U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Lowell Orlan Ferrel
Lowell Orlan Ferrel was born in Phillips County, Colo. on April 28, 1920, to Grover Anderson Ferrel and Alta Fern (Hall) Ferrel.
He was baptized in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Lowell attended Cement School in Yuma County and graduated from Holyoke High School in 1939.
Lowell and Donnabeth Ferebee were united in marriage Jan. 1, 1942, at Lamar, Neb. by Rev. Ivan Kilpatrick at the United Brethren parsonage. To this union three children were born: Vicky Lynn, Lowell Ora and Jay Dee.
In July 1942, Lowell entered the United States Army and served in Europe during World War II. His company was one of the first to land on the Beach of Normandy. Lowell was honorably discharged on Nov. 26, 1945.
After he returned from the service, Lowell and Donnabeth spent the next 14 years living south of Lamar, where he started training horses. In 1960, they bought the acreage where they lived for the next 45 years and where he was very successful with his training stables. He trained and showed many horses at one time, often riding as many as 52 horses a day. One novel experience was training a zebra to ride and drive.
Lowell was an official judge for the American Quarter Horse Association, The Appaloosa Horse Club and the American Paint Horse Association. He judged shows in every state in the continental United States and in four Provinces of Canada. He had been asked to judge in Australia, but had declined.
Lowell received the "Boss Award" at Nebraskaland Days in North Platte for his outstanding contributions to the sport of rodeo; an Honorary Service Certificate from the American Quarter Horse Association for 17 years of service as a judge; a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedication to the American Quarter Horse Association; and Life-time memberships to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the Nebraska Quarter Horse Association.
Rotary was very important in Lowell's life. He served as the local president, attended five international conventions (Orlando, Fla., Portland, Ore., Mexico City, Mexico, Melbourne, Australia, Seoul, Korea) and received the Paul Harris Award.
Music has always been a big part of Lowell's life. He played the tenor saxophone in high school, the bugle in the army, and later played many instruments including soprano sax and violin. He played with Wayne Lee's orchestra for many years and in later years enjoyed playing with groups at the Senior Center.
He was preceded in death by son Jay Dee and his parents, Grover and Alta Ferrel.
Lowell is survived by his wife of 63 years, Donnabeth; daughter Vicky Brown and husband Jim; son, Lowell Ora and wife Jennalea; three grandsons, Troy Brown, Toby Brown and Thomas Ferrel; four great grandchildren, Audrey Lynn Burbach, Connor Brown, Gillian Ferrel and Sean Ferrel; sister, Margie Machart and husband Dale and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Kay Alnor and Jim Smith officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and soloist was Mrs. Jill Bauerle.
Military rites were by the V.F.W. Post #4688, Imperial.
Casketbearers were Dick Potter, Bob Kluender, Charlie Lee, Gary Greeley, Pete Dillan and Lloyd Hazard.
Honorary casketbearers were Bill Silvester, Don Newman and Tom Kiplinger.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Lowell Ferrel
Lowell Ferrel, longtime resident of Imperial, passed away Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27, 2005, at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta. He was 85 years of age.
Survivors include wife, Donnabeth of Imperial; son, Dr. Lowell Ferrel and wife, Gennalea of Sterling, Colo.; daughter, Vicky Brown and husband, Jim of Lamar, Neb.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and sister, Margie Machart of Independence, Mo.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday), Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor and Jim Smith officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, with Military Rites by V.F.W. Post #4668.
Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home or to the First United Methodist Church of Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ruth Schumacher
Ruth Softley Schumacher was born on Jan. 27, 1914 at Fairmont, Neb. She was the youngest of three daughters born to Fred and Belle Rowe Reams.
The family moved to the Madrid, Neb., area when Ruth was three years old. She attended rural school district 52 south of Madrid and later graduated from Perkins County High School in Grant, Neb., in 1931. Ruth then taught for different rural schools in Perkins County for six years.
Ruth was married
to Dwight Softley on May 16, 1937. Two sons, Dale and Donald were born to this union.
They lived on a farm east of Grant which Ruth continued to maintain after Dwight's death in 1967. She also worked at the high school cafeteria as well as taking care of her parents during this time.
Ruth was married
to Carl Schumacher on June 20, 1972 and they lived on the Schumacher farm northwest of Grant. Carl and Ruth enjoyed taking care of the grounds. They enjoyed their yard, garden, and flowers and enjoyed sharing the produce with others.
Ruth and Carl moved into Grant in 1983 and Ruth continued to maintain their home after Carl died in 1994.
She moved to Westview Retirement in the fall of 2004 and because of declining health she moved to the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant in May of 2005.
She died at Golden Ours late Saturday night, Nov. 26, 2005. She had reached the age of 91.
