U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Idella R. Brown
Idella R. Brown, 88, or rural Parks, Neb. died Jan. 11, 2004 at the Linden Court Care Center in North Platte, Neb.
She was born Jan. 21, 1915 in Idaho Springs, Colo. to Earl and Clara White. She came with her parents to Chase County, Neb. in 1917. She attended rural grade school southwest of Champion, Neb. and graduated from Chase County High School in 1932.
On July 5, 1932 she married Kenneth Brown and for the next two years they farmed in the Chase County area. In the spring of 1934 they moved to make their home on a farm north of Parks, Neb. where they spent all of their married life.
To this union three children were born: daughters Carol and Velda and son Dan.
After the children were raised, Idella began working in Benkelman. She worked at the Dundy County Hospital for about two years as a nurses aid. Then in 1965 she started working as Deputy Treasurer in Dundy County, a job she held until she retired in 1977.
Idella’s main interests were her family first and foremost. She also raised extensive gardens and enjoyed canning the fruits and vegetables she raised.
Idella also enjoyed sewing and handiworks such as knitting and crochet work. She was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Parks and Benkelman, the Order of the Eastern Star Holly Chapter No. 233 of Benkelman and various civic and social groups in the area.
She was presented the Meritorious Service Award by the Dundy County Extension Service for her work with 4-H clubs in the area.
On May 5, 1995 her husband Kenneth passed away but she continued to live at their home on the farm until March of 2000 when she moved to the Hester Home in Benkelman.
Idella was preceded in death by her parents Earl and Clara White, her husband Kenneth, brothers Kenneth White, Clarence White and K.Z. Earl, sisters Helen White and Betty Lee, daughter Carol Cline and her grandson Dustan Wright.
She is survived by her daughter Velda Wright and husband Radean of rural Bird City, Kan.; her son Dan of rural Parks, Neb.; two granddaughters Dawn Hornock and husband Rick of Englewood, Colo. and Shelli Howard and her husband Dr. Kevin Howard of Grand Island, Neb. and a grandson Marty Cline and his wife Tami of Hampton, Neb. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan, 15, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Benkelman, Neb. with Rev. Norman Prather officiating.
Organist was Mary Margaret Powell and pianist was Janice Churchwell.
Casketbearers were Hal Tecker, Mike David, Garry Krutsinger, Gary Ham, Stan Hansen and David Merklin.
Burial was at the Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman, Neb.
Torch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman and Stratton was in charge of arrangements.
Joshua Mireles
Joshua Fernando Mireles died Jan. 14, 2004 in Imperial, Neb.
He was born March 19, 2003 in Grant, Neb. to Recardo Javier Mireles and Cristina Rodriguez. He is also survived by his twin brother Gordon.
Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Rev. Patricia Gandarilla officiating.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery in Imperial, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Petsch
Mary Petsch, age 97, passed away Saturday evening, Jan. 17, 2004 at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial, Neb.
Survivors include sons LeRoy Peil and wife Pauline and Jim Peil, all of Riverton, Wyo.; stepson Rodney Petsch of Wauneta, Neb.; two grandchildren; two step grandchildren; three great grandchildren and three step great grandchildren.
Funeral services are Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Wauneta, Neb. with Pastor Robert Frank officiating.
Interment will follow at the Eden Cemetery, rural Wauneta.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Verl Stinnette
Vern E. Stinnette was born on May 8, 1931 in Wauneta, Neb. to Jesse and Laura (Brabham) Stinnette.
He attended Blue Ridge Grade School and graduated from Wauneta High School in 1949. In 1950 he joined the Navy and was stationed on the USS FRYBARGER (DEC-705), followed by a tour at Naval Station Coronado where he served as a guard at the brig. Upon his discharge he attended college and obtained a teaching certificate. Later he received his degree from Chadron State College in Elementary Education.
Verl married Mary Ann Weiss on Sept. 1, 1956. They moved to Champion, Neb. where he taught all grades at the school. In 1961 the family moved to Imperial where he taught science and math to 5th and 6th grade students for over 30 years.
Verl had a talent for wood carving and leather tooling. He had a fun way of bringing science to life for his students. Some of the projects his students undertook were building model rockets and shooting them off at the football field. Another was incubating chicken and duck eggs in the classroom. He had a knack for encouraging students to achieve their dreams.
Verl passed away the evening of Jan. 17 at the Chase County Community Hospital.
