Page 156
Back to Index for Obituaries
BAUER, Randall J. “Little Randy”, 60, of Kearney died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Kearney
Services: Tuesday at Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney
Burial: Sumner Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born April 7, 1954, in Kearney
Parents: Larry and Marlys (Scoville) Bauer
Grew up in Kearney, graduated from Kearney High School in 1973; attended Kearney State College
Worked for Carl Jensen Photography, then owned and operated Bauer Publication Services
Married Kim Shaner. They later divorced
Lived in Windsor, Colo., then Brady, then returned to Kearney
Activities: member of Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney and various photography associations
Survivors include his mother of Kearney; daughters, Loree Stripling of Tumwater, Wash., and Crystal Bergeron-Bauer and wife Amanda of Lincoln and grandson, Emmett; sister, Marci Van Vleet and Gary Manley of St. Louis; and nephew, Jason Van Vleet and his children, Jack and Joshua
Was preceded in death by his father and a special friend, Andrea Burnett
Memorials: Ostomy Support Group or Faith United Methodist Church
Kearney Hub, 29 December, 2014
BEAM, Ralph Dee, 99, of Kearney died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, at Mother Hull Home in Kearney
Memorial services: Friday at First United Methodist Church
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born: August 14, 1915, the eldest of five, in Denison, Texas
Parents: Orville and Lucy (Fischer) Beam
Graduated from high school in Denison
During the Depression, rode the rails, followed the fruit harvest and was a gandy dancer, which started his life-long love of railroads
Moved to Maryland and earned an associate’s degree in business administration from Baltimore College of Commerce; began working for the Securities & Exchange Commission as a mail carrier, worked his way up to be an investigator
Married Josephine Thorne on Nov. 4, 1944, in Baltimore
After marriage, lived in Oklahoma City, worked for his brother as an accountant for five years; moved to Denver, and Ralph retired from the SEC in 1975; moved to Kearney in 1985
Survivors include: his wife of Kearney; daughter, Mary Scott and husband Ron of Kearney; grandson, David Scott and wife Renée and their children Callen, Vivien, and Rowan of Somerville, Mass.; granddaughter Kathy Bokenkamp and husband Jon and their children Jackson and Eleanor of Kearney; and sisters, Martha McNiece of Chatham, Ill., and Evelyn Finch of Saratoga, CA.
Was preceded in death by his brothers Thomas and Walter Beam
Memorials: First United Methodist Church Kearney Hub, 30 December, 2014
BRANHAM, Constance I., 74, of Sierra Vista, Arizona, formerly of Elm Creek, Neb., died Friday, Dec. 12, 2014, in Tucson
A celebration of life: Jan. 17 in Tucson
Born: Dec. 19, 1939, in Kearney, Neb.
Parents: Harlan and Dorothy Henderson
Moved to Colorado in 1956; moved to Arizona, 1964, worked as a grocery cashier for many years and as an office secretary; retired to Elm Creek in 2006, returned to Arizona in 2013 to be closer to family
Was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Kent; sons, Mark, Michael and Steven; and her longtime partner, Ben Debaets
Activities: loved to travel on the road with Ben in his semitrailer truck, was able to visit many cities; enjoyed gardening and canning foods; loved her family
Survivors include: daughter, Sally Juarez and her husband, Ed, of Tucson; grandchildren, Brandi and husband Dan, Kyle and wife Jessica, Mallory, Derek and wife Cathy, Megan and Jason; great-grandchildren, Trent, Jacob, Sean and Brianna; and many friends
Kearney Hub, 27 December, 2014
DEYLE, Jeanne M., 64, of Grand Island, formerly of Kearney, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at Tiffany Square Care Home in Grand Island
Services: Friday at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney
Burial: Benkelman Cemetery
Born Sept. 7, 1950, in McCook
Parents: Theodore and Donna (Kauffman) Deyle
Grew up in Holdrege then moved to Kearney in 1959, graduated from Kearney High School in 1968; attended Kearney State College, obtained a degree in education and then taught eighth grade in Oshkosh; returned to college and got her master’s degree in counseling, therapy and French
Was a counselor at Richard Young, then had a private practice, specialized in couples counseling, addiction and crisis management; also got her real estate license and worked at the family business, Platte Valley Land Co.; then worked at Physicians Optical for a number of years until she retired
Activities: member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney
Survivors include her son, Jason Blausey of Kearney; grandchildren, Skyelar and Journey; and brothers, Tom Deyle of Odessa and David Deyle and his wife, Gail, of Phoenix
Was preceded in death by her parents
Memorials: scholarship fund for her grandchildren’s education
Kearney Hub, 31 December, 2014
DUNCAN, Howard G., 89, of Scottsbluff died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, at Residency Care Center in Scottsbluff
Memorial services were Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff
Inurnment: Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance
Mortuary: Jolliffe in Scottsbluff
Born Jan. 27, 1925, in Buffalo County
Parents: Allen and Helen (Fisher) Duncan
Grew up and attended school in Buffalo County at School District 110; graduated from Pleasanton High School and the University of Nebraska
Military: U.S. Army during World War II, received his honorable discharge in 1947
Married: Oct. 10, 1953, to Shirley A. Cornwell in Albion; had three children
Moved to Scottsbluff, 9162, worked as an architect
Activities: member of First United Methodist Church (75-year member) and United Methodist Men, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Kiwanis Club; enjoyed stamp and coin collecting, fishing, hunting, bowling, bridge and Husker football
Survivors include his wife, Shirley of Scottsbluff; children and their spouses, Ruth and Dean Van Horn of Hugoton, Kan., and Donna and Kendall Vogel and Marlin and Sandie Duncan, all of Scottsbluff; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers, Glen and Lawrence of Kearney and Francis of Omaha
Was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Evelyn Burton; and brothers, William and Harvey Duncan
Memorials: Methodist Men of First United Methodist Church or VFW Post 1681
Kearney Hub, 30 December, 2014
FELLOWS, Eileen R., 66, of Benton, Tennessee, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, at her home
Graveside services: Friday at Prairie Home Cemetery near Holdrege, Neb.
