Page 81
Including residents and former residents of Buffalo County, Nebraska
Extracted from newspapers
SPELLMAN, Robert Earl, 64, of Shelton died of scleroderma Thursday, May 21, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Fireman service: Tuesday, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelton
Burial: Shelton Cemetery
Mortuary: Apfel in Grand Island
Memorials: Shelton Fire Department and Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Born Jan. 29, 1945, in Shelton
Parents: Marvon and Ann (Wozny) Spellman
Was raised in Shelton; attended Shelton school, graduated in 1963
Married: Oct. 19, 1963, to Penny Nielsen
Lived in Lexington after a brief college visit to Chicago; moved to Grand Island, he owned/operated ACE body shop; after a few years, returned to Shelton to work with his brothers Bill and Jim at the Spellman Conoco Gas Station; after 18 years, went to work at Turner Body Shop in Kearney; retired. 1997, due to illness
Activities: member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, served in many leadership positions in Shelton; loyal member of the Shelton Fire Department since December 1972, served as chief for several years, vice president and emergency medical technician for more than 20 years and CPR instructor, was on the policy board and was assistant chief and president for more than a decade; former member of Shelton Jaycees and the Kearney Elks Club
Survivors include his wife; sons, Ken and his wife, Kim, of Omaha and Todd and his wife, Cathy, of York; daughter, Julie Wiese and her husband, Chuck, of Shelton; grandchildren, Austin and his fiancée, Jamie Frost, and Dylan, all of Omaha, Elizabeth and Nathan of York, Josh Wiese of Lincoln and Bridget, RaeLiegh and Jacob Robert of Shelton; brothers, Bill, Jim, Gary and Fred Spellman, all of Shelton; four sisters-in-law; and two brothers-in-law
Was preceded in death by his parents; his oldest brother, Marvin; and three sisters-in-law
Kearney Hub, 23 May, 2009
SOFTLEY, Lloyd A. Jr., 77, of Alliance, formerly of Kearney, died Saturday, May 16, 2009, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff
Memorial services: pending
Body was cremated
Mortuary: Dugan-Kramer in Scottsbluff
Memorials: Nebraska Children's Home Society Foundation
Born April 28, 1932, at Grafton
Parents: Lloyd and Alice (Kleinschmidt) Softley
Suffered from crippling polio in childhood; earned academic honors at Kearney High School and Kearney State Teachers College; campus activities included high school Student Council and student government vice president at KSTC, was business manager of the student newspaper and yearbook at KSTC
Worked in the finance department of a Des Moines, Iowa, insurance company following graduate study at the University of Nebraska; returned to Nebraska to pursue a career in public accounting; was a certified public accountant in Scottsbluff, Ogallala, Kimball and Alliance
Activities: after retiring, was president of Northwest Nebraska Community Action, served on the Statewide Independent Living Council, was a VITA volunteer tax preparer, participated in the western Nebraska Polio Survivors group, and was an active advocate for accessibility and compliance with federal Americans with Disabilities Act legislation
Survivors include his son, Steven Softley and his wife, Vanessa, of Alliance; daughter, Sheri Favela and her husband, Franco, of Alliance; eight grandchildren; sisters, Helen Moore and her husband, Bill, of Nebraska City and Judy Wickham and her husband, Bill, of Marana, Ariz.; and brother, Kenneth Softley of Topeka, Kan.
Kearney Hub, 19 May, 2009
ENNS, Jess G., 70, of Kearney died Sunday, May 17, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Tuesday, Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney
Burial: Church of the Brethren Cemetery in Holmesville
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann in Kearney
Memorials: to the church or to Camp Farthest Out of Littleton, Colo.
Born Oct. 11, 1938, in Hutchinson, Kan.
Parents: Jacob and Marie (Regher) Enns
Grew up in Kansas; graduated from Inman High School in 1956; moved to Springfield, Mo., in 1960; received bachelor's degree from Southwest Missouri State in 1964 and master's degree in 1968; received his doctorate in education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1978
Married: April 9, 1966, to Wanda Langston in Prairie Village, Kan.
Moved to Kearney, 1970, was a sociology professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, 1970-2006
Activities: member of the church, American Sociological Association, Midwest Sociological Association, National Education Association and Phi Delta Kappa; enjoyed woodworking, antique tractors, traveling and time spent with friends
Survivors include his wife; sons, Jerry and his wife, Dawn, of Holmesville and Edmund and his wife, Pam, of Milwaukie, Ore.; grandchildren, Andrew, Isaac and Emma; chosen daughters, Deborah McCleary Goodson and her husband, Tony, Pamela McCleary McQueen, Barbara Quinn and Deborah Ann Quinn Mowell; sisters, Laurene Zimmer and her husband, Mark, of Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., Ellen Friesen and her husband, Raymond, of Inman, Kan., and Lorna Hill and her husband, Jess, of Houston; brother, Darwin Enns and his wife, Jean, of Martinsburg, Va.; brother-in-law, Ernie Doerksen of Houston; extended family, Linda and Norm Vinderslev; special friends, Connie and Bob Sorensen, Marvin and Lucille Stone, Bob Lind and Dick Ikenberry; and many friends
Was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Darlene; sister, Eva Doerksen; and grandson, Thomas
Kearney Hub, 18 May, 2009
NOYES, Gene, 83, of Kearney, formerly of Valley, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at Mother Hull Home in Kearney
Services: Wednesday, Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn
Burial: Prospect Hill Cemetery in Elkhorn
Born July 22, 1925, in Weeping Water
Parents: William and Mary VanEvery
Married: Dec. 20, 1947, to Carlton Noyes
Survivors include her husband; sons, Kirk and Craig, both of Kearney; daughter, Cindy Konopick of Axtell; brother, Bill VanEvery of Sun City West, Ariz.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 18 May, 2009
JOHNSON, Warren C., 86, of Ravenna, formerly of Orleans, died Monday, May 25, 2009, at Ravenna Good Samaritan Center
Memorial services: Friday, Prayer Baptist Church in Orleans
Burial: Orleans Cemetery. Mortuary: Mitchell in Orleans
Born Nov. 24, 1922, in Kearney
Parents: Roy and Flossie (Lash) Johnson
Married: July 24, 1952, to married Louise Theye in Laramie, Wyo.
