U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Julia E. Wood
Julia E. Woods, age 88, passed away early Sunday morning, Nov. 6, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial.
Survivors include sons, Perry Borland and friend Judy of Holyoke, Colo., Larry Borland and wife Carolyn of Cambridge, Neb. and Chester Woods and friend Marcy of Westminster, Colo.; daughter, Gloria Borland of Laramie, Wyo.; special friend, Helen Bailey of Laramie, Wyo.; eight grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; one great, great grandson; sister, Arleta Barkoff of Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 9, 2005, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Manor Nursing Home.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Edward Rouze
Edward Rouze, 87, who was born and raised in Imperial, Neb. died Thursday, Nov. 3 in Prattville, Ala.
Services were Saturday, Nov. 5.
Survivors include his wife, Delyn; two children and their spouses and two grandchildren, all of Prattville, Ala.; two brothers, Willard Rouze and wife, Eva, of Imperial, Neb. and Gordon Rouze and wife, Gloria, of Houston, Texas.
Cecil Decker
Cecil Beard Decker was born on Nov. 13, 1906, to Chester and Nellie Beard Decker on a farm near Oberlin, Kan., and he passed away Nov. 6, 2005, one week prior to his 99th birthday at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Alliance.
In 1920, he moved with his parents to a farm west of Wauneta, Neb. where he was enrolled in grade school and later attended Wauneta Rural High School and played football.
As a young adult, Cecil was diagnosed with cancer, but, with aggressive treatments, overcame the disease.
Soon, he moved to Washington where he was a talented mechanic and car salesman for many years.
Upon his return to Nebraska, he married
Frieda Stanley, and the two made their home in Benkelman.
In Benkelman, Cecil and Frieda owned and managed their own business.
After retirement, he spent his time tending to his well-manicured lawn, caring for his garden, especially the corn, and fishing with his family.
In August of 2000, Cecil and Frieda moved to Alliance to be nearer to their family, Georgia and Kylee Stanley. Cecil lived in his own home until six months prior to his passing.
On April 7, 2005, his wife, Frieda, passed away. He was also preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Loide; and his sister, Mildred Brill.
He leaves to mourn Georgia Stanley and his granddaughter, Kylee, of Alliance.
Graveside services were held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2005 at 1 p.m. at Mount Hope cemetery in Imperial, Neb.
Because of Cecil's true belief in education, a memorial has been established in his memory for the Lakeside School Library Fund. Memorials may be sent to Lakeside Grade School, Lakeside, Neb. 69351.
Bates-Gould Funeral Home of Alliance, Neb. as in charge of arrangements.
Melvin Stumbaugh
Melvin C. Stumbaugh, 86, of Caldwell, Idaho, died Oct. 23, 2005 at the Veteran's Hospital after an eight year courageous battle with cancer.
Melvin was born Feb. 16, 1919, at Holyoke, Colo., the son of William "Bill" Stumbaugh and Bertha Miller Stumbaugh. He was raised and educated in Imperial, Neb. He was married
to Edith D. Zojic in 1938 at St. Francis, Kan.
To this union were born four children, Dolores, Joan, Larry and Bonita. They moved to Caldwell in 1946 where he farmed. The family moved to Brownsville, Ore., in 1952 on a ranch. They later moved back to Idaho where he was a dairy farmer. In 1957 they settled in Caldwell where he worked as a boiler mechanic at Dairymen's Cooperative Creamery for 25 years, retiring in 1982. In 1963 he lost his wife Edith. He then married
Hildred M. Weihe on May 4, 1963, at Reno, Nev.
He enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting and gardening. He was a member of the American Legion. He served two years in the United States Army during WWII.
Melvin is survived by his son, Larry Stumbaugh and his wife, Anne of Battleground, Wash.; two daughters, Joan Tuttle and her husband, Jim of Wilder and Bonita Limbert of Caldwell, Idaho; two step-children, Lavern Weihe and his wife Connie of Caldwell and Russell Weihe of Nampa; sister, Irene (Stumbaugh) Darbin of Caldwell, Idaho; two brothers, Robert of Caldwell, Idaho and Bill of Cupertino, Calif.; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, step-father, first and second wife, a daughter, two step-daughters, to great-grandchildren and a step-grandson.
Cremation is under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel in Caldwell. His ashes will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell following a gathering of family and friends at 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 at the American Legion Hall in Caldwell.
The family suggests that memorials be made to a favorite charity.
Jennifer Rosenfelt
Jennifer Lynn Rosenfelt, 50, of Asheville, NC died, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005.
A native of Colorado Springs Colo., she was the daughter of Carolyn Fern Cogdill Rosenfelt and the late Harold Eugene Rosenfelt, and a member of Living Savior Lutheran Church.
Jennifer was a survivor who battled through all the obstacles in life, never giving up. She was dedicated to her children and granddaughter, devoting her life to their happiness and to God's will. Those that knew or met Jennifer quickly saw her outer beauty, as well as her inner beauty. She would do anything for anyone.
Those who talked with her and knew her knew that she put her life into her children, Zachery and Stephanie, and granddaughter Jordan. She was the greatest Grammie and mother ever.
She is survived by her mother, Carolyn Cogdill Rosenfelt; two children, Zachery and Stephanie Pennstrom, both of Arden; two brothers, Michael and Mark Rosenfelt, both of Benkelman, Neb.; three sisters, Mindy Einspahr of Benkelman, Neb., Melissa Rosenfelt of McCook, Neb. and Jannelle Bowers of Bird City, Kan.; and one granddaughter, Jordyn Tailynn Pennstrom of Arden.
