Page 107
Including residents and former residents of Buffalo County, Nebraska
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ARGANDA-MAGANA, Joanna, 20, of Kearney died Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Services: Tuesday, St. James Catholic Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Born Aug. 10, 1990, in Orange County, Calif.
Parents: Enrique and Ana Arganda
Survivors include her mother and her husband, Ana and Carlos Arganda of Kearney; father, Enrique Arganda of Mexico; son, Zeke Cruz Garcia of Kearney; brothers, Enrique Arganda of Omaha, Edgar Arganda of Las Vegas and Emmanuel Arganda, Erik Arganda and Kevin Arganda, all of Kearney; sister, Haley Arganda of Kearney; special friend, Ezequiel Garcia Martinez of Kearney; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins
Graduated from Kearney High School in 2009; was working at Culver's Restaurant and attending Central Community College-Kearney at the time of her death
Activities: enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, nieces and nephews; scrapbooking; running; and going to concerts; loved being a new mother and spending time with her newborn son; loved her job at Culver's and was excited to go back to work
Kearney Hub, 9 April, 2011
BAUER, George, 71, of Ravenna died Friday, April 22, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Services: Monday, Rasmussen Funeral Home in Ravenna
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Born Jan. 11, 1940, in Ravenna
Parents: Frank and Anna (Macek) Bauer
Married: Dec. 1, 1961, to Joyce Luhn in Cairo
Survivors include his wife; sons, Gregg Bauer and his wife, Sandy, of Nebraska City and Brian Bauer of Kearney; daughter, Amy Behrendt and her husband, Mike, of Ravenna; grandchildren, Brittany Behrendt and Trevin Behrendt of Ravenna and Tyler Bauer and Bree Bauer of Nebraska City; and sister, Mary Ann Mitchell of Lincoln
Was educated in Ravenna, graduated from Ravenna High School; worked at Greenslit Lumberyard in Ravenna
Lived in Ravenna; was employed by Henningson Foods in Ravenna for 25 years
Activities: member of the Ravenna Fire Department for 44 years, served as fire chief for many years; his life was his family, the fire department and work
Was preceded in death by a sister
Memorials: Ravenna Fire Department
Kearney Hub, 23 April, 2011
BENDFELDT, A.W. "Bill", 89, of Kearney died Saturday, April 2, 2011, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village
Services: Wednesday, St. James Catholic Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born: July 18, 1921, on the family farm near Gibbon
Parents: William and Mary (Markus) Bendfeldt
Married: Jan. 15, 1947, to Dorris Carlson at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Judy Campion and her husband, Jay, of Austin, Texas, and grandchildren, Lisa Moe and her husband, Shane, and great-grandchildren, Savannah, Sarah Jane, Kayla and Kendra, of Austin, and Brian Campion and his wife, Cindy, and great-grandchildren, Riley, Emerson and Wyatt, of Richardson, Texas; son, Jim Bendfeldt and his wife, Carol, of Kearney and grandchildren, Heather Brummels and her husband, Doug, and great-grandchildren, Harrison and Brielle, of Kearney, Jamie Powers and her husband, Brian, and great-grandchildren, Ethan and Evan, of Tulsa, Okla., and Shane Bendfeldt and his wife, Jodi, and great-granddaughter, Natalie, of Gibbon; son, Bob Bendfeldt and his wife, Brenda, of Gibbon, and grandchildren, Kylee Pohl and her husband, Jeff, of Lincoln, Jennifer Bendfeldt of Boston, Brooke Bendfeldt of Lincoln and Brett Bendfeldt of Gibbon; and numerous nieces and nephews
Grew up in the area near his birthplace and attended Buda School
Was a cattle feeder and farmer east of Kearney, retired in 1975; built a house in Kearney and moved into it in 1976, remained there nearly 30 years; moved to Northridge in 2004
Activities: enjoyed spending time at Johnson Lake with his family and friends; also enjoyed playing cards; member of St. James Catholic Church, Kearney Elks Lodge 984, Kearney Eagles Lodge and St. James Council of Knights of Columbus; had served on the District 4 School Board
Was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Walter Bendfeldt; sister-in-law, Jessie Bendfeldt; and daughter, Jane
Memorials: St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village or to Prairie View Gardens
Kearney Hub, 5 April, 2011
BENNETT, Donald Leroy, 88, of Kearney died Friday, April 8, 2011, at his home
Services: Wednesday, O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home
Burial: Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Pleasanton, military honors
Born: May 16, 1922, near Mason City
Parents: Fred and Gertrude (Wing) Bennett
Married: May 24, 1950, to Elizabeth Crouch of Broken Bow; married 58 years; she preceded him in death
Survivors include his daughters, Barbara of Gladstone, Mo., and Nancy Unick and her husband, Ben, of Pleasanton; son, Mark and his wife, Carolyn, of Seguin, Texas; grandchildren, Eugene Unick and his wife, Rachel, Geoffrey Unick, and Catherine, Christopher and Margaret Bennett; brother, Roy Bennett and his wife, Darlene, of Yakima, Wash.; many nieces and nephews; and several close friends and neighbors
Graduating from Mason City High School, completed a year of college
Military: U.S. Army in 1942-1946; during World War II, served in the European Theater of Operations
Started as a telegrapher with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, became an agent and eventually a railroad officer with Burlington Northern Railroad during his 34-year career; lived and worked in Broken Bow, Litchfield, Seneca, Custer, S.D., and Alliance; retired, 1984 and moved to Kearney
Activities: member of the Masonic Lodge, Elks, Eagles, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars; was a devoted husband, father and grandfather; enjoyed woodworking and gardening
Was preceded in death by his wife, parents and his siblings, Warren, Gene and Carrie
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
BROWN, Mary Louise, 51, of Kearney died Sunday, April 17, 2011, at her home
Graveside services: Tuesday, Overton Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann, Kearney
Born April 25, 1959, in Lincoln
Parents: Charles and Gertrude (Carey) Beatty
Married: May 18, 1985, to Ernest Brown in Kearney
Survivors include her husband; her mother of Kearney; brothers, Jack of Kearney and Patrick of Basehor, Kan.; an aunt and uncle; two nephews; and three nieces
Grew up in and received her education in Kearney; received her bachelor of science degree in family consumer science from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and her master's degree in social work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha; worked as a social worker with Hospice in Kansas City, Mo.
