U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Beverly Cooper
Beverly Cooper, 64, died Friday, March 5, 2004 at her home in Boise, Idaho.
Graveside services were Wednesday, March 10 at 2 p.m. at Cloverdale with Memorial Services 3 p.m. at Southminister Presbyterian Church. Arrangements were under the direction of Summers Funeral homes, Boise Chapel.
Beverly was born Sept. 11, 1939 in Imperial, Neb. to Leonard and Edith Peterson.
She graduated from Chase Country High School in Imperial and from ,Neb. with a BS in Education. She later received a Masters in Education (Reading-Title I) from Boise State.
She met her husband, Alan Cooper, in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, and they were married Dec. 18, 1970.
She taught elementary school in Chappell, Neb. from 1959-61 and in Englewood, Colo. from 1962-63. She then taught at a DOD School in IDAR-Oberstein, Germany from 1969-1975. Beverly taught at West Elementary from 1963-69 and taught in Mountain Home at North & West Elementary until her retirement in 2000.
Beverly was a member of the Beta Chapter in Boise, Alpha Delta Kappa and the Mountain Home teacher’s organization.
Beverly loved spending time with her dear teaching friends and her church friends. She enjoyed reading and brazilian embroidery.
Beverly is survived by her sister, Barbara (Harvey) Cline of Glendive, Mont.; brother, Wayne (Rosie) Peterson of Billings, Mont.; brother Don Peterson of Imperial, Neb.; sister-in-law, Susan (Mike) Sawyer of Lakewood, Colo.; brother-in-law, Kent (Linda) Sistare, East Lyme, Conn.; sister-in-law, Beverly Sistare of Waterford, Conn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, Alan Cooper, and her parents, Leonard and Edith Peterson.
Memorials are suggested to Southminster Presbyterian Church or to a favorite charity.
Gilbert Nordhausen
Gilbert was born on April 16, 1929, to Fredrick and Dorthea (Steinbeck) Nordhausen on the family farm south of Wauneta, Neb. He was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church on May 5, 1929. He was confirmed in the faith at St. Paul on April 18, 1943. He graduated from Wauneta High School in 1947.
On Aug. 28, 1949, Gilbert was married to Phyllis Mathews at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Three children, Vicki Lynn, Pamela Jo and Monte Gilbert, were born to them.
Gilbert was steadfast in his faith in Jesus Christ. He had a lifetime interest in the land and the family farm. His wisdom and humor were an inspiration to his family. His hobbies were hunting, golfing and playing cards with his family and friends.
Gilbert departed this life on March 9, 2004, in Lincoln, Neb.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Alvin and wife, Ada, Otto and wife, Berniece, Edgar (in WW II) and wife, Viola, and Floyd.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughters Vicki and husband, Mike Goings, of Lincoln and Pam and husband, Ron Gloy, of Ogallala; son Monte Nordhausen and wife, Deb, of Wauneta; grandson Cory Nordhausen of Omaha; granddaughters: Gretchen and husband, John Nowak, of Ogallala, Rachel and husband, Brian Ervin, of Ogallala, Heidi Nordhausen and fiancé, Jason Anderson, of Lamar, Colo.; step-grandsons Luke and Tyson Goings of Lincoln; sisters: Viola and husband, Elwyn Krausnick, Gladys and husband, Dwaine Schneider and Elfrieda and husband, Jim Johnston, all of Wauneta; sister-in-law Delpha Nordhausen of Wauneta; step-brothers Wayne Shoemaker of Des Moines, Iowa, and Vernon Shoemaker of Lincoln and step-sister Twyla Shoemaker, also of Lincoln.
Hearing the Word of God in worship and reading the Word of God in devotions was an important part of Gilbert and Phyllis’ lives.
On the day when Gilbert was called home to be with the Lord, his day began with Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
Funeral services were held Friday, March 12, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta with Pastor Greg Stuckwisch officiating.
Music was provided by Mrs. Berneta Steinert, organist; Mrs. Kathleen Bartels, accompanist; and singers: Rick Einspahr, Stuart Bartels and Harold Nordhausen. Congregational hymns were " The Church’s One Foundation" and "Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise." The trio selection was "I Know That My Redeemer Lives."
