U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Cloatice Tucker
SARGENT -- Cloatice W. Tucker, 83, of Sargent died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2001, at Jennie Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Rhoad Funeral Home chapel in Sargent. The Rev. David Weller will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope cemetery in Sargent.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
Donna Spires
YORK -- Donna Mae Spires, 71, of York, formerly of Exeter, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001, at York.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in York. The Rev. Ralph Ford will officiate. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery in York.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Friday at Metz Mortuary in York.
Memorials are suggested to Exeter American Legion Auxiliary.
Mrs. Spires was born Oct. 29, 1930, in Merrick County to McKinley E. and Faye (Campbell) Land. She worked at Exeter Public Schools for 21 years as a teacher's aide.
She married
Robert Spires Jr. on Oct. 18, 1947, in Central City.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in York and a past member of United Methodist Church in Exeter. She was a past president of American Legion Auxiliary in Exeter and a member of Eight and Forty Club.
She enjoyed crocheting, reading, genealogy and gardening. She was a 12th descendant of the Mayflower.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Spencer Spires of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; four daughters and sons-in-law, Vicki Kopsa of Lincoln, Kathy and Dennis Volkmer and Sheila and Thomas Ekeler, all of York, and Michele and Jerry Woollen of Lincoln; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Wendell and Peggy Land of Grand Island; five sisters and brothers-in-law, Maxine and Irvin Beckstrom of Stromsburg, Phyllis Hansen of Alma, Betty and Marvin Person of Grand Island, Jeanelle and Ken Mort of Plymouth, Ind., and Pat and Frank Gottuso of Simi Valley, Calif.
She was preceded in death by two infant grandchildren, three brothers and three sisters.
Dorothy Creech
FAIR OAKS, Calif. -- Dorothy I. (Rookstool) Creech, 77, of Fair Oaks, Calif., formerly of Broken Bow, died Nov. 21, 2001.
She was a resident of Fair Oaks, Calif., for 36 years. She worked for Pacific Telephone for 24 years. She was married
for 60 years.
Survivors included her husband, Cecil; a son, Larry; a daughter, Sherry; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Glenn Ball
Glenn M. Ball, 85, of Grand Island died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at the Lakeview Nursing/Rehab Center.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. George Wheat will officiate. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Ball was born on May 19, 1916, to Alvie and Nellie (Albaugh) Ball at Columbus. He grew up and received his education in Grand Island.
He married
Helen Montgomery on March 2, 1942, at Smith Center, Kan. Late, they lived in Grand Island where he was employed by Third City Livestock. He owned and operator G and H Septic, and later returned to work at Third City Livestock, retiring in 1987. His wife died on May 28, 1987. He continued to live in Grand Island.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church East Side Chapel.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Pricilla and Donald Brooks of Grand Island; seven grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren .
He was preceded in death by his wife; an infant daughter, Sharon; a son, William Bresley; and grandchild; five brothers; and two sisters.
'Frank' Novotny
65, Retired farmer
Franklin "Frank" Novotny, 65, of Grand Island died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center following a brief illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Methodist Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Lonnie Logan will officiate. Burial will be in Elba Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at All Faiths Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Novotny was born April 26, 1936, at Elba to Jerry and Agnes (Placek) Novotny. He attended school in Elba. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1960 while stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. He returned to Elba where he farmed until 1983. He then worked for Loren Bangs in Doniphan until 1985 and at St. Paul Propane until 1987. He then moved to Grand Island and retired from ConAgra in 1997.
He was active in the Elba and St. Paul communities and various organizations. He was a volunteer firefighter with the Elba Fire Department and a past board member for the Rural Fire District. He was a member of American Legion in Doniphan, Platt-Duetsche, Elk's and Eagles Club. He was a guest host at many occasions for the Czech radio station in Grand Island. He enjoyed fishing, farming, Czech music, spending time with friends and Sunday car rides.
Survivors include two sons, Jerrod "J.W." Novotny of Lincoln, and Eric Novotny of Loveland, Colo.; and a brother and sister-in-law, Alfred and Gloria Novotny of Elba.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Gerald, and an infant brother.
'Pat' Roe
Patricia "Pat" A. Roe, 66, of Grand Island died Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at Good Samaritan Center in Wood River.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Don Larmore will officiate. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home with a vigil at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Retirement Fund for Religious Sisters or the VFW.
Mrs. Roe was born June 9, 1935, at Grand Island to Edward and Margaret (Caveny) Cahalane. She grew up in Grand Island and graduated from St. Mary's Parochial High School. Following graduation she went to California where she attended college for two years and received a secretarial/bookkeeping associate's degree.
She married
Alva R. Roe on July 25, 1954, at Hamilton Air Force Base in California. They traveled during her husband's enlistment in the military. In 1972, the couple moved to Grand Island where they remained. Her husband died Oct. 26, 1989. She was employed as a cashier supervisor for Skagway and then as a bookkeeper for Riverside Golf Club. She retired in 1997.
She was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the VFW. She enjoyed cake decorating and was well known for her creations. She also enjoyed holidays and spending time with her family.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law Kimberly M. and Joseph Anderson of Grand Island; four sons, Raymond T. "Tom" Roe of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Michael P. Roe, Douglas E. Roe and James "Jim" G. Roe, all of Grand Island; 19 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mary Lou Randolph of Grand Island.
Other than her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond, Jerry and Edward Cahalane.
Rosella Anding
ALBION -- Rosella E. Anding, 94, of Albion died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001, at the Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Center in Albion.
Services will be at 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Immanuel-Zion Lutheran Church in rural Albion. Rev. Bruce Freeman will officiate. Burial will be in the Fairview cemetery in rural Madison.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
Lena Blase
HORDVILLE -- Lena Mae Blase, 72, of Hordville, died on Tuesday, November 27, 2001, at Hamilton Manor in Aurora.
Services are at 2 p.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Polk with Rev. Kurt Letcher officiating. Burial will be in the Immanuel Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Solt Funeral Home in Polk.
Lena Mae was born on September 17, 1929, to Martin and Alice (Wurtz) Baack in York County. She grew up in Polk County and graduated from Polk High School in 1947. She taught at a rural Polk County School in 1947 and 1948.
She married
Ervin Harold Blase on November 23, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Polk. They lived and farmed in Hamilton County near Hordville their entire married
life. Ervin died on March 18, 1988. Lena Mae continued to live on the farm until her death. In 1988, she began working at Smiths True Value in Hampton and continued to work their until this past summer when she was forced to retire due to ill-health.
Lena Mae was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church on September 29, 1929, and was an active member of the church throughout her life. She also belonged to the Ladies Aid Society. Lena Mae was a member of the Merry Mothers Extension Club, she enjoyed quilting and all types of handwork, gardening, flowers, and collecting dolls of all kinds.
Survivors include two sons and their wives, David and Betty Blase of Lincoln and Paul and Jean Blase of Hordville; one sister, Louise Reetz of Lincoln; one sister-in-law, Joyce Baack of Polk; five grandchildren, Jason Blase, Ryan Blase, Aaron Blase, Melissa Blase, and Laura Blase; many nieces and nephews, relatives and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one grandson, Matthew Blase, and one brother, Robert Baack.