Survivors include his wife; sons, Steve of Kansas City, Mo., and Rolland of Orleans; daughters, Marilyn Wells of Afton, Wyo., and Rita Johnson-Snyder of Greybull, Wyo.; sister, Beverly Boston of Alma; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 27 May, 2009
SCHWAB, Darwin "Bump", 77, of Pleasanton died Monday, May 25, 2009, at Ravenna Good Samaritan Center
Memorial services: Friday, Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton
Burial: Pleasanton Cemetery
Mortuary: Rasmussen
Memorials: Pleasanton Fire Department
Born July 30, 1931, in Pleasanton
Parents: Carl and Alvera (Thaden) Schwab
Was educated at Pleasanton High School
Military: joined U.S. Army in 1950; served in Alaska, Germany, Ethiopia, twice in Vietnam and Korea; was an airplane mechanic, earning numerous medals, including the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Silver Star
Married: Sept. 17, 1953, to Marion Farris in Moses Lake, Wash.
Activities: was an avid sportsman; loved his family and friends
Survivors include his wife; daughters, Kris Epley and her husband, David, of Wood River and Kelly Carman of Kearney; brothers, Gene of Pleasanton and Jerry of Vacaville, Calif.; grandchildren, Denell Syslo and her husband, Greg, of Fullerton, Derrick Epley of Wood River and Amanda Carman and Andrea Carman, both of Kearney; and four great-grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 27 May, 2009
BEMISS, Terry, 67, of rural Elm Creek, died Thursday, May 28, 2009 at Sunny Meadows RV Park near Elm Creek
Services: Monday, United Methodist Church in Elm Creek
Burial: Elm Creek Cemetery, military honors
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann in Elm Creek
Memorials: to the family
Born July 26, 1941, in Orleans
Parents: Robert and Bertha (Russell) Bemiss
Received his education in Overton
Military: U.S. Marine Corps, Aug. 11, 1958- May 13, 1960; was honorably discharged
Married: May 7, 1961, to Annette Henderson at the Christian Church in Elm Creek
Lived in Lexington for six years, was employed by Nebraska Natural Gas and Detter Machine Shop; lived in Hutchinson, Kan., for 35 years, was employed by New York Life Insurance for 30 years before his retirement
Activities: member of the Christian Church in Overton and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 759 in Kearney
Survivors include his wife; daughters, Dustine Bemiss and Robin Garcia and her husband, Manuel, all of Hutchinson, Kan.; grandchildren, Matthew and Curtis Garcia of Hutchinson; brothers, Robert Bemiss of Parker, Ariz., Derald Bemiss and his wife, Joyce, of Sedonia, Ariz., Carrol Bemiss and his wife, Judith, of Hutchinson and William Bemiss and his wife, Linda, of Newton, Kan.; sister-in-law, Melinda Bemiss of Dodge City, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews
Kearney Hub, 30 May, 2009
LOUISHOMME, Marlene, 49, of Kearney died Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Monday, St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner
Memorials: the ARC of Buffalo County
Born June 28, 1959, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Parents: Eugene and Angelique (Morrisseau) Louishomme
Moved to St. Louis at age 7, attended St. Louis Public Schools, graduated from the Missouri School for the Developmentally Disabled
Loved working; received many commendations as employee of the month and for not missing any days of work as an employee of Hardy's restaurant in St. Louis for more than 14 years; was to receive a Goodwill Industry Achievement Award in June 2009; loved children and helped to care for her nephews and younger cousins, Walter, Lamont, Maurice and Anthony; loved to dance, travel and be in the company of kind people; moved to Kearney in 2006 and made many wonderful friends; member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Kearney and was active with the ARC of Buffalo County
Survivors include her father, of St. Louis; brother, Claude of Kearney; and sisters, Rose Marie Coleman of St. Louis and Edlyne Joseph of Houston
Was preceded in death by her mother
Kearney Hub, 1 June, 2009
CUNNINGHAM, Stanley Vernon "Chuck", 77, of Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, died Sunday, May 24, 2009, in Tucson
Services: Friday, Bring Funeral Home in Tucson
Burial of cremains: Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell, Neb.