Activities: member of the Baha'i faith
Was preceded in death by her father
Memorials: Kearney Volunteer Fire Department
Kearney Hub, 18 April, 2011
BURCHELL, Marjorie Bertha Bishop, 92, of Kearney, formerly of Minden, died Sunday, April 24, 2011, at her Northridge Retirement Community apartment
Services: Friday, First Christian Church in Minden
Burial: White Hill Cemetery northwest of Minden
Mortuary: Layton-Craig in Minden
Born June 11, 1918, near Pleasanton
Parents: Charles and Bertha (Hendrickson) Bishop
Married: January 1942 to Alvin Burchell. He preceded her in death
Survivors include her sons, Dennis Burchell and his wife, Carole, of Kearney and Robert Burchell and his wife, Ellen, of Minden; daughters, Linda Ard and her husband, Bob, and Colleen Quadhamer and her husband, Steve, all of Minden, Bonnie Anderson and her husband, Monte, of Kearney and Kellee Krick and her husband, John, of Lincoln; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Doris Huddell of Walla Walla, Wash., Phyllis Wear of Lynwood, Wash., and Lorraine Taylor of Lincoln
Graduated from Kearney High School in 1935, attended teacher training at Kearney Normal School
After married, lived the next 44 years on the family farm northwest of Minden and raised her family; earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Kearney State College; taught school in Buffalo and Kearney counties
Activities: enjoyed quilting, needlepoint, sewing, painting and telling stories; enjoyed her family and friends; enjoyed spending winters in Texas
Was preceded in death by her husband; daughter, Cinda, and brother, Marion Bishop
Memorials: First Christian Church of Minden
Kearney Hub, 25 April, 2011
DAVIS, Lana K. (Cunningham), 62, of Kearney died Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Saturday, Family of Christ Lutheran Church
Burial: later
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born April 24, 1948, in Grand Island
Parents: Ivan and Shirley (McCray) Cunningham
Married: Jan. 17, 1970, to Steven P. Davis in Columbus. He preceded her in death
Survivors include her sons, Phil and his wife, Jennifer, of Fort Smith, Ark., and Seth and his wife, Kathleen, and granddaughter, Freya, of St. Louis; her mother of Fullerton; brothers, James of Kearney, Jeffrey of San Diego and Matthew of Fullerton; and sisters, Carol of Elkhorn, Jeanne of Kearney and Julia of Alma
Eldest of eight children, grew up on a farm outside of Fullerton in Nance County; graduated from Fullerton High School in 1966; graduated from Kearney State College in 1970 and began teaching at Bryant Elementary; retired in 2005
Activities: active member of Family of Christ Lutheran Church; enjoyed being a foster parent, tutoring children in reading and expanding her collection of giraffe figurines
Was preceded in death by her husband, father and a sister, Mary
Memorials: Family of Christ Lutheran Church on behalf of the Steven P. and Lana K. Davis Memorial Fund
Kearney Hub, 14 April, 2011
DODD, Floyd Jr., 87, of Kearney, formerly of Elm Creek, died Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Memorial services: Friday, Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services
Burial: later
Body has been donated to the state anatomical board
Born Feb. 24, 1924, in Dunning
Parents: Oliver and Alice (Tinsley) Dodd
Married: Nov. 20, 1943, to Joye Swearingen. She preceded him in death
Survivors include his sons, Stephen Dodd of Lafayette, La., and Robert F. Dodd and his wife, Janet, of Camp Verde, Ariz.; grandchildren, Jason Dodd, Jennifer Bryan, David Dodd, Jeremy Dodd and Carla Dodd; sister, Bonnie Cronwell and her husband, Harold, of Sedona, Ariz.; brother, Charles Dodd of Fremont; and nieces, Joyce Waugh and Diana Shubert, both of Elm Creek
Attended Longfellow High School in Kearney
After marriage, lived in Elm Creek, then moved to Fremont, 1953; worked at the Fremont Light Plant, retired in 1984; moved to Albuquerque, N.M., 1995, returned Elm Creek in 2001; moved to Kearney, 2009
Activities: member of First Christian Church in Elm Creek and was a Mason; enjoyed gardening, reading, going to coffee and having pets; liked training boxers for dog shows
Was preceded in death by his wife and one sister
Memorials: First Christian Church in Elm Creek or Mount Carmel Nursing Home
Kearney Hub, 7 April, 2011
DOMANDLE, Bernard, 74, of Omaha, formerly of Kearney, died Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha
Services: Friday, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ravenna
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born Oct. 24, 1936, in Buffalo County
Parents: Joseph and Frances (Rebhan) Domandle
Married: Aug. 27, 1957, to Angela Vandewalle. She preceded him in death
Survivors include his son, Daniel Domandle and his wife, Julie, of Omaha; grandchildren, Jack and Hannah, both of Omaha; and sister, Karen Meyerott and her husband, Alan, of Gretna
Graduated from Ravenna High School in 1954
Was an avid sportsman and fisherman and enjoyed his grandkids
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
EPLEY, Max A., 74, of Pleasanton died Thursday, April 7, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society in Ravenna
Services: Monday, Pleasanton United Methodist Church; military honors
Burial: Pleasanton City Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born June 25, 1936, in Cheyenne Wells, Colo.