Ruth had been baptized at the Madrid Methodist Church as a young girl and later transferred membership to the Grant Congregational Church. She had always been active in church with Sunday School and various circles.
She also belonged to the Grant Garden Club, Sawyer Extension Club, the Perkins County Museum Association and Bell Club. She also was always supportive of the 4-H program.
In addition to her parents and two husbands, Ruth was preceded in death by two sisters, Mildred Hahn Caldwell and Leona Tennison and a daughter-in-law, Cindy Softley.
She is survived by her two sons, Dale and wife Kay of Lincoln, Neb., and Donald and wife Kay of Grant, Neb.; five grandsons, Chad, Craig, Chris, Curt and Burnill Softley and one granddaughter, Judeen Andrews; three great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005 at the Grant First Congregational Church with Pastor John Keener officiating.
Music was provided by Janie Colglazier, Bob Cummings and Lori McCloskey.
Casketbearers were Ruth's grandchildren.
Burial was in the Grant Cemetery.
A memorial has been established.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Bob Case
Bob Case, age 78, passed away early Tuesday morning, Nov. 29, 2005, at his home in Imperial.
Survivors include wife, Nancy of Imperial; son, Mitch of Imperial; daughter, Nanette Bilka and husband, Terry of Imperial; six grandchildren, one great-grandson; sisters, Donna McNair of Imperial and Darlene Hartshorn and husband, Jim, of Boulder, Colo.
Graveside services will be held Saturday morning, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, with J. R. Kline officiating.
Visitation will be held Friday afternoon, 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Bob's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Calleen Lyn Brewer
Calleen Lyn Brewer was born on July 3, 1980, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She was diagnosed with cancer in May of this year. After receiving treatments in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she returned to her home in Sidney, Nebraska. Due to complications, she died in her sleep on Nov. 25, 2005, at the age of 25.
She graduated from Chase County High School in 1998.
In high school, she enjoyed musicals and plays.
After high school, she attended McCook Community College for two years, then was employed fulltime at Pizza Hut. In 2003, she relocated to Sidney to reside with her Dad. Both were employed with Cabela's.
Family was the most important thing in her life, both past and present, blood and extended.
Her hobbies were reading, movies, and collecting Barbie Dolls.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Gene and Shirley Brewer; an uncle, Lowell "Jay" Brewer; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
She is survived by her father, Chris; her mother, Connie; one half-brother, Henry; one half-sister, Miranda and maternal grandmother, Anne; as well as other family and friends.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2005, at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Sidney, Neb. with Pastor Leonard Suhr officiating.
Another memorial service was held Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005, at 2 p.m. at the Westside Church of Christ in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Randy Hayes officiating.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Memorials may be given to the Dorwart Cancer Treatment Center in Sidney, Neb.
Holechek Funeral Home of Sidney, Neb. was in charge of arrangements.
Kermit F. Lange
On Oct. 18, 1921, our Lord blessed the union of Walter and Emma Lange with the gift of a son, Kermit Fred.
As an infant, Kermit was received into the family of God through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, and later renewed his Baptismal vows through the rite of confirmation and became a communicant member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
At the age of seven, Kermit's father unexpectedly passed away, and a short time later, Emma moved her children from the family farm and into the nearby town of Imperial, Neb. where Kermit grew up with his three sisters and two brothers.
These were difficult and challenging years for the Lange family, but God blessed their hard work and molded them into a strong family unit that has remained close to one another throughout their many years together.
After graduating from high school in Imperial in 1939, Kermit attended Hastings College for a short time, and then entered the US Navy where he served as a Pilot and Navigator from 1942 to 1947, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.
On Dec. 3, 1944 Kermit was united in marriage to Joceline McGlade. The Lord blessed them with nearly 61 years together, five children and 11 grandchildren.
During the course of his life, Kermit worked in various capacities in retail and property management but found his greatest joy in service to Christ, through his church. From visiting the sick and shut-in to serving in a variety of elected offices and other volunteer work, whatever the assignment, Kermit was always a willing and glad worker who found great joy in service to his Savior. In his later years, Kermit found special joy serving in the Builders for Christ of the WELS.
Kermit was preceded in death by two daughters: JoAn and Karen; two brothers: Luther and Roland; and two sisters: Lousetta and Lottie.
He is survived by his wife Jo; two daughters: Tresa Ewerdt and Marsha Vilhauer; one son, Doug; and 11 grandchildren: Anita Plagge; Aaron, Jacob and Philip Ewerdt; Ryan and Blake Found; Katie, Daniel, Emily and Jennifer Lange; and Corey Stirnes; and one sister, Elsie Newman of Imperial, Neb.
Kermit parted this life and entered into the presence of his loving Savior on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005, at the age of 84.
Memorial services were held Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at 12 noon at the St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Mesa, Ariz.
Private inurnment was held at the Green Acres cemetery in Scottsdale, Ariz.
