U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Harold Heithoff
CEDAR RAPIDS -- Harold C. Heithoff, 81, of Cedar Rapids died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, at the Boone County Health Center in Albion.
Services are pending with Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
Kathleen Loper
BROKEN BOW -- Kathleen Loper, 52, of Broken Bow died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, at her home in Broken Bow.
Services and burial will be at a later date in Sumner, Mich.
Visitation will be from noon to 4 p.m. at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow.
Ms. Loper was born Oct. 10, 1951, to Keith and Beverly (Carlsen) Loper at Greenville, Mich.
Survivors of the immediate family include sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Bill Barrow of Broken Bow; half sister, Brenda Jeffers of Fenwick, Mich.; three half brothers, Brian Loper and Timothy Loper, both of Fenwick, Mich., and Roger Loper of Greenville, Mich.; and her father, of Fenwick, Mich.
Clarence Nitsch
97, Retired farmer
BOELUS -- Clarence E. Nitsch, 97, of Boelus died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Grace United Methodist Church in Boelus. The Rev. Dale A. Lambert will officiate. Burial will be in the Ebenezer Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Nitsch was born Jan. 14, 1906, on the family farm in rural Boelus, to William and Inger Enevoldsen Nitsch.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Freida of Boelus; two daughters and a son-in-law, La Vera Mae and Harold Franssen of rural Boelus and Ima Jean Kruse of rural Grand Island; a son and daughter-in-law, Eugene and Joyce Nitsch of rural Boelus; and one brother, Victor of rural Boelus.
Other survivors include 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
His brother, Victor, still resides on the homestead family farm of his grandfather, Vincent Nitsch.
As a child, Clarence was baptized in the Lutheran faith.
He received his elementary education in rural District No. 25 near Boelus. In 1925, he graduated from the Boelus High School and then attended the former Grand Island Business College.
On Feb. 2, 1932, Clarence was united in marriage to Freida C. Becker in the parsonage of the Rev Chris Pedersen in Dannebrog. The couple made their home on a farm north of Boelus. In 1964, the couple moved into Boelus to make their home.
He was a former member of the District No. 25 school board.
Clarence enjoyed farming, raising cattle, fishing, playing cards and being with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one great-granddaughter, Tonya Nitsch; a son-in-law, John Kruse; three brothers, Julius, Edward and Rudolph; and a sister, Julia.
Memorials are suggested to the Grace United Methodist Church or the family's choice.
Margaret Russell
FULLERTON -- Margaret Russell, 87, of Fullerton died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at the Litzenberg Hospital in Central City.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church in Fullerton. The Rev. David Matheke will officiate. Burial will be in the Fullerton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Evelyn Silberman
HEBRON -- Evelyn M. Silberman, 76, of Hebron died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, at the Thayer County Hospital in Hebron.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Peckham cemetery south of Gothenburg.
There will be no visitation.
Godberson Mortuary of Gibbon/Shelton is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Silberman was born April 23, 1927, in Gothenburg to Hervey O. and Harriett E. (Golden) Olds.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Silberman.
Survivors of the immediate family include one son, LeRoy of Cozad; two daughters and one son-in-law, Carol and Gene Gangwish of Harrisburg, Penn., and Anna Silberman of Cozad; two brothers, Harvey Olds of Cozad and Harold Olds of Sacramento, Calif.; and four sisters, Polly Beyer of Lincoln, Arline Umshler of Omaha, Elizabeth Carter of York and Myrtle Levesque of Sacramento, Calif.
Julia Franssen
GOTHENBURG -- Julia M. Franssen, 94, of Gothenburg, formerly of Brady, died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Gothenburg. The Rev. Tom Mullowney will officiate. Burial will be in the Gothenburg Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Blase Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel.
Mrs. Franssen was born Aug. 5, 1909, at Anselmo to Thomas and Mary Leonard Teahon.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Franssen, on Jan. 3, 1978,
Survivors of the immediate family include three daughters and two sons-in-law, Shirley and Dick Speck of Farnam, Julia Mae and Tim Burke of Grand Island, and Bernice Beeder of Grand Island.
Also surviving are 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
On Sept. 18, 1929, she married
Bernard E. Franssen in Anselmo. They were the first couple to be united in marriage in the St. Anselmo's Catholic Church in Anselmo. Julia was a member of the War Mothers of Brady and the Brady Alter Society. Her hobbies included gardening and embroidery as well as her animals. She enjoyed spending time with her large family and her grandkids.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Bernard "Bernie" J.; three brothers, Hubert "Paddy", Charlie, and Tommy Teahon; one daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Franssen; and a son-in-law, Orin Beeder.
Memorials may be given to the Brady Fire and Rescue Unit.
Elmer Oetter
Elmer A. Oetter, 97, of Grand Island died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998, at the Wedgewood Care Center of Grand Island.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Grace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. The Rev. Daniel Bremer will officiate. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday with the family receiving friends from 4 to 6 p.m. at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the Grace Lutheran Church or to the donor's choice.
Mr. Oetter was born Sept. 30, 1901, to Christopher and Margaret (Hoffman) Oetter at Norfolk. He attended school and spent his youth in Norfolk.
He married
Erna Wichman on Nov. 17, 1934, at Norfolk. After their marriage, the couple lived and ranched in Chambers from 1938 until November 1978. They then moved to Grand Island where they retired.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. He also enjoyed reading, playing cards (especially solitaire), gardening and watching sports. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lana (Mrs. Jerry) Bendrick of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Jan Davis; an infant daughter; an infant son; one brother, Leo Oetter and one sister, Hattie Duncan.
