U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Signa Ward
Signa Henrietta Ward was born on Jan. 5, 1924 to John and Edith Woodmancy in Chase County Neb.
She left this life on April 14, 2006 at her home in Aurora, Colo.
Signa grew up on the family farm in Nebraska with her brothers and sisters.
Later the Woodmancy family moved to Holyoke, Colo. and Signa graduated from Phillips County High School in 1941.
After high school she went to California and worked during World War II. She worked to help with the war effort at an aircraft assembly plant.
During this time she met and married
Bailey O'Dell Ward. They were married
on Feb. 4, 1944 and Bailey served as a Marine in the Pacific arena of the war.
After the war was over they moved to a farm in Kansas, later moving to the Woodmancy farm in Nebraska. Five girls were born to this union, Carolyn, Edie, Janice, Connie and Renee.
After Bailey's death in 1958 Signa and young daughters moved to Holyoke Colo. Later she moved to Ft. Collins, Colo., then to Denver, Colo. and then to her current home in Aurora, Colo.
While she lived in Holyoke she worked at various jobs. She worked at the American Legion, the VFW, Speers Upholstery, drove a truck at times and sorted potatoes at Harold Harmon's farm. While still in Holyoke she was active in the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and bowled on a bowling league for several years.
After moving to Aurora, Colo. she worked until her retirement for Samsonite Corporation.
She was always very frugal, working hard to figure out how to save money and learned well how to invest her money. At one time she had interest in eight houses, renting some of them and others she sold at a profit. She also kept track of her farmland making sure that crops were planted and harvested and was very knowledgeable about wheat markets and other things related to farming. She continued all her life taking care of her own investments and keeping a close watch on fluctuating interest and learned to invest at the right times.
Throughout her life she loved family gatherings. She most enjoyed the big family gatherings at her parent's home in Holyoke. All the children and cousins who were old enough, went to the theater every Saturday night and sometimes on Sundays while their parents stayed at the Woodmancy home taking care of the younger children and always, there was a card game being played there.
Almost every holiday was an excuse for all the family to gather there for big meals. Card playing remained one of her favorite activities all her life. She also loved playing games on her computer.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bailey; one daughter, Janice Cox; and one grandson, Stone Farris; parents, John and Edith Woodmancy; brothers, Virgil Woodmancy, Harvey Woodmancy, LeRoy Woodmancy, Jack Woodmancy; infants, Warren Woodmancy and Wayne Woodmancy; sisters, June Schrage and Vona Radtke.
She is survived by sister, Irene Elder of Federal Way, Wash.; Lavern Brown of Holyoke, Colo., and brother, Vern Woodmancy of Grant, Neb.
She is also survived by four of her five daughters, Carolyn and husband Merv Wallin of Lamar, Neb., Edie and husband Jerry Reiley of Central City, Colo., Connie and husband Mike Lonergan of Denver, Colo., Renee and husband Tony Hinojosa of Denver, Colo.; grandchildren, Ron Wallin, Wanda Waits, Lana Leipold, Matt McMullen, Ward McMullen, Renee Reiley, Tracy Reinke, Mark Cox, Jim Cox, Korey Cox, Kim Lopez, Denielle Farris, Laura Lonergan, Greg Lonergan, David Lonergan, Jason Hinojosa and Melissa Hinojosa; 27 great grandchildren; one great, great granddaughter; and many nieces nephews and friends.
Memorial services were held Monday, April 17, 2006, at Runyon-Stevenson Capitol Chapel in Denver, Colo.
Interment was at the Holyoke, Colo. Cemetery.
Howard Surber
Howard Ivan Surber was born on June 23, 1914, at Oakland, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, the second child of Lyman Ray and Luella Maude (Kennedy) Surber. As a youngster he moved with his family by train in 1920 to the Lamar, Nebraska area. Howard attended grade school at District #15, and one year at Chase County High School before returning to the farm to assist his father whose health was failing. Howard married
Norma Jean Hust on July 9, 1944, at the Methodist Rectory in Imperial. To this union five children were born: Linda Sue, twins: James Ray and Janet Kay, Jerry Howard and Mary Alice. The couple first settled on a farm with Howard's parents. Then in 1947, they moved to a farm in northwest Chase County, where they resided for 41 years. Howard delivered milk, cream and eggs to town twice a week for several years and was a Chase Community farmer all of his life. In 1988, Howard and Norma retired moving to Imperial, where they had made their home since.
