U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Bob Brown
Bob Brown, 94, of Imperial, Neb. passed away Tuesday morning, April 3, 2007, at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial.
Survivors include wife, Helen, of Imperial; daughter, Mabel Jensen, and husband, Tony, of Sterling, Colo.; son, Stan Brown, and wife, Judy, of Lincoln, Neb.; step-daughter, Karen Liptrap, and husband, Bob, of Widefield, Colo.; step-son, Steve Traxler, and wife, Bren, of Aurora, Colo.; step-son, Craig Odell, and wife, DeeAnn, of Gurley, Neb.; 14 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; sister, Nina Fortkamp, and husband, Art, of Wauneta, Neb.; sister, Jean Welch, and husband, Don, of Champion, Neb.; and brother, Don Brown, and wife, Betty, of Parks, Neb.
Funeral services will be Saturday morning, April 7, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at the Champion Community Church in Champion, Neb. with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
Interment will follow at Crete Cemetery, Champion, Neb.
Visitation will be Friday afternoon, April 6, 2007, 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established in Bob's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lula Myers
Lula May Myers, 84, of North Platte died March 23, 2007 at her home.
She lived in Hayes Center and Imperial from 1949-1951 and her husband, Delbert, worked for the local Federal Aviation Administration flight services station.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1991, two brothers and two sisters.
She is survived by four children: Victoria (David) Andree of Erie, Colo., Cynthia Lampe of Topeka, Kan., Virginia (Terry) Ault of North Platte and Gary Myers of Canyon Country, Calif.; seven grandsons, two great-grandsons, a sister and three brothers.
Funeral services were Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at the North Platte First United Methodist Church.
Verlene W. Wright
Verlene W. (Willsey) Wright was born Nov. 8, 1926, in Huntley, Neb. She was the fourth child born to Delburn Fay and Irene Anna (Ball) Willsey.
The family moved to Wauneta, Neb., when she was six years old.
Verlene was baptized at age 11 in the United Methodist Church in Wauneta. She graduated from Wauneta High School and McCook College with an elementary teacher's certificate.
Verlene married
Harold R. Wright on June 7, 1945, in Oberlin, Kan., while he was home on leave during WWII. She taught school until Harold's discharge from the service.
They began their married
life on a farm north of Imperial, Neb., and later bought their own farm a few miles from there where they farmed until retirement in 1979.
Five children were born to this union: Janice, Rhonda, Barbara, William (Bill) and Karen.
Verlene was very active in the Lone Star community. She was a member of the Extension Club, a 4-H leader for many years and an active member of the Women's Auxiliary of V.F.W. Post #4688 in Imperial.
She worked hard helping on the farm and raising her children. She was an excellent cook and homemaker and provided many wonderful meals to neighbors who helped at harvest time.
Verlene loved helping people. She became a Certified Nurse's Aide after her children were grown and worked at Chase County Community Hospital for several years.
After retiring from the farm, Verlene and Harold moved to Imperial, where she continued to work at the hospital.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and belonged to a Bible Study group.
Verlene always enjoyed sports and was a member of bowling and golf leagues. She loved music and dancing, sewing, crafts of all kinds and reading.
Harold and Verlene enjoyed 53 years of married
life. He preceded her in death on March 22, 1998.
She then moved to Imperial Parkview and the Imperial Manor. She moved to Sierra Vista Health Care Center, Loveland, Colo., in May 2003. She loved going for rides in the mountains and family visits. Verlene also loved her extended family at Sierra Vista where the staff asked if they could call her "Grandma" because she was so special to them. She then moved to Loveland Good Samaritan Village and loved the care and attention she received there and was once again, known only as "Grandma" to the staff.
Verlene passed away at the Loveland Good Samaritan Village on March 21, 2007. She will always be remembered for her love of her family, her helpfulness to anyone in need and for her faith in God. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Harold; infant daughter, Barbara Ann; daughter, Karen Kunnemann; grandchildren, Shelley Martin, Jeff Kunnemann and infant Wright; son-in-law, Garry Martin, all of Imperial, and sister, Berdeanne Jussell-Stewart of Grand Island, Neb.
