U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
George Cooke
BROKEN BOW -- George E. Cooke, 81, of Broken Bow died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at Sandhills Manor Nursing Home in Broken Bow following a long illness.
Memorial services will at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sandhills Manor Chapel in Broken Bow. The Revs. Randy Jenkins and Don Albin will officiate. Official presentation of the U.S. Flag will be provided by the U.S. Army.
Iverson Memorial Chapel in Broken Bow is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to George E. Cooke Memorial Fund in Ansley.
Mr. Cooke was born Feb. 9, 1921, at Buffalo, Wyo., to George R. and Blanche (Dugger) Cooke. He grew up and graduated from high school in Midwest, Wyo., in 1938. He then attended University of Wyoming in Laramie, graduating in 1947 with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture.
He served in the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers from 1943 to 1946. He earned the grade of first lieutenant of operations and training officers and first lieutenant of combat engineer unit commander. He served in the South Pacific, Philippines and Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1953.
He married
Marina Carlin on June 6, 1946, in Scottsbluff. His first employment following college graduation was serving as county agent in Rawlins, Wyo. He then began his career in banking, working in Riverton and New Castle, Wyo. Next the couple moved to Broken Bow and lived there from 1958 to 1961. He served as vice president of Nebraska State Bank. Then returning to Wyoming, he worked in banks in Worland and Powell. He served as president of Wyoming Bankers Association from 1979 to 1980. He finished his banking career in Ogden, Wyo. After his retirement, he remained active in real estate and investments in Palm Springs, Calif., Cody, Wyo., and Jackson, Wyo. In 1997, they moved back to Broken Bow to be near family.
He was an active community member of numerous Lions, Rotary, Elks and Shriners Clubs. He was involved in the Chamber of Commerce and was a member of Episcopal Church. He participate and supported the Nebraska One Box Pheasant Hunt, shooting on both the Wyoming Team and the Pastshooters Team. He also enjoyed golfing, skiing, racquetball, playing cards, traveling and attending family hockey and soccer matches. He was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Lonnie Lindner of Ansley; a son, Brec Cooke of Naples, Fla.; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert, and a sister, Madolyn.
Charles Eckstrom
CENTRAL CITY -- Charles F. Eckstrom, 91, of Central City, formerly of Palmer, died Monday, Feb. 25, 2002, at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City.
Services are pending with Palmer Funeral Home in Palmer.
Gary Ferris
SILVER CREEK -- Gary Ferris, 57, of Silver Creek died Friday, Feb. 22, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Lawrence Church in Silver Creek. Burial will be in Silver Creek cemetery with military honors provided by American Legion Post 263.
Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at McKown Funeral Home in Columbus.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
'Johnnie' Luth
RAVENNA -- John "Johnnie" Luth, 77, of Ravenna died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at Good Samaritan Center in Ravenna.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna. The Rev. Steven Schlund will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Park cemetery in Ravenna.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to Ravenna Girl and Boys Scouts, Nebraska Lions Foundation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Nebraska Children's Home.
Rasmussen Mortuary in Ravenna is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Luth was born May 29, 1924, at his grandmother's home in Ravenna to August and Bessie (Vesely) Luth. He was educated at District 42 School in Sherman County and District 21 School in Fairview in Buffalo County and graduated from Ravenna High School in 1941.
He married
Rosette Zinnel on Dec. 5, 1944, at Stuttgart, Kan. The couple lived and farmed in the Ravenna area until moving to Ravenna in 1968. He worked at Chief Industries and retired in 1989.
He was an active member of Lions Club, serving the local club as president several times, was zone and regional chairman of various committees and received the honor of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award. He was baptized and received into membership at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1945. He served his church by holding different offices for many years.
Survivors include his wife; three sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Linda Luth of Omaha, Pete and Cindy Luth of Grand Island and Bryce and Vickie Luth of Ravenna; two daughters and sons-in-law, Melba and Charles Stafford of Gibbon and Celia and Kent Guill of Ravenna; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Dennis, and a brother, Donald.
Monica Maslonka
FULLERTON -- Monica Maslonka, 93, of Fullerton died Monday, Feb. 25, 2002, at Genoa Community Hospital Long Term Care.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter Catholic Church in Fullerton. The Rev. Don Cleary will officiate. Burial will be in Fullerton Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton with a 7 p.m. vigil and rosary.
Robert Opp
70, Farmer
WOOD RIVER -- Robert R. Opp, 70, of Wood River died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wood River. The Rev. Paul Colling will officiate. Burial will be in Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Wood River with a vigil at 6:30 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to Wood River Foundation or Mid Plains Center for Behavioral Healthcare Services in Grand Island.
Mr. Opp was born Nov. 14, 1931, on the family farm east of Wood River to Christian and Johanna (Moeller) Opp. He graduated from District 44 School and Wood River High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Feb. 11, 1952, and served at Bryan Air Force Base in Texas where he was a maintenance mechanic. He was honorably discharged Feb. 10, 1956, with the rank of corporal. He worked several years for Great Western Sugar Beets and Cornhusker Ordnance Plant.
He married
Jeannine Coxson on Sept. 1, 1973, in Doniphan. The couple lived on the family farm east of Wood River.
He attended St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wood River. He enjoyed gardening and dancing.
Survivors include his wife; and a sister, Darlene Opp Malfetti of Carefree, Ariz.
Lee Reimers
BOELUS -- Lee H. Reimers, 76, of Boelus died Monday, Feb. 25, 2002, at the Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island.
Services are pending at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.
'Tena' Schaffert
AURORA -- Christine "Tena" Schaffert, 84, of Aurora died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at Memorial Hospital in Aurora.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hampton. The Rev. George E. Damm will officiate. Burial will be in Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora.
Mrs. Schaffert was born Oct. 21, 1917, on the family farm near Stockham to John P. and Margaret K. (Miller) Miller. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Aurora High School.
She married
Rudolf "Rudy" F. Schaffert on March 19, 1939, in Salem Lutheran Church in Hampton. The couple moved to a farm northeast of Aurora. In 1954, they moved to a farm southwest of Aurora, where they continued farming until retirement. During the last few years, she lived at Memorial Community Care. Her husband died June 11, 1998.
She enjoyed gardening and raising flowers.
Survivors include four sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Stella of Aurora, Donald of Ashby, Ronald and Joyce of Park Ridge, Ill., and Robert and Ilka of Sete Lagoas, Brazil; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister and brother-in-law, Pauline and Vern McConaughey of Aurora.
She was preceded in death by her husband, four brothers Alfred, Edward, Emil, Kenneth and LeRoy Miller, and a grandchild.
