U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Melvin Smith
VERSAILLES, Ky. -- Melvin H. Smith, of Versailles, Ky., formerly of Grand Island, died of Parkinson's disease and a stroke on Nov. 17, 2000, in Versailles, Ky.
His body was bequeathed to the University of Kentucky Medical School. A memorial service was held at the Taylor Manor Nursing Home in Versailles, on Nov. 24.
Memorials are suggested to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
He was born and raised in Grand Island. He was son of the late Howard J. Smith. He was an electrical engineer with Cutler Hammer/Eaton, Inc. for 37 years, in Milwaukee, Wis. and Bowling Green, Ky. He was a World War II veteran and served as a pilot in China, Burma and India, flying the Himalayan "Hump" for the Army Air Force.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Margaret; his mother, Mary G. Smith and sister Marjory (Mrs. Glen) Klanecky of Lincoln; daughters, Linnea J. Smith, of Peru, South America and Madison, Wis., Betsy A. (Mrs. Brian) Davis, Dr. and Patricia L.(Mrs. David) Pearce; and three grandchildren.
John Wetzel
LAS VEGAS, NEV. -- John Wetzel, 50, of Las Vegas, Nev., formerly of Central City and St. Libory, died Monday, Nov. 27, 2000, at his residence.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 at Westlawn Memorial Park cemetery in Grand Island. The Rev. Onamae Waddel will officiate. Inurnment will be at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Wetzel was cremated. There will be no visitation.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Hazel Ankney-Bouton
Hazel K. Ankney-Bouton, 73, of Grand Island died Friday, March 2, 2001, at the Lakeview Nursing/Rehabilitation Center.
Services are pending with Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home Chapel in Grand Island.
Survivors include two daughters, Sheila Vernon of Grand Island and Marlina Muldowney of Florida; eight grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
'Lucy' Garcia
Luciana "Lucy" G. Garcia, 57, of Grand Island died Friday, March 2, 2001, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Cathedral. The Rev. Jose Chavez will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Curran Funeral Chapel with a scripture rosary at 7:30 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
Mrs. Garcia was born December 24, 1943, at Corpus Christi, Texas, to Meliton and Paula (Gonzalez) Guerrero. She grew up and received her education at Corpus Christi High School. The family moved to McCook.
She married
Robert "Bob" C. Garcia on July 3, 1965, at McCook. They lived in Kansas and Colorado before moving to Grand Island. Mrs. Garcia was a homemaker and enjoyed playing bingo and cards. She loved watching old movies and was an avid Nebraska football fan. She was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral.
Survivors include her husband, Robert "Bob" of Grand Island; four sons, Robert C. Jr., Joseph I., Sonny G. and Michael A., all of Grand Island; a daughter, Paula (Mrs. Gregorio "Greg") Gomez of Columbus; 11 grandchildren; four brothers, Mike Guerrero and Milton Guerro II, both of San Antonio, Texas, Gilbert Guerrero of Ft. Morgan, Colo. and Carlos Guerrero of Grand Island; and a sister, Carolina (Mrs. Joe) Silva of San Antonio, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Vicente Guerrero, and a sister, Mary Garcia.
Phyllis Goettsch
Phyllis J. Goettsch, 72, of Grand Island died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. The Rev. Dennis Reich will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Messiah Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Goettsch was born Sept. 15, 1928, in Atlantic, Iowa to Ralph and Edna (Range) Berg. She attended school in Omaha, graduating from Omaha South High School in 1947.
She married
Richard D. Goettsch on Dec. 30, 1951, in Long Beach, Calif.
Her hobbies included sewing and crocheting. She also enjoyed traveling.
She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her husband and one brother, Don Berg of Sun City West, Ariz.
Deborah Romanski
Deborah L. "Debby" Romanski, 50, of Grand Island died suddenly Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001, at the St. Francis Medical Center.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Kleine Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Karen Kennerly will officiate. Mrs. Romanski was cremated.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home to view her paintings and writing.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mrs. Romanski was born May 24, 1950, to James A. and Betty L. (Adams) Gleason. She grew up in Grand Island, but spent the majority of her life in California working in the broadcasting field.
She married
Bob Romanski on June 14, 1978, at the Stuhr Museum church. They lived in Monterey, Calif., before moving back to Grand Island. After Mr. Romanski's sudden death, she found a new passion for painting and writing.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Romanski worked as graphics and layout editor for the Grand Island Independent. She was a member of the Grand Island Sketch Club, Nebraska Press Women and had been asked to serve as a board member.
Survivors include two daughters, Stephanie Romanski of Grand Island and Kelly Romanski of Lincoln; one grandchild; her parents, James and Betty Gleason of Grand Island; and one sister, Judy (Mrs. Rod) Beckstrom of Grand Island.
She was preceded in death by her husband and one sister, Diane.
Evelyn Sass
Evelyn Sass, 91, of Grand Island died Saturday, March 3, 2001, at Beverly Healthcare Park Place.
Services are pending with Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.
James Thorndike
James H. Thorndike, 87, of Grand Island died Saturday, March 3, 2001, at the Hamilton Manor in Aurora.
Private services are planned. There will be no visitation. Mr. Thorndike's body was cremated. The cremains will be placed on the columbarium at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
Memorials are suggested to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church or the Masonic Order.
Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Thorndike was born Feb. 18, 1914, in Fremont to James and Emma (Henneman) Thorndike. He was raised and attended school in Fremont. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1931.
Mr. Thorndike attended Midland College and graduated in 1935 with a B.A. degree in math and physics and a minor in education and English. He taught at Maxwell for one year.
He married
Ruby J. Farr on Dec. 31, 1938, in Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Thorndike worked as a construction foreman for Francis Orshack Construction in Fremont.
He married
Lucille Anderson on Aug. 25, 1942, in California.
Mr. Thorndike then served in the Navy See-Bee's during World War II. After the service, he returned to Grand Island and worked as a construction foreman for George Claussen Construction. Mr. and Mrs. Thorndike lived in Winner, S.D., for two years because of his job and then returned to Grand Island. Mr. Thorndike retired in 1965, but he continued to build some private homes.
His hobbies included gardening, doing yard work and woodworking.
He was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, numerous Masonic organizations and a charter member of the Saddle Club.
Survivors include his daughter, Ann Thorndike of Grand Island, a son, David Mark Thorndike of Springfield and a sister, Coletta S. Thorndike of Torrance, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille, in 2000, and by a sister, Zeta H. Thorndike.
