U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Glen Silvester
Glen Silvester was born Oct. 19, 1919, to Frank and Hattie Silvester in Plymouth, Neb. died Nov. 2, 2004. He was 85.
Though born in Plymouth, Neb., Glen spent his childhood in Champion, Neb.
He joined the Navy in 1941 and became a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He shipped out to New Zealand, where he met and married
Lillian Reader on Jan. 2, 1943. He served in the Navy during the campaigns of the South Pacific, returning to the USA in 1945. After a two year assignment at Columbia University in New York city teaching Naval ROTC personnel, Lillian and he settled in Fairbury, Neb.
In Fairbury, he learned his life-long trade of carpentry.
He returned to the military service for the Korean War, and in 1956 the family moved to Santa Rosa, Calif., where he resided until October of 2004.
While in Santa Rosa, he became a general contractor until his retirement.
He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church in Santa Rosa, the American Legion and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. In his later years he enjoyed going to ship reunions for the USS Rigel, which he served on at Pearl Harbor and the USS Blue during the Korean War.
His other pursuits were fishing, gardening and woodworking.
He suffered from declining health and moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in October of 2004, at the request of his son Leonard.
Following a short illness, he passed away in his sleep on the afternoon of Nov. 2. His heart wore out after a long and full life.
He will be buried next to his wife of 53 years, Lillian, in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, Neb.
Survivors include son Leonard and wife, Lynn, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; brother, Bill Silvester, Champion, Neb.; sisters, Bea Bauerle and husband, Don, Champion, Neb., Dee Fries of Benkelman, Neb., Helen Pitts and husband, John, Denver, Colo., Bertha McDougall and husband, Jim, Denver, Colo., Emma Enoch and husband, John, of Kansas; brother, Mark Silvester and wife, Lois, Schyler, Neb.; sister-in-law, Leona Silvester, Fairbury, Neb.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Glen was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lillian in 2001; brothers, Lee, Frank and J.F.; sister-in-law, Oneta Silvester.
An inurnment memorial service will be held Saturday morning, May 26, 2005, 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
A memorial has been established in Glen's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Erma Koehn
Erma Koehn, 96, Montezuma, Kan., died Sunday morning, May 22, 2005, at Bethel Home Inc., Montezuma, Kan., where she had been a resident.
The daughter of Eli B. and Adina (Eck) Jantz, she was born May 7, 1909, at Roxbury, Kan.
As a young child she moved from central Kansas to Montezuma area.
She and Abe H. Koehn were married
April 6, 1930, at Montezuma, Kan. He preceded her in death in November of 1983.
She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God In Christ Mennonite, Montezuma, Kan.
Survivors include two sons, Lynn Koehn and wife, Gayla, Hartley, Texas, and Terry Koehn and wife, Debra, Imperial, Neb.; four daughters, Lenora Unruh, Belleville, Pa., Pearl Ensz, Inman, Kan., Lucille Koehn and husband, Devern, Montezuma, Kan., Karen Wickey and husband, Ezra, Scottsville, Ky.; one brother, Elmer Jantz and wife, Dorothy, Burns, Kan.; one sister, Frances Koehn, Montezuma, Kan.; one son-in-law, Dewayne Dirks, Scott City, Kan.; one daughter-in-law, Bernice Koehn, Copeland, Kan.; 33 grandchildren; 58 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two children, Elton Koehn and Delilah Dirks; four brothers, Walter, Homer Lee, Harvey and Clifford Jantz; two sisters, Alice Koehn and Evelyn Jantz; one daughter-in-law, Karleen Koehn; two sons-in-law, Alpha Unruh and Alva Ensz; one grandson, Jason Koehn; and one granddaughter, Jana Koehn.
A memorial has been established for Bethel Home Inc., Montezuma. Memorials may be mailed to Montezuma Funeral Home, Box 421, Montezuma, Kan. 67867.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at the North Mennonite Church, Montezuma with Ministers Charles Schmidt, Donald Koehn and Amos Peachey presiding with burial in the North Mennonite Cemetery, Montezuma, Kan.
