U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Russell Williams Sr., MD
Russell Irenus Williams Sr., MD, 96, died peacefully at the Davis Hospice Center on Dec. 13, 2007.
He was born July 27, 1911 in Wauneta, Neb.
The Williams family was raised south of Enders in the lake area.
He married
Carleen Steckelberg of Lincoln in 1939 and took up residence in Cheyenne, Wyo. in 1942.
Dr. Williams graduated in 1936 from the University of Nebraska Medical School, served an internship in Birmingham, Ala. and residencies in Memphis, Tenn. and Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1936, reached the grade of Captain and was honorably discharged in 1942.
He specialized in ear, nose, throat and eye surgery and pioneered diagnosis and treatment of allergy. Dr. Williams practiced medicine in Cheyenne for 36 years.
Dr. Williams was instrumental in the establishment of Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wyoming in 1945 and served as its president for ten years. He was the sponsor and director of the Wyoming Post-Graduate courses in allergy and immunology for 28 years, bringing world authorities in the field to Wyoming. In addition, he directed courses by invitation in Tokyo and Australia.
During his 36 years in practice, Dr. Williams served as president of Wyoming Blue Cross, Wyoming Tuberculosis Association, Laramie County Medical Society, Wyoming State Medical Society, Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, American Rhinologic Society, Colorado Otolaryngological Society and The Pacific Coast Oto-Ophthalmological Society. He also served as Chief of Staff of Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Williams was vice-president of the prestigious Western Section Triological Society and director of research for the American Society of Ophthalmologic and Otolaryngologic Allergy.
He was associate professor of ENT Surgery at the Colorado Medical School (emeritus status) and granted emeritus status at the Triological Society, the American Academy of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, Colorado Allergy Society and the American Association for Clinical Immunology and Allergy.
Dr. Williams actively participated and maintained membership in 28 different professional medical organizations.
He contributed to the medical establishment by publishing multiple research articles in professional peer-reviewed journals and writing a book about the management of clinical allergy. He served as surgeon and physician for the U.P Railroad and was on the Warren Air Force Base Advisory Committee.
Although Dr. Williams had many opportunities to pursue his career in other locations, he chose to live in Wyoming because of his love of the outdoors. He was an avid and accomplished fly fisherman and enjoyed hunting a variety of migratory birds and big game. He also enjoyed rock-hounding, silver-smithing, lapidary work and framing paintings for his wife. Dr. Williams enjoyed volunteering for Cheyenne Frontier Days and became a Heel.
Dr. Williams is survived by his wife, Carleen; three sons and their wives, Dr. Russell I. and Barbara Williams, Jr. of Cheyenne, Wyo, Dr. P. Brock and Julie Williams of Olathe, Kan. and John G. and Theresa Williams of Laramie, Wyo.; seven grandchildren, Grant Williams, Kathryn Spilotro and husband Daniel, Lancelot Williams, Bryce Williams, Kyle Williams, Dustin Williams and Cheslea Williams and three great-grandchildren.
A private family memorial service was held.
Friends who wish may send contributions to The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, Meals on Wheels or charity of choice.
William 'Bill' Pankonin
William E. "Bill" Pankonin, 60, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008 at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Neb.
He was born Oct. 2, 1947 to Edward and Gladys (Pollard) Pankonin at Grant, Neb.
Bill attended country school near Enders, Neb. until the 6th grade, then attended school in Enders for his 7th and 8th grade years. He finished the rest of his schooling in Imperial, Neb.
On Feb. 12, 1966, Bill was united in marriage to Sharon Mae Snyder. This union was blessed with four children: Donald, Sandy, Melinda and Kristie.
Bill and his family made their home in Chase County, Neb., where he worked as a farmer. It was here, where Bill also began Golden Glove Boxing in 1967 at Grant and Valentine, Neb.
On May 1, 1980, Bill married
Clara Bea Nichols. They made their home in Benkelman and soon Bill adopted Clara's son, Todd.
Bill worked as a farmer, truck driver, mechanic and a road worker for Dundy County.'
Bill loved his family very much and looked forward to spending time with both his family and friends. He participated in Golden Glove Boxing for two years and later became interested in building and working on race cars. He raced in Benkelman for several years and won numerous races and trophies. Bill was also a gun enthusiast and enjoyed reloading and shooting his rifles.
He will be deeply missed by those who came to know him.
His parents, Ed and Marie Pankonin, precede him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Clara Pankonin of Benkelman, Neb.; daughters, Sandy Vandike and husband, Denis, of Benkelman, Neb., Melinda Pankonin of McCook, Neb., Kristie Mae Pankonin of Benkelman, Neb.; sons, Donald Pankonin of Imperial, Neb., Todd Pankonin of Benkelman, Neb.; sisters, Gladys Shafer of McCook, Mattie Parrett of Norton, Kan.; brothers, Jim Pankonin and wife, Joyce, of Imperial, Neb., Dick Pankonin of Minatare, Neb.; 12 grandchildren, Philip, Lauren, Victoria, Michael, Christopher, Tyler, Kyle, Brandon, Bradly, Sydney, Michael and Dakota; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A memorial service celebrating his life was Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman with Rev. George Mathews officiating.
A private inurnment will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be given in his name. Arrangements are under the direction of Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman.
Mary Marcella Tangney
Marcella Tangney, 93, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Juniper Village, Louisville, Colo., on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008.
Born July 2, 1914 in Havelock, Neb., to Aloysius and Eleanora Laux, Marcella earned a BA degree from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1936 with a vocal music major.