Parents: Elmer and Mildred (Hird) Epley
Married: Oct. 6, 1955, to Beverly Lindner in Kearney
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Kim Scoville and her husband, Steve, of Elwood; sons, Michael Epley and his wife, Mary, of Belle Plaine, Kan., and Kelly Epley and Patrick Epley and his wife, Heide, all of Pleasanton; sister, Norma Peterson of Kearney; sisters-in-law, Roberta Epley and Loretta Epley, both of Pleasanton; 14 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren
Graduated from Pleasanton High School with the class of 1954
Military: U.S. Army during the Korean War
Activities: member of the United Methodist Church in Pleasanton; will be remembered for his musical ability and sense of humor; enjoyed woodworking and was an avid reader
Was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; daughter-in-law, Robbie Epley; and granddaughter, Annie Jean Epley
Memorials: Good Samaritan Society in Ravenna
Kearney Hub, 9 April, 2011
FESTER, Emma, 89, of Ravenna died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at her home
Graveside memorial services: Friday at Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born Feb. 11, 1922, in Hazard
Parents: John and Cora (Cadwalder) Brewer
Survivors include nieces and nephews
Was a graduate of Hazard High School
Lived in Ravenna; worked at Boys Town and the ordnance plant in Grand Island; retired from Henningson Foods in Ravenna in 1984
Activities: loved cats
Was preceded in death by her son, Howard Fester; special friend, Dick Shrader; six brothers; and three sisters
Kearney Hub, 20 April, 2011
GIERHAN, Bud, 81, of Kearney died Monday, April 18, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Friday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery in Franklin
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born Sept, 3, 1929, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington
Parents: Martin F. and Martha (Neben) Gierhan
Married Bev Schmidt in Lexington
Survivors include his wife; son, Jim Gierhan and his wife, Rhonda, of Clay Center, Kan.; daughter-in-law, Susan Gierhan of Kearney; brother, Sam Gierhan and his wife, Dixie, of Lakewood, Calif.; sister, Sue Bredenkamp and her husband, Roger, of Long Beach, Calif., and Darline Bourn of Bismarck, N.D.; grandchildren, Jonathan Gierhan and his wife, Sarah, and Jenny Gierhan, all of Kearney, and Adam Gierhan and Ryan Gierhan, both of Clay Center; mother-in-law, Doris Thompson of Franklin; and numerous nieces and nephews
Grew up on a farm in the Buffalo area north of Lexington; attended Lutheran parochial school in Buffalo
Military: U.S. Army, served during the Korean War; played battalion baseball; played against Ted Williams and threw him out at third base
Moved to Kearney, 1993; retired from the Nebraska Department of Roads, 1999; then worked part time for the Buffalo County Highway Department
Activities: member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney; especially enjoyed spending time with his family, playing golf, watching baseball, dancing with Bev, gardening and being on his tractor; also coached many Little League teams in Kearney and Lexington
Was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Michael
Kearney Hub, 21 April, 2011
HATHER, Donald O., 70, of Skagway, Alaska, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Thursday, April 7, 2011, at Skagway
Services: April 12, Skagway School gymnasium
Born March 5, 1941, in Grand Island, Neb.
Parents: C.O. and May (Kasselder) Hather
Married: 1962, to Betty Harris in Kearney
Survivors include his wife; niece, Lori Rivera; nephew, Doug Merryman; and brother-in-law, Nelson "Buzz" Merryman
Attended Kearney High School and Kearney State College; was active participated in football and wrestling; went on to become a teacher and coach for the next 35-plus years; taught and coached in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and finally Alaska
Was selected wrestling coach of the year in Nebraska and also in Alaska; was inducted into the Alaska Athletic Hall of Fame for both coaching and refereeing; in 2007, was inducted into the Alaska High School Activities Hall of Fame for coaching
Activities: was a member of Elks Lodge 431; was an Elk trustee and was awarded the Elk of the Month and Outstanding Service and Citizenship award; he and Betty were selected as recipients of the Helen B. Clark Community Service award and stayed as active members of the selection committee; served on the local school board, Clinic Board and Election Committee Board; stayed active with the school
Was preceded in death by his sister, Sue Merryman in 2009
Memorials: Don Hather Scholarship Fund, c/o Skagway School System
Kearney Hub, 16 April, 2011
HEUSEL, Herbert "Herb" W., 82, of Grand Island died Monday, April 18, 2011, at Grand Island Veterans Home
Memorial services: Thursday, Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island
Burial: Grand Island City Cemetery
Mortuary: All Faiths Funeral Home
Born June 12, 1928, at Sodtown
Parents: Herbert and Anna (Muhlberger) Heusel
Married: July 20, 1952, to Bethene Paul
Survivors include his wife; children, Beth Dumesco of Germantown, Md., Steve Heusel and his wife, Shelly, Christine Falldorf and Herbert Heusel Jr. and his wife, Chris, all of Grand Island, and Penny Stovall and her fiancé, Robert Lange, of Lincoln; grandchildren, Stacy Heusel and his wife, Gretchen, Jennifer Dumesco, Abigail Stovall and Brandon Heusel; great-grandchildren, Sam, Max and Jaston; and goddaughter, Rachelle (Pollock) Hinrichs
Grew up in Sodtown, graduated from Shelton High School in 1945
Farmed with his father on the farm north of Shelton, which was homesteaded by his grandfather in 1883
Military: U.S. Marine Corps for 2 years: Went into business with his friend, Lloyd Soukop, in 1954, owned and operated Lloyd and Herb's Tune-Up together for 40 years; retired April 1, 1994
Activities: enjoyed hunting,fishing and camping and made many friends in the Alma city campgrounds; member of the Grand Island Saddle Club, the Platt Deutsche and Eagles Club
Was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, Rod Falldorf
Memorials: Trinity United Methodist Church
Kearney Hub, 19 April, 2011
HOLDER, Ronald Gene, 60, of the rural Redfield, Kansas, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Sunday, April 10, 2011, at his home
Services: Monday at Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel in Fort Scott; cremation will follow
Born Jan. 15, 1951, in Grand Island, Neb.
