Page 191
Back to Index for Obituaries
ANDERSON, Sharon Lee, 75, of Lincoln, formerly of Kearney, died Sunday, April 23, 2017, at Monarch House in Lincoln
Memorial service: Friday at Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born: April 10, 1942, in Kimball
Parents: Floyd W. and Hilda V. (Pieron) Brothers
Grew up in Dix, graduated from Dix High School in 1959; then attended college in Colorado, then returned to Dix, worked as a dental hygienist
Married: Ralph R. Anderson on Sept. 20, 1970, in Dix; he died Aug. 30, 2016
After marriage, lived in Dix, moved to Genoa in 1974 and then to Kearney in 1984
Worked as a cook at Stone Elementary School; retired from the school after nearly 20 years
Activities: member of Kearney Evangelical Free Church, was active in Sonrise Bible Study; throughout her life, faith had been steadfast and true, especially as both she and Ralph battled cancer; was active with the international students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, loved helping in any way possible to make these students feel safe and at home in Kearney; was a wonderful cook and always looked forward to making holiday gatherings special; most of all, loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren
Survivors include: her two daughters, Debra Gloates and husband Steve of Pennsylvania and Megan Blazek and husband Nathan of Lincoln; a daughter-in-law, DeAnne Anderson of Lincoln; nine grandchildren, Cory Anderson, Briana Bartek and husband Nate, Joshua, Rachel, Ruth and Rebekah Gloates and Madelyn, Presley and Rowan Blazek; four sisters-in-law, Sharon Brothers of Wyoming, Nancy Obermeyer of Milford, Harriet Maser and husband David of Sutton and Gail Fischer and husband Chris of California; a brother-in-law, Ike Anderson and wife Dorothy of Genoa; and many nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Scott Anderson; a grandson, Zachary Scott Anderson; a brother, Wes Brothers; and a sister, Kathryn Killham
Memorials: Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Kearney Hub, 27 April, 2017
BARKER, Cheryl Yvonne “Cheri”, 61, of Lincoln, formerly of Kearney, died Friday, April 7, 2017, in Lincoln
Memorial service: later
Cremation was chosen
Mortuary: Roper and Sons in Lincoln
Born: April 19, 1955, in Battle Creek, Mich.
Parents: Arnold and Janet (Latta) Burch
Was a registered nurse
Activities: was the most wonderful wife and friend to her husband, Kevin; loved her children, stepchildren and grandchildren dearly; always put the needs of others before her own; loved family, music and golfing with her husband
Surviviors include: husband, Kevin; children and spouses, Stephanie and Andy Novotny of Hebron, Mike and Kate Hewitt of Lincoln, Rachel Carter of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Blair Hardy of Battle Creek; grandchildren, Madelynn and Tristan Wells, Everett and Davis Hewitt, Izabella Carter and Kaylee and Jackson Hardy; mother, Janet Burch of Athens, Mich.; brothers, Steve and wife Rachel Burch and Doug and wife Linda Burch; and sister, Shawna and husband Don McKenzie
Was preceded in death by her father, Arnold
Memorials: American Cancer Society
Kearney Hub, 15 April 2017
BARTO, Douglas M., 45, of Kearney, formerly of Wilcox, died of cancer Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at Welcov Assisted Living
Service: later
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Memorials: Wilcox Fire Department or the Wilcox Food Pantry
Kearney Hub, 17 January, 2017
BICKFORD, Delbert Leroy, Sr., 64, of Kearney died of cancer Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at his home
Service: Tuesday at First United Methodist Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born: Jan. 21, 1953, in Kearney
Parents: Wilbur and Dolores (Ingram) Bickford
Attended Cozad High School and later earned his plumber license
Married: March 10, 1979, to Helen Rivera in Grand Island
Was head of maintenance at East Lawn Mobile Home Estates and had multiple side jobs every day of his life
Activities: was a jack-of-all-trades and loved challenges of his work; was always there to lend a helping hand whether it was fixing something or getting groceries for those in need; was an avid Husker and Kansas City Chiefs fan; enjoyed woodcarving and collecting everything from bells and marbles to lanterns and license plates
Survivors include his wife, Helen Bickford of Kearney; sons, Josh Leroy Bickford and significant other Marie Stewart of Ashland, and Delbert Leroy Bickford Jr. and wife Laura, and Keith Leroy Bickford and wife Terra, all of Kearney; grandchildren, Trey Bickford, Austin Gann, Dillon, Dakota and Brody Bickford, Keierra Bickford and Zerrik Matuschka; brothers, sisters and their spouses, Ray and Barb Bickford and Tovey Srack, all of Kearney, Phyllis and Duane Wilson of Cozad, Ricky Tatum, Cheryl Long and Linda and Donnie Brown, all of Kearney, Gail and Bob Axtell of Funk and Butch Krotz of Lexington; and many nieces, nephews and cousins
Was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur Bickford and Galen and Dolores Tatum; siblings, Clara and Carol Krotz, Barb Bickford, Helen and husband Bill Kinkaid and Gary Tatum
Kearney Hub, 29 April, 2017
BLAIR, Arlene Edith (Bogle), of Phoenix died Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Phoenix