She will be sadly missed by daughters and sons-in-law, Janice Dutton, and husband, Doug, Imperial, Rhonda Beard, and husband, Terry, Loveland, Colo.; son and daughter-in-law, Bill Wright, and wife, Carolyn, of Douglas, Neb.; former son-in-law, Dan Kunnemann; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brother, Delburn F. Willsey, and wife, Betty, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; sister, Maxine Ele and husband, Pat, McCook, Neb.; brothers-in-law, Loran Wright, and wife, Irene, Palisade, Neb.; Donald Wright, and wife, Irene, Roswell, New Mexico; sister-in-law, Esther Fanning, Enders, Neb., and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorial services were held March 26, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor David Rowe and Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Pianist was Mr. Don Newman.
Pallbearers were grandsons, Richard Martin, Michael Beard, James Beard, Randy Wright, Brian Kunnemann and nephew, Bill Jussel.
Burial was in the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Constance J. Hunt
Constance J. Hunt, age 56, of Ogallala, passed away Monday morning, March 12, 2007, at the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant.
She was born May 22, 1950 at Smith Center, Kan., the daughter of James C. and Mildred T. (Turner) Clonch.
Constance attended District 5 elementary school and attended the Phillipsburg High School graduating in 1968.
On Dec. 20, 1968 she married
Roger Hunt. The couple made their home in Imperial. She married
John Washa on June 22, 1996 at Ogallala.
Survivors include one son, Scott G. Hunt, and wife, Barbara, of Winfield, Kan.; one daughter, Michelle L. Hurd, and husband, Russ, of Grand Island; two brothers, Gary J. Clonch, and wife, Barbara, of Hastings and Donald D. Clonch, and wife, Cynthia, of Gillette, Wyo. and one grandchild.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 15 at the Gubser Funeral Chapel with Father Bryan Ernest of St. Luke's Catholic Church officiating.
Cremation will follow the services with inurnment at the Hillsdale cemetery near Phillipsburg, Kan. at a later date.
A memorial has been established to the Humane Society in her memory.
Margaret 'Johnnie' Irene Leach
Margaret "Johnnie" Irene (Pugh) Leach was born May 29, 1911, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Myrtle Cordelia (Lamberd) and Thomas Vincent Pugh.
Her father died when she was 20 months old. He had wanted a boy and nicknamed her "Johnnie" when she was born.
Her mother married
Orley Coe when she was five years old.
During her school years, she rode a horse five miles to Atlanta High School and she and her husband attended her 50th reunion.
Johnnie met her future husband, Charlie, in the Lyman area where he was working. They were married
June 24, 1928, in Torrington, Wyo. and to this union six children were born: Richard (Dick), Joanne (Dorothye), Elizabethe, Tommy, Janette and Donnie. They moved to the Dundy County, Neb., community of Hiawatha in 1930 and lived there for several years. They then moved to the South Divide Community in 1944 and on to Imperial in 1972. She was proud to have had the first yard sale in Imperial.
Johnnie belonged to the Hiawatha Elementary School PTA, Prairie Rose School PTA, Rural Extension Club, taught Sunday School at Prairie Rose Church and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Imperial.
Johnnie worked at Plains Oil Company, the Corner Store and Splitt's Liquor Store in Imperial. She worked in the community until she was 75 years of age.
Many people of the community have enjoyed her sense of humor and great visiting skills. Johnnie loved to read paperback books, going to garage sales (even into her 90's), travel, music, movies (especially the classics like "Gone With The Wind," John Wayne westerns, Shirley Temple, "Pretty Woman," and "Love Story").
She crocheted many, many afghans for family and gave one to grandchildren when they graduated from high school. She did needlepoint, embroidered and crocheted potholders and doilies.