Montezuma Funeral Home, Montezuma, was in charge of arrangements.
Vincent Lempke
Vincent Lempke was born on Oct. 19, 1950 at McCook, Neb. He was the second of three children born to Alfred and Mildred Schumer Lempke.
Vincent grew up on the family farm south of Grainton.
He attended elementary school in Grainton and high school in Wallace where he graduated in 1969. Vincent received an associates arts degree in 1971 from North Platte junior college. He received a bachelor of science degree from Kearney St. in 1973. He taught school in Paxton for three years before returning to Kearney St. where he received his masters degree in 1978. He taught school in Monroe for one year before working on advance graduate work from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He taught physics and math at the Central Community College in Columbus from 1980 until the present time. Vincent was married
to Marilyn Henderson in Holyoke, Colo. on July 24, 1999 at a double ceremony with his sister and brother-in-law. Vincent had returned to the Lempke farm south of Grainton for a weekend of relaxation and died Sunday, May 15, 2005, of an apparent fatal heart attack. He had reached the age of 54.
Vincent was an active member of the St. Isidore's Catholic Church in Columbus where he participated in the CEC program, Re-marriage Preparation ministry and served as an Eucharistic Minister. Vincent and Marilyn were active in square dance clubs in Columbus and Norfolk where he had served as president of both clubs. He recently had joined the RC Flyers Club, a group of flying enthusiasts who built and flew model aircraft.
Vincent was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew, Ezra Lempke.
He is survived by his sister, Margaret (Mark) Berry of Lamar; his brother, David (Mary) Lempke of Wallace; nieces and nephews, Celeste, Jennifer, Philip and John Paul Lempke, Sandy Engel, Kristi Birdsall, Jeffery and Brian Collins; other relatives and friends.
Rosary was recited Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the Wallace St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Mass of Christian Burial was Thursday, May 19, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church with Fr. Jim Benton and Fr. Joseph Miksch, officiating.
Music was by guitarist Scott Harris and duet was Doug and Michelle Sullivan.
Casketbearers were John Lempke, Philip Lempke, Jeff Lempke, Brad Schumer, Mark Berry, Doug Birdsall, Wayne Maupin and Charles Tines.
Interment was in the Wallace Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Service was in charge of arrangements.
Arvin Kurth
Arvin Duane Kurth was born Sept. 13, 1938 in Sidney, Neb. to August Frederick William Kurth and Viola Louise Burke.
He passed into the hands of the Lord on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at the age of 66 in Imperial, Neb.
Arvin was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dalton, Neb.
He received his education and grew up in the Dalton area. On May 2, 1958 he was joined in marriage to Iona Jean Kepler at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dalton. To this union they were blessed with four children: Lana, Dennis, Allen and Troy. He was joined in union to Janice Kay (Scott) Miller on April 9, 1999 in Oberlin, Kan.
While living in the Dalton area he was employed by the Cheyenne County Highway Department and involved with the Dalton Fire Department until moving to Imperial Jan. 28, 1970.
After moving to Imperial he was employed by the Chase County Road Department, Harris Construction and at the time of retirement he was employed by the City of Imperial in the Utilities Department.
He was a member of the Eagles Club for many years and donated a lot of time and services over the years.
He loved to spend time with his family and could sit and talk for hours with family and friends.
He loved to work with his hands and there were very few things he couldn't figure out how to repair or fix.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, of Imperial; daughter, Lana Oltmans and husband, Craig, of Holdrege; sons, Dennis Kurth of Colby, Kan., Allen Kurth and wife Diane, of Colby, Kan., Troy Kurth of Glenwood Springs, Colo. and Johnny Miller and wife, Roxane, of Imperial; 26 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lyle of Dalton, Howard of Sidney, Darold and wife Jeannie of Yuma, Ariz.; two sisters, Marva Smith and husband, Al, of Cheyenne, Wyo. and Connie Buxbaum and husband, Bob, of Bayard, Neb.; childhood friend, Sharon Waite and husband, Gene, of Sidney and a whole host of family and friends. His parents and one sister, Pearl Leighty preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held today, Thursday morning (May 26), at 10:30 a.m. (MT) at the Crossroads Wesleyan Church, Imperial, with Pastor Todd Burpo officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Visitation was held Wednesday afternoon (May 25) from 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established in Arvin's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Nellie Pugh
Nellie May (Browning) Pugh of Newton, Iowa, was born Sept. 6, 1909, in Lucas County, Iowa. She was the second of nine children born to Rev. William N. and Jessie O. (Corum) Browning.