Parents: Gene and Mary Holder
Married: June 4, 1977, to Belinda Bradbury
Survivors include his wife; daughters, Jessica Haile and her husband, Ralph II, of Springfield, Mo., and Jennifer Gannon and her husband Charles, of Gering, Neb.; his parents of Fort Scott; sisters, Dixie Adams and her husband, Richard, of Laurel, Md., Barbara Poppe and her husband, Arthur, of Kearney and Irene Bradbury and her husband, Gerald Jr., of Redfield; grandchildren, Ralph III and Elizabeth Haile and Kaylee, Kiara and Kinnzie Gannon; and many other relatives and friends, including lifelong friend Alan Schellhase and his family
Grew up in Kearney, was an Eagle Scout; graduated from Kearney High School in 1970; earned his technical diploma in diesel and automotive mechanics in Denver
Worked for many years with his father, Gene, as a floor coverings installer in the Kearney area; moved to Gering, worked for Case IH as a diesel mechanic; moved to Redfield, 1995, was self-employed
Activities: served in Boy Scouts as a troop leader; worked in multiple capacities in Southern Baptist churches, the Awana program and Gideons International; recently attended Cornerstone Bible Church
Was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Jannell
Memorials: Gideons International
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
KINKADE, Frances, 99, of Kearney died Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Mount Carmel Home Keens Memorial
Services: Wednesday, the Mount Carmel Chapel
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born March 6, 1912, in a sod house in Douglas County, S.D.
Parents: Joseph and Mary (Polreis) Thury
Married: March 25, 1940, to Herman Kinkade in Long Beach, Calif. He preceded her in death
Survivors include her daughters, Kathy Reilly and her husband, Tom, of Grand Island, Terri Blattner of Ankeny, Iowa, Franci Kinkade of Denver and Dottie Kinkade and her husband, Dan Kwiatkowski, of Kearney; son, Larry Kinkade of Kearney; sisters, Thecla Pape and Joyce Mechtenberg and her husband, John, all of Parkston, S.D.; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren
Attended Parkston High School in South Dakota, attended business school in Mitchell, S.D.; moved to Denver, San Diego and on to Bremerton, Wash.
After marriage, moved to Kearney in 1957, worked at the Nebraska Tuberculosis Hospital for many years as a medical secretary
Activities: member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, was active in Keenagers and the Altar Society; at Mount Carmel, was a member of the Lay Carmelite Order, served as secretary; enjoyed music, spent many hours playing waltzes and polkas on her piano, gathering family around to sing along; enjoyed family, playing cards, gardening, sewing and baking
Was preceded in death by her husband; one infant brother; infant daughter, Elizabeth; son, Ken; and daughter-in-law, Linda Kinkade
Memorials: Mount Carmel Home
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
MEFFERD, Howard L., 86, of Kearney died Thursday, April 7, 2011, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village
Memorial services: Monday, Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services
Burial of cremains: Kearney Cemetery
Born Nov. 13, 1924, in Pocahontas, Iowa
Parents: Fritz and Etta (Chilcote) Mefferd
Married: Dec. 27, 1952, to Byrnece Oleson in Pocahontas
Survivors include his wife; son, Michael Mefferd of Kearney and grandchildren Jessica and husband Patrick Jeneske and Ashley and husband Brian Huppert, and great-granddaughter Sophia Jeneske; daughter, Jean Mefferd and her husband, Jerold Chun, of La Jolla, Calif., and grandchildren Natalie and Andrew; sister, Marion Jackson of Des Moines, Iowa; and a number of nieces and nephews
Graduated from Pocahontas High School in 1942
Military: U.S. Navy, 1943 to 1946; veteran of World War II; also was in the U.S. Air Force Reserve
Attended the University of Iowa, received his undergraduate and master's degrees in political science
Moved to Lincoln, worked for International Harvester; continued his work with International Harvester, lived in McCook then Holdrege, moved to Kearney in 1963; began working for Fairbanks Case International Harvester, 1982; retired in 2000
Was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Jean Lighthall and Joyce Boulter
Memorials: Buffalo County Hero Flight Program or to the Kearney Public Schools Foundation
Kearney Hub, 9 April, 2011
NINEGAR, Louis C., 93, of Kearney died Saturday, April 9, 2011, at Ravenna Good Samaritan Center
Services: Friday, First Presbyterian Church
Burial of cremains: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born May 27, 1917, at Spencer, S.D.