Funeral services were held at Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005, at 2 p.m. with Pastor John Qualmann officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Zachery and Stephanie Pennstrom, 6-B North Blake Dr., Arden, NC 28704, to help pay funeral expenses.
Her support, love and dedication to her family and friends will be forever remembered and cherished. Her idea of Heaven would be walking along a beautiful beach, searching for seashells and feeling the sand beneath her. May she escape the pain and live freely now, walking all the world's beautiful beaches with those that join her.
Esther Newman
Esther Newman, 96, longtime resident of Imperial, Neb., passed away early Tuesday morning, Nov. 8, 2005.
Rosary will be held Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial.
Visitation will be held Sunday evening at Rosary.
Funeral Mass will be Monday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Henry Tropf
Henry "Hank" Lewis Tropf passed away Oct. 22, 2005 at the Pioneer Place Nursing Home in Vale, Ore.
Hank was born to Emil Lewis and Minnie Louise Dorow Tropf on July 30, 1916 near Madrid, Neb.
He was the oldest of six children. His family moved to the Nyssa area in 1935 where Hank worked at various jobs.
On Dec. 9, 1943, Hank married
Julia Mendive. They had two daughters, Sandra and Tamra.
Hank began his carpenter/contractor career in the early 1950s. Numerous houses in the Vale and surrounding area were built or remodeled by Hank over the years. He took pride in his work and was well known for the quality of his buildings and cabinetry work. In later years, one of his hobbies was building grandfather clocks. Family members and friends were lucky recipients of his beautiful clocks. Another hobby was photography. He took his camera out early in the morning or at dusk and waited for baby fox to come out of their dens so he could get a picture of them. He was able to get close enough to take pictures of eagles in their nests. He saw beauty in objects that many of us would pass by and caught them in the lens of his camera. Hank was an avid reader. He liked reading about the history of the west, Indians, ghost towns and his book "Tropf's Since the Civil War". He was outspoken about politics and loved to argue with anyone who disagreed with him. He usually had the last word and was affectionately known as "a tough old bird".
Hank was a softhearted man who taught his children and some of his grandchildren their numbers, the alphabet and how to color. He ate french fries and drank cokes with them after school. He passed on his love for woodworking to many of his family members. He was always willing to show any of them how to "do things right" and, of course, that was "his" way. He was a man of integrity and a role model as a father, grandfather, husband and friend. He was always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.
Many times Hank visited museums and old junk dumps in Chase and Perkins Counties and at Birch Tree, Mo. and found many antique treasures.
Hank was preceded in death by his German born grandmother, Emelia Clemp Dorow;daughter, Tamra Eddy; sister, Emma Gruell; brother, Arno Emil "Ike" Tropf and grandson, Graham Henry Eddy.
Hank is survived by wife, Julia of Vale, Ore.; daughter, Sandra Larson and husband, John of Boise, Idaho; son-in-law Mike Eddy of Vale, Ore.; sister-in-law, Doris Tropf of Burns, Ore.; brother-in-law, Eugene Gruell and wife, Edna of Boise, Idaho; brothers, Gordon and wife Dona of Champion; Bernard and wife, Rose of Caldwell, Idaho; Durward and wife, Marguerite of Adrian, Ore.; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
The funeral service was held on Oct. 26 at the Vale Christian Church. Burial was at the Valley View Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Pioneer Nursing Home, c/o Lienkaemper Chapel, PO Box 970, Onterio, Ore. 97914.
Arrangements were under the direction of Lienkaemper Funeral Home.
Opal Nelson
Opal Jaeger Nelson, 90, Lincoln, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005. She was born in Beatrice on March 22, 1915 to William and Josie (Hand) Jaeger. She was a retired Goodyear employee.
Family members include son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Louisa Nelson of Junction City, Kan.; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; sister, Grace Schanck of Beatrice; step-brother, Bernard Jaeger of York; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Sandra Lucille Kaeding.
Funeral services will be Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. at Roper and Sons Funeral Home, 4300 O Street, Lincoln.
Eleana Merrill
Eleana Jane Osgood Merrill, 87, of Greeley, Colo., left to be with the Lord on Oct. 14, 2005, at the Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado inpatient unit in Greeley.
Eleana was born on March 20, 1918, in Cabot, Vt. to Thomas and Gertrude Osgood.
She was married
to Colonel Clifford R. Merrill, US Army, Retired, from March 25, 1945 until Aug. 15, 1973. She raised their daughters while traveling around the world as a career Army officer's wife, but still managed extensive volunteer work, such as at the hospital in Ft. Riley, Kan.
Eleana was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Greeley, Colo. where she continued her volunteer activities at many different positions. Her most treasured involvement was becoming a Daughter of the King.
Eleana's love for the Lord was felt by many through her life of service to her family, the church, and other charitable organizations.
Survivors include her sister, Hazel Stearns from Burlington, Vt.; daughters, Ann and husband Merl Miller from Imperial, Neb., Frances and husband Frank Rioz from Greeley, Colo., Barbara and husband Rick Eager from Meggett, S.C., Bette and husband Tom Cullen from West Palm Beach, Fla., Janet Lippus from Newport News, Va. and Joan Friese from Walpole, Mass.; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Thomas and Gertrude Osgood; brothers, Phillip, Roger, Sidney; and grandson Mark Friese.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Greeley.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care of Northern Colorado inpatient unit, NCMC 4th Floor, 1801 16th St, Greeley or Trinity Episcopal Church, 3800 West 20th St., Greeley.
In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