Born July 9, 1931, in Burwell
Parents: Stanley Sr. and Florence (Butcher) Cunningham
Married: Anne Hofmann
Military: 1950, joined the 103rd Battalion of the U.S. Army Combat Engineers in Germany
In Kearney, 1954, worked at the Barebrand Hosiery Plant; worked at Baldwin Manufacturing in Kearney, 1974; and in 1976 moved to Lexington, worked for Sperry New Holland
In Omaha, 1962, began a life-long battle against kidney disease
Was an intelligent man who had a thirst for knowledge; studied computers, photography, art and math
Survivors include his sister, Jessie Scherbarth of California; brother, Phillip Fischer and his wife, Beth, of Ord; sons, Stanley Cunningham Jr. and his wife, Joy Ann, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Richard and his wife, Robin, of Crawfordville, Fla., and Roger and his wife, Nancy, of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; daughter, Cindy Sue Anderson and her husband, John, of Tucson; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and ex-wife and friend, Anne Cunningham
Kearney Hub, 27 May, 2009
CURTIS, Mae, 91, of Ravenna died Friday, May 29, 2009, at her home
Services: Tuesday, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ravenna
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born Nov. 17, 1917, in Ashton
Parents: Stanley and Veronica (Kwiatkowski) Smedra
Attended school at District 6
Married: June 28, 1937, to Harry Curtis at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ashton
Was a homemaker and farmed with her husband in Sherman County for 13 years; worked for J.C. Penney in Omaha for 23 years; retired in 1980; couple moved to Ravenna in 1983
Activities: past member of Immaculate Conception Altar Society Sodality in Omaha, Ravenna Garden Club, and was extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and a member of the Council of Catholic Women at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ravenna; enjoyed bus trips, gardening, putting puzzles together and playing bingo
Survivors include her husband; sons, Don Curtis and his wife, Donna, and LaVern Curtis, all of Ravenna; daughters, Joan Summers of Austin, Texas, and Kathleen Sobetski and her husband, Thomas, of Omaha; 13 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Rita Meyer and her husband, Donald, of Northglenn, Colo.; and sister-in-law, Rita Smedra of Omaha
Was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Louis Smedra and Andrew Smedra; son-in-law, Duane Summers; and granddaughter, Debra Curtis
Kearney Hub, 1 June, 2009
WOLF, Rylee, infant daughter of Shannon and Renea Wolf of Elm Creek, was born at rest Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Services: Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney
Burial: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Eustis
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner in Kearney
Memorials: to the family to be designated later
Survivors include her parents; grandparents, Gregg and Jean Wolf of Eustis, Frank and Karen Bohac of Kearney and Kent Taubenheim of Elwood; and great-grandparents, Frances Debban of Eustis, Jo Wolf of Gilbert, Ariz., Freda Wild and Rosemary Hemmann, both of Amherst, and Ernie and Phyllis Bohac of Omaha
Kearney Hub, 30 May, 2009
McBRIDE, Barbara, 51, of Lincoln, formerly of Kearney, died Saturday, May 30, 2009, at her home
Services: Wednesday, St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann of Kearney
Memorials: to the Leukemia Society
Born Aug. 19, 1957, in Council Bluffs, Iowa
Parents: Joseph and Virginia (Schnitker) Fischer
Grew up in Neola, graduated from high school at Tri-Center, Iowa; after graduation, worked for Farm Credit Services in Omaha
Married; April 12, 1980, to Stephen McBride at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Neola, Iowa
Lived in Columbus for 17 years, worked for First National Bank; moved to Kearney in 1996, was an administrative assistant for St. James Catholic Church and later was an executive assistant for the University of Nebraska at Kearney Foundation; moved to Lincoln in 2008
Activities: member of St. James; loved scrapbooking and the time spent with her children
Survivors include her husband; sons, Michael and Seth, both of Kearney; daughters, Kelli Arens and her husband, Jesse, of Kearney and Jenna McBride of Lincoln; granddaughter, Lillian Jimenez of Lincoln; brothers, Bill Fischer and his wife, Colette, of Sioux Falls, S.D., Jerry Fischer and his wife, Lori, of Omaha and Jim Fischer and his wife, Jonette, of Minden, Iowa; and sister, Shirley Burns and her husband, Ron, of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents
Kearney Hub, 2 June, 2009
McDONALD, John A., 62, of Kearney died Sunday, May 31, 2009, at his home
Services: Thursday, Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Burial will be before services with military honors
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner
Memorials: Holy Cross Lutheran Church, the University of Nebraska at Kearney Foundation to establish an athletic scholarship in the McDonald name, and Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation for the ICU-PCU departments
Born Dec. 5, 1946, in Chanute, Kan.
Parents: Clayton and Bernidene (Anderson) McDonald
Grew up on a farm near Howard, Kan.; moved with his family to Lexington for a few years, then to Abilene, Kan.; attended school and graduated from Abilene High School in 1964
Military: U.S. Navy, Oct. 9, 1964 - Nov. 21, 1967, during the Vietnam War; was honorably discharged
Married: Nov. 29, 1968, to Judy Dahlgren at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bertrand
Moved to Kearney, was emplyoed by KGFW Radio station; 1974, was named general manager of KGFW; managed its affiliated stations for more than 40 years; was inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2000; received the Waitt Broadcasters Outstanding Employee of the Year Award, 2002
Activities: member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, served as chairman of the congregation as well as secretary and elder of the church council; past president of the Nebraska Broadcasters Association; member and chairman of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce; past president of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation Board of Directors; past treasurer of the GSH Board of Directors; past president of the Kearney High School Booster Club; and with the Kearney Area Baseball Association; enjoyed golf, was an avid reader; was known for his quick wit, humor and charismatic personality
Survivors include his wife; sons, Jeff and his wife, Holly, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Jason and his wife, Staci, of Omaha; sister, Kay Mathews of Lincoln; and grandsons, Jacob and Zachary of Cedar Rapids and Harrison and Crew of Omaha
Was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters
Kearney Hub, 2 June, 2009
SKEEN, Wanda I., 90, of Kearney died Saturday, May 30, 2009, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village
Services: Wednesday, Kearney Church of Christ
Burial: Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner
Memorials: Kearney Church of Christ, Kearney Humane Society or Nebraska Youth Camp
Born Dec. 24, 1918, near Gibbon
Parents: Edwin and Elma (Little) Anderson
