U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Frances Kukla
Frances Kukla was born on March 10, 1911 at Columbus, Neb. She was the seventh of eight children born to Mike and Victoria Bogus Kukla.
Frances spent her early years in the Columbus area before the family moved to Perkins County in 1919 and lived on a farm south of Brandon. They later moved to a farm west of Grant and Frances graduated from Perkins County High School in 1930.
After school she continued to live on the farm with her brother Mike until 1966 when they moved into Grant. Frances continued to maintain her home and live an active lifestyle after Mike died.
She had developed a tumor this winter and had been moved to the Perkins County Community Hospital where she died early Friday morning, Dec. 17, 2004. She had reached the age of 93.
Frances had joined the Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Grant in 1928 and had been an active member for the rest of her life. She was a member of the Altar Society and sang in the church choir. She also helped clean the church for many years.
Frances was preceded in death by her three brothers, John, Mike, and Leo Kukla; her four sisters, Clara Kosmiski, Belle Bartusiak, Josephine Klein, and Kate Schmitt.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews, their families and friends.
Services were Monday, Dec. 20, 2004 at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Grant with Rev. Bill Grant officiating.
Music was by Connie Cohen and congregation.
Casket bearers were Jim Klein, Raymond Klein, Kenneth Klein, Jim Kosmiski, Dan Kosmiski and Don Schmitt.
Interment was in Grant Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Hazel Blanche Dodson
Hazel Blanche Hopkins Dodson was born in a sod house, on her father's homestead, about two miles south of Venango, Neb., on May 21, 1906. Her parents were Frank and Serena (Perrott) Hopkins. She passed away at the Perkins County Hospital in Grant, Neb., on Dec. 13, 2004 at the age of 98 years, six months and 22 days.
She attended school in Venango, graduating in 1924. She was the oldest living graduate of Venango High School and was honored at the last alumni banquet in 2002.
Ralph Dodson and Hazel Hopkins were united in marriage on Aug. 17, 1926 in Sterling, Colo. After living in Grand Island, Neb., for a year they moved to the family farm south of Venango in 1927. They lived on the farm until 1958 when they built a home in Venango and retired there. Ralph passed away in 1974 and Hazel continued living in Venango until 2003 when she moved to the Riverview Assisted Living facility in Lewellen, Neb., and spent the next 15 months there until admitted to the Perkins County Hospital on Nov. 18, 2004.
Hazel was a member of the Venango Community Church and was involved in many church activities. She belonged to the Kensington Club until it dissolved in the 1950s. (Her mother, Serena Hopkins, helped organize the club in 1911.) Her love of animals, especially horses, and her excellence in horsemanship was an inspiration to all who knew her. Her hobbies included embroidery and crocheting. She loved history and reading and was a former member of the LaPlatte chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was able to attend all three of her children's 50th wedding anniversary celebrations.
Hazel will be sadly missed by her three children: Norma Jeane and husband Neil McCormick, Myron and wife Bonnie Dodson and Merwin and wife JoAnn Dodson; seven grandchildren: Sharon, Scott, Mike, Debbie, Nicki, Terry and Pat; 17 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph in 1974, her parents, one grandson, Brent Rob Dodson and her brother Lysle Hopkins.
Funeral services were conducted by Pastor Kevin Hausman at the Venango Community Church on Dec. 16, with burial in the Venango Cemetery.
Music was provided by Mary Dodson and organist Jean Jorgen-sen.
Casket escorts were her grandsons, Patrick and Terry McCor-mick, Robert Bounds, Sid Colson, Scott Dodson and Mike Dodson.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was is charge of arrangements.
Lois Bishop
Lois Bishop was born on Aug. 14, 1929 at Hamlet, Neb. She was the 10th of 12 children born to Samuel and Anna Clara Jader Ferguson.
As a young girl, Lois moved to Palisade, Neb., where she grew up and attended school, graduating from Palisade High School in 1947. Lois attended Kearney State Teachers College for two years. She began her teaching career at Wilsonville and later moved to California where she was married to Harold Bishop in Oakland in 1950. Harold was in the service and the family moved to Japan where Lois taught the children of American families on the Air Force Base.
Lois moved to Ogallala, Neb., in 1962 where she taught second grade at Progress School for the next 23 years. A special event each year for the students was her "authentic Japanese Party."
During her early years of teaching in Ogallala, Lois furthered her education at Chadron, Neb., during the summer and received a bachelor's degree in education in 1966. She took further summer school and received hours equivalent for her master's degree.
Lois also tutored adults in the Ogallala area, training them to pass their G.E.D. sponsored by Mid Plains Community College. After her retirement from teaching for 29 years, Lois eventually moved to Grant, Neb., in 1994 where she lived with her daughter and granddaughter. She died in her sleep early Friday morning, Dec. 10, 2004. She had reached the age of 75.