Service: Friday at the A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuary in Phoenix
Burial: Greenwood Memory Lawn
Born: March 14, 1923, during a blizzard in a farmhouse on the land her father had homesteaded in western Nebraska
Grew up on the farm, helped with farm chores along with doing her schoolwork; was offered a full scholarship to the University of Nebraska, but decided to attend business school in Denver
Graduated in 1944, worked at the Sioux Ordinance Depot in Sidney, Neb. Married: William (Bill) Blair
After marriage, lived in Sidney; after the war, moved to Kearney, worked at the Rural Electrification Administration, or REA, office for 10 years while raising their two boys; moved to Phoenix in 1959, worked for the city of Phoenix; retired in 1984 and moved to Boise, Idaho; after Bill's death in 1992, moved back to Phoenix
Activities: enjoyed traveling to faraway locations; was elected president of the Phoenix Employees Federal Credit Union and was also elected president of COPMEA, the city employees’ association; was named the Arizona Business Woman of the Year in 1970; loved playing the piano and organ; started writing seriously and her first book, “Hats Can Kill” was published in 2005, several others were also published
Was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and her granddaughter Christy
Survivors included her sons, William and Robert, his wife, Cheryl; six grandsons, Brooke and spouse Heidi, Robert, Brandon, Matthew, Brennen, and Brent; one granddaughter, Casey; and four great-grandchildren, Bryce, Kate, Elizabeth, and Pippa
Kearney Hub, 15 April 2017
BLESSIN, B. Ann, 75, of Kearney, formerly of Holstein, died Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Kearney Regional Medical Center
Services: Monday at Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Graveside service: Wanda Zion Lutheran Churchyard Cemetery in rural Juniata
Mortuary: Apfel in Hastings and Kenesaw Born: June 7, 1941, to in Jet, Oklahoma
Parents: Emil E. Sidlo and Ada May (Smith) Sidlo
Was baptized and confirmed in March 1960 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Loveland, Colo.; graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1959, then attended Central Community College-Hastings
Married: Harold Blessin in Loveland on Oct. 2, 1959; he passed away in 1992
Worked at Pioneer Village in Minden for three years, Woolworth in Hastings for 11 years then worked at Home Care and Companion as an aid; also was a homemaker. Activities: member of the Evangelical Free Church in Kearney, church Bible study groups, Ladies Auxiliary American Legion 305, Holstein and the Stephen Mission; was actively involved with her church family; loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; enjoyed camping, traveling, gardening and collecting knickknacks
Survivors include: three sons and their spouses, Robert and Lisa Blessin of Southland, Raymond and Angie Blessin of Big Springs and Russell and Michelle Blessin of Greenwood; daughter, Regina Wagner of Hastings; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Justin and Amber Blessin, Zachary and Josey Blessin, Dan Wagner, Heather and Josh Boerma, Jessica and Henry Cross, Stephanie and Ryan Hoover, Jennifer and Josh Rice, Andy and Catie Blessin and Teryn Blessin; 15 great-grandchildren and two arriving soon; three brothers and their spouses, Emil Jr. and Mary Sidlo, Jerry and Lori Sidlo and Ronald and Cheryl Sidlo; four sisters and their spouses, Judy Coaly, Linda and John Swenson, Patty Shumate and Ramona and Andy Andrew; one sister-in-law, Ruth Ohlsen; and numerous nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; and two brothers-in-law, Larry Coaly and Neil Ohlsen
Kearney Hub, 4 May, 2017
BOCK, Rupert, 88, of Pleasanton died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at Ravenna Good Samaritan Center
Service: Monday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ravenna
Burial: Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born: Oct. 8, 1928, in Poole
Parents: Erwin and Helen (Heermann) Bock
Married: Lila Behrendt on Sept. 7, 1950
Survivors include his children and their spouses, Ken and Diann Bock, Ron and Carolyn Bock, Larry and Cyndi Bock, Kathy Bock-Seshadri and Sri Seshadri, and Robb and Jackie Bock; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and his siblings, Lois Cole, Fauneil Finke, Eldine Krichau and Bernice Skinner
Was preceded in death by twin sons, Randal and Riley; and his wife
Kearney Hub, 5 May, 2017
BUHLKE, Don Nyle, 69, of Kearney died Friday, April 21, 2017, at Litzenberg Long Term Care in Central City
Memorial service: Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Burial of ashes: Burwell Cemetery
Born on Sept. 30, 1947, in Burwell
Parents: John and Marjorie (Gumb) Buhlke
Grew up in Grand Island, attended Grand Island Senior High, graduated in 1966; then graduated from Central Community College-Hastings in 1969
Owned and operated Midwest Dental Ceramics in Kearney for 35 years
Married: Judy Ann Wieler on April 15, 1967, in Grand Island
Lived in Kearney since 1973
Activities: member of St. James Catholic Church in Kearney; hobbies included fishing, hunting, playing the guitar, dancing and making birdhouses and jewelry for his family; especially loved reminiscing by telling great stories, working hard at life and spending time with his family