Grew up in the area, graduated from Gibbon High School in 1936; taught in rural schools in the Gibbon area
Married: Oct. 22, 1939, to A.W. "Woody" Skeen in Kearney. He died in 2007
Lived on a farm between Wood River and Shelton, then north of Gibbon, moved to Kearney in 1973; worked as a nurse assistant at Good Samaritan Hospital for several years, also was a bookkeeper for the family business, A.W. Skeen and Sons Construction
Activities: member of Kearney Church of Christ; enjoyed flowers, reading, ceramics and gardening
Survivors include her sons, Donald Skeen and his wife, Bonnie, of Grand Island, John Skeen and his wife, Carolyn, of Winterhaven, Fla., Glen Skeen and his wife, Pat, of Kearney and Leland Skeen and his wife, Darla, of Gibbon; grandsons, Scott Skeen and his wife, Carol, of Loveland, Colo., Michael Skeen and his wife, Lori, of Gibbon and Joe Lomoglio and his wife, Rita, of Phoenix; granddaughters, Dawn Hanson and her husband, Scott, of Elbert, Colo., Lisa Stephens and her husband, Michael, of Lincoln, Jennifer Skeen of Omaha, Stephanie Skeen of Gibbon, Susan Ecklund and her husband, Bill, of Littleton, Colo., and Cathy Plank and her husband, Morris, of Hobbs, N.M.; and 14 great-grandchildren
Was preceded in death by her husband; grandson, Christopher Skeen; and one brother
Kearney Hub, 2 June, 2009
ZUERLEIN, Kelly S., 45, of Kearney died Monday, June 1, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Memorial services: Thursday, First Christian Church
Burial: later
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born Nov. 5, 1963, in Columbus
Parents: Robert and LuAnn (Clother) Zuerlein
Received her education in Minden and Holdrege; lived in Arizona, Iowa and Nebraska; loved making roses and spending time with her loved ones
Survivors include her daughters, Amanda Zuerlein of Kearney and Samantha Zuerlein of Sherman, Texas; father, Robert Zuerlein and his special friend, Peggy Bindel, of Kearney; grandchildren, Adriene Zuerlein of Kearney, Dominick Zuerlein of Sherman, Mika Zuerlein, Christopher Baily, Kahled Doss and Tionna White, all of Kearney; brothers, Kevin Zuerlein of Phoenix and Kirby Zuerlein of Kearney; sisters, Cristy Swift Wright of Little Sioux, Iowa, and Hellen McClain of Holdrege; niece, Alex Zuerlein of Phoenix; close friend, Ann Marie Dale of Kearney; and companion of 15 years, Roger Larson of Kearney
Was preceded in death by her mother, LuAnn Murphy; brother, Kurtis Zuerlein; and grandmother, Louise Dawson
Kearney Hub, 3 June, 2009
FISHER, Jack L., 56, of Madison died Friday, May 22, 2009, at his home
Services: Friday, Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton
Burial: Pleasant Valley Cemetery in rural Pleasanton
Mortuary: Home for Funerals in Norfolk
Born Feb. 13, 1953, in Kearney
Parents: Elmer and Alice (Goerndt) Fisher
Was raised in Kearney, graduated from Kearney High School in 1972
Was employed at the Minden Beef Plant and later at the Gibbon plant, transferred to Madison; had been with Tyson's for the past 20 years; retired because of health issues
Was an avid Husker fan
Survivors include his sons, Chris Fisher, of Wichita, Kan., and Travis Fisher of Eldorado, Kan.; daughter, Regina Fisher of Eldorado, four grandchildren; his father; sister, Darcie Bailey and her husband, Allan, of Agra, Kan.; and niece, Holly Bailey of Agra
Was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather
Kearney Hub, 3 June, 2009
McELHINNY, Delia Elizabeth "Dee", 94, of Kearney, formerly of Overton, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at Mount Carmel Keens Memorial Home
Memorial services: Friday, Christian Church in Overton
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Nelson-Bauer in Holdrege
Memorials: Christian Church of Overton or the Overton Volunteer Fire Department
Born April 10, 1915, at Lexington
Parents: Arthur and Nancy (Roberts) Carpenter
Received her education in Overton, graduated from Overton High School with the class of 1932; she and sister, Louise, were recognized for their attendance record of not being absent nor tardy during their entire 12 years of school; was crowned queen at the May fete on the last day of school
Married: Dec. 25, 1936, to Carl McElhinny. He died June 3, 1985
Lived and raised her family around the Overton community; moved to Northridge Retirement Community at Kearney, 2003
Activities: became a member of the Christian Church of Overton, 1945, served on committees and maked pies for church bake sales; was a loving wife, mother and grandmother; loved tending to her flowers, served as a State Flower Show judge at county fairs throughout the state for many years, enjoyed being a part of the Federated Garden Club; member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Rebekah Lodge
Survivors include her daughters, Nancy Muehling and her husband, Eldon, of Lincoln, Alyce Bauer and her husband, Roger, of Overton, Carol Thomas and her husband, Don, of Raymond and Connie Reeder and her husband, Dick, of Wood River; son, Gene McElhinny and his wife, Deb, of Kearney; 14 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sister, Louise Stuckey of Monroe, Wis.; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends
Was preceded in death by her husband; parents; daughter, Patsy Joan; five brothers; and two sisters
Kearney Hub, 4 June, 2009
BOUCHER, Elsie, 90, of Lincoln, formerly of Columbus and Kearney, died Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln
Services: Monday, First Christian Church in Kearney
Burial: Overton Cemetery
Memorials: First Christian Church or the family choice
Born Sept. 2, 1918, in Culbertson
Parents: Alexander and Bertha (Wittwer) Haining
Graduated from Culbertson High School
Married: Sept. 5, 1937, to Dale Boucher at Stone Church in Culbertson. He preceded her in death
Lived in Kearney, served as church secretary for First Christian Church
Activities: was active in the church choir; loved genealogy and helped to organize numerous family reunions; was well-known for her unyielding friendship, faith and family values
Survivors include her son, Terry Boucher and his wife, Pat, of Littleton, Colo., John Boucher and his wife, Carol, of Lincoln, and Bill Boucher and his wife, Sheri, of Columbus; grandchildren, Susan Calhoun and her husband, Greg, of Littleton, Cindy Feilmeier and her husband, David, of Aurora, Colo., and Kelly Lindsay and her husband, Mark, Sarah Schweers and her husband, James, Becky Boucher and Rhonda Wescott, and Bill Boucher, all of Lincoln; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Kyle Calhoun, both of Littleton, Jessica and Amanda Feilmeier, both of Aurora, and Samuel Lindsay, Taylor, Jayden and Madison Schweers and Jazzmyn Boucher, all of Lincoln
Was preceded in death by her husband; parents, brother, Lester Haining and his wife, Adina; sisters, Hazel Haining and Roberta Drain and her husband, Ray; half brothers, John Haining and his wife, Clara, and Warren Haining; half sisters, Zola Clary and her husband, Orville, Mabel Edwards and her husband, Alfred, and Ethel Crown and her husband, Dale
Kearney Hub, 5 June, 2009
RUNDSTROM, Elaine A., 66, of Lincoln City, Oregon, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Sunday, May 31, 2009, in Lincoln City
Services: June 4 Lincoln City
Mortuary: Affordable Burial and Cremation in Lincoln City
Born June 22, 1942, in Port Orchard, Wash.