Lois had been an active member and officer in the Ogallala Education Association, the state and national education associations. She was presently a member of the Grant United Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, Lois was preceded in death by her seven brothers.
She is survived by three daughters, Lori Zeilinger of Grant, Brenda Glinn of Ogallala; and Libby and husband Donn Gengen-bach of rural Grant; four grandchildren, Michi Zeilinger; Dusty, Drew, and Bo Glinn; four sisters, Clarice Bauer of McCook, Neb., Twila and husband Frank Carter of Palisade, Neb., Joyce and husband Dewayne Coe of North Platte, Neb., and Joan and husband Ted Laumann of Sterling, Colo.; other relatives and friends.
Services were held Monday, Dec. 13, 2004 at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Sally Ruggia-Haden officiating.
Music was by Carolyn Harms and Lori McCloskey.
Casket bearers were Michi Zeilinger, George Zeilinger, Donn Gengenbach, Dusty Glinn, Drew Glinn and Bo Glinn.
Interment was in Palisade Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Hazel Dodson
Hazel Dodson, 98, longtime resident of Venango, Neb., died Monday afternoon, Dec. 13, 2004 at the Perkins County Community Hospital.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 16 (today) at 1:30 p.m., at the Venango Community Church with Rev. Kevin Hausman officiating.
Burial will be in the Venango Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Vernon N. Coleman
Vernon "Joe" N. Coleman passed away in Sacramento, Calif., on Nov. 8, 2004.
Vernon was born to Thurman and Lena Coleman on Oct. 9, 1918 in Nevada, Mo. Joe was a veteran of World War II and served in Pacific Theatre.
He was retired from the Postal Service.
He is survived by his wife Katherine (Lee) Coleman, daughters Stephanie and Nancy; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his sister Lois Shepherd, formerly of Venango; brother-in-law John Lee of Madrid and Francis Lee of Grant.
Services were held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sacramento on Nov. 12, 2004.
Douglas Lee
Douglas Lee was born on Oct. 1, 1956 at Grant, Neb. He was one of four children born to John and Erna Rae Erlewine Lee. Doug grew up on the family farm southeast of Madrid, Neb., and attended school in Madrid, graduating from Wheat-land High School in 1974. Doug went to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he graduated in 1978 with an agronomy degree.
Doug returned to Perkins County where he worked for a brief time with Don Softley in Farmer's Ag where he served as a field scout. He later entered a farming and ranching partnership with his father.
Doug was married to Penny (Jenkins) Kosmicki on Sept. 4, 2004 at Estes Park, Colo. They split time living between Grant and the farm southeast of Madrid.
Doug and Penny had gone to Mullen, Neb., over the weekend to bring cattle back to the farm. They were working north of Mullen Saturday afternoon and Doug was rounding up a stray cow on his four-wheeler when he hit a rough spot in the terrain. He was thrown from the vehicle and was killed instantly. He had reached the age of 48.
Doug had been an involved member of the Elsie Catholic Church and taught his sons in the CYO class while they were in school. He had also served on the Wheatland School Board for five years.
Doug is survived by his wife Penny; two sons, Ben, attending school in Lincoln and Sam, attending school in Milford, Neb.; two stepsons, Levi and wife Sara Kosmicki of Chadron, Neb., and Riley Kosmicki at home; one daughter, Candace Lee at home; two step-daughters, Steph Kos-micki of Brighton, Colo., and Sandy Kosmicki, attending school in Lincoln; parents John and Erna Rae of Madrid; one sister, Teresa and husband Rick Nowak of North Platte, Neb.; two brothers, Bryan and wife Chris of North Platte and Jay and wife Dana Lee of Madrid; many other relatives and friends.
Vigil service was held Tuesday, Dec. 7, at the Grant Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church with Rev. Jim Benton officiating.
Mass of Christian burial was Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Mother of Sorrows Church with Father Bill Grant officiating. Burial was in the Madrid Cemetery.
A memorial has been established.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Wanda Ballenger
Wanda Ballenger was born on Dec. 23, 1949 at Sutherland, Neb. She was the oldest of two children born to Clarence and Ruby Matson Longmore. Wanda grew up on the family farm north of Elsie, Neb. As an infant, she was nicknamed "Windy" by her dad who said that once she started talking, she never quit. Wanda attended school in Elsie and graduated from Wheatland High School in Madrid in 1968, the first year of consolidation between Elsie and Madrid.
After high school, Wanda attended Parks Business School in Denver for a year. She was married to David Ballenger on Dec. 18, 1969 when Dave was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga. They lived at Ft. Benning until 1971 when he was discharged. They moved to Cozad, Neb., where they lived until 1976 when they moved to Thedford, Neb. They made their home in Thedford where both worked for a service station until 1984 when they moved to Elsie. Wanda always had a love for children and helped her mother with daycare in Elsie for many of the children of this area.
