U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Percy Barnes
ST. PAUL -- Percy O. Barnes, 91, of St. Paul died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, at his home.
Services are pending at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.
Donald Leigh
CALLAWAY -- Donald E. Leigh, 77, of Callaway died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001, at the Callaway District Hospital.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Callaway. The Rev. Lincoln Justice will officiate. Burial will be at the Rose Hill cemetery in Callaway with Military Honors.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway.
Memorials are suggested to the Callaway District Hospital Foundation or the Callaway Community Building Fund.
Mr. Leigh was born Feb. 25, 1923, near Callaway to John A. and Ella K. (Dickman) Leigh. He lived all of his life in and around Callaway. He was raised on a farm east of Callaway and received his education at Callaway, graduating in 1940. He attended his 60th class reunion last June. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, returning home to farm.
He married
Marjorie Jean Schipporeit on April 11, 1954, in Callaway. He continued to farm and ranch with his brother until retiring in 1991.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church, and served as CO-treasurer with his wife for 25 years. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 59, and coached baseball for several years.
He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching his family participate in sports. He also enjoyed playing cribbage, pool and throwing horseshoes.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Debra Leigh of Omaha, Shari (Mrs. Ron) Sheppard of Callaway, Tami (Mrs. Leon) Smith of Callaway and D.D. (Mrs. Al) Perry of Denver, Colo.; one son, Robert of Grand Island; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; one sister, Alice Leigh of Callaway; two brothers, Johnnie Leigh of Callaway and Delbert Leigh of Broken Bow; mother-in-law, Evelyn Schipporeit of Callaway; sister-in-law, Donna (Mrs. Wayne) Hogg of Callaway; and brother-in-law, Vern Erickson of Huron, S.D.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Mildred Erickson; and three brothers, Marvin, Francis, and Calvin.
George Svoboda
KEARNEY -- George L. Svoboda, 62, of Kearney died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2001, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at New Life Assembly Church in Kearney. The Revs. Bob Wine and Roger Wendt will officiate. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Ord City Cemetery.
Visitation will be before services at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the church.
Godberson Mortuary of Gibbon and Shelton is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Svoboda was born on Oct. 31, 1938, in Ord to Charles and Louise (Puncochar) Svoboda. He grew up and was educated in Ord.
He joined the U.S. Army in 1955 and served in the Airborne Division. He then served 24 years in the Army National Guard.
He married
Deanne Russell on Aug. 11, 1956, in Kearney. The couple lived in several Central Nebraska towns. He served as a police officer in Ord before joining the Shelton police force in 1969. He retired from the Shelton police in May 1999 due to ill health and moved to Kearney.
He was a member of New Life Assembly Church and was inducted into the Nebraska Police Officers Hall of Fame.
Survivors include three sons, Rock of Omaha, Russ of Abingdon, Va., and Rod of Kearney; five grandchildren; and two brothers, Leroy of Litchfield and Charles of Kearney.
He was preceded in death by two infant twin brothers and two sisters.
Irvin Thomsen
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. -- Irvin Martin Thomsen, 82, of Wheat Ridge, Colo., died Jan. 30, 2001, in Wheat Ridge.
Services were on Saturday at Tower of Memories Chapel. Burial was in Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery.
Crown Hill Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Colorado Heart Association.
Mr. Thomsen was born on May 18, 1918, in Grand Islandto Thomas and Ella (Harders) Thomsen. He attended school at District 54 and graduated from the Grand Island Senior High in 1936. He enlisted in the Army in 1941. He worked for 37 years as an architect and later as a real estate agent.
He married
Phyllis Hissey on Oct. 25, 1945. She died in 1984.
He married
LoreinaThomsen on Feb. 19, 1984 in Denver, Colo.
He was a member of Bethlehem Church and enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include his wife, Loreina; one son, Rex Thomsen of Golden, Colo.; two daughters, Lo Linda (Mrs. Mike) Quigley of Morrison, Colo., and Brenda (Mrs. Stanley) Fenton of Newton, N.H.; one stepdaughter, Deanna (Mrs. Charles B.) Ewer of Lakewood, Colo.; one stepson; four grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and one sister, Celia (Mrs. Walt) Sons of Grand Island.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis; and one grandson.
Leona Peters
HENDERSON -- Leona Peters, 64, of Henderson died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. The Rev. Weldon Martens will officiate. Burial will be in the Bethesda cemetery near Henderson.
Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorials are suggested to supporting the continuation of the annual Christian Music Festival in Henderson.
Mrs. Peters was born Nov. 10, 1936, to Benjamin A. and Marie (Kliewer) Ratzlaff at Henderson. She grew up in Henderson. She attended elementary school in Polk for two years and graduated from Henderson High School in 1954.
She married
Hilmer Peters on July 22, 1955, in the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. They lived on a farm near Aurora for 18 years before moving to Henderson. They were married
for 41 years before her husband died in May 1996.
She was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson. She and her husband were founders of the Christian Music Festival held annually in Henderson.
Survivors include three daughters, Lorie (Mrs. Ron) Regier of Madrid, Sherri (Mrs. Ben) Prieb of Boulder, Colo., and Jodi (Mrs. Cory) Fuehrer of Sutton; one son, Todd of Lincoln; 11 grandchildren; one brother, Elmer "Bernie" Ratzlaff of Montrose, Colo.; and a sister, Lenora (Mrs. Clyde) Goertzen of Bradshaw.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents, a grandson; and a brother, Willard "Bill" Ratzlaff.
'Ted' Jaworski
OMAHA -- Theodore "Ted" Jaworski, 95, of Omaha, formerly of Tarnov, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church in Omaha. Burial will be at St. John's cemetery in Omaha.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at Dworak Mortuary in Omaha and after 9 a.m. Saturday at the church until service time.
Memorials are suggested to Immaculate Conception Church and New Cassell Retirement Home.
Mr. Jaworski was born Nov. 10, 1905, in Tarnov to Anton and Catherine (Chochon) Jaworski. He attended St. Michael's Catholic School in Tarnov.
He farmed in Tarnov until the late 1940's when he moved to Omaha. He then worked for Mainelli Construction. He retired in 1971. He worked part time at Bohemian Cemetery. In July 1997, he moved to New Cassell Retirement Home.
He was a member of ICC.
He enjoyed fishing, the Omaha Royals baseball team and bingo.
Survivors include seven nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Tillie Liss and Isabelle Jaworski; three brothers, Alois, Florian and Dennis; and three infant brothers, Alvin, Peter and Paul.