Born Sept. 20, 1948, in Kearney
Parents: Dale E. and Irene M. (Steele) Fellows
Grew up in Kearney, moved to Lincoln, Neb., and finally settled in Tennessee
Worked at Coppinger’s Photography for 25 years;retired from the Mars candy bar factory
Survivors include her five children, Michele, Bryon, Judah, Joshua and Precious; 12 grandchildren, Jessica, Carl, Ryan, Jordan, Brandon, Skyler, Dannon, Mazzy, Christian, Nova, Achilles and Grace; and two great-grandchildren, Jaylynn and Jeshya; was also a loving aunt and a loving sister to Jan
Was preceded in death by her parents and a sister
Kearney Hub, 30 December, 2014
GANZ, James Robert Sr., 90, of Kearney died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Mother Hull Home
Services: Saturday at First United Methodist Church
Burial: later
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born: Feb. 10, 1924 in Alvo in Cass County
Parents: Carl Donald and Flora Rose (Boyles) Ganz
Attended Alvo Consolidated Schools throughout his youth, graduated in 1940;attended Hastings College for two years, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for one year, for a semester at Doane College in Crete in the U.S. Navy V-12 program, and Midshipmen’s School at Columbia University in New York City
Military: was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve on Feb. 24, 1944; was a stores officer aboard the USS LST 568, participated in three invasions in the South Pacific: Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines and Okinawa; survived two typhoons; was placed on inactive duty on July 1, 1946
Married: June 15, 1946, to Doris Ruth Jacobson at the Jacobson Ranch near Stromsburg; had six children
Atteneded law school at UNL under the GI bill; received his bachelor’s degree in 1947 and his law degree in 1949
Practiced law in Cozad; moved to Gibbon, 1956, worked at Exchange Bank in addition to his law practice; later added abstracts of title and title insurance with his law practice; retired on June 15, 2004; moved to Kearney
Activities: served as president of the Nebraska Land Title Association, elected Title Person of the Year by his peers in the land title profession; served on the Gibbon School Board for several terms and was the Gibbon city attorney for many years; was active at Gibbon Presbyterian Church and Faith United Church in Gibbon; shared his love of music with his wife and children, sang in various church, village and city choirs; was a diehard Husker football fan; member of Kearney First United Methodist Church, Hastings College and UNL Alumni Associations, Gibbon American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Nebraska Land Title Association, Kearney Elks Lodge, Buffalo County Bar Association, Buffalo County Historical Society, Rob Morris Lodge A.F. and A.M., Tehama Shrine and Fort Kearney Shrine Club
Survivors include: his children and their spouses, James R. Jr. and Kathleen Ganz of Kearney, William D. and Rebecca Ganz of Tucson, Ariz., Sara J. Kurlander of San Francisco, Kathryn J. and Norvell Brasch of Denver, Dale T. and Nancy Ganz of Cleveland and Georgia K. and David Lambert of St. Paul, Minn.; grandchildren, Jeffrey Ganz and wife Hallie, Marcy Neeman and husband Mark, David Kurlander, Samuel Brasch, Jacob Brasch, Benjamin Brasch, Joseph Brasch, Daniel Lambert, Laura Jane Lambert, Julia Lambert and Elizabeth Lambert; and great-grandchildren, Augusta Ganz and Vivienne Neeman
Was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Doris; brothers, Dale Ganz and Charles Ganz; sister, Ruth Edwards; and son-in-law, Daniel Kurlander
Memorials: Kearney First United Methodist Church Choir, Kearney Concert Association and the Buffalo County Historical Society
Kearney Hub, 7 January, 2015
GIFFIN, Maurice, 99, of Kearney died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Kearney
Services: Monday at First United Methodist Church
Burial: Prairie Center Cemetery at Haven’s Chapel north of Kearney
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral
Born Nov. 12, 1915, on the family farm northwest of Gibbon
Parents: Arthur and Sarah (Reynolds) Giffin
Attended school at District 27
Married: Dec. 31, 1937, to Jessie Lowell in Hastings
Worked in a gold mine in Idaho Springs, Colo., for a short time; returned home to work on the family farm
Activities: loved reading; enjoyed traveling, bowling, playing cards, billiards and spending time with his family; member of Haven’s Chapel UMC and the NRA; also served on the District 35 School Board and the Farmer’s Union Board for several years
Ssurvivors include: sons, Robert Giffin and his wife, Vera, M. Leroy Giffin and his wife, Janice, and Bill Giffin and his wife, Denise, all of Kearney; daughters, Patricia Davison of Las Vegas, Jeanette Vogt and her husband, Allen, of Grand Island, Sharon Morrison and her husband, Ed, of Kearney, Mo., Merna Giffin of Kearney, Neb., and Virginia Kearney and her husband, Steve, of Atlantic, Iowa; 24 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and cousin, Delores Williams of Kearney, Neb. Was preceded in death by his wife; great-grandsons, Stephen Larkowski and Ike Henninger; grandsons-in-law, Mark Sherman and Rick Taff; two brothers; and two sisters
Memorials: Haven’s Chapel United Methodist Church
Kearney Hub, 27 December, 2014
GILSTER, Lucille F., 91, of Kearney died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at St. John’s Good Samaritan Center in Kearney
Services: Monday at First Lutheran Church Burial: Paxton Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Born Jan. 31, 1923, in Pleasanton
Parents: William and Matilda (Munster) Lammers
Graduated from Pleasanton High School, attended Nebraska State Teachers College in Kearney
Taught at a rural country school in Keith County for one year
Married: to Henry Gilster on June 23, 1942, in Ogallala
After marriage, lived on a farm south of Paxton; after husband's death in 1972, moved to Kearney to be closer to family. Activities: member of First Lutheran Church in Kearney; had worked as a volunteer for many years at church dinners in Paxton, Good Samaritan Hospital Service League, Museum of Nebraska Art and Trails and Rails Museum; was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother; enjoyed quilting, gave many handmade quilts to family and friends