Parents: Tom and Lillie Porter
Married: October 1980, to John Rundstrom
Survivors include her husband; sons, Jeff Koch and Eric Rundstrom and his wife, Mandi; daughter, Gretchen Kinka and her husband, Jeremy; four grandchildren; sister, Sue Potts and her husband, Bob; brother, Dale Malone; brothers-in-law, Ritch Rundstrom and his wife, Jackie, of Gibbon, Neb., and Jim Rundstrom and his wife, Lynn, of Kearney; sister-in-law, Joyce Martin and her husband, Lee, of Kearney; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends
Kearney Hub, 5 June, 2009
WUEHLER, Melvin, 81, of Amherst died Thursday, June 4, 2009, at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island
Services: Monday, Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst
Burial: Immanuel Cemetery northwest of Amherst
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner
Memorials: Trinity Lutheran Church or to the family's choice
Born July 4, 1927 at Amherst
Parents: Rudolph and Martha (Day) Wuehler
Was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church on Feb. 22, 1944; attended District 80 country school through the eighth grade, helped with the family farm
Military: U.S.Army/U.S. Air Force, 1946 - May 1949, was honorably discharged as a supply sergeant; received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal
Married: June 10, 1950, to Luella Kreutzer in Kearney
Lived at Amherst, 1950 - 1954; moved to Bellingham, Wash., lived there until 1958; moved back to Amherst, worked for the State Department of Roads, farmed and had dairy cows; retired in 1993
Activities: enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, traveling, fishing, playing cards, watching baseball and pulling horses; member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst and VFW Post 752 and Legion Post 52 in Kearney
Survivors include his wife; daughters, Linda Nelson and her husband, Rick, of Lincoln, Jeanie Nickel and her husband, John, of Elm Creek, Cindy Moninger and her husband, Tim, of Shelton, and Jackie Trampe and her husband, Ron, of Elm Creek; sons, Alvin of Seattle and John of Amherst; grandchildren, Angie Nelson, Kimberly and Zach Zegers, Bill Nickel, Jim Nickel, Lisa and Kirk Frecks, Seth Moninger, Isaac and Karey Wuehler, James and Sheri Gifford, Matt Gifford, Clayten Wuehler and Hunter, Keaton, Jordyn, Gabriele and Garret Trampe; and great-grandchildren, Ethan, Ashlynn and Qinn Zegers, Macy, Kyan and Taylor Nickel, Hunter and Carter Frecks, and James, Janna and Abby Gifford; and brother James of Florida
Was preceded in death by his brothers, Clarence and Harold Wuehler; and grandson, Riley Trampe
Kearney Hub, 8 June, 2009
TRAMPE, Riley Cole, 19 months old, of Overton, died Wednesday, May 21, 2003, at Good Samaritan Hospital as the result of a drowning accident near Elm Creek
Services: Saturday, Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington
Burial: Elm Creek Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann-Apfel
Born Oct 20, 2001, at Kearney
Parents: Ron and Jackie (Wuehler) Trampe
Survivors: parents, brothers, Hunter and Keaton of Overton; sister, Jordyn of Overton; grandparents Roland and Dorothy Trampe of Elm Creek and Melvin and Luella Wuehler of Amherst
Was preceded in death by his great-grandparents
Kearney Hub, 24 May, 2003
EVANS, Ruth M., 52, of Kearney died Thursday, June 4, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Memorial services: Saturday, Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary
Body was cremated
Born Dec. 4, 1956, in Broken Bow
Parents: Lee and Gladys (Fox) Booth
Married Roger Evans. He preceded her in death
Survivors include her son, Corey of Omaha; daughter, Sheila Jaillet of McMinnville, Ore.; mother, Gladys Sawyer of Doniphan; sisters, Doretta McFall of Broken Bow, Judy Jackson of Marietta, Ga., and Deb Venvroski and Eva Thompson, both of Grand Island; and brother, Scott Sawyer of Hastings
Kearney Hub, 8 June, 2009
PICKETT, Rosella E., 91, of Kearney died Thursday, June 4, 2009, at Mount Carmel Home in Kearney
Services: Monday, Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary
Burial: Edison Cemetery
Memorials: Rosella Pickett Nursing School Scholarship
Born Nov. 19, 1917, in Edison
Parents: William and Irene Blauvelt
Graduated from Edison High School
Married: Jan. 5, 1937, to Harold Pickett in Kansas. He preceded her in death
Lived in Edison, Hildreth and Elm Creek; moved to Kearney in the mid-1950s
Worked at J.A. Baldwin Mfg. until she retired
Activities: was active in the IOOF Rebekahs, Eagles, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Elks auxiliaries; spent many hours volunteering making baby caps for the hospital and helping on election day; made and gave out many scratchers; member of First Lutheran Church in Kearney
Survivors include her son, Donald Pickett and his wife, Joan, of Wasilla, Alaska; daughters, Beverly Hamilton of Haltom City, Texas, Patricia Heitz of Eugene, Ore., and Mary Jane Pulver and her husband, Alan, of Centennial, Colo.; grandchildren, Clifford, Carol, Cathy, Chandra, Ronnie, John Pat, Bobby, Billy, Tasha, Arnie, Trevor, and Courtney; and 19 great-grandchildren
Was preceded in death by her husband; parents; twin boys, Benny and Teddy; brothers, Art, Francis, Sylvester and Jay; sister, Lavinna Powell; and grandchildren. Barbara, Margaret and Charles
Kearney Hub, 8 June, 2009
SHIERS, Clifford "Wayne", 88, of Gibbon died Friday, June 5, 2009, at Gibbon Good Samaritan Center
Services: Tuesday, Gibbon Baptist Church
Burial: Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon, military honors
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner of Kearney
Memorials: Gibbon Fire Department, the Gibbon American Legion Post or AseraCare Hospice
Born May 16, 1921, at Buckeye Valley northwest of Gibbon in Buffalo County
Parents: Everett and Flossie (Shaner) Shiers
Attended District 53 School northwest of Gibbon
Military: U.S. Army, 1942-1946, veteran of World War II
Married: Sept. 7, 1946, to Lois Johansen in Phillipsburg, Kan.