Survivors include: wife, Judy of Kearney; one son, Brian and wife Amy Buhlke of Central City and their three daughters, Ella, Addie and Amelia; one daughter, Michelle and husband Kevin Methe of Omaha and their seven children, McKenna, Madison and husband Zachary, Reghan, Joseph, Elisabeth, John Paul and Eva; and great-grandsons, James and Anthony Nyle
Was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Johnnie Buhlke
Kearney Hub, 25 April, 2017
CARLSEN, Steven L., 57, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, formerly of Kearney, died Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at CHI Health Creighton Medical Center in Omaha from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident just north of Council Bluffs on April 22
Celebration of life: Friday at the Eagles Club in Council Bluffs
Mortuary: Cutler-O’Neill-Meyer-Woodring Bayliss Park Chapel in Council Bluffs
Born Feb. 26, 1960, in Kearney
Parents: Royal and Lois (Caitlin) Carlsen
Graduated from Kearney High School in 1978
Was a truck driver for A&C Trucking for many years, was working for Alter Trading Corp. in Council Bluffs at the time of his death
Married: Trudy Mass Andersen on July 4, 2015, in Griswold, Iowa
Activities: was an avid motorcyclist
Was preceded in death by his twin sons, David and Dallas; and his father, Royal Carlsen
Survivors include: his wife, Trudy Carlsen of Council Bluffs; son, Christopher and wife Hiedi Carlsen of Broken Bow; daughter, Shelby and husband Tony Wright of Falls City; four grandchildren, Logan, Aubree, Stella and Elijah; mother, Lois Benson of Kearney; brother, Greg and wife Amber Benson of Kearney; sisters, Brenda and husband Jim Walburn of Kearney, Becky and husband Tom Lawless of Elm Creek and Sherri Carlsen of Kearney; stepdaughters, Kristi and husband Michael Gaudreau of Valparaiso, Ind., and Shawna Ginn of Kearney; stepson, Joe and wife JoAnn Andersen of Kearney; and stepgrandchildren, Madisyn, Hailie, Michael III, Samuel, Lyllian and Brysen
Kearney Hub, 29 April, 2017
DeWEESE, Buddy M., 48, of Axtell died Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at his home
Service: later
Mortuary: Craig in Minden
Born: July 2, 1968, in Nuremberg, Germany
Parents: Lonnie and Ellamae (Mizner) DeWeese
Graduated from Kearney High School in 1987
Married: June 1, 1991, to Martha Harvey in Benkelman; had one son together
With Martha, owned and operated Pallets and More for 15 years
Activities: was an Eagle Scout and enjoyed Scouting with Troop 136, especially canoeing the Boundary Waters of Minnesota; enjoyed spending time with his father at Mountain Man Rendezvous and playing rook at family gatherings; member of the Sons of the American Legion
Survivors include: wife, Martha; son, Cory; father, Lonnie and wife Bev DeWeese; mother Ellamae DeWeese and special friend Tom McCoy; sisters, Laci McCall and Sheyanne and husband Keith Harders; brother, Shayne; sister-in-law, Kelly DeWeese; nephews, Gregg and wife Brittney DeWeese and family and Chris and wife Natasha DeWeese and family; nieces, Adelyn Harders and Neala McCall; and many aunts, uncles and cousins
Was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents-in-law, Jim and Mary Ann Harvey; brother, Monte; and sister, Shantel DeWeese
Memorials: the family or the Axtell Fire and Rescue unit
Kearney Hub, 25 April, 2017
EPPENBACH, Donald, 71, of Kearney died Sunday, April 23, 2017, at CHI Health Good Samaritan
Memorial service: May 5 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home
Burial: Kearney Cemetery with military honors
Born: May 21, 1945, in O’Neill
Parents: Earl and Iris (Siewert) Eppenbach
Was raised on a ranch near O’Neill, was a 1963 graduate of O’Neill High School
Military: U.S. Air Force, 1963-1967; served in Texas, Lincoln, Massachusetts and Guam
Married: Sept. 3, 1966, to Juanita Weber in Lincoln
After marriage, lived in O’Neill, worked for KN Energy in the service department, was transferred to Kearney in 1994; retired in 2002 after 35 years of working for KN Energy
Activities: enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, woodworking and riding motorcycles; longtime member of American Legion Post 93, a lifetime member of the NRA, and a member of the American Hunting Club and the Fort Kearny Shooting Sports Association
Survivors include: his wife, Juanita of Kearney; daughters and spouses, Debra and Bart Luedtke of New Richmond, Wis., and Crystal and Jeff Smith of Bellevue; grandchildren, Claira Luedtke and Elliott Smith; sister, Peggy and husband Dave Sidak of O’Neill; sister-in-law, Marilyn and husband Robert Hamilton of Smith Center, Kan.; aunt, Leona Knox of Atkinson; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins
Was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents
Kearney Hub, 29 April, 2017
FOLAND, Victor C. “Neal”, 65, of Ravenna died on Easter (Resurrection) Sunday, April 16, 2017, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney. Memorial service: Friday at the Congregational Church in Ravenna
Inurnment: later
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born: Jan. 29, 1952, in Breakabeen, N.Y
Parents: Victor and Lorraine Foland
Attended schools in Middleburgh, N.Y.