Wanda had developed a rare disease known as asthmatic leukemia when she was in her 20s and had battled with her breathing for many years. She suffered a stroke last week and had been moved to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Neb., where she died late Thursday afternoon, Nov. 18, 2004. She had reached the age of 54.
Wanda was a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church and the U.M.W.
Wanda was preceded in death by her father.
She is survived by her husband, Dave; two sons, Scott and wife Christa of Lincoln; and Kenneth and wife Angie of Thedford; one daughter, Mindy and husband Scott Rosentrater of Elsie; seven grandchildren; her mother, Ruby Longmore of Elsie; one brother, Rod and wife Dorothy Longmore of Cozad; her mother-in-law Loma Ballenger of Lexington; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 22, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the Elsie United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard Haden officiating. Music was by Cori Sis and Lynn Flaming. Casket bearers were Jerry Rosentrater, Jason Kauffman, Albert Fisher, Gene Burton, Dan Vapenik, and John Morris. Burial was in the Elsie Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Betty Richards
Betty L. Richards, 66, Bee, died March 19, 2004, in Bee.
She was born Nov. 27, 1937, in Logansport, La., to Frank and Irene (Hamblin) James.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Irene James; and the father of her children, Wayne Richards.
Survivors include special friend, Don Thompson; sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Jo Richards, Bee, and Ricky and Heidi Richards, Flagstaff, Ariz.; daughters and sons-in-law, Rhonda and Mario Boudreauit, Eastbarre, Vt., and Rita and Donald Habben, Lincoln; and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral services are Wednesday, March 24, at Volzke Mortuary at 1:30 p.m., with the Rev. Jim Miller officiating. Casketbearers are Mark Ingraham, A.J. Alberts, Benjamin Richards, Ray and Ed Kouma and Gary Douthit. Honorary casketbearers are Jennifer and Alyson Boudreauit, Felicia, Russell and Kevin Richards, Christina Frass and Abigail Habben.
Lydia Peters
Lydia J. Peters, 95, Seward, died March 21, 2004.
She was the widow of John Peters.
Funeral services are Thursday, March 25, at 1 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward. Interment is at Greenwood Cemetery.
Gracie Cook
Gracie June Cook, 72, Seward, died March 17, 2004, in Lincoln.
She was born Jan. 30, 1932, in Gramby, Mo., to James and Sadie (Butler) White.
She married Thomas Cook on Dec. 30, 1955, in Roswell, N.M.
She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Robert Ihde.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas Cook, Seward; son, Ricky Cook, Lincoln; daughters and sons-in-law, Vickey and Ace Ihde-Gray, Tamora, and Deborah and Niles Saltzman, Seward; brother and sister-in-law, William and Phyllis White, Bee; sisters and brother-in-law, Eula Mae Waegli, Goehner, and Freda and Richard Best, Gresham; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were March 20 at Volzke Mortuary in Seward, with the Rev. Duane Bjerkaas officiating. Casketbearers were William Ihde, Seth Saltzman, Art Waegli, Jesse White, Jason and Thomas Cook and Ace Gray. Interment was at Tamora Cemetery.
Alma Warnsholz
Alma Ella Caroline Warnsholz, 83, Seward, died March 19, 2004, in Seward.
She was born March 23, 1920, near Garland to William and Sophia Wilhelmina (Tiemann) Schulz.
She attended country schools near Garland and Gresham and married Paul Warnsholz on Nov. 20, 1941, in Grand Island. The couple farmed in Seward and Milford before moving into Seward in 1960. Mrs. Warnsholz worked at Rolfsmeier Dairy Store, Hand Grocery and Hinky Dinky. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.
She enjoyed gardening, playing Bingo and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Warnsholz in 1991; infant daughter, Virginia; and grandson, Brock Borchers.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Louise Warnsholz, Staplehurst, and Gary and Kathy Warnsholz, Des Moines, Iowa; daughters and sons-in-law, Charlene and Bernie Smith and Sherry and Tim Sell, all of Lincoln, Donna and Bruce Borchers, Utica, and Phyllis Barth, Lincoln; eleven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Marvin and Olinda Schulz, Edwin and Nora Schulz and Lester Schulz, all of Seward; sisters and brothers-in-law, Leona and Harvey Beckmann, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Bernice and Virgil Lange, Malcolm; brothers- and sister-in-law, Werner Warnsholz, Seward, and George and Leona Warnsholz, Lincoln; nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were March 23 at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, with the Rev. Dirk Reek officiating. Casketbearers were Darin Pick, Matt Bennett, Darold Schulz, Douglas Lange, Kevin Standage and Alan Schulz. Honorary casketbearers were Michelle Bennett, Dawn Standage, Lisa Pick, Christopher and Steven Warnsholz, Kimberly and Jeffrey Smith, Brooks and Bryce Borchers and Collin and Derek Sell. Interment was at Seward Cemetery.