Lived in Broken Bow, worked for the state of Nebraska; moved to Kearney in 1947, worked at the air base; moved to rural Gibbon, 1948, and farmed; retired in the early 1980s; moved into Gibbon in 2006
Activities: lifetime member of VFW Post 759; member of Legion Post 310 in Gibbon, recently received his 50-year membership pin; member of Kearney Eagles Lodge 2722; enjoyed woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren
Survivors include his wife; daughters, Dianna Frew and Pamela Rasmussen and her husband, Steven, all of Gibbon, and Karen Shiers of Kearney; sons, Lonnie and his wife, Kindra, Bill and his wife, Lynn, and David and his wife, Carol, all of Gibbon; sisters, Dorothy O'Neill and Charlotte Liesinger, both of Kearney, and Janice Carter of Wood River; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren
Was preceded in death by his parents; son, Eugene in 1968; six brothers; and two sisters
Kearney Hub, 8 June, 2009
SCHRICKER, Harriett E., 88, of Kearney, formerly of Grand Island, died Monday, June 8, 2009, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village in Kearney
Services: Friday, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Grand Island
Burial: Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Grand Island
Mortuary: Apfel in Grand Island
Memorials: to the family to be designated later
Born July 7, 1920, at Stilwell, Kan.
Parents: Ray and Ruby (Richey) Krans
Was raised by her grandparents, Frederick and Etta Richey; family moved to Iowa, 1924, she graduated from Conway (Iowa) Public Schools in 1937; moved to Grand Island, was employed with Sears & Roebuck Co.
Married: June 8, 1941, to Ralph Schricker in Grand Island. He died July 14, 1985
Was always involved in accounting, later worked as the accounting supervisor for Hornady Manufacturing, 1972-1986
Later moved to Ravenna and lived with her daughter; divided her time between Nebraska and Olympia, where she stayed with her son
Activities: was previously a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Platt Deutsche and Liederkranz; loved cooking and took great pride in keeping her home
Survivors include her son, Gary Schricker and his wife, Grace, of Olympia, Wash.; daughter, Janet Mitchell and her husband, Clyde James, of Kearney; and grandchildren, Lisa Mitchell of Grand Island, Kelly Schricker of Olympia and Julie Mitchell of Nashville
Was preceded in death by her husband; parents; infant son, Alan; brother, Hamilton Krans; and sister, Nadine Purmort
Kearney Hub, 10 June, 2009
KERR, Wilhelmina G. "Nina", 82, of Ravenna died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island
Services: Friday, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Memorials: to the church
Born Sept. 27, 1926, in Grand Island
Parents: Alvin and Lydia (Fenster) Gausman
Married: Jan. 2, 1947, to Lester Kerr in Ravenna. He preceded her in death
Lived in Scottsbluff; moved to Grand Island in 1972; worked for Grand Island Public Schools Cafeteria Service; retired and moved to Ravenna in 1996
Survivors include her sons, David Kerr of Parker, Colo., and Matthew Kerr of Grand Island; grandchildren, Dustin, Heather, Melissa, Nathan, Shea, Cody, Tristan and Becca; and brother, Ken Gausman
Kearney Hub, 10 June, 2009
ECKHOUT, John, 61, of Amherst died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Memorial services: Friday, St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Burial of cremains: Stanley Cemetery at Amherst
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Memorials: St. John's Church in Amherst
Born July 5, 1947, in Kearney
Parents: Bernard and Mary (Nickman) Eckhout
Graduated from Amherst High School in 1965 and from Kearney State College in 1969
Military: U.S. Army, June 12, 1969-July 14, 1970, in Vietnam; received the Purple Heart
Married: Aug. 14, 1971, to Eva Linden in Pleasanton
Farmed north of Amherst
Activities: member of St. John's Church in Amherst and the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Survivors include his wife; sons, Byron Eckhout and his wife, Inett, of Kearney and Nathan Eckhout of South Sioux City; daughters, Rita Eckhout of Omaha and Tara Urwiller of Amherst; grandchildren, Dakota, McKenzie, Ranessa, Hunter Lee Hadan, Aaron John, Ariana Marie and Averyl Marie; his mother, of Kearney; sisters, Neomi Hascall of Bellevue, Mary Alice Kenney of Amherst, Bernadine Roth of San Bernardino, Calif., and Catherine Daake of Elm Creek; and brothers, Jerome Eckhout of Pleasanton and James Eckhout of Amherst
Was preceded in death by his father
Kearney Hub, 11 June, 2009
SCHROEDER, Pauline L., 85, of Grand Island, formerly of Amherst, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at Golden Living Center at Park Place in Grand Island
Services: Saturday, All Faiths Funeral Home Chapel in Grand Island
Burial: Shelton Cemetery
Born Feb. 9, 1924, at Kearney
Parents: Harold and Mary Margaret (Devall) Kerwood
Married: Dec. 16, 1941, to Eli Schroeder
Survivors include her husband; sons, John of Broomfield, Colo., and Dale of Spearfish, S.D.; daughter, Lynda Tambling of Grand Island; 12 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 12 June, 2009
VAN SLYKE, James L. "Jimmy", 20, of Arapahoe, formerly of Kearney, died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at his home
Memorial services: Wednesday, Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege
Burial of cremains: Arizona
Memorials: to the family
Born Jan. 10, 1989, in Phoenix
Parents: Vernon and Virginia (Smouse) Van Slyke
Received his primary education from Catalina, Ariz.; attended junior and senior high at Kearney Public Schools
Was unable to work due to many health problems; had a special bond with Sgt. Chad Hunt of the Buffalo County Sheriff's Department; Officer Hunt and Jimmy's adopted brother, Big James Fountain, served as mentors and good friends