Moved to Nebraska, 1980, worked for a brief time for Chief Industries in Grand Island, then worked for 32 years for the cheese plant in Ravenna as it changed from Ravenna Cheese to Mid-America Dairymen to DFA and lastly Leprino Foods; took early retirement in 2012 due to kidney failure
Married: Luella “Lou” Hardee-Steele in September 1991, and together spent 26 years watching their extended family flourish
Activities: loved fishing, hunting, golf, bowling and of course, football, especially Nebraska Cornhusker games; also liked softball, baseball (New York Mets) and attending his grandkids’ sporting events whenever he could
Survivors include: his wife, Lou of Ravenna; three stepsons, Monte and wife Sondra Steele of Ravenna, Craig and wife Angela Steele of Moberly, Mo., and Corbett Steele and Tanja Gressley of Lincoln; two brothers, Martin and wife Myra Foland of Hobart, N.Y., and Jon Foland of Middleburgh; two sisters, Carole and husband Henry Haslun and Marietta and husband Dan DeLaet, all of Middleburgh; 15 stepgreat-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and three brothers-in-law and their spouses, Ivan and Jackie Harwood of Fayetteville, Ark., and Kearney, Douglas and Doris Hardee of Prairie Grove, Ark., and Dennis and Dianne Hardee of Cozad
Was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers-in-law, Donald Hardee, Robert Hardee and Marvin Hardee; and numerous other family members
Memorials: Nebraska Kidney Foundation, Ravenna Emergency Medical Technicians or the donor’s choice
Kearney Hub, 18 April 2017
GLATTER, Donald V., 92, of Amherst died Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at his home
Wake and visitation: St. John Capistran Catholic Church in Amherst
Service: Monday at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born March 30, 1925, on the family farm northeast of Amherst
Parents: Vincent and Anna (Franke) Glatter
Graduated from Amherst High School in 1942
Married: Helen M. Kusek on June 10, 1947, in Elyria
Lived and worked on the family farm northeast of Amherst his whole life
Activities: member of St. John Capistran Catholic Church, Amherst Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, which he had served as the faithful navigator, and served on the school board for District 45, Sunnyside
Activities: enjoyed fast-pitch softball, playing third base and umpiring; fishing, especially for catfish down at the river; dancing; playing pinochle, cribbage, bridge and shuffleboard; shooting pool; and hunting; was a good steward of the land and enjoyed gardening, especially making pickles and horseradish and giving it away to his friends and family; had the Class D mile record in Nebraska for 19 years at 4:36.7 and still has the Amherst High school mile record; worked hard, played hard and was a storyteller; loved his wife and family and was strong in the Catholic faith
Survivors include: his sons, L.D. Glatter and his wife, Becky, of Lawrence, Kan., David Glatter of Amherst, John Glatter and his wife, Barbara, of Amherst, Dan Glatter and his wife, Henrietta, and Mark Glatter and his wife, Kathy, all of Kearney, Michael Glatter of San Diego, Matthew Glatter and his wife, Crystal, of Sumner, Donald J. Glatter and his wife, Christina, of Kauai, Hawaii, and Christopher Glatter and his wife, Stacie, of Gretna; daughters, Trish Glatter of Las Vegas, Mary Jo Sumrall and her husband, Steve, of Fraser, Colo., Anita Trimble and her husband, Layne, of Kearney, Helen Glatter of Amherst and her friend, Terry Pingel of Steele City and Susan Gallagher and her husband, John, of Salem, Ore.; 23 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Sister Ann Glatter of Concordia, Kan.; brother-in-law, Tony Hittner of Salina, Kan.; and sisters-in-law, Sister Clara Frances Kusek of Chicago, Ardath Kusek of Burwell, Evelyn Kusek of Ord and Gen Kusek of Seward
Was preceded in death by his wife; daughter, Margaret Louise Glatter; granddaughter, Mary Kaitlyn Glatter; sisters, Margaret Rader and Nancy Hittner; brothers-in-law, Henry Kusek, Adrian Kusek, Floyd Kusek, Bernard Kusek, Andrew Kusek and Dale Rader; and sisters-in-law, Marie Suminski, Mildred Kusek, Sister Bonaventure Kusek, Sister Lenore Kusek and Betty Kusek
Memorials: St. John Capistran Catholic Church, Kearney Catholic High School Foundation, St. James Catholic Church or Amherst Public School Foundation
Kearney Hub, 21 April, 2017
JOBMAN, Leta Rose (Taubenheim), 79, of Kearney died Saturday, April 22, 2017, at CHI Health Good Samaritan
Service: Wednesday at First Lutheran Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann
Born: July 16, 1937, near Riverdale
Parents: Otto and Telma (Beers) Taubenheim
Was educated in Buffalo County, attended Kearney State College and Central Community College
Married: Donald. D. Jobman in Kearney on April 23, 1961
After marriage, lived in Kearney; worked for Bahr-Schall Music Co. in Kearney; took time out to start her family, then later worked with Kearney Public Schools as an elementary school librarian at Northeast Elementary School for 25 years; was awarded the Education Support Staff of the Year Award in 1998; in retirement, enjoyed working as a convention hostess for Kearney Visitors Bureau
Activities: active member of First Lutheran Church in Kearney, served as Sunday school secretary, church council secretary, Naomi Circle secretary and chairman, WELCA president and was active in Bible school, evangelism committee, H.A.T.S. visitations, Bible studies and adult Bible school; active member in DOES, AS chapter of PEO, a past board member of Friends of the Library, past president of Kearney Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and past board member of Senior College; loved reading the Hub’s Annie’s Mailbox column for the visually impaired; enjoyed playing bonco and bridge, reading and traveling, and the fellowship of the mission trips with First Lutheran groups; her friends were her greatest treasure; a special pastime for her was to write notes and take gifts to people during illness or difficult times of their lives
Survivors include her husband, Don of Kearney; two daughters, Janna Burton and her husband, Troy, and Jill Jobman, all of Kearney; sister, Venia Whitesel of Broken Bow; two brothers, Gerald of Broken Bow and Maurice of Grand Island; two grandsons, Blake Swartwood of Overton and Bo Burton of Highland, Calif.; one granddaughter, Jenna Swartwood of Brownwood, Texas; two great-granddaughters; one stepgrandson, Jared Burton of Highland; sister-in-law, Velma Taubenheim of Broken Bow; and hosts of nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers
Kearney Hub, 25 April, 2017
JOHNSON, Rita Louise, 92, of Kearney died Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Mother Hull Home
Service: Wednesday at First Lutheran Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born: July 25, 1924, in Kearney