Survivors include her daughters, MaryAnn Styskal and her husband, Bill, of Boerne, Texas, Mavis Beavers and her husband, Dennis, of Cozad, Margo Hosie and her husband, Darrel, of Concordia, Kan., and Marcia Stephens of Kearney; brother, LeRoy Lammers and his wife, Donna, of Hazard; sisters, Faye Stoll and her husband, James, of Odessa, Mo., and Wilma Boquist and her husband, Harold, of St. Paul; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild
Was preceded in death by her husband; sister, Minnie Bauer; and brother, Warren Lammers
Memorials: AseraCare Hospice or the Area Agency on Aging
Kearney Hub, 27 December, 2014
GREENHALGH, Debra Lee, 62, of Elm Creek died Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at Kearney County Health Services in Minden
Services: Thursday at Countryside Christian Church in Kearney
Burial: later
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born Feb. 28, 1952, at Fort Devens Air Force Base in Ayer, Mass.
Parents: Tennessee and Shirley (Gale) Chambers
Graduated from Lowell (Mass.) High School
Was a longtime employee of the United States Postal Service; moved to Kearney, 2005, to be closer to her family; had resided at Elm Creek Manor for the past two years
Activities: enjoyed doing arts and crafts, playing games, singing, cooking and watching movies; will be remembered as a woman who loved Jesus Christ; was a loving mother and grandmother and a great friend to many
Survivors include her sons, Patrick McDonald and his wife, Connie, of Minden and Toby McDonald and his wife, Suzanne, of Norman; daughters, Tiffany Elzeiny of Norman and Bethany Greenhalgh of Manchester, N.H.; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Michael Chambers and his wife, Susan, of Londonderry, N.H.; and sister, Cheryl O’Connor of Worcester, Mass. Other relatives include Melissa O’Connor, Crystal O’Connor, Willy O’Connor, Shawn O’Connor, Mike Chambers, Matt Chambers and Andy Chambers
Was preceded in death by her parents; son, Daniel Stills; husband, John Patrick McDonald; and her uncle, Gordon Gale
Memorials: Operation Christmas Child, at Countryside Christian Church
Kearney Hub, 7 January, 2015
GRONE, Loren Edwon, 81, of Mesa, Arizone, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at Hospice of the Valley in Mesa
Celebration of life: Saturday at Alta Mesa Golf Club in Mesa
Burial: April 20 at Diller (Neb.) Cemetery
Born: April 20, 1933, in Odell, Neb.
Parents: son of Frank and Mable Grone
Married: Margaret Scheve, who is the mother of his three boys
Farmed for the first two years of their marriage, then began his 55-year career in life insurance; was named the Top Sales Agent and Top Agency many times; was a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table Died after a long illness
Survivors include: his wife of four years, Kathy Grone; his sons and their spouses, Scott and Lani, Bruce and Laurie, and Todd and Donna Grone; grandchildren, Brian, Brent, Brandon, Kyle, Mehgan, Mitchell, Anna, Alyssa and James; and his great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Ana, Reid, Mia and Steven
Activites: enjoyed hostinging his friends; was a Husker and proud of it; took great pride in business accomplishments and cherished the friendships he established
Memorials: Hospice of the Valley, Mesa
Kearney Hub, 23 December, 2014
HAMMOND, Kathryn O., 95, of Kearney died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village
Services: Wednesday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Born Jan. 14, 1919, in Elm Creek
Parents: Stephen J. and Katherine M. (Oertle) Shubert
Graduated from Elm Creek High School, received her bachelor of fine arts in education from Kearney State College
Taught in many schools for 27 years, mainly in the Albion and Norfolk areas; retired in 1980
Married: May 28, 1940, to Ervin F. Kreutzer in Grand Island
Married: Aug. 9, 1958, to Charles L. Hammond in Kearney. The couple enjoyed 53 years of marriage
Activities: member of First United Methodist Church in Norfolk, a charter member of the quilters’ group in the church for over 30 years; member of the Deborah General Women’s Organization, National Education Association, Nebraska State Teachers Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the American Association of University Women; enjoyed traveling to all 50 states with her husband, Charles, reading, quilting, bowling, playing cards and serving Meals On Wheels; especially enjoyed her family
Survivors include: daughters, Karen (Kreutzer) Fox and her husband, Larry, of Gibbon and Betty (Kreutzer) Chvatal and her husband, Ray, of Colon; grandchildren, Patrick Fox and wife Debra of Gibbon, Sandra Hubbard and husband Shawn of Dickens, Dee Pelster and husband Delmer of Albion, Dawn Kottas and husband Doug of Papillion and DJ Rieck of Lincoln; 17 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Betty Bonczynski and Marjorie Shields
Was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands and her sisters, Mary Whitesel, Lillian Curd and Murna Owen
Kearney Hub, 6 January, 2015
HICKENBOTTOM, Valeria Elizabeth, 93, of Kearney, formerly of Fremont, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village
Memorial services: Thursday at Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont
Burial: Calvary Cemetery in Fremont
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger in Kearney
Born April 25, 1921, in Snyder
Parents: Herman and Barbara Wisneiski
Married: Sept. 12, 1942, to Donald Hickenbottom in Callaway. He preceded her in death
Survivors include her daughters, Barbara Sebree of Kearney and Lynne Johnson of Richland Hills, Texas; sister, Elaine Duncan of Bakersfield, Calif.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandson
Kearney Hub, 6 January, 2015
HOWARD, Lydia Alvena Wilke, 107, of Alhambra, California, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Alhambra
Memorial services: Friday, Jan. 9, at Atherton Baptist Home in Alhambra
Born Feb. 3, 1907, in Hazard, Neb.