After she married
Leonard A. Tangney of Rulo, Neb., on Aug. 8, 1936, the couple moved to Denver, Colo., where Leonard pursued a journalism career with the Denver Catholic Register and the Rocky Mountain News.
Marcella became a homemaker and also served as soloist and choir director at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
She was a charter member of Mother of God Catholic Church in Denver and served as choir director and organist until she retired in her early 80s. She also worked as a singer and accompanist for numerous weddings, funerals and quinciAħeras in the Denver area, and for a time was a musician on the staff of McConaty Boulevard Mortuaries.
She was a longtime board member for the Denver Musicians' Society and was honored as a lifetime member. She served for many years as a member and officer of the Mother of God Altar Society, and also of the Golderado Club.
An avid bridge player, Marcella spent her later years playing cards and caring for the garden in the house she'd lived in since 1946; she especially loved the roses.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her parents, Aloysius and Eleanora Laux; brothers, Aloysius and John Laux; and sisters, Agnes Matteson and Cecilia Griffin.
Survivors include son, Dennis Tangney of San Francisco, Calif.; daughters, Catherine Howard and Mary Sue Erskine, both of Imperial, Neb., Jeanne Klatka of Arvada, Colo.; sisters, Adelaide Paradise of Alton, Ill. and Bernadette Munson of Arlington, Va.; brother, David Laux of Indianapolis, Ind.; nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
In memory of Marcella, friends and family prayed the Rosary Saturday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. in Mother of God Catholic Church in Denver, with Mass following.
Soloist was her granddaughter, Lenore Weatherly, of North Platte, Neb.
Scripture readers were granddaughter, Kayla Klatka of Arvada, Colo., great-grandchildren, Philip Hayes of Fremont, Neb., Matt Hayes of Imperial, Neb. and Shane and Ryan Weatherly of North Platte, Neb.
The eulogy was given by daughter, Cathy Howard, of Imperial, Neb.
Cremation took place Wednesday, Feb. 12, with inurnment next to her husband at Mount Olivet cemetery in Denver.
Contributions may be sent to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 3629 W. 29th Ave., Denver, Colo. 80211.
Pauline Fuehrer
Pauline Fuehrer, long time resident of Imperial, passed away Saturday evening, Feb. 9, 2008, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was 77 years of age.
Survivors include husband, Don, of Imperial; sister-in-law, Thena Mae Hart of Loveland, Colo.; five nephews and four nieces.
Funeral services for Pauline Fuehrer will be held Friday morning, Feb. 15, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Visitation will be held Thursday afternoon, Feb. 14, 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the American Cancer Society, First United Methodist Church of Imperial or Donor's Choice.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
William Weir
William Bishop Weir was born March 22, 1933, in Lincoln, Neb. and died Feb. 5, 2008 in his home in Imperial from complications due to heart disease.
Bill was the second son of "Coach" S. Edwin Weir and Josephine (Bishop) Weir.
He attended the University of Nebraska, majoring in business. He pledged Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity where he developed life long friendships.
On Sept. 3, 1955, he married
Nancy Chamberlin of Lincoln (whom he had been in love with since the 9th grade and patiently waited until she graduated from UNL).
They moved to Imperial in May of 1956 where he and his partner Ivan Althouse bought Service Insurance Agency. In 1964 he added Real Estate and Appraisals to his occupation. He served the Nebraska Realtors as their President in 1975 and served on the University of Nebraska Water Conference Committee.
He was passionately involved with the developing area irrigation business that started with a Valley Center Pivot dealership and later with Lindsay Zimmatic. He managed ground for area landowners, was involved with Ross Well Drilling (now Wren's), and was part of popcorn production as a new crop to Chase County which that year totaled three percent of the total global popcorn crop. He worked with John Nolon and Vernon Tropf in Speer Vee livestock operation and promoted bringing potato and onion production to Imperial. He worked with two different land owners to develop the Max and Sage housing additions. Bill built many personal relationships based on trust and hard work.
He served on the Imperial Manor Board, promoting the building of Imperial Heights and Parkview Manor. In his early years he was active in Jaycees, the Imperial Chamber and Lions Club and was a 50 year member of Masons Purity Lodge 198 and Imperial Methodist Church. In his free time he loved to golf, garden, hunt and was a gourmet cook.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ed Weir Jr., and sister, Helen Pickett.
He is survived by wife Nancy, and four children: son Joe and wife, Trudy, of Topeka, Kan. and her two boys, Rob and Scott; son Michael Tad with friend Rose of Imperial; daughter Cathy Renk and husband, Jim, their children, Sam and Ellen of Peru, Ill.; Julie Gockley and husband, Joel, children Kale, Lauren and Brit of Imperial.
Bill was cremated and will be inurned in a family plot in Riverside, Wyo., when the Weir relatives meet for a yearly reunion in Encampment, Wyo. A celebration of his life was held in the family home on Feb. 9 in Imperial.
Viola Fristrom
Viola Marie Fristrom, 92, of Oklahoma City, Okla., passed away Jan. 23, 2008 at her home in Oklahoma City.
A former resident of Champion and Imperial, she moved to Oklahoma City 10 years ago to be near her daughter after the death of her husband, Ed Fristrom.
Survivors include one daughter, one son, two grandchildren, three great grandchildren, one great great grandson, two sisters-in-law and many other relatives.
Services and burial were conducted at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Oklahoma City on Jan. 26, 2008.
Bill Weir
Bill Weir passed away at his home on Tuesday morning, Feb. 5, 2008.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be sent to the Imperial Community Foundation.
Please join Bill's family for a celebration of his life on Sat., Feb. 9, 1-5 p.m. at the house at 106 Yucca Drive, Imperial.
