U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Lloyd Meeske
Lloyd Harold Meeske was born on Feb. 6, 1943 in Imperial, Neb. to Dorothy Popp and Henry Meeske. He attended Champion Elementary School and graduated from Chase County High School in 1961. Lloyd was active in both the 4-H and FFA organizations.
Lloyd married
Linda Hughes on May 9, 1964. Out of that marriage was born four children: Gina, Lloyd, Galen and Karl. Lloyd was involved with family and farming for many years. He built a hog finishing facility and was a founding member of Tri County Feeder Pig Corp. He served as County Commissioner from 1983 to 1987.
Lloyd continued his education later at Mid Plains Community College, graduating with his Associates Degree in diesel mechanics.
He taught his children a strong work ethic by involving them in the daily farm related duties of dairy cattle, cattle and hog operations.
Survivors include daughter, Gina Blocher of Columbia Falls, Mont.; son, Lloyd and wife, Lynette of Champion; son, Galen of Champion; and son, Karl and wife, Karra of Champion. He is also survived by his father, Henry of Imperial, Neb.; brother, Kenneth and wife, Ruby of Paris, Texas; and sister, Alisa Rindels and husband, Dean of Scottsbluff, Neb.; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy and sister, Judy.
Interment took place Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Lakeview cemetery in Champion. A memorial has been established. The service was officiated by Ronald Krause. Kim Silvester was soloist and played guitar.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Michael Van Vleet
Michael Shane Van Vleet, 36, of Bandera, Texas, died Monday, June 6, 2005, in an auto accident.
Mike was born Jan. 22, 1969, in Ogallala, Neb. to Wesley Van Vleet, Jr. and Betty Jo Bailey Van Vleet.
He grew up in Imperial, Neb. and graduated from Chase County High School in 1987. After graduating from college he worked on a ranch in Erickson, Neb. and then moved to Texas to work at a race track in Bandera. Mike loved to train horses and was a team roper, he also liked to hunt, fish and recite cowboy poetry.
In July of 1995 he married
Karen Williams. They had one daughter Cheyanne. He was employed by the City of Kerrville in the utilities department at the time of his death.
Survivors include his wife and daughter of Bandera; his father, Wes, also of Bandera; sisters, Virginia Fear of Sutherland, Neb., Annette Kennedy and husband Larry of Sutherland, Neb. and Pam Leibhart and husband Brad of Imperial, Neb.; brothers, Morris Van Vleet and wife Ruth An of Kearney, Neb., Gary O'Berg and fiance' Suzy of Columbus, Neb. and Don O'Berg and wife Caroline of Columbus, Neb.; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Van Vleet; two sisters, Mary Elder and Patricia Green; and one brother, Kenneth Van Vleet.
A memorial service was held Saturday, June 11, 2005, at the Pipe Creek Presbyterian Church with Dr. John Strange officiating.
Burial will be at a later date in Nebraska at the Blanche Cemetery.
A memorial account has been set up for Cheyanne at the Guaranty Bank in Bandera, Texas.
Anyone wishing to contact Wes can do so at P.O. Box 2439, Bandera, Texas 78003.
Anastasia 'Ann' Weiss
Anastasia Margaret Weiss was born Feb. 13, 1927, to John and Mary (Devlin) Shutze, in Hale, Colo.
As a young girl she moved with her family to Arizona, where they lived for a short time before making their home in Imperial.
Ann attended St. Patrick's Parochial Grade School for girls in Sidney, Neb., and continued her education in Imperial, graduating from Chase County High School in 1945.
Ann then traveled to Denver, Colo., where she was employed as a telephone operator.
On Feb. 14, 1949, she married
Donald Lee Weiss Sr. and the couple made their home on the family farm northwest of Imperial.
Ann was a devoted wife of 53 years, never faltering in the care of her husband.
Ann was tough; a trait she learned while wrestling with the neighborhood boys as a young girl. She was also classy and feminine, with matching high heels, hat, purse and lipstick.
She had an abundance of energy, which was necessary for taking care of six children, gardening, helping with the farm and cooking an endless number of meals. She would stay up late cleaning and waxing floors just so she could walk barefoot first thing in the morning.
Ann was able to do all of these things and still listen to kids of various ages. It didn't matter if they were her own children, a niece or nephew, or a friend, she always seemed to have the answers needed.
Ann knew what was important in life and taught her children to take care of themselves in many ways. She was an independent woman who taught her children independence. She taught them how to clean, to do laundry, to make a hot breakfast and to make gravy. She armed them with the tools they would need to survive in life.
Ann knew the importance of comfort food before it had a label. She knew dessert was important as vitamins. Very few knew her, who did not know her pies. From sour cream raisin, to pecan, apple, cherry and pumpkin, she knew everyone's favorite.
Ann knew how to enjoy life, she loved to go dancing, laugh, play cards, laugh, travel, laugh, go shopping, laugh, play the slots, laugh, drink coffee with friends, and laugh.
She taught by example, Ann was a loving daughter, daughter-in-law, aunt and sister. She was there for whatever her parents and in-laws needed, especially in their final years.