Parents: George and Mary (Capellen) Wilke
Graduated from Bethany-Peniel College in Bethany, Okla., in 1934; obtained her nursing degree from the Royal Alexandra Hospital School of Nursing in Edmonton, Alberta, and graduated in 1938
Received her missionary appointment from the Church of the Nazarene and was posted to Swaziland in 1939, worked primarily with children meeting their educational and medical needs; was transferred, 1949, to the Cape Verde Islands and worked with missionaries Everette and Garnet Howard
Retired from active missionary service in 1960, opened a Christian bookstore in Kearney, Neb.; later moved to Casa Robles, the Nazarene missionary retirement center in Temple City
Married her longtime friend, Dr. Everette Howard, in 1979; he died in 1999
Became a resident of the Episcopal Home (Kensington) in Alhambra, 1989; continued her very active life, which extended beyond her 100th birthday; learned to paint, wrote and published a book, “Living Through My Century,” and maintained an active Internet communication relationship with friends all over the world; transferred from the Kensington to Atherton Baptist Home to receive skilled nursing care three years ago
Was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everette; sister, Edna Henderson; brother, DeLoss Wilke; and stepdaughter, Elizabeth “Kiddie.”
Survivors include: stepdaughter, Jo Cunningham and her husband, Forrest, of Olathe, Kan.; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, Billie Wilke and wife Judy of Grain Valley, Mo., Gary Henderson, Lyle Henderson and wife Lynda, and Jean Randolph, all of Kearney, and Shirley Peterson of Hastings, Neb.; and many grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews
Memorials: charity of the donor’s choice
Kearney Hub, 7 January, 2015
JAMES, Sharon Kay, 72, of Kearney, formerly of Gibbon, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, in Kearney
Graveside memorial services: Friday at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger in Kearney
Born Sept. 13, 1942, in Kearney
Parents: Oliver F. and Virginia (Hughs) Blanchard
Grandparents, Ben “Sox” and Sadie Stonebarger, raised her from the time she was 9 months old until she was grown and married
Grew up in Gibbon and Kearney; graduated from Kearney High School in 1960
Married: 1967 to Mason L. James; lived in Texas before they divorced
Worked for Flake Industrial in the make-ready department as a supervisor, moved back to Gibbon in 1987, worked for Parkview Grocery for many years, then quit to take care of her grandparents
Activities: liked talking to people and friends; enjoyed crocheting; loved her computer and the things she taught herself on how to use it; had a pet chihuahua
Survivors include: daughter, Mary Lackey of Big Lake, Alaska; sisters, Carol Gard of Kearney and Sandra Iocca of Florida; several nieces and nephews; and many friends
Was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents who raised her; brother and baby sister who died at birth; great-aunt and great-uncle, Rose and Howard Furgason; her father’s parents, Guy and Nellie Blanchard; and great-grandparents, the Rev. Roland and Mable Kauffroath
Memorials: breast cancer research
Kearney Hub, 31 December, 2014
JORGENSEN, Ellsworth A. "Dusty", 79, of Kearney died Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village
Celebration of life: Thursday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney
Burial: Rockville Cemetery
Born June 26, 1935, in Omaha
Parents: Ellsworth R. and Mable (Jones) Jorgensen
Grew up in Lincoln, received his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Married: Aug. 11, 1962, to Roma Stobbe in Grand Island
Lived in Kearney for over 50 years; was an electrical wholesaler and owner of D&S Lighting at the time of his death; recently celebrated 25 years of sobriety in AA
Survivors include his wife, Roma; his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Kristi (Tucker), granddaughter, Shelby and grandson, Colton of Casper, Wyo.; son and daughter-in-law, John and Kristen (King) of Omaha; daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne Jorgensen and John Richards; sisters and brothers-in-law, Barbara and Donald Stribling of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Rochelle “Rocky” and Norman Nelson of Lincoln; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews
Was preceded in death by a sister, Sheri Mount
Memorials: The Kearney Goodfellows or to Valley Hope
Kearney Hub, 6 January, 2015
KEARNEY, Don E., 77, of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at his home
Celebration of life: Monday at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney
Inurnment: Kearney Cemetery
Born on April 21, 1937, in Elm Creek, Neb.