He is survived by his wife Mary Ann of Imperial; daughter Cindy Michaud and husband Nelson of Opelika, Ala.; son Dirk Stinnette and wife Diane of Colorado Springs, Colo.; daughter Sondra Smith and husband Jon of Boise, Idaho; daughter Pam Real and husband Dave of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; daughter Kris Vowell and husband Allen of Mons, Belgium; daughter Wendy Johnston and husband Joe of Wauneta, Neb.; and son Jeff Stinnette and wife Kristi of Lincoln, Neb; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren; brother Norman Stinnette of Casper, Wyo.; and sister Glenda Rousey and husband Martin of North Platte, Neb.
Funeral services were Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Imperial with Fr. Greg Pawloski officiating.
Marcy Nesbitt was organist and Ron Moritz was vocalist.
Honorary casketbearers were Merrill Humphreys, Rex Heckenlively, Dennis Krutsinger and Bill Peglow.
Inurnment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Public Library.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Imperial Public Library.
Verl was cremated so there will be no visitation.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Wendell Hayes Prior
Wendell Hayes Prior, 83, of Imperial, Neb., died from complications of prolonged illnesses on Thursday, Jan, 15, 2004, at the Chase County Community Hospital.
He was born Sept. 26, 1920, in Chase County, Neb., to Orrin F. and Kate Gladys (Gerken) Prior.
In early childhood, the family moved to a farm in northwest Hayes County.
He graduated from Wauneta High School in 1938 and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, for one year.
He worked in Denver, Colo., immediately before and following his marriage on May 21, 1942, to Lila V. Adamson of Wauneta, Neb.
They returned to the Hayes County family farm in July 1942 to help with harvest and remained to help with the family farm operation.
In late November 1942, he was diagnosed with polio. He was taken to Lincoln General Hospital where he remained in the polio ward until February 1943.
He returned to the family farm, working the land in Chase and Hayes Counties and the Burlington, Colo., area until 1952.
Wendell and Lila then purchased a farm equipment dealership in Imperial, which they operated until they sold the business in 1975. In all his years of farming and operating the implement business, he was constantly watching for innovations to help farmers work more efficiently and profitably.
He had a special love for the land, for the livestock and crops it produced, and for the irrigation systems that made the land more productive. He continued his involvement in agriculture until his passing.
He had a special interest in education, serving on the school boards for the Star School in Hamlet, Neb., the Imperial Grade and Chase County High Schools and the Board of Trustees for York College in York, Neb.
After moving to Imperial, he was active in civic affairs, serving on the city council. He was also a member of Toastmasters and the Lions Club.
Baptized into Christ in his early teens, he was dedicated to God’s work and his life in Christ. He studied, taught and provide spiritual leadership in his home and the Church of Christ. Second only to his love for God was his love for his family. He dreamed of a life for his children and grandchildren that held the highest of ideals, values and dreams.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lila of Imperial; one son, Merlin Rex (Janet) Prior, of Imperial; two daughters, Janeta Kay (Nelson) Fong of Underwood, Iowa; and Marcia Rae (Lynn) Prior-Miller, of Ames, Iowa; one sister, Wyona Jean Hollinger of Grand Junction, Colo.
He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren: Merlin Rex (Amy, Lauren and Kendall) Prior, II of Imperial; Annette Ruth (Jack, Meghan and Ethan) French of Austin, Texas; Janeta Shun-Szu (Michael, Joel and Nathan) Tansey of Iowa City, Iowa; Nelson Shun-Lee Fong of Los Angeles, Calif.; JoyAnna Shun-Yenn (Scott) Jones of San Antonio, Texas; Christian Shun-Bok (Jenelle and Luther) Fong of Hanover, New Hampshire; Daniel Shun-Luoi Fong of Manitou Springs, Colo.; Elizabeth Shun-Ching Fong of Underwood, Iowa; Deborah Shun-Sho Fong of Underwood, Iowa; Joshua Shun-Nye Fong of Underwood, Iowa; Joseph Michael Prior-Miller of Sioux City, Iowa; Amanda Joye Prior-Miller of Perry, Iowa and Jacob John Prior-Miller of Ames, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Orrin and Kate and two brothers Gordon G. and Kenneth B.
Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Wauneta, Neb. with Max Towell officiating.
Casketbearers were Rex Prior, Gene Moreland, Seth Fitzpatrick, Nelson Fong, Christian Fong and Daniel Fong.
Interment was in the Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Wanda Jean Herbert
Wanda Jean (McLain) Herbert, native Nebraskan and long time Grand Rapids, Minn. resident, departed this life for her eternal home on Jan. 11, 2004, from Duluth, MN.
She was born May 16, 1933, in Wauneta, Neb., to Edgar and Mary (Troxel) McLain.
