U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Frank Johnson (of Seattle, WA)
Frank Johnson of Seattle, Wash., died at his home Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, after a bout with cancer.
Among surviving family are his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Rod Fuller of Imperial.
Jim Curtis
Jim Curtis died Feb. 2, 2007.
Funeral services will be today (Thursday morning).
His wife Dorothy (Denker) lives at 6506 Lee St., Arvada, Colo. 80002.
Neva Kanost
Neva Charline Kanost, age 81, of Arapahoe, Neb., died Monday, Feb. 5, 2007 at the Good Samaritan Hospital, in Kearney, Neb.
She was born on March 24, 1925 in Wauneta, Neb. to Charles Robert and Flossie Elisabeth (Earnhardt) Kanost.
She grew up in Wauneta, Neb. and graduated from Wauneta High School with the Class of 1942 and later from McCook Community College.
She graduated from Kearney State Teacher's College with a B.A. in Education on Aug. 3, 1962, and received her Master of Education from Kearney State College in 1979. She started teaching school in Arapahoe, Neb. in 1948 and became elementary principal at the Arapahoe Public Schools, in August 1963, until her retirement, Feb. 15, 1990.
She continued to volunteer in the kindergarten room for many years and at various school events. She had a special love for the education of students and volunteering in the community. Her smile and warmth towards students and the community will be deeply missed.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Arapahoe, Neb. She volunteered for the Arapahoe Food Pantry for many years, was a member of the "Be Natural Musical Club," and a NSEA member.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, William W. Kanost; two sisters, Fern Kanost and Lois McGooden; and niece, Rita Ann Conner.
Survivors include niece, Linda Kay McGooden Hedges, of McCook, Neb.; nephew, Kip L. and wife, Judy McGooden, of Santa Cruz, Calif. and their children Megan and Patrick; sister-In-Law, Lois Kanost; and her dog "Fritzie;" her adopted family, Charles, Vickie, Cortney, Meghan and Brett Schaepler of Kearney, Neb. and Rick, Kelli, Tiffany, Pat and Luke Ackerman of Holdrege, Neb.
Condolences or personal reflections can be left at www.wenburg funeralhome.com.
Viewing and visitation were held Wednesday, Feb. 7, from 1-8 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at Wenburg Funeral Home in Arapahoe, Neb. and prior to the service at the church.
Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 9, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church of Arapahoe with Rev. David Otten, officiating.
Inurnment will be at a later date.
Memorials may be given to the Neva Kanost Scholarship Fund in care of Wenburg Funeral Home.
Wenburg Funeral Home, of Arapahoe is in charge of arrangements.
Doris Terry
Doris Terry of North Platte passed away Feb. 5, 2007. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Arthur Wittwer
Arthur Herman Wittwer, age 85 of Imperial, Neb., died Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 at the Imperial Manor, Imperial, Neb.
Art was born to Edward and Anna Wittwer on Sept. 20, 1921 in McCook, Neb.
He was baptized Oct. 17, 1921 and confirmed into the Lutheran faith on Oct. 24, 1937. He attended school in rural Hayes County and Hayes Center graduating from Hayes County High School in 1940.
On Aug. 15, 1942, Art enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned as a radio and telephone repairman.
On Dec. 25, 1942, Art was united in marriage to Ruth Wilson in Las Vegas, Nev. Shortly after their wedding Art shipped out for overseas where he served 30 months. His tour during World War II included seeing action in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 29, 1945.
After returning from the armed service Art joined his wife and began farming in northern Hayes County. In the 1960s Art began a construction business with heavy equipment. He continued this business along with farming until his retirement in 1982.
Art excelled in mechanical and engineering challenges, which he enjoyed. After his retirement he took pleasure in fishing and socializing with family and friends. He was a life-long member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and joined Zion Lutheran Church upon moving to Imperial.
Survivors include three children: Marcia Fowler and husband, Duane, of Imperial and children, Gretchen and Donavon, both of Grand Island; Susan Oman and husband, Craig, of Callaway and children, Kara Grauerholz and husband, Brandon, of Kearney, Jason of Callaway, Matthew and wife, Brandi; and great-grandson Elijah of Hastings, Kristina Karsten and husband, Brent, and great-grandson Xander of Kearney, Clark Wittwer and wife, Judi, and children, Christopher and Josalyn of Lincoln.
Art was preceded in death by Ruth, his wife of 62 years; his parents, an infant brother, a sister, four brothers-in-law and two nephews and one niece.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, Feb. 6, 2007, at 10 a.m. (MT), at the Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial, with Pastor David Kahle officiating.
Interment followed at the Hayes Center Cemetery, Hayes Center, Neb., at 3 p.m. (CT).
A memorial has been established to the American Legion Post #287 of Hayes Center, Neb., and the American Alzheimer's Association.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Genovefa Cegielski
Genovefa (pronounced Genevieve) Cegielski was born Aug. 3, 1920, to Augustyn and Marianna (Briodek) Platck in Krakow, Poland.