Parents: Ted and Ila Kearney
Was a proud graduate of Elm Creek High School
Spent his career managing 37 banks in Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin; served on Kearney City Council for 16 years and was very proud of the growth that Kearney saw during his tenure on the council
Married: June 25, 1966 in Fairmont, Minn., to Colette “Coc” Murtha; she died January 2012
Spent most of their marriage living in Ames and Kearney; was a devoted caregiver to Colette in her final years as she struggled with multiple sclerosis; after wife's death, moved to Des Moines to be closer to his sons and their families
Survivors include: Patrick and Sean, Patrick’s wife, Cathy, and his grandchildren, Breanna, Brogan, Noah, Madilyn and Tyler; sister, Bonnie and his brother, Bob; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews
Activities: was a banker, a city leader, a Cyclone fan, a closeted Cornhusker fan and an Irishman; loved his family
Was preceded in death by his wife, Colette; and his parents, Ted and Ila
Memorials: Elm Creek Schools, for a scholarship fund in his name
Kearney Hub, 2 January 2015
KEEP, Jean (Simmerman), 88, of Ogallala, formerly of Elm Creek, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, at Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant
Memorial services: January
Cremation was chosen
Mortuary: Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala
Born July 3, 1926, on a farm near Sterling, Colo.
Parents: Delbert and Lora Simmerman
Married William Keep. He died in 2004
Survivors include her son, Rex Keep and his wife, Carolyn, of Edwards, Colo.; daughters, Leah Schow of Paxton, Michelle “Mikki” Lautenschlager and her husband, Mark, of Loveland, Colo., and Lisa Gray and her husband, Tad, of Valley City, Ohio; brothers, Wayne Simmerman and Harlan Simmerman and his wife, Kay, all of Elm Creek, and Dick Simmerman and his wife, Myrtle, of Overton; sister, Ardis Refior of Elm Creek; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 10 December, 2014
KENYON, Phyllis Loraine, 90, of Hastings, formerly of Kearney, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in Hastings
Services: Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Kearney
Burial: Minden Cemetery
Mortuary: Livingston Butler Volland in Hastings
Born in Hastings on May 1, 1924
Parents: Gust and Alvena (Johannesen) Soterin
In early childhood, moved to Minden, finished elementary and high school; graduated in 1942
Worked at Warp Publishing Co. and then in the offices at the Kearney Air Base in the War Communications and Hospital divisions
Married:in Paris, Texas, Nov. 18, 1944, to Eugene Vern Kenyon of Deloit, Iowa, prior to his service overseas with the U.S. Army; later joined him at military bases in Mississippi and Pennsylvania, continued to do secretarial work on the military bases; after his discharge, moved to Minden; a full-time homemaker; lived in several other Nebraska towns, eventually settling in Kearney for 45 years, worked for many years as office manager at Johnson Medical Clinic and later at Kearney Clinic as head of the insurance department; retired to care for her husband, who died April 10, 1996
Activities: was active in the Lutheran church, participated in Gloria Circle, worship greeter, Prayer Child, office volunteer, Communion committee and visits to the homebound; stayed busy holding offices in Eastern Star, attending senior exercise and card clubs, serving as a hospital Pink Lady; traveled with family to Washington state, Arizona, Chicago, England and France; treasured time with family, especially her grandhildren
Was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; parents; brother, Lloyd Soterin; and sister, Bonnie Boomershine
Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Jean Guthmann and her husband, Jim, of Hastings; son, Michael Gregg Kenyon and his wife, Debra Ann Broadfoot, of Grants Pass, Ore.; sisters, Joan Murr of Kearney and Deloris Cook and her husband, Ray, of Sanger, Texas; granddaughters, Sarah Christine Scheer of Hillsborough, N.J., Katherine Loraine Guthmann of Hastings and Elizabeth Jean Peart and her husband, Joseph, of Chicago; great-granddaughter, Margaret Elizabeth Peart of Chicago; sisters-in-law, Arley Goodwin of Centennial, Colo., and Carol Kenyon of Shenandoah, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews
Memorials: Phyllis L. Kenyon Memorial Fund
Kearney Hub, 22 December, 2014
LAING, Evamae, 89, of Kearney died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at Northridge Retirement Community
Services: Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Hazard
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born Oct. 2, 1925, at Davis Creek in North Loup Township
Parents: Frank and Johanna Marie Amelia (Neuman) Kucera
Resided in the Hazard-Litchfield area; received her high school and normal training from Litchfield High School and graduated in 1943; attended University of Nebraska
Taught school for five years in Sherman and Buffalo counties; moved to California, 1948, attended Merritt Business College and IBM School, began work for the U.S. Navy Department as a keypunch operator at the Navy Supply Center in Oakland, Calif.; later worked for the U.S. Army in the fiscal department in San Francisco
Married: 1948 to Thomas Quincy Laing
After marriage, lived in Oakland; retired in 1972; returned to Nebraska in 2005 to be near her family
Survivors include her sister, Opal Reese of Kearney; brothers, Carl Kucera of Litchfield and Maynard Duane Kucera of Salome, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her husband, Tom in 1979; her parents; brothers, George Kucera and Dale Kucera; and an infant brother, Frances Dean
Kearney Hub, 3 January, 2015
LUEDKE, William Barr, 83, of Rockwall, Texas, formerly of Kearney, Neb., died Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, in Rockwall
Memorial services: Jan. 23 at the Masonic Lodge of Royse City
Burial of cremains: Fremont, Neb.