Nellie was promoted to Heaven on April 20, 2005, at the age of 95 years, seven months and two weeks. She had been a resident of the USA Healthcare in Newton since Sept. 10, 2002.
Nellie was united in marriage to Bud Pugh on Dec. 24, 1926, by Judge Hill, in Imperial, Neb. Nellie and Bud farmed southwest of Champion, Neb., until they moved to Newton, Iowa in 1955.
Nellie was a homemaker, but was active in the Crete Evangelical United Brethren Church, the Ladies' Aid Society and the Women's Society for Christian Service Organization on a local and district level. She had in-home family Bible Study and took her family to Sunday School and Church. She taught Sunday School and always helped with the summer Bible School program for the grade and high school children.
After moving to Newton, Nellie became a member of the First Assembly of God Church and participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for the new church construction. She was a Past President of the Women's Missionary and member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
Nellie loved to quilt, making many quilts for her family and the missions. She also enjoyed gardening including many pretty flowers, canning, crocheting, embroidery, sewing and baking. Nellie was a loving and devoted wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma and great-great-grandma, sister and friend. One of Nellie's many virtues was an unlimited quiet patience, along with unconditional love.
Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bud in 1991, her five brothers and one sister.
Those left to honor Nellie's memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Roy and Doris Pugh of Springville, Iowa; three daughters and sons-in-law, Belva and Bill Fogwell of Williamsburg, Iowa, Betty and Don Rogan of Bella Vista, Ark. and Naomi and Norman Emmack of Omaha, Neb.; eight grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Mary Hale of Ft. Morgan, Colo. and Vivian and Robert Schultz of Newton, Iowa; three sisters-in-law, Ann Pugh (Robert) Rolfe of Champion, Neb., Fern Hine (Lloyd, deceased) Browning of Venango, Neb. and Maxine Blue (Paul, deceased) Browning of Mountain Home, Ark.
Funeral services for Nellie were held on April 23 at the First Assembly of God Church in Newton, Iowa. A previous Sunday School student of Nellie's, Rev. Harold Schutte of Oskaloosa, Iowa, gave the memorial message. Three of Nellie's many favorite songs, "When We All Get to Heaven," "When They Ring the Golden Bells" and "The Stranger By the Sea" were sung at the service with organ music provided by long-time friend, Marie Hardenbrook.
Two of the six casketbearers were grandson, John Fogwell and great-grandson, Christopher Fogwell.
Interment was in the Newton Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Iowa, with Wallace Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Dick Hahn
Dick Lee Hahn died May 14, 2005, in Imperial, Neb.
He was born Sept. 27, 1931 in Hayes County, Neb.
Funeral services will be today (Thursday, May 19, 2005), at 10:30 a.m. at the Hamlet Union Church in Hamlet, Neb. with Pastor Marshall Erickson officiating.
Organist will be Mrs. Delores Flaming and soloist Mr. Kelly Egle.
Casketbearers are Loren Egle, Loran Wach, Todd Anderson, Dennis Egle, Kenny Egle and Norman Egle. Honorary casketbearer is Bill Smith.
Interment will be at the Hamlet Cemetery, Hamlet.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bertha Kutz
Bertha Agnes Kutz died May 10, 2005, in Imperial, Neb.
She was born Jan. 20, 1924 in Olpe, Kan.
Rosary was said Thursday, May 12, 2005, 7 p.m., St. James Catholic Church, Curtis, Neb.
Memorial funeral mass was held Friday, May 13, 2005, at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Curtis, Neb. with Father Ferdinand Boehme officiating.
Organist was Mrs. Regina Andrijeski.
A private inurnment will take place at a later date.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