Jean is survived by her husband of 50 years, Irvin of Grand Rapids, Minn.; a son: Marlin (Lorrie) Herbert of Grand Rapids, Minn., and two daughters: Cyndi (Patrick) McGuire of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Denise (Karry) Hansen of Parker, Colo. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two brothers: Martin McLain of Thornton, Colo., Keith (Wanda) McLain of Versailles, Mo. and a sister, Joyce Tweedy of Lawton, Okla.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents: Edgar and Mary (Troxel) of Imperial, Neb., a sister; Reneta Hallett and brothers: Allen, Richard, Loren, Howard, Melvin and Larry McLain.
Jean was a 1951 graduate of Chase County High School.
She was married to Irvin on Jan. 22, 1953, in Fort Logan, Colo. and resided in Imperial, Neb. until 1967.
Her family then settled first in Remer, Minn. in 1971, and later relocated to Grand Rapids, Minn. in 1987.
She was a former grocery cashier and full-time mother and grandmother who enjoyed baking, crocheting, camping and fishing.
She was a devout follower of Christ and a member of Full Gospel Church in Grand Rapids. She is most remembered for her unwavering faith in God, her total devotion to her family and her love and generosity to others.
Her greatest joys were the numerous visits with her children and grandchildren in Colorado and in Minnesota where she never missed a graduation or a wedding.
This past June, Jean and Irvin celebrated their 50th anniversary with all their children and most of their grandchildren at their daughter’s home in Colorado Springs.
Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, 5-7 p.m., at Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids and will continue at church Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, 10-11 a.m. funeral service at Full Gospel Church, Grand Rapids, with Rev. David Reiten officiating.
Burial will be at Harris Cemetery.
Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids is in charge of arrangements.
Marvin S. Athey
Marvin Scott Athey was born July 3, 1921 at Wauneta, Neb. to Harvey E. and Mina A. (Theobald) Athey, the youngest of five children.
Marv grew up in Wauneta, helping his father run the flour mill and ice plant, both built and operated by his father.
They also did surveying which would serve Marv well in later years.
Marv also milked cows and delivered milk from the family dairy in Wauneta.
He graduated from Wauneta High School in 1939 and went on to attend the University of Nebraska where he earned a degree in Business Administration.
While at the University, Marv played quarterback for the Huskers from 1939-1941 and was on the first Husker team to play in the Rose Bowl, in 1941.
Marv was also in the ROTC program while at the University and when World War II broke out he trained as a navigator/bombardier on B-17’s. He flew 17 missions over Germany in the 95th Squadron of the 8th Army Air Force stationed in Ipswitch, England.
When the planes that survived the missions returned, crews were offered either a fresh coffee or two shots of Irish Whiskey to calm their nerves, Marv usually chose the whiskey.
Marv was discharged in October of 1945 and he returned to Wauneta, met Vesta Theobald at the Trenton Pow-Wow, later asked her for a date and the rest is history.
The couple was married on June 2, 1946 at the United Methodist Church in Wauneta and Marv continued to work for his father in Wauneta until 1955.
The couple moved to Imperial in 1955, where Marv started a new career as the city engineer and Chase County Surveyor. During his 33 years at the job, he lead many improvements to build the future of Imperial, new streets with sidewalks, new electrical systems and power grid, several new subdivisions, and new water and sewer mains.
Marv retired from the City in 1988, but continued as the Chase County Surveyor up until 2003, when his health forced him to retire.
Marv had many life threatening surgeries, he worked almost every day of the past year and is a testament to the strength, dedication and just plain Irish stubborn streak of the Athey Clan.
Marv was a very honest and straight forward person and would do the right thing in spite of criticism from others. He had a deep sense of responsibility and service to the Imperial and Chase County Community.
Marvin Athey touched a lot of lives and will be remembered as a dedicated public servant, a great athlete and a loyal and loving father and husband.
Marv passed away Tuesday morning, Jan. 6, 2004, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial, Neb. He was 82 years of age.
Survivors include wife Vesta Athey of Imperial, Neb.; son Marvin Athey Jr. of Aurora, Neb.; daughter Nikola Stroh of San Angelo, Texas; son Tim Athey and wife Pat of Ft. Collins, Colo.; daughter Beth Larson and husband Larry of Imperial, Neb.; son Patrick Athey and wife Wendy of Anchorage, Alaska; 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Marv was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, brother Verl, sisters Merna, Eunice and Vetura and one infant brother George.
Memorial services were held Friday morning, Jan. 9, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Murray Schmechel officiating.
Pianist was Mr. Don Newman.
A private family inurnment was held at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial before services Friday.
A memorial has been established to the First United Methodist Church of Imperial and the Imperial Public Library.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