Parents: Charles and Hazel (Williams) Ninegar
Married: Aug. 20, 1944, to Bethine Bruner at Broadwater
Survivors include his wife; son, Steve Ninegar and his wife, Laura, of Elm Creek; daughters, Joanne Greene of North Platte, Jerrie Quincy and her husband, Wayne, of Holdrege and Carol Krepel and her husband, Tom, of Fairmont, W.Va.; grandchildren, Samuel Ninegar, Matt, Marty and Mark Greene, Jennifer Bonynge, Becky Wood, Ryan, Jay and David Quincy and Patrick and Philip Krepel; and seven great-grandchildren
Grew up in Bayard, graduated from Bayard High School in 1935; attended Hastings College for two years and completed his undergraduate degree from Chadron State College in 1941; earned a master's degree in 1955 and doctorate in educational administration in 1965 from the University of Nebraska
Was hired as a science teacher and coach at Minatare High School in 1941; moved to Kearney, taught and coached at Kearney High School and was later principal; joined the faculty at Kearney State College, 1958, and served as a professor and later chair of the department of educational administration. The specialist degree was implemented under his leadership; served as lobbyist for the Nebraska College Board of Trustees for three years, developed the concept leading to establishment of The 309 Commission; retired in 1982
Activities: served 10 years on the Kearney City Council, four terms on the Buffalo County Board of Supervisors and 10 years on the Central Nebraska Technical and Community College Board; was on the boards of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo County Red Cross, Nebraska Public Retirement System and Area Agency on Aging; member of First Presbyterian Church; was recognized by Kearney State and Chadron State colleges with Distinguished Service Awards
Activities: enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, reading and spending time with his family
Was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, two sisters and a son-in-law, Jack Greene
Memorials: Kearney Public Schools Foundation
Kearney Hub, 13 April, 2011
OLSON, Maxine L., 87, of Katy, Texas, formerly of Gibbon, Neb., died Monday, April 11, 2011, at Colonial Oaks of Katy Assisted Living
Memorial services: Kearney, Neb.
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Born May 18, 1923, in Gibbon
Parents: Lester and Zella (Cudaback) Deets
Married: Feb. 16, 1945, to Bill J. Olsen in Kearney. He died in 2002
Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Hoover and her husband, Keith, of Katy; son, William Olsen and his wife, Ruth, of Kearney; grandchildren, Jason Hoover, Erin Hoover, James Olsen and Ryan Olsen; and great-grandson, Matthew Hoover
Kearney Hub, 14 April, 2011
OSTERHOUDT, Cora L., 80, of Kearney died Friday, April 1, 2011, in Kearney
Services: Thursday,First Lutheran Church
Burial: Maywood Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born June 5, 1930, in Maywood
Parents: Glen and Bernice (Doudna) Shults
Married: Dec. 25, 1947, to Howard Osterhoudt in Curtis. He preceded her in death
Survivors include her sons, Marlin Osterhoudt and his wife, Linda, of Kenyon, Minn., and Dwight Osterhoudt and his wife, Joan, of Callaway; daughters, Cheryl Long and her husband, Jim, of Denver and Leslie Wolsleben and her husband, Perry, of Fremont; brother, Warren Shults and his wife, Evelyn, of North Platte; sister, Elaine Knaus and her husband, Gene, of Kearney; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren
Graduated from Curtis High School with the class of 1948; attended college at Dakota Wesleyan and Bishop Clarkson, earned her bachelor of nursing degree in 1995
Worked as a registered nurse at Richard Young Hospital in Kearney and later at St. John's Good Samaritan Center in Kearney
Activities: member of First Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary; was involved with Ruth Circle at church, was a lesson leader; did beautiful handcrafts, including crocheting, knitting and cross-stitch, especially enjoyed making blankets and donating them to the hospital
Was preceded in death by her husband, parents and a brother, Glenn Dean Shults
Memorials: First Lutheran Church or to the donor's choice
Kearney Hub, 6 April, 2011
PHILLIPS, Dean H., 97, of Kearney, formerly of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at St. John's Good Samaritan Center
Services: later in Trinidad, Colo.
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann in Kearney
Born Jan. 14, 1914, in Iuka, Kan.
Parents: Sylvester and Minnie (Doan) Phillips
Married Wilma Witt. She preceded him in death
Survivors include his stepson, Frank Royse of Kearney; stepdaughters, Sharon Newton of Barrington, R.I., and Dorothy Magers of Greeley, Colo.; and many grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 14 April, 2011
REDMAN, Mary K., 46, of Kearney died Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at Clarkson Medical Center in Omaha
Services: Monday, Kearney High School Auditorium
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born Aug. 28, 1964, in Grand Island
Parents: Paul and Wauneta (Burns) McGowan
Married: Aug. 20, 1988, to Matthew Redman in Grand Island
Survivors include her husband; sons, Josh and Jake Redman of Kearney; daughter, Maggie Redman of Kearney; her mother of Grand Island; sisters, Mary Margaret McGowan and Carlene Headrick, both of Grand Island; brothers, Jim McGowan and his wife, Jan, of Puyallup, Wash., Larry McGowan and his wife, Barb of Schuyler, John McGowan of Denver, Mark McGowan and his wife, Kim, of Grand Island, Steve McGowan of Windom, Minn., and Matt McGowan and his wife, Jen, of Iowa City, Iowa; parents-in-law, LeRoy and Lois Redman of Grand Island; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Connie and Don Bennett of Kansas City, Mo., Mary Redman and Mike and Jen Redman, all of Grand Island, and Colleen and Stu Girard of Castle Rock, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews
Was raised in Grand Island, received her education at Grand Island Central Catholic and graduated in 1982; was a 1987 graduate of Kearney State College; started teaching at Kearney High School in fall 1988
Activities: member of St. James Catholic Church and the Nebraska Educators Association, was co-founder of Kearney Tackles Cancer and was a board member of Kearney Legion Baseball; had a passion for education and working with kids
Was preceded in death by her father
Memorials: Kearney Tackles Cancer, the Mary Kay Redman Memorial Scholarship Fund or to the family
Kearney Hub, 23 April, 2011
REITER, Raymond LeRoy "Ray", 92, of Kearney died Monday, April 11, 2011, at St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village
Services: Friday, Trinity Presbyterian Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery with military honors
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
orn Dec. 8, 1918, in Poole
Parents: Adolph and Ida (Besack) Reiter
Married: June 2, 1940, to Ruth Knosp in Kearney. She died Feb. 19, 2008
Survivors include his son, Richard Reiter and his wife, Marla, of Kearney; daughter, Deborah Elliott and her husband, Gary, of Kearney; grandchildren, David Reiter of Anderson, S.C., Paul Reiter of Lincoln, Greta Erickson of Lookout Mountain, Ga., Catherine Babcock of Waverly, Elizabeth Schroeder of Round Rock, Texas, Michael Fries of Austin, Texas, Kimberly Elliott and Jodi Elliott, both of Kearney, Jessica Lampman of Odessa, Texas, Angela Schlickeisen of Little River Academy, Texas, Joel Reiter of Missoula, Mont., and Ben Elliott of Steilacoom, Wash.; son-in-law, Wayne Fries of Leander, Texas; and 22 great-grandchildren
Moved to Kearney as a child, graduated from Kearney High School in 1936; was employed at Kaufmann-Wernert department store and then at Fort Kearney State Bank
Military: U.S. Navy during World War II, July 25, 1944-April 25, 1946
Returned to the bank for a short time; owned Cottage Circle grocery store and was a self-employed accountant; started and ran a campus business later named The Book Mark, 1955-1976; also operated Antelope Bookstore on campus, 1964-1980
Activities: charter member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Gideons International and Kearney Cosmopolitan Club
Was preceded in death by his wife, daughter, Judy Fries, and daughter-in-law, Junetta Reiter
Memorials: Trinity Presbyterian Church, St. Luke's Good Samaritan Village or Gideons International
Kearney Hub, 4 April, 2011
REYNOLDS, Gary Lester, 60, of Volcano, Hawaii, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died of complications of kidney failure Friday, March 25, 2011, at Hilo Medical Center
Services in Hawaii
Mortuary: Dodo Mortuary
Born Dec. 8, 1950, in Lynchburg, Va.
Parents: Herman and Esther (Holoubeck) Reynolds
Married Johnette Keonaona Toy Len Kapuni. She died April 21, 2010
Survivors include his daughters, Noekeonaona Kapuni-Reynolds of Hilo and Ekekelakini Leo and her husband, Dimatia, of Tomah, Wis.; sons, Kealii Kapuni-Reynolds and Halena Kapuni-Reynolds, both of Hilo; his mother of Grand Island, Neb.; sister, Carolyn Bailey of Grand Island; and two granddaughters
Family moved to Nebraska where he grew up; graduated from Kearney High School in 1969
Was a commercial fisherman in Hawaii
Was preceded in death by his father
Kearney Hub, 13 April, 2011
ROONEY, Virginia Carol "Jill", 65, of Kearney, formerly of Lincoln, died Sunday, April 3, 2011, at Mother Hull Home
Services: private
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann Born Oct. 14, 1945, at Murphy's Maternity Home in Greeley
Survivors include her sister, Mary Jane Sweet and her husband, Sid; brother, Pat Rooney; brother, Joe Rooney and his wife, Eileen; brother, Jerry Rooney and his wife, Norma; brother, Bob Rooney; sister, Karen Colleran; and nieces and nephews
Graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Greeley in 1963; attended Duchesne College in Omaha, received a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Nebraska
Taught at Spalding Academy; moved to Lincoln in 1972 and taught first and fifth grades at St. Theresa's Catholic School for 30 years
Moved to Kearney, 2003, to live with her brother, the Rev. Bob Rooney; later moved to Mother Hull Home
Activities: loved children, books and animals of all kinds
Was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Virginia Rooney
Memorials: Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries or Capital Humane Society
Kearney Hub, 5 April, 2011
ROOT, Brad L., 44, of Kearney died Friday, April 8, 2011, at his home
Services: Wednesday, Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral Chapel
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Born May 4, 1966, in Montrose, Colo.
Parents: William "Bill" and Kathy (Hill) Root
Married: Aug. 22, 1992, to Michelle Wyant in Kearney
Survivors include his wife; daughters, Cassandra Root and Toni Wyant, both of Lincoln, and Brandi Root of Kearney; his parents of Bentonville, Ark.; brothers, Michael Root of Kearney, Martin Root and his wife, Gertrude, of North Platte, Bill Root of Omaha and Brent Root of Fayetteville, Ark.; sister, Anita Potts of Bentonville; grandchildren, Conner Root, Melina Garcia Wyant, Alexis Gerih, Nevaeh Weise and Carmen Garcia Wyant; sisters-in-law, Nicole Reicheneker of Kearney and Katie Wyant of Lincoln; fathers-in-law, Darryl Fisher of Kearney and Jack Wyant and his wife, Lora, of Lincoln; nieces, Chanea Aflague and Mandy Gant; nephew, Matthew Root; and many more nieces and nephews
Attended school in Lincoln
Had been a cook at Holiday Inn for the last seven years; had lived in Kearney for the last 10 years and previously lived in Holdrege
Activities: loved spending time with his family and grandchildren
Was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Rosemary Fisher, and grandmother, Pat Hill
Kearney Hub, 11 April, 2011
ROSE, Gerald Dale, 89, of Spokane, Washington, formerly of Gibbon, Neb., died Saturday, April 2, 2011, in Spokane
Burial with military honors: May 28, Gibbon Riverside Cemetery
Born July 18, 1921, in Lowell, Neb.