Activities: loved listening to music and watching movies, enjoyed taking long walks down country roads and was a fanatic about cars
Survivors include his mother, Virginia Wyscarver of Arapahoe; brothers, Christopher Faulkner and his wife, Keila, and Shawn Rappolt, all of Arapahoe; adopted sisters, Teresa Hallgarimson and her husband, Jay, of Phoenix and Wendy Lawless of Kearney; special uncle, Albert Hertel of Arapahoe; and a host of other relatives and friends
Was preceded in death by his father and his grandparents
Kearney Hub, 16 June, 2009
KINKADE, Kenneth E., 67, of Kearney died Thursday, June 11, 2009, at his home
No services; body will be cremated
Burial of cremains: Friday July 3, at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born Aug. 27, 1941, in Bremerton, Wash.
Parents: Herman and Frances (Thury) Kinkade
Survivors include his sons, Brian and Kevin, both of Denver; his mother, of Kearney; brother, Larry of Kearney; sisters, Kathy Reilly of Grand Island, Terri Blattner of Ankeny, Iowa, and Franci Kinkade and Dottie Kinkade, both of Kearney; and one grandson
Kearney Hub, 30 June, 2009
HARRINGTON, Michael E. "Mike", 59, of Kearney died of cancer Saturday, June 13, 2009, at his home
Memorial services: Wednesday, Faith United Methodist Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Memorials: Mike Harrington Hunting and Fishing trust for local youths or to the American Cancer Society
Born June 7, 1950, in Kearney
Parents: Guy and Martha (Runge) Harrington
Grew up in Kearney, graduated from Kearney High School
Married: Dec. 4, 1971, to Nancy Carson at Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney
Lived in Kearney; was employed by Eaton Corp. for 29 years until his death; previously had been self-employed in the steel building and concrete business
Activities: member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the United States Bowling Congress, the National Rifle Association and was fire chief of the Eaton Fire Brigade; was an avid fisherman and earned countless Master Angler awards and won numerous fishing tournaments; enjoyed fishing with his daughters and teaching his grandsons to catch their first fish; enjoyed camping and fishing trips to the lake with family and friends; enjoyed hunting in Montana, Colorado and Wyoming, but especially in central Nebraska; was an accomplished bowler, including first-place finishes on several leagues, as well as a ninth-place team finish in the 1990 National ABC Championship in Reno, Nev.
Survivors include his wife; daughters Shantel Eatherton and her husband, Shawn, of Kearney and Mickel Goulet and her husband, Andy, of Fort Collins, Colo.; grandsons, Nolan and Easton Eatherton of Kearney; granddaughter, Avery Goulet of Fort Collins; brother, Larry Harrington of Kearney; brothers-in-law, Tom Carson of Longmont, Colo., and Dean Carson of Kearney; sister-in-law, Donna Carson of Kearney; nephew, Edward Vannier; nieces, Nadine Rawls, Joey Dickenson, Julie Peterson and Janine Leber; and numerous grandnephews, grandnieces, cousins and aunts
Was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Danny
Kearney Hub, 16 June, 2009
SLUTI, Thomas D., 28, of Savannah, Georgia, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Sunday, June 14, 2009, in Savannah
Services: Friday, St. James Catholic Church in Kearney, military honors
Burial: St. Peters Cemetery in Colman, S.D. Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann of Kearney
Memorials: Fort Kearny Preservation, Restoration and Development Board for the bridge rebuilding project
Born April 30, 1981, in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Parents: Donald and Elaine (Spielmann) Sluti
Grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, and Kearney; attended Kearney Catholic School, graduated from Kearney High School
Military: U.S. Air Force, July 7, 1999-July 6, 2005, was stationed at Hurlbert Air Force Base near Destin, Fla.; was honorably discharged
After discharge, moved to Savannah; was employed by Gulfstream Manufacturing as an aircraft mechanic
Activities: ;oved bicycling, computers, music and being with his friends
Survivors include his parents of Kearney and sister, Anne of Indiana
Was preceded in death by his grandparents, uncles, aunt and cousins
Kearney Hub, 17 June, 2009
WEATHERBEE, Debra L., 52, of Kearney died Saturday, June 13, 2009, at her home
Memorial services: Thursday, O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home
Burial: Kearney Cemetery, military honors
Memorials: to the family to be designated later
Born Sept. 14, 1956, in Clinton, Iowa
Parents: Ernest and Kathleen (Daniels) Miller
Grew up in Clinton, graduated from Clinton High School
Military: U.S. Coast Guard, Jan. 12, 1981-Dec. 18, 1987, was honorably discharged
Also lived in Houston, New York City and Honolulu; worked for NASA for seven years, Simpson Paper Mill for six years, and for TIC and FDR Safety; moved to Kearney and was a cashier at Wal-Mart
Survivors include her son, James Weatherbee II and his wife, Erica Karr, of Kearney; daughter, Christina Weatherbee and her husband, Jose Garcia Jr., of Denver; brothers, Bradford Miller and Daniel Miller, both of Virginia Beach, Va., and Mark Miller of Phoenix; sisters, Susan Tiesman of Bellevue, Iowa, and Cynthia Miller of Omaha; and grandsons, Jose Garcia III and James Weatherbee III
Was preceded in death by her parents
Kearney Hub, 17 June, 2009
MILLER, Linda Taylor, 66, of Chico, California, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Saturday, May 30, 2009, at Enloe Hospital in Chico
Memorial services: Saturday at Brusie Funeral Home in Chico
Memorials: Friends of the Chico Library or the Jack London Ranch Restoration Fund
Born Oct. 11, 1942, in Oil City, Pa.