Parents: Carl A. and Lillian C. (Nickel) Meyers
Grew up south of Kearney, was a 1942 graduate of Kearney High School; attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Denver, graduated in 1945
Worked on the West Coast, moved back to Minden, 1959; later moved to Custer County
Married:L May 31, 1961, to Orian O. Johnson at the First Lutheran Church in Kearney
Moved back to Kearney in 1984
Activities: member of the Kearney First Lutheran Church and of the Willing Workers of Custer County; enjoyed playing cards with several different groups over the years; loved playing dominoes with her nieces and nephews; other hobbies included knitting, crocheting, gardening, fishing, and traveling
Survivors include: her 13 nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Joan Johnson of Mason City and Janet Claire Johnson of Kearney; and many special friends
Was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Orian Johnson; sister and brother-in-law, Viola and Forrest Mehrten; and three uncles, Otto, Herman and John Meyers
Memorials: First Lutheran Church, CHI Health Good Samaritan Foundation or the donor’s choice
Kearney Hub, 17 April 2017
KREUTZER, Kenneth K., 63, of Kearney died Friday, April 21, 2017, at Kearney Regional Medical Center
Memorial service: Wednesday at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Born: Aug. 22, 1953, in Kearney
Parents: Gustav and Esther (Miller) Kreutzer
Grew up in Kearney, graduated from Kearney High School in 1972
Married: Sept. 23, 1978, to Cynthia Speicher
Worked at Baldwin Filters for over 20 years until he retired
Activities: enjoyed NASCAR, Yankee baseball, Husker sports, fishing, hunting, music and collecting Hot Wheels
Surviving relatives include his wife of Kearney; daughters, Kimberly Polhemus and husband Brandon of Kearney, Lindsey Kreutzer and husband Reed Pierce of Lincoln and Tricia Kreutzer of Kearney; and grandchildren, Dahlia, Xavier and Josiah Kreutzer and Anna and Kenzie Polhemus, all of Kearney
Was preceded in death by his parents
Kearney Hub, 25 April, 2017
LOCKHORN, Loretta A., 78, of Kearney died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at St. John’s Good Samaritan Center
Service: Monday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Ravenna
Burial: St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at Prairie Center
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl in Kearney
Born: March 7, 1939, in Kearney
Parents: John and Anna (Domandle) Lockhorn
Graduated from Pleasanton High School in 1956; earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Kearney State College
Taught sixth grade in Ogallala and then Grand Island at Starr Elementary; retired from teaching in 1985
Activities: loved being a teacher, took summer class; visited 45 of the 50 states and traveled throughout Europe, enjoyed bringing what she had learned and experienced back into the classroom to her students; loved being on the farm; member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Ravenna
Survivors include: sister-in-law, Shirley Lockhorn of Pleasanton; niece, Nancy Roth and her husband, Ken, of Kearney; nephew, Roger Lockhorn and his wife, Deb, of Lincoln; grandnephews, Jared Roth and his wife, Amanda, of Gibbon and Tanner Lockhorn of Lincoln; grandnieces, Kayla Roth of Kearney and Madison Lockhorn of Lincoln; and great-grandnephew, Leroy Roth of Gibbon
Was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Leonard Lockhorn; and nephew, Keith Lockhorn
Memorials: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, AseraCare Hospice or St. John’s in Kearney
Kearney Hub, 6 May, 2017
MARZOLF, Linda M., 70, of Riverdale died Friday, April 14, 2017, at Kearney Regional Medical Center
Service: Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Kearney
Burial: Prairie Center Cemetery at Haven’s Chapel north of Kearney
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born: Feb. 21, 1947, at home on the farm near Elm Creek
Parents: Kenneth and Ruth (Baldree) Gewecke
Grew up in the area, graduated from Elm Creek High School in 1965; attended nurse’s school in Kearney and obtained her LPN license
Married: July 3, 1968, to Robert Marzolf in Kearney
After marriage, lived in Kearney; moved to Riverdale, 1970; worked as a nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital then at Family Practice for more than 40 years, retired as director of nurses in 2014
Activities: member of Haven’s Chapel United Methodist Church, taught Bible school in the summer; member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Kearney; enjoyed reading, crocheting, computer games, working puzzles and traveling; liked doing genealogy work, especially enjoyed spending time with family
Survivors include: son, Scott Marzolf of Louisville, Ky.; sisters, Delila Hinrichsen and husband Jay and Karen Brecht and husband Alan, all of Kearney; brother, Kenny Gewecke and wife Kim of Kearney; and many nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2003; brother, Ricky in 2015; nephew, Mathew Brecht; and great niece Brittney Payne
Memorials: American Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
Kearney Hub, 17 April 2017
MENDENHALL, Maryrose, 98, of Kearney died Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at Mount Carmel Home and Rehabilitation Center in Kearney
Celebration of Life Memorial Mass: Friday, May 26, 2017, St. James Catholic Church in Kearney
Body was donated to Creighton University School of Medicine
Burial of Cremains: Resurrection Cemetery in Omaha Nebraska
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born: January 22, 1919 at home in Pocahontas, Iowa
Parents: Theo and Rozella McCartan
Graduated from Iowa State University
Taught high school for several years in northwest Iowa; moved to Chicago, was a dietitian for a department store cafeteria
During WWII, was a civil service employee in Kansas City; then moved to Des Moines, was on staff at Meredith Publishing for Better Homes and Gardens
Married: July 18, 1946 to Robert Glen Mendenhall
After marriage, settled in Iowa and raised their family; moved to Kearney in 1964
Was a curriculum librarian at Kearney State College for 23 years, retired in 1989
Activities: member of St. James Catholic Church, the Pioneer Neighborhood Association, and volunteered as a librarian for St. James; enjoyed supporting Kearney State College/UNK and UNL events; greatest joy was her family; leaves behind a legacy of faith and her love of reading
Survivors include: her children Mac (Marilyn) Mendenhall of Sturgis, SD; Ann Gannon of Columbus, NE; Phil (Jean) Mendenhall of Omaha, NE; and Kay (Willie) Mohr of Louisville, NE; nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; and brothers Jack McCartan of Pocahontas, IA; and Mark (Katie) McCartan of Minneapolis, MN.