Parents: Harrison P. "Harry" and Ollie M. Rose
Married: Nov. 11, 1943, to Mary C. Jenkins in Kansas City, Kan.; married 54 years; she preceded him in death
Survivors include his daughter, Mary Lee Kunze and her husband, Dick, of Spokane; son, Dan and his wife, Janet, of Duluth, Ga.; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends across the country
Lived in the Gibbon area; moved to Spokane, 2010, because of declining health to be near his daughter
Had three brothers and two sisters; graduated at 16 from Gibbon High School, worked on the family farm; was offered a job at Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, Calif., where his brother, Lee, worked
Military: in California, enlisted in the U.S. Army; was accepted into the Army Air Corps in October 1942, received his wings on Nov. 3, 1943, at Luke Field in Phoenix; immediately left for Texas to instructors' school; was at several bases, was eventually assigned to a B-17 aircraft; was sent to Grafton-Underwood, England, as part of the 384th Bomb Group; flew fly 35 missions into France and Germany, attained the rank of first lieutenant; commendations included the Air Medal, Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, European Theater of Operations Medal and Battle Star; final mission was on Dec. 9, 1944; wrote his memoirs "Rambling Rose;" returned home to farm with his brothers, Garnet and Lee
Activities: played baseball, enjoyed bowling, hunting, woodworking, playing cribbage, socializing with friends and fishing; member of the Gibbon American Legion for more than 60 years, the Gibbon Volunteer Fire Department for many years and various Air Force associations; loved traveling to Tucson, Ariz., volunteered for the Pima Air Museum
Was preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Garnet and Rolley Rose and Lee Willis; and sisters, Thelma Youmans and Pearl McBrayer
Memorials: Gibbon American Legion Club or donor's choice
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
SONKSEN, Gerald D. "Beep", 79, of Kearney died Monday, April 11, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Friday, O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home
Burial: later
Born Sept. 11, 1931, in Ida Grove, Iowa
Parents: John and Helen (Koch) Sonksen. Married: July 27, 1952, to Arlene Miller at Freidens Evangelical and Reformed Church in Schleswig, Iowa
Survivors include his wife; son, Bryce and his wife, Paula, and their children, Taylor, Sloan and Conner; daughter, Brenda Raatz and her children, Derek and Ashley; son, Paul and his wife, Brenda, and their children, Tora, Nathan and Drew; and son-in-law, Mitchell Wade
Was baptized and confirmed at Grant Township Missouri Synod Lutheran Church; grew up in Ida County, attended schools; then attended Schleswig High School, graduated in 1950
Lived in Schleswig, entered into partnership in the Texaco Station; built the Standard Station in Schleswig, 1956, and added a drive-in restaurant in partnership with Melvin Miller; sold both in 1965, and joined the Ralston Purina Co. as sales manager; was transferred to Kearney in 1974, retired in 1998
Activities: member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church both in Schleswig and Kearney; served on the Schleswig Fire Department for 24 years and served on the Schleswig Community Club, Schleswig Golf Club, Kearney Chamber of Commerce, including the Colonel's Club, and many livestock clubs; enjoyed golf as a lifelong hobby
Was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Ann; brother, DeWayne; sister, Janice; and son-in-law, Lonnie Raatz
Memorials: Kearney Area Community Foundation or the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department
Kearney Hub, 13 April, 2011
STAAB, Bonnie, 76, of Kearney, formerly of Pleasanton, died Sunday, April 3, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Services: Wednesday, Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton
Burial: Pleasanton Cemetery
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born March 25, 1935, northwest of Pleasanton
Parents: Arthur and Ethel (Yarrington) Lammers
Married: 1976, to Herb Staab. He died in 1998
Survivors include her son, Mark Slocumb of Kearney; grandsons, Sam and Jake; and sister, Pearl Talbot of Kearney
Was a graduate of Pleasanton High School; worked as a beautician in Pleasanton
Lived in Pleasanton
Activities: member of Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton; enjoyed gardening and her grandkids
Was preceded in death by her husband and one sister, Iola Krotz
Kearney Hub, 5 April, 2011
STOTTS, Troy D., 46, of Kearney died Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at his home
O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements
Kearney Hub, 9 March, 2011
TRAMPE, Dustin S., 33, of Amherst died Monday, April 18, 2011, at his home west of Pleasanton
Services: Thursday, Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton
Burial: St. Mary's Cemetery in Pleasanton
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born June 21, 1977, in Kearney
Parents: David and Lydel (Riessland) Trampe
Married: Kara Peterson
Married: May 30, 2009, to Casey Waldemar in Pleasanton
Survivors include his wife; sons, Devin and Daylan of Riverdale and Lane Ahrens of Amherst; daughter, Micky Ahrens of Amherst; his parents of Amherst; grandparents, DeWaine and Marylin Trampe and Maggie Riessland, all of Amherst; brother, Dillon of Amherst; and sister, Dawn of Amherst
Grew up in the Amherst-Pleasanton area; graduated from Pleasanton High School in 1995; during high school, worked for Pleasanton Irrigation and Bob Janitscheck Construction
With Kara had two children, Devin and Daylan
Worked at Baldwin Filters, West Co. and then for Russ Swanson Construction; had been working at Cabela's in Kearney since November 2010
Activities: loved hunting, fishing, woodworking and carving and especially enjoyed spending time with his children and his family
Was preceded in death by his grandfather, Art "Swede" Riessland, in 2010
Memorials: an educational fund for his children
Kearney Hub, 20 April, 2011
TURNER, Gloria A., 76, of Kearney died Friday, April 8, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Wednesday, First Lutheran Church
Burial: Elm Creek Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born Nov. 15, 1934, in Holdrege
Parents: Verner and Opal (Hoagstrom) Peterson
Married: Jan. 15, 1953, to Robert Turner in Holdrege
Survivors include her husband; daughters, Chris Daake and her husband, Fred, of Grand Island and Barbara Turner and Donna Giesenhagen and her husband, Gary, all of Kearney; son, Robert Jr. and his wife, Jennie, of Kearney; grandchildren, Kelli Daake and Kim (Daake) and her husband, Jeremy Jensen, all of Grand Island, Amy (Schmidt) and her husband, Ryan Johnson, Tony and Ashley Turner, Alexis Turner, Jazlyn, Karlye and Robert Turner III and Ryan Giesenhagen, all of Kearney, and Shawna Giesenhagen of Lincoln; and great-grandchildren, Jada, Jalen and Jolie Jensen of Grand Island and Kaylie and Dylan Johnson and Chassidy and Tony Turner Jr., all of Kearney
Grew up and attended school in Holdrege; moved to Kearney at age 16
With husband, owned and operated Turner's Body Shop in Kearney; was the bookkeeper in the business and worked up to the time of her death
Activities: member of First Lutheran Church, a former member of the DOES, did volunteer work at Good Samaritan Hospital and was a member of the Red Hats; bowled 50 consecutive years in the state bowling tournament; enjoyed playing dominoes, holiday crafts, fishing, hunting, crocheting and playing in card clubs
Was preceded in death by her parents and an infant grandson, Fred Daake III
Memorials: the church, or to volunteer services at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
VOLKMAN, Steven A., 60, of Ravenna, formerly of Mosaic Bethphage Village in Axtell, died Friday, April 8, 2011, at Good Samaritan Center in Ravenna
Body was cremated
Services: later in Hermiston, Ore.
