U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Estle D. Cook
Estle D. Cook, 80, of Kearney, died Tuesday, May 9, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
He was born Nov. 23, 1925, in Imperial, Neb. to Frank and Josephene (Hine) Cook.
He grew up in Imperial, Neb. and graduated from Imperial High School.
He entered the U.S. Navy on April 25, 1944, serving during World War II. He was honorably discharged on June 1, 1946.
On Nov. 23, 1946, he married
Elma Lee Wiley in Smith Center, Kan. They lived in Hastings where he was employed by Abbotts Dairy. She preceded him in death.
On April 7, 1978 he married
Vivian Chisholm in Springfield, Mo. They lived in Springfield, where he was employed as a bookkeeper/accountant by Hudson Foods.
He was a member of the Church of Christ. He enjoyed traveling, fishing and playing cards with friends and family.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian; son, Dan and wife, Joy, of Little Rock, Ark.; daughter, Debra Litz and husband, Bob, of North Bend, Neb.; brother, Arlon and wife, Leta of Spokane, Wash.; sister-in-law, Betty Cook, of Springfield, Mo.; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister; brother, Paul Cook; sister, Wanda Hayes; and brother-in-law, William Hayes.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2006, at the O'Brien Straatmann Apfel Funeral Home in Kearney, Neb. with Colis Campbell officiating.
Military honors were conducted at graveside by the Hastings Military Burial Detail, at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Hastings, Neb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Hospital West Tower, or to the donor's choice.
Online condolences or personal reflections can be submitted at www.osafh.com. O'Brien Straatmann Apfel Funeral Home of Kearney was in charge of arrangements.
Roberta Frosh
Roberta Frosh, longtime resident of the Imperial area, passed away Tuesday evening, May 9, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was 80 years of age.
Funeral services will be held Monday morning, May 15, 2006, 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial with Pastor David Kahle officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Roberta's memory.
All other arrangements pending.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Jack Harris
Jack Harris of Los Angeles, Calif. passed away May 8, 2006 at his home. He had been diagnosed with cancer in January.
Jack, son of Pleasant and Ruby Harris, was born June 25, 1942 in Imperial, Neb.
He attended grade school in the Blanche community and graduated from Chase County High School in 1959.
He joined the Navy that summer and served aboard the USS Bennington. Following his honorable discharge he made his home in Los Angeles where he worked for the US Postal Service until he retired.
In August 1963 he was united in marriage to Clara Lei Hokoana. To this union were born two children, Kent and Kristi.
Clara died in April 1995 of cancer.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and wife.
Survivors include wife Earlee; son Kent; daughter-in-law Karlina; granddaughters Kiera and Kaile of Murro Bay, Calif.; daughter Kristi of Stevenson Ranch, Colo. and sister and brother-in-law Maxine and Bob Cox of Kearney. Other area relatives are Letha Harris of Grant and Roma Jean Burtis and Dona June Ekart of Imperial.
The body was cremated and a private family service was held in Los Angeles.
Thelma Greer
Thelma Greer, age 87, passed away Monday evening, May 8, 2006, in Lincoln, Neb.
Survivors include: daughter, Evelyn Ott of Lincoln, Neb.; daughter, Juanita Whittecar and husband, Donny, of Chadron, Neb.; daughter, Gloria Marshall and husband, Daniel, of Enders, Neb.; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters, Sylvia George of Winter, S.D., Betty Croy and husband, John, of Wheatridge, Colo.; half-brother, Kenneth Holeman and wife, Doris, of Tulsa, Okla.
Funeral services for Thelma Greer will be held Friday afternoon, May 12, 2006, 2:00 p.m. at the Crossroads Wesleyan Church of Imperial with Pastor Todd Burpo officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb.
A memorial has been established in Thelma's memory.
Thelma's casket will be open at the church, day of services.
Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Phyllis LaVern (Kitt) Theobald
Phyllis was born on Jan. 23, 1915, the oldest child of Lee and May Kitt. She grew up and attended school in Wauneta, Neb. Upon graduating high school in 1931, Phyllis began teaching in Dundy County, Neb. and did so until she married
George "Dale" Theobald in 1937. The couple married
and started a family several years later, having a son, Kent, in 1944, and a daughter, Brenda in 1948. In 1951 the family moved to Lisco, Neb., and the youngest of their children was born, D'Ann in 1953. In 1956, Phyllis, Dale and family, moved to Powell, Wyo., to better care for their asthmatic children, (hoping the high, thin air would be easier for their young, sensitive lungs). While there Dale was offered ownership at the local John Deere dealership. Phyllis and her family remained in Powell, until 1969, when Dale, while attending a Nebraska Cornhusker football game, had a massive stroke and died a few days later.
As a newly widowed mother, Phyllis decided to move D'Ann and herself to Longmont, Colo. in pursuit of her late husband's and her dream to retire there. In 1972 Phyllis became a grandmother with her grandson, Ty, being born to son, Kent and daughter-in-law, Pat. Twelve years later, in 1984, her youngest daughter, D'Ann and her son-in-law, Greg, had Angela, making Phyllis a grandmother once again.