Was preceded in death by her husband Robert; son Mark; son-in-law Bill Gannon; brother George; and sisters Margaret and Catherine
Memorials: Alzheimer's Association, American Heart Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
http://www.hlmkfuneral.com
OTTO, John B., 55, of Kearney died Friday, April 28, 2017, at his home
Graveside service: Saturday at Shelton Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl in Kearney
Born March 20, 1962, in Grand Island
Parents: Clarence and Aileen (Van Meter) Otto
Survivors include: his brother, Ken of Grand Island; sisters, Diane Geiger of Grand Island, Bonnie Lundvall of Papillion and Connie Riggs of Olathe, Kan.; and stepdaughters, Jamie Cervantes of Fairbury and Tonya Dobbs of Belgrade
Kearney Hub, 4 May, 2017
PANOWICZ, Diane R., 58, of Kearney died Thursday, April 20, 2017, at her home near Kearney
Service: Monday at Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born: Oct. 30, 1958, in Kearney
Parents: Gilbert J. and Betty A. (Lynch) Gorgen
Attended Kearney High School and graduated with the class of 1977
Married: Ronald Panowicz on Feb. 16, 1980, in Kearney
Was employed as the manager of the Cabela’s Call Center in Kearney for over 31 years
Activities: enjoyed time with family and regularly attended her grandchildren’s various activities; was a hard worker, enjoyed life in the country, especially the sunsets
Survivors include: her husband, Ron Panowicz of Kearney; daughter, Shawn Koch and her husband, Travis, of Kearney; son, Nate Panowicz and his fiancé, Tyler Pierce, of Grand Island; grandchildren, Aiden, Keegan and Ava Koch of Kearney; and sister, Lisa Marple and husband Jeff of Lincoln
Was preceded in death by her parents
Kearney Hub, 22 April, 2017
REIDY, Thomas E., 87, of Kearney died Monday, April 17, 2017, at Kearney Regional Medical Center
Service: Friday at St. James Catholic Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery with military honors
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Service: Friday at St. James Catholic Church
Burial: Kearney Cemetery with military honors
Born: Nov. 12, 1929, in Kearney
Parents: John and Rose (Cepel) Reidy
Attended St. James Grade School in Kearney; moved to York in 1935, graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1947
Military: U.S. Navy, June 7, 1947 - 1951
Married: Emily “Jean” Jarecke on Sept. 26, 1953, in St. Paul
Moved to Kearney in 1955; worked at Martin Lumber Co., became the manager for 18 years; worked at Builders Warehouse, 1985- until he retired in 2000; Worked the Jean to building their home, 1957; lived there for 60 years
Activities: active member of St. James Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Kearney VFW Post 759, Kearney Elks Lodge 984 and Kearney Eagles Club 2722; enjoyed gardening and woodworking and was an avid sports fan, especially following Kearney Catholic and Husker sporting events
Survivors include: wife, Emily “Jean” Reidy of Kearney; sons, Patrick Reidy and his wife, Pam, of St. Louis and Steve Reidy and his wife, Kim, Greg Reidy and his wife, Renae, and Robert Reidy and his wife, Deanna, all of Kearney; sisters, Judy Nelson of Jacksonville, N.C., and Kathy Reidy of Lincoln; grandchildren, Jett Reidy and wife Cindy, Stevie Reidy, K.C. Reidy, Jace Reidy, Shauna Reinsch and husband Mannie, Brian Reidy and fiancée Lindsay DeVries, Brad Reidy and fiancée Anna Trevino, Brittany Reidy, Kaylei Margheim and husband Zach, and Stacie Gant and husband Brandon; and nine great-grandchildren
Was preceded in death by two sons, Michael and Shawn Reidy; grandson, Brandon Reidy; granddaughter, Shelby Reidy; and one sister, Marilyn Roeder
Memorials: St. James Catholic Church or Kearney Catholic High School Foundation
Kearney Hub, 20 April 2017
RIESSLAND, Bernard, 78, of Medford, Oregon, formerly of Amherst, Neb., died Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in Medford
Celebration of Life service: April 9th, 2017, in Pāhoa, Hawaii
Survivors include his son, Jason of Hawaii; and brother, LaVern of Kearney, Neb.
