U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Kathryn Waffensmith
MERNA -- Kathryn Waffensmith, 83, of Merna died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000, at the Jennie Melham Medical Center in Broken Bow.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. The Rev. Doug Jones will officiate. Burial will be at the Broken Bow Cemetery. The Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.
Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church or the Merna Rescue Unit.
Mrs. Waffensmith was born Nov. 10, 1916, at Ravenna to Charles and Sophia (Kriehau) Pokorney. She attended rural school near Ravenna. She later worked for several families in Ravenna.
She married
Lyle Waffensmith on Oct. 1, 1939, in Kearney. They made their home in Merna, where Mr. Waffensmith worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He died on Dec. 16, 1995. Mrs. Waffensmith continued to live in Merna.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Merna and the Eastern Star.
She enjoyed cooking, her family, neighbors and friends.
Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis Markham of Merna and Judith Brass of Cozad; ten grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three sisters, Dorothy Schultz of Ravenna, Elizabeth Schuller of Ravenna and Ann Burry of Gretna.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by an infant grandson; four brothers, Charles, Frank, William and George; an infant brother; three sisters, Marge, Francis and Mary; and one infant sister.
Linda Kay Semm
PALMER, Alaska -- Linda Kay Semm, 50, of Palmer, Alaska, died suddenly of an Acute Cerebral Aneurysm on Oct. 18, 2000, at her home.
An informal service will be at 11 a.. Saturday at Buell Chapel in Springfield, Ore. The family will scatter her ashes along the McKenzie River.
Ms. Semm was born Linda Kay Budreau on July 24, 1950, in Medford Ore. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in Medford and lived in the Rogue Valley most of her life. She worked at a great variety of jobs.
She was married
to Larry Semm of Grand Island.
She was devoted to her extended family. Her greatest joys came from entertaining family, camping, traveling the Pacific Northwest and most recently Alaska.
In 1988 she left the Rogue Valley and moved with family to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They then returned to the Eugene, Ore. area for a while and lived in Alaska the past year where she fished, traveled and never tired of watching the Northern Lights.
Survivors include her husband; her mother, Shirley Budreau of Oregon; three children, Krista Eanes of Georgia, Rebecca Colley of Oregon and Mark Semm of North Dakota; two sisters Rosalyn Arbuckle and Michelle Wickersheim of Oregon; two brothers, David and Paul Budreau, all of Oregon; and seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Russell Budreau; and one son, Jason Roberts.
Alice Beck
Alice Sophia Beck, 79, of Grand Island died Sunday, July 11, 1999, at her home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home. The Rev. Joel Schroeder will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6 to 9 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mrs. Beck was born on April 15, 1920, at Cairo to August and Della Eggers. She graduated from Cairo High School in 1939.
She married
Delbert G. "Bud" Beck on Feb. 27, 1944, at Grand Island. The couple lived in Grand Island. She worked at the Wardrobe Store, Skagway, the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant and Model Laundry. Her husband died on Dec. 9, 1996.
Mrs. Beck was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church. She enjoyed her sewing club and the extension club.
Survivors include one daughter, Barb (Mrs. Richard) Berthold of Grand Island; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Esther Beck of Grand Island.
'Dan' Danaher
Thomas T. "Dan" Danaher, 75, of Grand Island died Sunday, July 11, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. The Rev. Jerry Quandt will officiate.
Mr. Danaher was cremated, and there will be no visitation.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Danaher was born on May 11, 1924, in Butte, Mont., to Thomas and Blanche (McClue) Danaher. He grew up and was educated in Los Angeles.
After his education, he entered the U.S. Navy in June 1941. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, including during World War II and the Korean War. He served on the USS Detroit, UYSS PC 803, USS Andromeda, USS Anderson, USS Hasayampa and the USS Hector.
He married
Esther Kutschkau on Feb. 5, 1970, in Las Vegas. The couple lived in California, where Mr. Danaher worked for the Long Beach Harbor Department. He retired in 1985 as chief wharfinger.
The couple lived in Hemet, Calif., before moving to North Loup in 1990 and to Grand Island in 1995.
His hobbies included reading and watching "Jeopardy."
He was a member of the American Legion in North Loup and a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Linda Hasz of Hemet, Calif.; one son, Tim Danaher of San Diego; one stepdaughter, Lori Petzoldt of Marquette; two stepsons, Lonny Kutschkau of Cypress, Calif., and Randy Kutschkau of Park City, Utah; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Thomas; and one great-grandson.
'Ronnie' Molczyk
Ronald "Ronnie" D. Molczyk, 29, of 1913 W. State St. died Sunday, July 11, 1999, at his home due to ill health.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Tom Ryan will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary, Tuesday at Kleine Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Molczyk was born on Nov. 4, 1969, at Grand Island to Raymond and Adeline Adnell (Sawicki) Molczyk. He grew up and was educated in Grand Island. As a young boy, he developed diabetes, which restricted some of his activities.
He worked as a horse groomer and walker at Fonner Park for a while and later worked as a salesman for KB Toys. He retired several years ago due to ill health.
He liked music, playing his drums, reading, working at his computer and the chat rooms.
He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral.
Survivors include his parents, of Grand Island; four sisters, Pamela (Mrs. Larry) Cowell, Gail Molczyk, Judy Holder and Rhonda Brown, all of Grand Island; and his grandmother, Dorothy Molczyk of Hamilton Manor in Aurora.
He was preceded in death by two grandfathers, John Sawicki and Stanley Molczyk; and one grandmother, Clara Sawicki.