Phyllis remained in Longmont spending her time with family, traveling, enjoying friend's company and being active in her church community. Phyllis returned to Southwest Nebraska, in 1996 and made her home at the Imperial Heights. In 1998 tragedy struck and her youngest daughter, D'Ann, died while living in Arizona. Not long after D'Ann died, Phyllis went through the tragic loss of her other daughter, Brenda, who while spending Easter break in Imperial suffered a massive stroke and died less than a month later.
Phyllis lived the rest of her days at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, enjoying visits from family and friends, attending church services and Bible studies and keeping active with activities (especially Bingo).
On May 2, 2006, at the age of 91, Phyllis passed away peacefully in her sleep. She leaves behind a son, Kent Theobald and wife, Pat, of Wilton, Calif.; grandchildren, Ty Theobald and wife, Kelley, of Fresno, Calif, Angela Johnson of St. Augustine, Fla.; step-grandson, Rick Bohn of Ohio; six great-grandchildren and sister, Joyce Schwenk and husband, Emerson, of Wauneta, Neb.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dale; brothers, Neil, Dean and Leland; daughters, Brenda Theobald and D'Ann Theobald-Johnson.
Graveside services were held Saturday, May 6, 2006, 2:00 p.m. (MT) at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb., with Pastor Judy Dye officiating. Interment followed at Riverside.
A memorial has been established to the American Diabetes Association or the United Methodist Church of Wauneta.
Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Arlyn Klein
Arlyn Edward Klein was born July 5, 1916, at Lamar, Neb. to Edward and Bertha Klein.
Arlyn passed away on April 27 in Greeley, Colo. at the age of 89.
He married
Erma Jean Watkins Nov. 13, 1939. Four children were born to this union.
He farmed near Imperial, Neb. before moving to Lisco, Neb. where he farmed and had the grain elevator.
He married
Kathleen Likely on Oct. 28, 1972. They moved to Greeley, Colo. in 1989.
He was a member of the Lisco Presbyterian Church, the Trailblazer Antique Car Club and the Parkinson Support Group.
His interests included old cars, remodeling, building, woodworking and playing cards.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughters, Karen Batt of Denver, Colo., Karyl (Jim) Webb of Wheatland, Wyo., Peggy (Tony) Escamilla of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and son, Ken (Vicki) Klein of Scottsbluff, Neb.; one step-son, Richard (Lisa) Lichtenberg of Bellevue, Wash.; three step-daughters, Karyl (Steve) Crook of Petaluma, Calif., Laurel (Bill) Hofmann of Morrison, Colo. and Cynthia (Randy) Rademacher of Kearney, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; five step-grandchildren and one step-great granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his wife Erma, his parents, a sister and a granddaughter.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Lisco Presbyterian Church.
Graveside services were held April 29, 2006 at the Lisco Cemetery.
Phyllis Theobald
Phyllis Theobald, age 91, passed away early Tuesday morning, May 2, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial, Neb.
Survivors include a son, Kent Theobald of California; sister, Joyce Schwenk and husband, Emerson, of Wauneta, Neb.; and one granddaughter, Angela.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 6, 2006, at 2 p.m. (MT) at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb. with Pastor Judy Dye officiating.
Visitation will be held Friday afternoon, May 5, 2006, 2-6 p.m. (MT) at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Camilla (Kelly) Eskew
Camilla Audrene (Kelly) Eskew was born on March 10, 1917, at Angus, Neb. to Sam and Mabel (Renolds) Ferebee, who for several years operated a restaurant and barber shop in Champion, Neb.
At the age of 24, Camilla married
Wayne Hugh Kelly and they began farming west of Champion.
During this time, two sons were born: Robert D. and Jack W. Kelly.
At the age of 27, Camilla lost Wayne to a farm accident and soon after attended Beauty School in Lincoln, Neb. She then opened a beauty shop in Imperial.
Camilla remarried Don Eskew, son of Jack and Grace Eskew of Imperial and moved to California where she was employed and retired from a major telephone company.
Camilla lived in Washington State for several years to be near her children and grandchildren and then returned to Imperial in 2000, where she resided at the Imperial Manor.
Camilla is survived by her two sons: Robert and wife, Linda, Anaheim, Calif. and Jack and wife, Carmen, Edmonds, Wash.; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and brother, Junior Ferebee of Deshler, Neb.
Graveside inurnment services were held Thursday, April 27, 2006, 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb. with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
A memorial has been established in Camilla's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Camilla Eskew
Camilla (Kelly) Eskew, 89, of Imperial, Neb., died Sunday, April 23, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home.
Survivors include two sons, Jack Kelly and wife Carmen of Edmonds, Wash. and Robert Kelly and wife Linda of Anaheim, Calif.; three grandchildren; one brother, Junior Ferebee of Deshler, Neb.
Graveside and inurnment services will be held Thursday, April 27, 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb. with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