Kearney Hub, 7 April, 2017
SAATHOFF, Jerold Simon, 68, of Papillion, formerly of Kearney, died Thursday, April 13, 2017, at Mosaic Home in Papillion
Service: Wednesday at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in LaVista
Burial: Kearney Cemetery
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born in Minden on May 15, 1948
Parents: Earl and Anna (Fegter) Saathoff
Was baptized on May 19, 1948, in Minden and confirmed on Oct. 21, 1992, at Zion Lutheran Church in Kearney; lived on a farm near Hildreth, moved to Kearney, 1956
Was one of the first clients of Mid-Nebraska Individual Services; lived with his family, then moved to his own apartment in 1988 with assistance from the Mid-Nebraska staff; moved to Mosaic in Papillion, September 2012, due to declining health
Activities: enjoyed bowling, Western and scary movies, shopping and music; member of Zion Lutheran Church and The Arc of Buffalo County
Survivors include: brother, Larry and wife Lynne Saathoff of La Vista; sisters, Verleen Gentry of Kearney and Angela and husband John Wick of Blair; nephews, their spouses and their families: Todd and Laurie Wick and sons Ethan, Evan and Alec of Blair; and James and Diane Gentry of Canton, S.D.; and nieces, their spouses and their families: Teresa and Bret McCormick and children Cassie and Sam Bradley and son Brooks, Drew and Claire McCormick and Derek of Loveland, Colo.; Deanna and John Quinnan of Tucson, Ariz.; Anna and Richard Aguilera and children Isaiah, Sophia and Jocelyn of Sahuarita, Ariz.; and Alisa and Roy Reynolds and daughter Kate of Kearney
Was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Elna Saathoff and Leann Harris; and brother-in-law, Jim Gentry
Memorials: Zion Lutheran Church in Kearney, The Arc of Buffalo County or Mosaic
Kearney Hub, 18 April, 2017
SKUPA, Agnes Pearl, 93, of Ravenna died Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Seneca Sunrise in Ravenna
Service: Saturday at Ravenna United Methodist Church
Burial: Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Cairo
Mortuary: Rasmussen in Ravenna
Born: March 20, 1924, in Cairo
Parents: Frank and Bessie (Klinkacek) Skupa
Grew up on a farm in the North Shelton area
Cleaned houses for people in her younger years; worked alongside her brother, Joe, farming, milking cows and raising hogs; enjoyed gardening and canning, also raised chickens
Activities: belonged to the garden club, member of several card playing groups; enjoyed the activities at Seneca Sunrise; also enjoyed reading, doing puzzle books, painting and Bible study; loved spending time with family and friends; wrote poems and had a book of them published; also liked to travel
Survivors include her nieces, Jan Schmidt of Hazard and Jeanette (Schmidt) Duff and her husband, Dave, of Denton, Texas; grandnieces and grandnephews, Dawn Duff, Angie and Justin Renner, Lynn Duff, Kelly Dean and Rick Horst; great-grandnephews, Justin Zoerb and River Renner; and numerous cousins
Was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Joe, Frank and George; sisters, Rose and Marie; nephew, Roy Schmidt; and grandniece, Rose M. Schmidt
Kearney Hub, 2 May, 2017
SOHRWEID, Romona M., 82, of Amherst died Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at her home
Service: Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst
Burial: Stanley Cemetery near Amherst
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl
Born: Aug. 28, 1934, in Amherst
Parents: John and Mildred (Taubenheim) LeBar
Grew up in Amherst, graduated from Amherst High School in 1951; was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on Dec. 14, 1952, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst; later graduated from Kearney State College
Married: March 15, 1952, to Howard E. Sohrweid in Amherst
Taught school at District 4 in Phelps County for one year, District 31 for one year then taught fourth and fifth grades at Amherst School District for 39 years; retired in 1997
Activities: member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Amherst, Nebraska Education Association, Senior Citizens of Amherst and the HOP (Helping Other People) Club; enjoyed going to auctions, reading, collecting Hallmark ornaments; especially enjoyed spending time with family and having coffee at Stockman’s with her friends
Survivors include: grandson, Greg Sohrweid and fiancée Karri Boston of Riverdale; great-grandson, Ethan Sohrweid of Atlanta; granddaughter, Tami Powell of Atlanta; brother-in-law, Joe Paitz of Pleasanton; and numerous nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard in 2011; daughter, Judith in 1993; son, Donald in 2013; sister, Delores Paitz; nephew, Michael Sohrweid in 1989; and niece, Norma Paitz
Memorials: Trinity Lutheran Church or the Amherst Fire Department
Kearney Hub, 4 May, 2017
STUEHM, Matilda “Til” Magdalene, 93, of Kearney, formerly of Hildreth, died Thursday, April 20, 2017, at her home
Service: Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth
Burial: Hildreth Cemetery
Mortuary: Jelden-Craig in Hildreth
Born: Dec. 8, 1923, on a farm northwest of Macon
John Herman and Catherine “Katie” (Dorn) Fritson