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Kearney Hub, 12 April, 2011
WALLACE, Robert "Bob", 78, of Tucson, Ariz., died Monday, April 18, 2011, in Kearney
A celebration of life gathering: Sunday at the home of Scott Wallace
Mortuary: O'Brien-Straatmann
Born April 24, 1932, in Eddyville
Parents: Edward and Mabel (Sell) Wallace
Married: May 29, 1951, to Phyllis Cramer in Phillipsburg, Kan.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years; children, Michael and his wife, Karen, and Mark and his wife, Cindy, all of Tucson, Scott of Kearney and Alice Bauman of Flagstaff, Ariz.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers, James and his wife, Jane, of Loveland, Colo., and Charles and his wife, LouAnn, of Alamogordo, N.M.; sisters, Ruth Kresser of Kearney and Norma Eby of Overton; brother-in-law, Dwane Cramer of Sumner; and sister-in-law, Darlene Wallace of Nebraska City
His mother, Mabel, died when Robert was a baby; Edward then married Bob's aunt, Margaret Sell, who became his true mother; grew up in the Sumner area and graduated from Sumner High School
Military: 1952 to 1954, during the Korean War
Completed barber college in 1955, barbered in Kearney until 1968; moved to Tucson
Was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack; and a much-loved daughter-in-law, Laurie Wallace
Memorials: Jubilee Center in Kearney
Kearney Hub, 21 April, 2011
WARTA, Sharon Jo, 62, of Kearney died Sunday, April 3, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Services: Friday, O'Brien-Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney
Burial: Sumner Cemetery
Born July 2, 1948, in Kearney
Parents: Joseph and Elva (Sheehan) Warta
Survivors include her sisters, Connie Larsen and her husband, Dennis, of Kearney, Jane Kreun and her husband, Randy, of Pleasanton and Renee Sazama and her husband, Allen, of Doniphan; brother, Gary Warta and his wife, Brenda, of Grand Island; and many nieces, nephews and friends
Oldest of five children; grew up with her family in the Sumner area; attended boarding schools for children with special needs in Broken Bow and Cozad; later moved to the Beatrice Developmental Center for a few years before relocating to a residential/vocational setting in Cozad; had resided in Kearney for the past 18 years and attended vocational training at Mid-Nebraska Individual Services
Activities: enjoyed spending time with her family, particularly on holidays; enjoyed shopping, going to the zoo, dining out and going on day trips
Was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents
Memorials: The Arc of Buffalo County
Kearney Hub, 7 April, 2011
WIEMERS, Les L., 74, of Kearney died Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at his home
Memorial services: Monday, Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services
Born Feb. 24, 1937, in Alma
Parents: George and Leora (Schleufer) Wiemers
Married: 1968 to Janice Merrick. They divorced
Survivors include his daughters, Kathy Wiemers of Milpitas, Calif., and Lisa Lash of Aurora, Colo.; four grandsons; sister, Delores Hild of Kearney; and brothers, Orville Wiemers and his wife, Harriet, and Wayne Wiemers and his wife, Sandy, all of Kearney
Moved to Elm Creek at a young age; moved to Kearney, graduated from high school in 1954; attended Kearney State College
Worked as groundskeeper at Kearney Country Club for many years then worked in grounds maintenance at the University of Nebraska at Kearney until he retired
Activities: member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Kearney; loved hunting and gun collecting
Was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Jake Hild
Kearney Hub, 9 April, 2011
WILSEY, Phyllis Jean, 76, of Kearney, formerly of Oxford, died Thursday, April 14, 2011, at Good Samaritan Hospital
Memorial services: Thursday, Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney
Burial of cremains: Oxford Cemetery
Mortuary: Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer in Oxford
Born March 13, 1935, at Omaha
Parents: Willis and Bernice (Burnard) Rowe
Married: Aug. 23, 1952, she married Clarence Wilsey at Omaha
Survivors include her husband; sons, Philip of Grand Island and Allan of Papillion; sister, Myrna Watson of Athens, Texas; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 15 April, 2011