Johnnie passed away at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home on Friday, March 16, 2007. She was 95 years of age.
Johnnie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles; sons, Dick and Tommy; and grandson, Dick Creveling.
Survivors include: daughter, Joanne Grantham, and husband, Lyle, of Greeley, Colo.; daughter, Elizabethe Creveling, and husband, Art, of Imperial, Neb.; daughter, Janette Rivers, of Imperial, Neb.; son, Donnie and special friend, Linda Neel of Hobbs, N.M.; daughter-in-law, Deanie Leach, of Cedar Creek, Texas; ex-daughter-in-law, Ladonna Williams, of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren: Charlene Shiner of Union City, Calif., Cindy Norman of Imperial, Neb., Brad Grantham and Linda Martinez of Greeley, Colo., Roddy Grantham and Tawna Cotner of Evans, Colo., Troy Leach of Lincoln, Neb.; Marjie Buls and Cheri Stott of Imperial, Neb., Tom Leach, Michelle Leach and Kristen Snidow, all of Texas; 21 great grandchildren; eight great, great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sue Jackson, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 19, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and soloist was Mr. Don Norman.
Casketbearers were Lloyd Stott, Dean Buls, Roddy Grantham, Brad Grantham, Troy Leach, Kevin Andersen and Joshua Reichard.
Honorary casketbearers were nephews, family and friends.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb.
A memorial has been established in Johnnie's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Verna Anderson
Verna Anderson of Wauneta, Neb. died March 19, 2007 in Imperial, Neb.
Funeral services will be today, Thursday, March 22, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Wauneta.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Berniece Teply
Berniece Fontella Teply was born on Feb. 5, 1921, in Perkins County, near Madrid, Neb. to Fred and Hazel (Peak) Fosbinder.
As a youngster she attended rural grade school and later graduated from Grant High School.
Berniece married
Raymond Teply on Oct. 11, 1938 in North Platte, Neb. and the couple settled on a farm north of Wauneta. Berniece and Raymond farmed near several communities including Hayes Center, Palisade, Chambers, Alliance and Oshkosh, Neb.
After Raymond's death, Berniece moved to Imperial in 1994, where she has made her home until the present.
Berniece passed away Saturday morning, Feb. 17, 2007, at the Chase County Community Hospital, Imperial. She was 86 years of age.
Berniece was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial, St. Patrick's Altar Society and a local extension club. She enjoyed many hobbies including, quilting, needle work and gardening.
Survivors include daughter, Connie Masek and husband, Paul, of Shaumburg, Ill.; son, Rodney Teply, and wife, Ann, of Loup City, Neb.; daughter, Teresa Jones, and husband, Vincent, of Rapid City, S.D.; daughter, Susan Dorsey, and husband, Robert, of League City, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Karen Jean Rigsbee, Aaron Masek, Adam Masek, Matthew Teply, Eric Teply, Shane Harley, Samantha Kirk, Gary Ditsch, Adam Dorsey and David Dorsey; seven great grandchildren; brothers, Ernest Fosbinder, of Ogallala, Neb., Kermit Fosbinder and wife, Maxine, Grant, Neb.; sister, Genevieve Garska, and husband, Max, of Ogallala, Neb.; sister, Yvonne Jackson, of Great Bend, Kan.
Berniece was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond, in 1993; son, Gary; and two brothers.
A rosary was recited Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial.
Funeral Mass was Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial with Fr. Mark Seiker celebrating.
Organist was Dr. J. Gordon Christensen and soloist was Mr. Ron Moritz.
Casketbearers were David Teply, Scott Fosbinder, Justin Schmidt, Aaron Masek, Adam Dorsey, David Dorsey, Gary Ditsch, Matthew Teply, Eric Teply, Karen Rigsbee, Samantha Kirk and Adam Masek.
Honorary casketbearer was Shane Harley.
Interment was at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb.
A memorial has been established to donor's choice.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