She passed from this life at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial, Neb. on Jan. 19, 2007.
She lived on a farm with her parents, brothers and sisters until Nov. 10, 1943, when German soldiers took Genovefa to Germany to work there in the ammunition factory until the war was over in 1945 when the Americans took over. She and other foreign people were placed in refugee camps.
Genovefa met Tadeusz (Ted) Cegielski there. They were married
in the camp by a Polish priest on Feb. 15, 1947. Their two sons were born to them before they came to America on Dec. 23, 1949. Their sponsors gave them a home and a job for Ted in Bottineau, N.D. They lived in Bottineau until 1988, when they moved to Imperial, Neb., to be closer to their sons and families who resided in Colorado and Nebraska.
Genovefa worked in a hospital and did babysitting while living in Bottineau. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and growing a large garden. She especially loved her flower garden. She was an excellent homemaker besides helping her husband, Ted, remodel and fix up their home in Imperial. She enjoyed fishing on Sunday afternoons at a lake near Bottineau for many years with her family.
Survivors include her husband, Ted; two sons, Stan and Jerry; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A rosary was recited on Monday evening, Jan. 22, at 7:30 p.m. at St Patrick's Catholic Church.
Funeral services for Genovefa were held Tuesday morning, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Seiker officiating.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
James (Jim) Claney
James (Jim) W. Claney, 89, longtime resident of Imperial, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta, Neb.
Survivors include son, Jim, and wife, Linda of Strafford, Mo.; son, Gary Claney, of Springfield, Mo.; four grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and brother, Jack Claney, of Imperial, Neb.
Services are pending at this time.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Cora Marie Mefford
Cora Marie Mefford died on Jan. 12, 2007 at the age of 82 at Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney, Kan.
She was born Mar. 2, 1924 at Talmo, Kan. to Fred Edward Allen and Rachel (Monasmith) Allen.
Cora graduated from Chase County High school in Imperial, Neb. She married
Francis Eugene Mefford on Sept. 22, 1943 in St. Francis, Kan. She was a nurse's aide in nursing homes and long term care units. She retired in 1988.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband; brother, Sammy Allen; and sister, Nina Ruth Wood.
Survivors are son, Charles Edward Mefford and wife Cheryl of WaKeeney, Kan.; daughters, Frances "Frankie" Ladean Miller of WaKeeney, Kan. and Bonita Faye Reynolds of Tulsa, Okla.; sister, Lou Henson of Downs, Kan.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
No services are planned.
Schmitt Funeral Home of WaKeeney, Kan. in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Adams
Dorothy Marie Adams was born Mar. 25, 1926, in Northern Chase County, to Vernon and Hattie (Marvin) Cox.
She attended rural country grade school in Chase County and graduated from McCook High School in 1944.
Dorothy married
Lester D. Adams on May 4, 1946, in Imperial, where the couple made their home.
Dorothy was a receptionist for the local dental office and medical office for many years.
She was very active in the Imperial community as a member of the United Methodist Church, the Order of the Eastern Star and the VFW auxiliary.
Dorothy passed away early Sunday morning, Jan. 14, 2007, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was 80 years of age.
She had many hobbies including needlepoint, working word search puzzles, cooking, sewing and she especially enjoyed playing cribbage with friends.
Survivors include son, David Adams and wife, Tiina, of Lincoln, Neb.; daughter, Patti Hart and husband, John, of Aurora, Colo.; four grandchildren, Kenneth, Jessica, Lisa and Kimberly; two great-grandchildren, Dalacie and Sylvie; brother, Don Cox of Imperial; numerous nieces and nephews.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lester, in 1981; brother, Robert Cox, and sister, Genevieve Thumlert.
Graveside services will be held today (Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007), 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
A memorial has been established in Dorothy's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Hughes
Michael "Mike" Paul Hughes, born Nov. 10, 1944, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007 at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colo. from complications from a stroke.
For the first 50 years of his life Mike was a farmer in Venango and Lamar, Neb.
He was most recently employed in the printing business in Denver, Colo.
He is survived by his daughter, Mickele Hughes, of Carlsbad, Calif.; daughter, Misti Hughes, of San Marcos, Calif.; daughter, Melanie Carman and husband, Brian, of Imperial, Neb.; son, Patrick Hughes, of Dubuque, Iowa; son, Corban Hughes, of North Platte, Neb.; son, Trevor Hughes, and wife, Rhonda, of Vista, Calif.; sister, Barbara Botkin, and husband, Harry, of San Antonio, Texas; sister, Karen Hughes, of Belen, New Mexico; sister, Mary Lou Wade, of Houston, Texas; sister, Kathy Keck and husband, Dan, of Yakima, Wash.; sister, Susan Samsula, and husband, Barry, of Dallas, Texas; brother, Daniel Hughes, and wife, Josie, of Venango, Neb.; 16 grandchildren and his beloved dog, Lucy.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Harold Hughes; his mother, Marie Hughes, and his sister, Betty Jane Hughes.
A formal memorial will be held in May. Please contact the family for additional information.