Howard passed away Friday morning, April 14, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. He was 91 years of age.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Imperial. He enjoyed reading, woodworking, puzzles and especially loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Howard was fun loving and made every day special.
Survivors include: wife, Norma of Imperial; daughter, Linda Martin and husband, Jesse, of Sutherland, Neb.; son, James Surber and wife, Dianne, of Ogallala, Neb.; son, Jerry Surber and wife, Pamela, of Torrington, Wyo.; daughter, Mary Lee and husband, Charley, of Lamar, Neb.; 16 grandchildren: Aaron Martin and wife, Carolee; Matthew Martin and wife, Alicia; Darcey Kramer and husband, Jared; Erik Martin; Thomas Martin and wife, Jill; Pamela Hand and husband, Chris; Troy Surber and wife, Stephanie; Theresa Gerih and husband, Shannon; Lee Douglas; Edian Jones and husband, Henry; Robert Wasmuth and wife, Vicki; Angela Schmidt and husband, Rodney; Jacqi Rabago and husband, Benjamin; Robert Lee and wife, Toni; Sarah Wixom and husband, Travis; Michael Lee and wife, Ashley; 27 great-grandchildren; sisters, Clara Severin and husband, Gene of Los Alamitos, Calif. and Millie Stinnette of Pasco, Wash.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Janet Kay; sisters Mary Surber, Eva Baldwin, Luella Carlton, Muriel Jaeger and Iva Mae Meyer.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, April 18, 2006, 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating. Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial. Pianist was Mrs. Joan Lantry and Irvin and Garneta Bauerle sang.
Casketbearers were Aaron Martin, Matthew Martin, Troy Surber, Robert Lee, Erik Martin and Thomas Martin. Honorary Casket-bearers were Darcey Kramer, Pamela Hand, Theresa Gerih, Bob Wasmuth, Lee Douglas, Edian Jones, Angela Schmidt, Jacqi Rabago, Sarah Wixom and Michael Lee.
A memorial has been established to the First United Methodist Church of Imperial or the Imperial Public Library.
Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Mary A. Beavers
Hastings resident, Mary A. Beavers, 69, of The Kensington, and a former resident of Imperial, died Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at Perkins Pavilion.
Ms. Beavers was born April 12, 1937 in Two Rivers, Wisc. to George W. and Erma (Holub) Arle.
She graduated from St. Agnes High School in Fond Du Lac, Wisc. She earned her B.S. Degree in Applied Art with minors in Art History and English from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisc.
She was an elementary art teacher in Imperial, Neb. for many years before moving to Hastings, Neb. in November of 2005.
She was a member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, in Hastings, Neb., and of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Altar Society in Imperial, Neb. and Cursillo in Imperial and Hastings.
Ms. Beavers was preceded in death by her parents and one grandson, Donnovon Beavers.
Survivors include daughters and son-in-law, Loretta Beavers of Santa Clara, Calif., Bridget and Christopher Rossman of North Platte, Neb., Maureen Beavers of San Jose, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Brandee Beavers of Hastings, Neb.; five grandchildren; brothers, George Arle of Loves Park, Ill., Eugene Arle of Captain Cook, Hawaii, Joseph Arle of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; sisters, Joan Zachow of Yulee, Fla., Ruth Zehren of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rosary will be Friday, April 21, 2006; 11 a.m. MST with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Imperial, Neb. with Father Greg Pawloski officiating.
Burial will be Saturday, April 22, 2006, 10 a.m. CST in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, Neb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the family or St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Imperial, Neb.
Visitation was Wednesday, April 19, 2006, 1 p.m.-9 p.m. LBV in Hastings, Neb.; Thursday, April 20, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. LBV in Hastings; and Friday, April 21, one hour prior to service at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial.
Condolences may be sent to www.lbvfh.com .
Butler-Volland Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alice Jensen
Alice Rose Jensen, 86, of Grand Island, Neb. died Saturday, April 8, 2006 at Beverly Healthcare at Lakeview in Grand Island.
Alice was born Aug. 27, 1919 at Elm Creek, Neb., the daughter of Edward and Sarah (Gray) Steele.