Died peacefully after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
Born on Sept. 18, 1931, in North Platte
Parents: George and Lucille (Barr) Luedke
Graduated from North Platte High School in 1949, obtained a degree in animal husbandry from Colorado State, May 1953
Married: Sept. 18, 1959, to Beverly J. Kemerling in Fremont
After marriage, lived in Fremont and Kearney; worked for Hormel Foods as a livestock buyer, retired in 1991
Activities: member of First Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge, Elks and Fort Kearney Shriners; his hobby was fishing
Survivors include: his wife; brother, Robert Luedke of Bethesda, Md.; daughters, Jean Scott and her husband, James, of Royse City and Janet Luedke of Littleton, Colo.; granddaughters, Amber Adamson of Grand Prairie and Megan Scott of Royse City; two great-grandsons, Dezmond and Caiden Adamson; and stepdaughters and stepgrandchildren
Memorials: the ALS Association
Kearney Hub, 6 January, 2015
LYNN, Valerie, 75, of Kearney died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village
Memorial services: Friday at First United Methodist Church
Burial: later
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born April 13, 1939, in Harrow Middlesex, England
Parents: Henry Ernest and Dorothy Edith (Siddle) Manning
Attended Birmingham University and received her teaching degree in 1957
Moved to Virginia, 1975, worked with the Head Start Program; moved to Kearney, 1991, worked as a children’s library clerk at Kearney Public Library; continued her work with Head Start as a home-based visitor/teacher; later became a coordinator and supervised five new home-based programs; retired in September 2006
Activities: member of Kearney First United Methodist Church and Kearney Family of Christ Lutheran Church; enjoyed painting, gardening and reading
Survivors include her sons, Andrew Cann and his wife, Xrya, of Leesburg, Va., and Matthew Cann and his wife, Missy, of Fredericksburg, Va.; daughter, Emma Lynn of Minden; and grandchildren, Tiffany Lynn Cann and Brian Cann
Was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Keith Manning
Memorials: National Mesothelioma Foundation
Kearney Hub, 31 December, 2014
MARGRITZ, Leslie G., 95, of Kearney died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, at Homestead Assisted Living
Services: Monday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery with military honors
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home
Born Feb. 28, 1919, in Ravenna
Parents: Elmer and Mable (Butler) Margritz
Attended grade school in Poole
Military: U.S. Army, April 21, 1941, to Oct. 30, 1945; was stationed at Camp Robinson as a Tec-5; served in Naples, Italy, and also on the Swiss border as a transport medic; was honorably discharged at Camp Crowder, Mo.
Married: May 16, 1942, to Elnora Lammers in Long Beach, Calif.
After discharge, returned to Nebraska to farm south of Minden for two years then north of Minden; retired in 1982
Activities: member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church; hobbies included designing and making wood furniture; also used a loom to make baby blankets, gave away over 200 of them
Survivors include: daughter, Wanda Glanzer and her husband, Bob, of Kearney; sons, Roger Margritz and his wife, Rogene, of Axtell and LeRoyce Margritz and his wife, Cynthia, of Kearney; eight grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by both parents; wife, Elnora; five brothers; and three sisters
Memorials: Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Kearney Hub, 2 January 2015
MARSHALL Richard H. “Rich”, 67, of Elm Creek died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney
Services: Thursday at Countryside Christian Church in Kearney
Burial: Elm Creek Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl in Kearney
Born on Aug. 9, 1947, in Holdrege
Parents: Richard T. “Dick” and Norma L. (Mapes) Marshall
Attended school in Elm Creek and Holdrege, graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1965
Married Rhonda Kay Nickel on March 10, 1973, in Kearney; Rhonda passed away in 1994
Married Leona “Lee” Martin on Aug. 11, 2007, in Kearney
Farmed in the Elm Creek area the majority of his life
Activities: member of First Christian Church in Elm Creek; was a 44-year member of the Kearney B.P.O. Elks 984, was a past exalted ruler and a current trustee; served on various co-op boards and had been a member of the Elm Creek Fire District Board for the past 15 years
Survivors include: wife, Lee Marshall of Elm Creek; daughters, Ann Hinrichsen and husband Neil of Elm Creek, Amy Gillming and husband Mark of Goodland, Kan., Patricia Hellriegel and husband Ryan of Elm Creek and Sara Marshall of Scottsdale, Ariz.; son, Richard “Pete” Marshall and his wife, Alyssa, of Minden; sister, Mary Swartwood and her husband, Lynn, of Hershey; stepsons, Stephen Martin of Winfield, Kan., Andrew Martin of Kearney, Benjamin Martin and his wife, Laurie, of Elm Creek and Patrick Martin of Overton; brothers-in-law, John Nickel and his wife, Jeanie, and Rodney Nickel and his wife, Dee Ann, all of Elm Creek, and Brian Nickel and his wife, Linda, of Gibbon; eight grandchildren; and several nephews, nieces, other extended family and friends
Was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Rhonda Marshall; sister, Nancy Getty; brother-in-law, Dan Getty; and nephew, Jared Getty
Memorials: Elm Creek Emergency Unit Fund
Kearney Hub, 6 January, 2015
MUCHMORE, Steven C., 63, of Springfield, Missouri, died Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Springfield
Services: Saturday at Herman H. Lohmeyer Chapel in Springfield
Burial: Mathis Cemetery near Niangua
Born June 17, 1951, in Kearney, Neb.