Parents: Harold and Eleanore (Heasley) Taylor
Grew up in Sidney and Columbus, Nebraska; graduated from Kearney State College with her degree in elementary education; then taught for 26 years at Bryant Elementary School in Kearney
Married Stanley Miller. They divorced
Retired in 2003, moved to Chico; enjoyed her six years of retirement, especially the time spent with her children and grandchildren in California and Utah
Survivors include her daughter, Cordie Burgess and her husband, Chris, of Chico; son, Neil Miller and his wife, Rebecca, of Draper, Utah; grandchildren, Konnor Burgess, Ainsley Burgess, Alexandra Miller and Grant Miller; sister, Harriet Taylor; brother, Stephen Taylor and his wife, Joyce; and nephew, Barton Taylor
Kearney Hub, 17 June, 2009
ERICKSON, Robert "Bob", 79, of Lincoln, formerly of Kearney, died Sunday, June 14, 2009, in Lincoln
Services: Thursday, Christ's Place Church in Lincoln
Mortuary: Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home
Born March 25, 1930, in Wakefield
Parents: Andrew and Edna Erickson
Married: Aug. 26, 1952, to Sarah Anderson
Survivors include his wife; brother, Don of Omaha; sons, Mark of Olathe, Kan., and Scott of Horton, Kan.; daughters, Marta Papik of Stromsburg and Lisa Wyrick of Lincoln; and 12 grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 17 June, 2009
SCHUKAR, Clarence "C.W." of Sheridan, Oregon, 97, died May 20, 2007, at his home surrounded by his family
No services
Burial: Masonic Cemetery in Sheridan
Mortuary: Alternative Burial & Cremation of Oregon
Born September 21, 1909 in Watertown, Nebraska
Parents: Adolf and Alma (Sohrweid) Schukar
Moved to Oregon in 1918, lived in Willamina and Sheridan; attended school in Sheridan
Began work at an early age with a team of horses and wagon, worked for Yamhill County rocking roads; in the early 1920's, bought a truck and started hauling freight into California and also hauled materials to the Bonneville Dam when it was being built
Married: October 26, 1929 to Bonita Ruth Barrett in Sheridan, Oregon, and she preceded him in death
Worked at hauling logs and lumber; worked in the saw mill in Willamina, also worked for O.C. Yocum running his cattle ranch until his retirement in the early 1990's
Activities: member of the Yamhill County Mounted Posses; longtime member of the Sheridan Rodeo Association; loved anything that had to do with horses, enjoyed going to horse shows and horse pulling contests with friends; at age 95, restored an old horse drawn buggy for a friend to give to her mother for her birthday
Survivors include: 8 granddaughters; 17 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Selma, Alma, Wanda, and Milton Neal
Was preceded in death by his wife Bonita Ruth, sons, Vernon Clarence Schukar, Cecil Carl Schukar, and daughter Carol Virginia
Alternative Burial & Cremation of Oregon website
TUTTLE, Leota Augusta Albertina, 96, of Lincoln City (Lincoln Co.), Oregon died Saturday, July 20, 2002
No services
Burial of cremains: Memory Gardens in Medford, Oregon
Memorials: donor's choice
Born March 30, 1906 in Watertown, Nebraska
Parents: Adolph and Alma (Sohrweid) Schukar
Moved to Oregon in 1918
Married: April 2, 1923, to Orvel Earl Tuttle in Sheridan, Oregon (Yamhill Co.)
Worked for many years as a department store and grocery store sales clerk in Medford; also worked as a bookkeeper at the California-Pacific Gas Co. in Medford until retiring, received a certificate for 17 years of outstanding service; received an Individual Sales Performance Award from Sears, 1943
Lived in Medford from 1945 to 1995; also worked in her daughter's business in San Francisco and learned to use a computer at the age of 72
Activities: enjoyed writing poetry and playing the piano were her main hobbies; in 1990 received an Award of Appreciation from Medford Community Center for 2,224 hours of community service, as well as a Silver Poet Award
Survivors include: daughter, Janet L. Smith of Neotsu; a son, Robert D. Tuttle of Medford; brothers, Clarence Schukar of Sheridan and Milton Schukar of Willamina; a sister, Selma King of North Bend; a grandson, Ralph Smith of Portland; granddaughters Susan Smith of Portland and April Caron of Everett, Washington; great grandsons Darrel Smith and Kevin Smith, both of Beaverton; and one great-great-grandson Dawson Smith of Beaverton
Was preceded in death by her husband, Orvel, in 1968 and a daughter, Joyce in September 2001
News Guard, Lincoln City, Oregon, July 31, 2002