U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Alfred Piva
Alfred H. Piva of Coram, Mont., 78, passed away Sunday, Nov. 19, 2006, in a hospital at Kalispell, Mont. He was born March 24, 1928, to Paul and Mary Piva in Oshkosh, Neb.
Alfred graduated from Garden County High School in Oshkosh and entered the U.S. Air Force in 1950, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. He was a radio operator on a B24 in the Korean War.
Alfred farmed near Oshkosh. He married
Viona 'Vi' Majors Ahrens of Oshkosh on Oct. 5, 1962, in Cheyenne, Wyo. They had 42 wonderful years together. They moved to Montana where he was employed at various jobs. He worked at Plum Creek Lumber at Whitefish, Mont., for 26 years where he operated a forklift, graded lumber and was a supervisor.
Alfred was involved in the Coram Volunteer Fire Department where he served as treasurer. He also was a Boy Scout leader in Martin City, Mont., for a number of years. He loved to hike the Great Northern which he did several times with his scout troop. He also loved fishing, camping and hiking.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Mary Piva and a grandson, Erich Ahrens.
He is survived by his wife, Vi Piva of Coram; a son, Chuck Ahrens, and wife, Diane, of Littleton, Colo.; brothers, Louis Piva, and wife, Ruth, of Chappell, Neb. and John Piva of Oshkosh; grandson, Michael Ahrens, and wife, Lisa, and grandchildren, Nicolle and Jason Ahrens, all of Littleton; sister-in-law, Ibbie Majors, of Casa Grande, Ariz.; brothers-in-law, Keith Majors, and wife, Yvonne, of Wilmington, N.C., Donald Majors and wife, Bonnie Jean, of Wauneta, Neb., James Majors and wife, Joann, of Rogersville, Mo.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Dec. 11, 2006 at 12 noon at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Littleton, Colo., with Father Phil Meredith officiating.
Songs selected were "Here I Am, Lord," "Ponda Vida," "Gentle Women (Song of Mary)," and "Prayer of St. Francis," sung as a duet.
Inurnment was held at the Fort Logan National cemetery in Denver, Colo., with full military honors.
Edward J. Haenfler
Edward J. Haenfler was born on Feb. 7, 1909 near Avon, S.D. He was the second of 10 children born to Adolph and Gertie Genant Haenfler.
He attended school in Avon where he played football for five years beginning in the eighth grade and earning many honors for his play.
He furthered his education at Morningside College in Sioux City where he graduated in 1933. At Morningside he continued to play football, lettering for three years, was selected all conference for two years, and was voted the outstanding player at Morningside in 1932.
Ed began his teaching and coaching career in Allen, Neb., for a couple of years, before moving to Grant, Neb. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946 during World War II and was stationed in Alaska where he served as a weather observer. After his discharge he returned to Grant where he resumed his teaching and coaching.
Ed was married
to Pauline Ruettimann on June 8, 1949 at Gering, Neb. She had come to Grant as a teacher. They spent their entire married
life in Grant. They moved to Westview Retirement Community last year and Ed moved to Golden Ours Convalescent Home on the first of December, where he died early Sunday morning, Dec. 17, 2006. He had reached the age of 97.
Ed retired from the school system in 1974. During his 37 years of coaching football, he accumulated 243 wins. This was during the time that there were no playoffs, so the seasons were eight or nine games long. The Omaha World Herald recognized him as Coach of the Year in 1957. He coached in the Shrine Bowl in 1961. As a recognition of his accomplishments in 1983, the Grant football field was dedicated as "E. J. Haenfler Field." He was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1996, he received the Skip Palrang Award. Ed coached the golf team at Grant and even played on his 90th birthday.
Ed was a longtime member of the Grant American Legion and a life member of the V.F.W. He was a longtime member of the Perkins Lodge 308 A.F. and A.M. and the Lions Club. He was selected in 2000 to serve as the Grand Marshal for the Perkins County Fair Parade.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers.