Parents: James and Evelyn (Yendra) Muchmore
Survivors include his children, Sheila Schulte, Vicky Sharky and Cory Muchmore; his father; brother, Kenneth of Kearney; sister, Linda Stubblefield of Madison, Ala.; and grandchildren
Kearney Hub, 1 January, 2015
MUMMA, Jeanette, 75, of Kearney died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Kearney Regional Medical Center
Services: Monday at First Lutheran Church in Kearney
Burial: Nelson Cemetery
Mortuary: O'Brien Straatmann Redinger in Kearney
Born Oct. 13, 1939, in Superior
Parents: David and Olive (Gardiner) Genung
Grew up and received her education in the Nelson area, graduated from Nelson High School in 1958; attended Trenton (Mo.) Junior College and Southeast Missouri University
Married: Charles Mumma on June 29, 1958, at the Methodist Church in Nelson
Worked for Mass Mutual Insurance in Lincoln, and for Cattle National Bank in Seward; was church secretary for the Methodist Church in Republic, Mo., worked for Aid Association for Lutherans in Bismarck, N.D., and served as a committee clerk for state of North Dakota legislation; helped out at Chucks Country Market until her health prevented her from doing so
Activities: served on many church committees, as a Sunday school superintendent, as a Sunday school teacher and as a Girl Scout leader and sang in numerous church choirs; was past president of Alma Jaycees, a member of the PEO in Mandan, N.D., and a member of the Grand Island Optimist Club and served on its Board of Directors
Survivors include: daughter, Nita and husband Kim Deyo of Kearney; grandsons, Keith Deyo of Elm Creek and Jarad Deyo and wife Wendy of Kearney; granddaughters, Haley Deyo and McKenzie Deyo, both of Elm Creek; brothers, Gene and wife Donnis Genung of Superior and Russell and wife Donna Genung of Deshler; sister, Gwen and husband Gayle Johnson of Davenport; and many nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her husband; both parents; and brother-in-law, Robert Samsula of Oak
Memorials: Lutheran Campus Ministries
Kearney Hub, 3 January, 2015
MYERS, Freda M., 39, of Kearney died Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney
Services: Wednesday at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney
Burial: Elm Creek Cemetery
Born on January 4, 1975 in Pontiac, Illinois
Mother: Pamela Patient
Married to Clifford Myers on December 15, 2000 in Kearney, Nebr.
Survivors include husband, Clifford Myers of Kearney; children, Tyler Richards and his wife Hannah of Brewster, NE, April Myers of Valentine, William Harvey and his wife Shiela of Kearney, Samantha Harvey of Kearney, Marcus Myers and his wife Cassie of Kearney, Dakota Myers and his wife McKenzie of Kearney and Bailey Myers of Kearney; brothers, Jimmy Schall of Shelton, NE and Charlie Patient of Kearney; Sister, Lola Schall of Sioux Falls, SD; seven grandchildren
Was preceded in death by her daughter, Kristina Meyers; two grandmothers; and her father-in-law
Kearney Hub, 31 December, 2014
NABOWER, Bonnie D., 81, of Kearney died Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village in Kearney
Memorial services: Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Burial: Stanley Cemetery in Amherst
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger in Kearney
Born Aug. 15, 1933, in Kearney
Parents: Frank and Georgia (Vest) Husemoller
Grew up in the Amherst and Kearney area; attended Longfellow High School in Kearney
Married: Arthur Nabower on Jan. 19, 1949, in Hastings
Worked for the Holiday Inn and Baldwin Manufacturing in Kearney
Activities: member of the church, Catholic Daughters of America, Fort Kearney Genealogical Society and DAR
Survivors include her sons, James of Kearney and Robert of Gilbert, Ariz.; daughters, Barbara of Kearney, Patti Lyon of Lawrence, Kan., and Carol Rutan of Aurora, Colo.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild
Was preceded in death by her parents and her husband
Memorials: the church
Kearney Hub, 30 December, 2014
NICHOLS, Eric James, 24, of North Platte, formerly of Kearney, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2014, in North Platte
Services: Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, North Platte
Burial: Miller Cemetery near Tryon
Born Aug. 31, 1990, in Bismarck, N.D.
Parents: Douglas D. Gunsch and Rhonda L. Nichols
Moved with his mother to Nebraska in 1991; lived in Kearney; moved to North Platte, February 2014
Attended preschool and Kearney Public Schools through his senior year. Survivors include his mother, of North Platte; grandparents, Clyde Nichols and Loretta Masters, and uncles, Kyle (Kay) Nichols and Dewaine Nichols, all of North Platte; aunt, Janet (Alex) Crook, of Phoenix, AZ; and other family and his friends
Was preceded in death by his grandparents, Barbara Ann Nichols and Robert Masters
Kearney Hub, 31 December, 2014
PANKRATZ, Harland V., 90, of Kearney died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at CHI Health Good Samaritan
Memorial services: Saturday at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home
Born March 22, 1924, in Henderson
Parents: Peter F. and Bertha (Smith) Pankratz
Grew up on a farm in Hamilton County, graduated from Bradshaw High School; later earned his bachelor’s degree from Bethel College in Newton, Kan., and his master’s degree from the University of Kansas-Emporia State
Married: Aug. 11, 1950, to Florence Pankratz in Buhler, Kan.
