, Lindsey Traxler, Mike Anderson and Anthony Anderson. Bob had 18 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. He also has two sisters, Nina Fortkamp, and husband, Art, Jean Welch, and husband, Don, and one brother, Don and wife, Betty.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 7, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at the Champion Community Church, Champion, Neb. with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and singers were Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.
Casketbearers were Jerry Westrand, Dale Ruch, Mark Ambrosek, Alan Traxer, Robert Ambrosek and Shane Eversole.
Interment was at Pleasant View/Crete Cemetery, Champion, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Marilyn Bartels
God chose Saturday, April 7, 2007, to call Marilyn Bartels, age 72, home.
He'd planned for her birth on Jan. l7, l935, the seventh of nine children, to Henry and Edna Curtis.
She graduated from Chase County High School in 1953 and attended college for one semester at UNL and one at McCook Community College.
On Aug. 22, 1954, she married
her high school sweetheart Robert Bartels. Two children, Joni and Paul, were born to this union.
Marilyn worked for various businesses over the years including, Curtis & Curtis, McNair Agency, Federal Land Bank and Service Insurance.
She enjoyed many friends and loved being actively involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren.
She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir for years and was involved in serving the church through Zeal and Willing Workers.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Edna; brothers, Bobby, Vernon and Jim; sister, Bernice; and son, Paul.
She leaves to mourn her passing and to rejoice in sweet memories her husband, Bob; daughter, Joni Kaiser, and husband, Max; grandchildren, Luke, Nick and Ed Kaiser, Audra, Annie, Emily and Evan Bartels, and great grandchild, Cayden; sisters, June Sharp, and husband, Bill, Gwen Vogler, and husband, Larry, Alice Lindekugal, and husband, Ray and brother, Guy, and wife, Ruth, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families along with many friends.
Casketbearers were Luke Kaiser, Nick Kaiser, Ed Kaiser, Evan Bartels, Audra Bartels, Annie Bartels and Emily Bartels.
Funeral services were Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at 10:30 at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial, Neb.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Bernice Mead
Bernice Elberta Mathews was born April 23, 1916 to Charles Emery Mathews and Ruth Elizabeth (Hampton) Mathews near Hiawatha in Dundy County, Neb. She was the youngest of three daughters and eight years later, the "big" sister to her brother, Robert "Bobby" Mathews.
She attended grade school at District #73 west of Hiawatha and completed her education at Dundy County High School. She graduated in May 1934.
While growing up, Sunday was always a special day, after the family attended the Church of Christ at Hiawatha they would all go either to uncle's and aunt's homes for dinner or everyone one would come to their home.
Bernice was a loving, happy child with a ready laugh. These were the traits that she continued to have throughout her life. She made a great many friends and met one special young man, Delmer Mead.
Bernice married
Delmer Mead on Aug. 23, 1937. They made Champion their home for 63 years. The only time they lived away from Champion was when Delmer went to the Army in 1942. He went to boot camp at Camp Berkley, Texas and Bernice moved into an apartment nearby. She returned to Champion when he was sent to another base.
Bernice began to wait tables in Champion at Mabel Ferebee's Cafe. That was the beginning of her 32 year career as a waitress. She worked in several Imperial cafes including Spence Cross' Bakery, Babb's Cafe, Dollie's and Mitchell's. In later life she returned to waitress at the Champ-Inn, where she had several employers. They used to joke about Bernie going with the business. She retired at the age of 73.
Bernice and Delmer spent many hours fishing and hunting with both friends and family. Many evenings were passed at dances or playing cards. After they retired they liked to drive around the countryside and see how things were doing. When at home Bernice's pride and joy was her yard and roses. Delmer always said she had too many rose bushes, but she never turned a new one down and he never failed to dig another hole.
They were married
63 years and after Delmer's death in September 2001, she tried to continue on living at her home and with the help of friends she was able to do it until April of 2004. She then moved to Parkview Assisted Living, where she had her own apartment filled with things from home. She made many new friends, became busy with all the activities, participated in the various religious services and became much loved by both the residents and staff. Her health continued to decline until the afternoon of March 30 when she went to be with Delmer.
Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Delmer Mead; her parents, Charley and Ruth Mathews; sisters, Gwen Bennett and Willa "Babe" Beard; brother-in-laws, Charley Bennett and Warren "Coonie" Beard; sister-in-law, Eloise Mathews and a nephew, Charley Lee Bennett.
She leaves to mourn her passing brother, Robert "Bobby" Mathews, of Centennial, Wyo.; nephews, Lowell, and wife, Sandi Bennett, of Napa, Idaho, Robert and Diann Bennett of Cascade, Idaho, Robert II and wife, Debbie, of Cheyenne, Wyo., Dwayne and wife, Joyce, Newman of Holdrege, Neb.; nieces, Caroline, and husband, Stan Young, of Napa, Idaho, Gweneth and husband, Sheryl William, of Centerville, Ohio, Jerry Philips of Lisco, Neb. and numerous great nephews, great nieces and their families; many special friends and friends she made over the years.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Music was by Bobbie Mathews, Debbie Mathews, Lori Mathews and Kim Silvester.
Casketbearers were Don Welch, Wayne Weiss, Arlyn Davison, Burton Beard, Marvin Teply and Stan Hofman.
Interment was in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Eloise Hobson
Mary Eloise Hobson, 94, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kan.
She was born March 4, 1912, in Kansas City, Mo., to the late Kennison Marcellus and Mary Eloise Hill Hobson.
The family moved to Parkville, Mo. in the 1920's.
She earned her bachelor's degree at Central Missouri State Teachers College, then taught grade school in Creighton and Pleasant Hill, Mo. before teaching high school and coaching basketball at Laredo, Mo. She also taught high school in Imperial, Neb., after which she received her master's degree at Kansas University.
She moved to Booneville, Miss., where she taught science courses at Northeast Mississippi Community College for 23 years.
She moved to Kansas in 1998 to help care for her sister Martha.
She was active in her community and church with numerous charities and missions.
Services were held March 1 at the First United Methodist Church in Booneville, Miss.
Graveside services and burial were at Forrest Hill cemetery in Kansas City, Mo. on March 2.
Survivors include four nieces, Edith Bosica of Germantown, Md., Marilyn Morris of Waco, Texas, Anne Morgan of Wichita, Kan., Jane Graffin of Bowling Green, Ohio; one nephew, Roger Page of Princeton, NJ.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Faith Page and Martha Russell; two brothers, Samuel and Nathaniel Paul Hobson; and a nephew, Bruce Russell.
Maria Ortiz
Maria Ortiz, age 88, passed away Friday evening at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home, Wauneta, Neb..
Survivors include son, Esteban Hermosillo and special friend, Josefina Rico, of Holyoke, Colo.; daughter, Lorena Almanza and husband, Sergio, of Imperial, Neb.; six grandchildren; sister, Belen Ortiz of Mexico.
Funeral services for Maria Ortiz were held Tuesday morning, April 3, 2007, at the Imperial Bible Church, Imperial, Neb. with Ismael Lopez officiating.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established in Maria's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
A more complete obituary will follow in a later issue.