Ed is survived by his wife, Pauline; one son, Alan and wife Peggy Haenfler of rural Madrid, Neb.; one granddaughter, Trisha Haenfler of Lincoln, Neb.; and one grandson, Troy Haenfler of Omaha; two brothers, Albert "Hap" and wife, Thelma, of Satsuma, Fla., Roy and wife, Shirley, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two sisters, Janna Sattler, of Avon, and Marie Connors, of Alhambra, Calif.; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 20 at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Sally Ruggia-Haden officiating.
Music was by Donice Holaway and Katherine Carlson.
Casketbearers were Larry Pritchett, Jon Forney, Dick Thurin, Lloyd Logsdon, Daryl Snyder and Don Softley.
Burial was in the Grant cemetery with a flag presentation by Perkins County veterans.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Larry L. Stroh
Larry L. Stroh of Holyoke, Colo. died in a farm accident Dec. 5, 2006 at the age of 42.
He was born in Cortez, Colo. on Dec. 13, 1963. He was adopted into a loving family with a brother, Duane, and sister, Linda, already home waiting for him and in 1968 twin brothers, Tim and Tom, completed the family.
He lived in Wiggins, Colo. until the age of seven when he and his family moved to Holyoke. He attended school from grades 2-12 in Holyoke. During that time he was involved in 4-H, FFA, football, wrestling and any and all plays in high school that he could be in.
After high school graduation in 1982, he attended college at CSU in Fort Collins, Colo., Western State College in Gunnison, Colo., Cameron University in Lawton, Okla. and the School of Arts in New York. He earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts.
He lived in New York for six months and at the farm for six months, enjoying the best of both worlds. He did that for 10 years before moving to Holyoke full time.
In 2002, while filming a documentary in Montenegro, he met the love of his life, Branka. They married
in April 2003 and moved to Holyoke shortly after to make their home. He was extremely excited when he found out he was going to be a father. His baby boy will be born in April 2007.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Tim Stroh; and grandparents, Henry and Sarah Stroh and William and Vera Schneider.
He is survived by his wife, Branka, and unborn child of Holyoke; parents, Bill and Marilyn Stroh, of Wray, Colo.; brothers, Tom Stroh, of Wray, Colo. and Duane, and his wife, Melissa, of Holyoke, Colo.; sister, Linda Flint, and her husband, Craig, of Kuwait; nieces, Brittny Loveless, and husband, Will and Carissa Flint, all of Kuwait, Amanda Heilbrun and husband, Andrew, of Prescott, Ariz. and Ashley Stroh of Holyoke, Colo.; and nephew, Chad Stroh, of Holyoke, Colo.
Larry will be remembered for his deep compassion towards people, kids, drama, movies and his fun loving, no excuses attitude. Larry will be greatly missed by his many friends and family.
Funeral services were conducted Monday, Dec. 11, 2006 at the Holyoke High School Gymnasium.
Memorial contributions may be made to the BeCause Foundation (Baby Stroh Trust), Bank of Colorado, 106 S. Interocean Ave., Holyoke, Colo. 80734.
Gerk Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.
Guadalupe Murillo
Guadalupe Murillo, 73, passed away Nov. 30, 2006, at her residence. She was a native and life-long resident of Brownsville, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gregorio Murillo and Esperanza Barrera Murillo.
Miss Murillo is survived by one sister, Josefa Castillo of Florida; two brothers, Gregorio Murillo of Nebraska and Rey Murillo of Brownsville; numerous nephews, nieces and other relatives.
Visitation was held on Dec. 4 followed by the recitation of the holy rosary.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 5 at Garza Memorial Funeral Home chapel.
Committal services followed at Buena Vista Burial Park.
Thirty-five members of the Murillo family attended the funeral from Imperial.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Joe I. Trevino, Garza Memorial Funeral Home, Brownsville, Texas.
Jean Travis
Jean Marie Travis was born the first child of Walter and Grace (Fleet) Hayer, and arrived in this world on April 23, 1918 at Garden City, Iowa.
Jean was raised and baptized in the RLDS Christian Faith. She attended schools and went on to attend Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, where she received her degree.