Casketbearers were Cory Nordhausen, Errol Nordhausen, Clinton Nordhausen, Steve Schneider, Page Johnston, Fred Krausnick, Kenneth Krausnick, John Schneider, Thom Schneider, John Johnston, and Joe Johnston.
Interment was in Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Norma Rosecrans
Norma Lorene (Curtis) Rosecrans was born at Lewiston, Neb. to James Orlando and Anna Cornelia (Dodson) Curtis. A big sister Lucille welcomed her home and four years later brother Charles arrived. Another older brother, Carl had died in infancy.
Norma started school at Crab Orchard, Neb. and then went on to Lewiston. She later graduated from Burchard High School in 1933.
She met and later married Lewis Rosecrans of Odell, Neb. on Feb. 15, 1939.
Norma moved to California in 1942 and went to work for Douglas Aircraft as "Rosie the Riveter." She retired from there 19 years later.
In 1962, Norma returned to Nebraska and purchased Hurd’s Steakhouse with her brother, Charles Curtis. Norma’s Steakhouse closed and she went to work as head housekeeper, dietitian and laundry at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. Norma retired in 1984 and continued to make Imperial her home.
She passed away Sunday morning, March 7, 2004, at the Chase County Community Hospital, Imperial, Neb. She was 90 years of age.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lewis, sister Lucille and brother Carl at birth.
Survivors include brother Charles Curtis of Palisade, Neb.; nephews James Curtis of Palisade, Neb., Steven Curtis of Floral City, Fla., Dwain Curtis of Lincoln, Neb.; nieces Judy Williams of Mandan, N.D., Sharon Davis of Rancho Cordova, Calif. and Charlene Stratford of Napa, Calif.
Memorial services for Norma Rosecrans will be Saturday morning, March 13, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Murray Schmechel officiating.
Private inurnment will be held at the Palisade Cemetery at a later date.
A memorial has been established to the First United Methodist Church of Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gilbert Nordhausen
Gilbert Nordhausen of Wauneta died Tuesday, March 9, 2004 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln.
Services will be Friday, March 12, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Wauneta.
Visitation will be today (Thursday, March 11) from 2-6 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Wauneta.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Wauneta Community Foundation and the Lutheran Radio Hour.
All other arrangements are pending.
Harold W. Hatheway
Harold W. Hatheway, 85, of Avon Park, Fla., died Jan. 13, 2004 in Avon Park.
Born in Holyoke, Colo., he had been a resident of Avon Park since 2003.
He was a retired licensed aircraft mechanic working for Eastern Airlines for more than 25 years.
He served in the United States Army serving in Aleutian Islands from 1942-44, where he earned the American Defense and APTO ribbons and bronze battle star. He enlisted in 1940 and was discharged in 1945.
He was a member of the Hatheway Family Association, American Diabetes Association and American Legion, endowment member of National Rifle Association and an active member of United Methodist Men and St. Johns United Methodist Church of Sebring.
Survivors include his wife, Joanna M.; daughter, Carol Ann Scott of Lyndale, Texas; son, Randall G. of Miami; nine grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Johns United Methodist Church in Sebring.
Arrangements were handled by At Peace Cremation Services, Sarasota.
Local relatives include an uncle, the late Edgar Hatheway; and cousins Farris Bernard of Enders, Dorothy Cranwell of Champion and Arlyn Davison of Champion.
Howard E. Olson
Howard E. Olson, 87, of Carterville, Mo. passed away at 11:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, 2004, following a sudden illness.
Mr. Olson was born Feb. 28, 1916 in Lincoln County, Neb.
On Sept. 4, 1940 he was married to Madge Eppard in Neosho, Mo. She preceded him in death on March 2, 2002. To this union six children were born.
The family resided in Chase County, Neb. until 1953 when they moved to Missouri.
He owned and operated Olson’s Garage in Carterville and Webb City for 30 years retiring in 1987.
He was a member of and servant leader in the Webb City Church of the Nazarene.
On Aug. 28, 2003 he was married to Arrie Anna Bentz in Webb City. She survives him.