Survivors are brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Lanell Steele of Many, La.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Emma Jean Hahn and David Wareham of Overton, Neb., Rosetta and Bob Molzahn of Imperial, Neb. and many nieces and nephews.
She was raised and received her education in Elm Creek.
She was united in marriage to Galen Tatum and later Elmer Jensen. She has lived in Grand Island for over 50 years.
Alice was a painter, she quilted and enjoyed cooking and baking. She enjoyed traveling to be with her family.
Her parents, brothers Clyde and Charles Steele and sisters Edna Welch and Bonnie Wareham preceded her in death.
Graveside services were held on April 10 in the Soulville cemetery at Boelus, Neb. with the Reverend Dan Floyd officiated the service.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.
Brett Deines
Brett Deines, brother of Chad Deines, a former resident of Imperial, died in a car accident last Thursday, March 30, 2006.
Funeral services were Wednesday, April 5, 2006, in a small town outside of Waukeenee, Kan.
Mabel Schmidt
Mabel C. Schmidt was born to Frank and Mary Kumm July 11, 1912 in Osmond, Neb., Pierce County.
She was baptized Aug. 18, 1912, in the Eden Valley Church, Pierce County.
Her folks moved to Knox County, Bloomfield, Neb.
Mabel was confirmed in First Trinity Lutheran Church April 5, 1925. She attended Parochial school for two years and spent two years in public school.
In 1930 she and her sister, Irene, moved to Amherst to be with her uncle and aunt, Henry and Anna Heermann. She worked there and in various places.
In 1932 she married
Bill Schmidt on Dec. 21 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Amherst. Bill and Mabel settled on a farm southeast of Amherst where they lived for 63 years in the same place. A daughter, Doris, was born July 7, 1938.
Bill and Mabel celebrated their 50th and their 63rd wedding anniversaries.
Mabel enjoyed her music, the Ladies Aid, farming, hand work, flowers and baking pies (banana cream!) for her grandsons.
She was able to memorize and remember all her nephew and niece's birthdays.
She enjoyed her daily devotions and missed going to church. She would light up when the Pastor, relatives and congregation members would come and see her.
Mabel is survived by her daughter, Doris Schilke; three grandsons, Donald and wife Chris Schilke, John and wife Theresa Schilke and Timothy and wife Lisa Schilke, all of Imperial, Neb.; five great-grandchildren, Nick and wife Michelle, Vanessa, Jenna, Derek and Kayla; two great-great-grandchildren, Jozie and Kaden and sisters, Irene Rafert and Lola Wolcox, plus numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; son-in-law, Kermit Schilke; great-grandson, Jarod Schilke and step brother, Ralph Carstens; brothers-in-law, Ben Rafert and Leonard Wolcox.
Funeral services were held on April 3, 2006, at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Amherst with Pastor Al Borcher officiating.
Final resting place was at the Amherst Cemetery, Amherst, Colo.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lutheran Hour or Saint Paul Lutheran Church, c/o Doris Schilke, 73734 321 Avenue, Imperial, NE 69033.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Gerk Funeral Home of Holyoke, Colo.
Cabel Irons
Cabel Max Irons, 27, of Oklahoma City, Okla. lost his fight for life on March 29, 2006, in the OU Trauma ICU.
He was born June 24, 1978 in Aurora, Colo. to Craig and Shirley (Beard) Irons.
He was employed with American Eagle Wrecker Service.
He is preceded in death by his father, Craig Irons.
Cabel is survived by the love of his life Stephanie, a son Hunter, a daughter Raven, step-son Timothy, mother Shirley and stepfather Gene deJarnette, all of Oklahoma, City; grandparents, Max and Murlena Beard of Imperial, Neb., Don Irons of Meeker, Okla. and Patricia Mendz of Indio, Calif.; great grandparents, Wilfred and Helen Miller of Imperial, Neb.; and a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Services were held Saturday, April 1, 2006, at Guardian West Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Thomas Perkins officiating.
Pallbearers were Richard Beard, Matthew Beard, Michael Beard, Jason Ratliff, John Berend and Joe Berend.
Honorary pallbearers were Will Gill, Wesley Cantrell and B.J. Berry.
Interment followed at New Hope Cemetery, Meeker, Okla.
Guardian West Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