Ann also regularly visited the sick and elderly throughout the community and she volunteered for many organizations.
Ann was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Imperial for many years. Her faith kept her strong throughout her life.
Her greatest gift to her children was making sure that they never forgot each other. No matter what the differences, they knew that they had five others to help if needed.
Ann passed away Thursday evening, June 16, 2005, at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. She was 78 years of age.
Survivors include son, Bill of Imperial, Neb.; son, Tom and wife, Cate of Imperial, Neb.; son, Don Jr. of Imperial, Neb.; son, Joe and Jeanie, of Imperial, Neb.; daughter, Carolyn Huckabee and husband, Tom, of Delafield, Wisc.; daughter, Mary Lewis and husband, Patrick, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; brother, John Shutze of Athens, Ga.; sister, Rita Lee of Greeley, Colo. and brother Bill Shutze of Pensacola, Fla.; 13 grandchildren: Jason Weiss, Calvin Weiss, Jenny Weiss, Matt Weiss, Chris Weiss, Dustin Weiss, Amanda Weiss, Jack Weiss, Lindsay Huckabee, Alex Huckabee, Kerry Huckabee, Shelby Lewis and Hannah Lewis.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Don Sr., in 2003.
Rosary was held Sunday, June 19, 2005, at 7 p.m. at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial, Neb.
Mass of the Christian Burial was held Monday, June 20, 2005, 10 a.m. at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial with Father Greg Pawloski celebrating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcy Nesbitt and soloists were Mrs. Paulette Dillan, Mr. Ron Moritz and Mr. Tom Huckabee.
Casketbearers were Jason Weiss, Calvin Weiss, Jennifer Weiss, Kerry Huckabee, Lindsay Huckabee, Matthew Weiss, Christopher Weiss, Dustin Weiss, Hannah Lewis, Jack Weiss, Amanda Weiss, Alex Huckabee and Shelby Lewis.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Leola Meter
Leola Mae Meter, 91, of Imperial, Neb., formerly of Melbeta, Neb., died Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at the Imperial Manor in Imperial.
Leola was born on July 6, 1913 at Bayard, Neb. to Nelson Miles and Bernice May (Butler) Stroud.
She graduated from Bayard High School.
She married
Ralph Moon on Dec. 5, 1931 in Gering, Neb. and he died in 1945.
She later married
Fred Meter on Aug. 9, 1947 in Alliance, Neb. Fred passed away in 1987.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Melbeta, Neb., United Methodist Women, Merry Martha's, the WOFS, Women of Hope Club and the RSVP in Ogallala.
She drove horses and buggies when she was a girl and her first car was a Model T Ford.
She saw the first man step foot on the moon and couldn't help exclaiming "Oh Lord."
She got married
young and gave birth to six children, five girls and a boy.
She loved people and places and horses and family and that in itself is her joy.
She drove halfway across the United States with five children, a sick husband
And was pregnant.
She drove through the day and night across the land, so her dying husband could see his family before his last breath.
She was determined and strong and stood by him until his death.
She raised six children by herself for two years until she met a man who had two children of his own and needed the love of a good woman.
They were soon married
and made a family of ten, eight kids and a Mom and a Dad.
She lifted her chin against all odds and gave it all she had.
They moved to a farm way out in the boonies and a two-bedroom house.
A shack made up two more bedrooms and the girls were quiet as a mouse.
It was hard for her but she made the best of it with discipline and humor.
She taught the kids to cook and clean and never mind the rumor.
Not much time for herself, she put in a garden and helped in the fields.
And smiled to herself when she helped harvest the yields.
She helped Dad train the horses and was quite a hand at the bullwhip.
When she turned back the cattle she would give them a little snip.
There were good times and there were bad but she stood by her morals.
Her faith and always a smile helped keep up her laurels.
She never gossiped and repeatedly said "say something good or say nothing at all."
Her children soon married
and moved away but again she stood tall.
A loving Grandmother she has always been and that's what we see today.
Her Grandchildren have always loved and respected her in every way.
She fills our hearts with love and hugs and smiles and we long.
To know that she will be in our hearts forever like a favorite song.
Survivors include her daughters Lois L. (Virgil) Brown of Casper, Wyo., Irene M. (Jack) Kihlthau in Benkelman, Neb., Roberta J. Siders of Ogallala, Neb., Donna R. McAloney of Mira Loma, Calif., Phyllis M. Howell of Moses Lake, Wash., Patricia J. Covalt (Grover Hall) of Centennial, Colo. and Sandra K. Sarver of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; daughter-in-law Myrna Meter of Lincoln, Neb.; 21 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren and six great, great grandchildren and sister-in-law Loretta McFarland of Greenfield, Calif.
Her two husbands, son Eugene, two infant sisters, one brother, one grandson and two great granddaughters preceded Leola in death.
Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2005, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff, with Pastor Juan Espinoza officiating.
Interment followed in the Creighton Valley cemetery in Melbeta.
Memorials have been established to the Melbeta Methodist Church or to the Melbeta Volunteer Fire Department.
Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.