Other survivors include his six children, Phyllis Wimsett of Neosho, Mo., Kenneth Olson of Joplin, Mo., Margaret Hartman of Carthage, Mo., Eunice LeRoy of Joplin, Mo., Julie Burch of Olathe, Kan. and Jimmie McCucheon of Orlando, Fla.; a stepson Rand Levy of Imperial, Neb.; a step daughter, Dotty McKenzie of San Bernideno, Calif.; one brother Charles of Joplin, Mo.; four sisters, Vivian Olson of Joplin, Mo., Mary Harbert of Grand Junction, Colo., Ann Steinmeyer of Spearfish, So. Dak. and Patricia Marlett of Ft. Collins, Colo.; 20 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
His parents, two brothers John and Emil and a grandson Peter LeRoy preceded him in death.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2004 at the Webb City Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Don Cross officiating.
Burial was in the Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in care of the Webb City Church of the Nazarene.
Garreld Taylor
Garreld Arylyn Taylor was born Jan. 22, 1944, at the Chase County Hospital to Charles Crandall and Martha Ellen (Grose) Taylor. He was raised on a farm north and east of Enders, Neb., all of his early life.
Garry attended grade school at country school District 41, Pioneer School and Enders. He attended high school at Chase County High School and Curtis Ag School. He finished his education while in the military service.
Garry entered the military service in 1965 at age 21 and served until 1967. He then served in the army reserve until May 1971.
He married Donna Jean Sturtevant in December 1965. To this union, three children were born. After the service, he returned to Wauneta to live. Garry worked for Wallace Construction, Crossroads, Rodney Petsch and the Chase County Road Department. He was later divorced.
While in Wauneta, he served as a volunteer fire fighter for many years, was a member of the United Methodist Church and was an active member in the American Legion.
He loved to spend his free time hunting, fishing and trapping. He also liked to garden and had one up until his passing. In his last few years, one of his past times was tinkering with small gas and electric motors, tearing them apart and trying to fix them.
For health reasons, he moved to Chadron, Neb., and then later to Rushville, Neb., where he lived until his death. He departed this life March 3, 2004, at Fort Meade, S.D.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Gene and Charles; one sister, Marjorie and one nephew, Carl.
His surviving relatives include: one brother, Richard, and wife, Dorothy, of rural Wauneta; one sister-in-law, Barbara, of Denair, Calif.; three sons: Dan and wife, Kara, of Holdrege, Neb., Pat and wife, Crystal, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Jeffery of Kearney, Neb.; four grandchildren: Kaitlin, Amanda, Brennan and Hunter; along with numerous aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graveside services were held Monday, March 8, 2004, at 1 p.m. at the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, with Pastor Michael Laing officiating.
Casketbearers were family members.
Military rites were conducted by American Legion Post #304, Wauneta.
Interment was at Riverside Cemetery with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Myron Gerdes
Myron A. "Mike" Gerdes, 72, of Kearney died Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jer Gilbreath officiating.
Burial was at the columbarium at First Lutheran Church.
He was born April 30, 1931, on the family farm in Raymond, Minn., to Robert and Verna (Grussing) Gerdes.
On Sept. 14, 1951, he married Beverly Agre in Sacred Heart, Minn. She died July 3, 1998.
On June 24, 2000, he married Roberta Slack Mowrey in Kearney.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Gene of Camano Island, Wash. and Joel of Moorhead, Minn.; daughters, Bonnie Ulmer of Plymouth, Minn. and Debbie Greteman of Carroll, Iowa; brothers, Allan of Addison, Ill. and Larry of Kearney; stepson, Lance Mowrey of Findley, Ohio; stepdaughter, Michelle McCaulley of Vienna, Va.; seven grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.
He grew up in Clara City, Minn. and received his education there.
He and his first wife lived in North Dakota, Minnesota and Glidden, Iowa.
He was employed in the grain business for many years.
He worked at Delux Manufacturing in Kearney from 1990 until he retired.
He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Kearney.
He enjoyed playing cards and was a great outdoorsman and an avid fisherman.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed sharing it.
Throughout his life, his children and grandchildren were a vital part of his life, and he cherished the time he spent with them.
Memorials are suggested to the Heifer Project International, First Lutheran Church or a charity of choice.
Attending funeral services from Imperial were Mr. and Mrs. Jim Pump and Jane Grantham.