Upon graduation, Jean worked as a receptionist/secretary in the Des Moines, Iowa area, where she met Everett Travis. The couple married
on Sept. 17, 1939 in Lamoni and two years later moved to the Original Travis homestead at Champion, Neb. to farm. She was involved in the farming operation including a dairy in which she and Everett sold milk that was processed and bottled by the Imperial Dairy.
Jean was a loving mother and raised three sons: Max Charles, Theodore Edward and David Kelley.
Jean was one of the first members of the Champion Women's Club, where she held many offices, including the Presidency. She volunteered in the youth organization of 4-H and Cub Scouting and was active in the Rural School District #8, PTA.
In her later years, Jean volunteered at the Imperial Senior Center and was active in RLDS church groups, participated in a Bible Study Group and proudly played the kazoo in the kitchen band. She thoroughly enjoyed her music, baseball (Atlanta Braves were her favorites), helping others and most of all her grandkids.
Jean will always be remembered by her keen sense of humor and her collection of weather lores. She could quite often predict the weather from a lifetime of weather predicting knowledge.
Jean passed away early Sunday morning, Nov. 19, 2006 at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was 88 years of age.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everett, in February of 1986; brother, Roger; son, Max, in 1968; and two grandsons.
Survivors include sons, Ted Travis and wife, Sharon of Albion, Neb. and Kelley Travis and wife, Beverlee of Imperial, Neb.; sister, Nell Barr McElroy of Aurora, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Tim Travis, Joel Travis, Dixi Wellman, Tammie Liddie, Dick Travis, Starla Erikson, Billie Travis, Joni Tilford and Stacey Jaeger; 14 great grandchildren and niece, Judy Purvis.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Casketbearers were Joel Travis, Dick Travis, Ken Tilford, Rusty Wellman, Billie Travis, Tim Travis and Greg Erikson.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established in Jean's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Katharine Kay Lorance
Katharine Kay Lorance was born July 15, 1943, at Yuma, Colo., to Floyd and Lotus (Mensendick) Mumm.
As a young girl she grew up and attended school in Yuma, graduating from Yuma High School in 1961.
Kay, as she was known, went on to attend McCook Community College and North Platte Community College in later years, earning an LPN license.
Kay married
Virgil Lee Lorance on Oct. 1, 1961, in Wray, Colo., and the couple made their home in the communities of Imperial and Wauneta. Kay was employed at several different locations, including the Imperial Manor, Heritage of Wauneta, the Wauneta Senior Center and Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook.
Kay developed heart problems and passed away Friday evening, Nov. 17, 2006, at Bryan LGH Medical Center in Lincoln. She was 63 years of age.
Kay's hobbies included collecting dolls, spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, listening to western music and cooking.
She is survived by her husband, Virgil of Wauneta, Neb.; step-father Alonzo Higgins of Yuma, Colo.; daughters: Kailee Kerber of Arvada, Colo., and Brenda and husband Ivan Shill of Benkelman, Nebr.; five grandchildren: Neil Brunkhorst, Destiny Lorance, Vanessa Shill, Sabrina Shill and Skyler Shill and two great-grandchildren: Logan Brunkhorst and Reece Bader.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Shirley Nelson; brother Daryl Mumm and sons, Brad and Randy Lorance.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. MT, at the American Legion Hall in Wauneta, with Pastor Greg Stuckwisch officiating.
Music was provided by Mrs. Lucille McBride, pianist and Mrs. Sharon Walgren, soloist. Solo selections chosen were "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace." The hymn, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," was sung by the congregation.
Casketbearers were: Richard Hamilton, Dave Hamilton, Kenneth Lawless, Ronnie Higgins, Shorty Higgins and Ronald Nelson.
Interment was at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta was in charge of arrangements.
Katharine Kay Lorance
Katharine Kay Lorance died Friday, Nov. 17, 2006, in Lincoln, Neb.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in Wauneta, Neb. with Pastor Greg Stuckwisch officiating.
Interment was at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.
A more complete obituary will follow in a later issue.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