Was a professor of biology and environmentalist for Wayne State College, 1963-1988; retired in 1988, moved to Kearney in 1993
Activities: enjoyed woodworking, wildflower photography and genealogy; member of Kearney First United Methodist Church
Survivors include his daughters, Jean Aubol and her husband, Duaine, of Litchfield, Minn., and Kay Liibbe of Kearney; grandchildren, Elizabeth Ring, Joshua and wife Rachel Ring, Holly Liibbe and Zachary and wife Laura Liibbe; great-grandchildren, Kiera and Colin Ring; sisters, Cleola Franz and Allegra Gunn and husband Owen, all of Henderson; and several nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two sisters
Memorials: the S.A.F.E. Center
Kearney Hub, 2 January, 2015
PESEK, Mary Lee, 84, of Omaha died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Omaha
Services: Tuesday at Rasmussen Funeral Home in Ravenna
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Born Jan. 10, 1932, in Grand Island
Parents: John and Myrl (Mahoney) Pesek
Was educated in Ravenna, graduated from Ravenna High School in 1949
Began her career with Western Union; later worked for U.S. Postal Service for a number of years and eventually retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in March 1995
Activities: was known for storytelling and entertaining all who came in contact with her; was the family historian and always helped those in need
Survivors include her brother, Kevin “Mick” Pesek of Ravenna; sister, Catherine Van Herreweghe of Wright City, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews and friends
Was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Elizabeth Pesek and Virginia Nolda; and brothers, Jack Pesek and Steve Pesek
Kearney Hub, 5 January, 2015
STUBBS, Elaine (Robbins) 87, of Cozad, formerly of Sumner, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney
Graveside services: Aug. 25, at Stanley Cemetery in Amherst
Mortuary: Horner-Lieske-Horner in Kearney
Born July 2, 1918, in Dawson County near Sumner
Parents: Roy and Bessie (LeBar) Robbins
Married: March 28, 1938, to Dale Stubbs in Elm Creek. He died June 16, 1997
Survivors include her son, Jerry of Conrad, Mont.; daughters, Donna of Cozad and Doris Yost of Alliance; brother, John Robbins of Lincoln; sisters, Geraldine Hazzard and Mary Jane Muirhead, both of Kearney, Eleanore Russell of Redding, Calif., and BeAnn Robbins of California; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; also daughter-in-law, Carol of Conrad; son-in-law, Ron Yost of Alliance; brother-in-law, Walter Hazzard of Kearney; sister-in-law, Bonnie Robbins of Lincoln; and several nieces, nephews and friends
Attended rural school near Sumner, then transferred to Sumner High School
After marriage, lived in North Platte and Overton, moved to Cozad in 1991
Activities: member of the Berean Fundamental Church and the Platter Painters Club in North Platte; enjoyed painting pictures, cooking, crocheting and spending time with her grandchildren
Was preceded in death by her husband; parents; brothers, Roy and Manly Robbins; granddaughter, Angela Boslau; and son-in-law, Roy Boslau
Kearney Hub, 25 August, 2005
SWANSON, Walter S., 90, of Longmont, Colorado, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, at Applewood Living Center in Longmont
Memorial services: Tuesday at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont
Cremation was chosen
Born on April 8, 1924, in Plum City, Wis.
Parents: Berger and Hildur (Alsterlund) Swanson
Graduated from Trinity Bible College
Married: Aug. 24, 1945, to Merlyn Jacobsen in Malmo, Minn.
Moved from Kearney, Neb., to Longmont in 2006
Was a pastor at a nursing home in Kearney and pastor of an Evangelical Free Church in Lexington, Neb., and Sterling; was also a substitute teacher in the Denver Public School system
Activities: member of the Open Bible Church in Kearney, was active in the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Association; loved woodworking and was always making and building things for family and friends; his passion was Bible study and helping people
Was preceded in death by his wife, Merlyn, in 2006
Survivors include: son, Arden Swanson and his wife, Sandy; his daughter, Laurie Swanson and Eric Taylor; his grandchildren, Doug and Brad Swanson, Tracie Lechman, Sherry Lechman and Michael Guzman; and his great-grandchildren Isaiah, Naylen, Avery, Ella, Hayley and Sophia
Kearney Hub, 5 January, 2015
VANCE, Joan Vivian, 94, of Kearney died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, at Mother Hull Home in Kearney
Services: Tuesday at Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger in Kearney
Born on July 30, 1920, in Tampa, Florida
Parents: Richard J. and Vivian F. (Morton) Clark
The family resided in Florida for 14 years, then moved to Kearney and later to Denver; Joan graduated from Denver East High
Married: Sept. 27, 1937 to Maynard P. Vance; had two children
Lived in Denver, then moved to Nebraska and lived in Kearney, Bladen, Omaha and Amherst; lived on the New Mexico Navajo Indian Reservation and the Arizona Papago Reservation where husband had a position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs; attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff; managed the Fort Wingate Post Exchange, a branch of the Sandia Base in Albuquerque;
Activities: retired to Kearney, 1980, volunteered for the Hospital League, Meals on Wheels, AARP, Nebraska Senior Citizen Council as state coordinator and past president, and Kearney Hospitality Center as board member and vice-chairman; member of Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Survivors include her children, Phil Vance and his wife, Judy, of Tecumseh and daughter, Vivian May and her husband, Jerry, of Kearney. Her grandchildren are Julie (Vance) North, Kristy (Vance) Crissler, Matthew Vance, Mark May and Michael May; great-grandchildren are Evan Meyer, Philip Monfelt, Emalee North, Macee North, Colin Crissler, Joshua May, Michaela May and Amelia May; one great-great-granddaughter, VaeLynn Meyer; and many nieces, nephews and friends
Was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Richard Clark; and granddaughter, Amy (Vance) Meyer
Memorials: Kearney Evangelical Free Church Children’s Library
Kearney Hub, 29 December, 2014