Was named after her grandmother and great-grandmother; was baptized on Dec. 26, 1923, and confirmed on April 10, 1938, at Zion Lutheran Church west of Macon; grew up in the Macon area and went to School District 56 until age 8, lived in Kansas for a year; moved to the Bloomington area, attended James School; went to Franklin High School one semester and graduated from Bloomington High School in 1941; attended Kearney State Teachers College for one year and taught country schools in Franklin, Kearney and Phelps counties; her fifth year of teaching was at Hildreth Public Schools, taught sixth through eighth grades
Married: Harold Stuehm on Feb. 27, 1948, at her parents’ home near Keene; had four children together
After marriage, lived on a farm just north of Hildreth for a year, moved to a farm northeast of Wilcox for 14 years and then moved to the Henry and Nellie Stuehm farm near Hildreth in 1963; moved to Kearney, 2002; celebrated their 55th anniversary just prior to Harold’s death in 2003
Was a farm wife, raising her family, helping on the farm, gardening, canning, sewing, raising chickens and milking cows
Actities: member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Hildreth and First Lutheran Church of Kearney; was a Sunday school teacher for 40 years, church circle member, member of the NON Club, Double D Extension Club, a 4-H member and leader, and Common Threads Quilter’s Club; enjoyed helping to make quilts for the Lutheran World Relief and hand quilting for Camp Carol Joy Holling; especially enjoyed the Kearney YMCA swimming and exercising classes; most of all enjoyed time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their families
Survivors include: her son, David and wife Lydia of Wilcox; daughters, Linda Olsen and husband Victor, Valerie Erickson and husband Alvin, and Nadine Stuehm and husband Claude Louishomme, all of Kearney; grandchildren and spouses, Trenton and Kristen Erickson of Omaha, Mary and Seth Johnson of Upland, Troy and Meagan Olsen of Santa Fe, N.M., Laurel and Joey Thorell of Axtell, Nicole and Rob Evers of Minden, Christian Stuehm and Robert Stuehm, both of Hildreth, Trevor Erickson of Lincoln, Cecilee and Blake Huelsnitz of Grand Island and Brittany Olsen of Northglenn, Colo.; great-grandchildren, Bristol, Barrett, Marley and McCoy Thorell, Kaleb, Kip, Kolt and Parker Johnson and Weston Evers; sisters, Lillian Johnson and Magdalene Duering and sister-in-law, Jeannie Fritson, all of Kearney; aunt, May Dorn of Minden; and many nieces, nephews and cousins
Was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; granddaughters, Moriah Panter and Kimberly Olsen; brothers, Herman “Bud” Fritson and Harold Fritson; sister, Lavina Fritson; her parents-in-law, Henry and Nellie Stuehm; sister-in-law and husband, Helen and Dale Francisco; brothers-in-law, Edsel Johnson and Dale Duering; and nephews, Michael Fritson, Bernard Fritson, James Duering, Robert Duering and Gaylon Francisco
Memorials: Water for Haiti, Feed My Starving Children, World Hunger or to the donor’s choice
Kearney Hub, 22 April, 2017
SWETT, Richard “Dick”, 84, of Kearney died Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at St. Luke’s Good Samaritan Village
Memorial service: Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Kearney
Burial: Ord City Cemetery with military honors
Mortuary: Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl in Kearney
Born: Nov. 18, 1932, in Ainsworth
Parents: Erman and Pauline (Wright) Swett
Graduated from Wood Lake High School in 1951
Military: U.S. Air Force and earned the rank of staff sergeant; served four years
Earned his teaching certificate from Kearney State College in 1959
Taught and coached in Superior and in Malvern, Iowa; returned to Kearney in 1964 to teach
Married: Sharon Cetak on Aug. 16, 1969, in Ord
Activities: enjoyed hunting, fishing, historical biographies and gardening; was extremely proud of his vegetable garden; had a lifelong love affair with all things Husker, and was a longtime football season ticket holder; after retiring, enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe; member of First Presbyterian Church, a 50-year member of the American Legion, N.E.A. and N.S.E.A., and was an admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska
Survivors include: his wife, Sharon of Kearney; son, Tim Swett and his wife, Lori, of Rapid City, S.D.; daughter, Nancy Bullis and her husband, Kevin, of Elwood; brother, Don Swett and his wife, Sharon, of Leadville, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Shirley Bundy of Grand Island and Sheila Ramsey of Ord; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by his parents
Memorials: First Presbyterian Church, Kearney Area Animal Shelter or Nebraska Educational Television
Kearney Hub, 5 May, 2017
THOMAS, Kristi L., 51, of Axtell died Tuesday, April 18, 2017, at her home
Memorial service: Monday at Hope Evangelical Free Church in Kearney
Burial: later
Mortuary: Layton-Craig in Minden
Born: July 25, 1965, in Kearney
Parents: John and Marge (Allen) Kauffelt
Grew up in Holdrege, attended high school in Holdrege; later received her GED and licensed practical nurse education in Kearney
Married: George Thomas on Sept. 18, 2007, in Kearney
After marriage, lived in Kearney and Axtell
Activities: member of Hope Evangelical Free Church; was baptized on July 25, 2012
Survivors include: her husband, George Thomas of Axtell; her parents, John and Marge Kauffelt; and her sisters, Kim Comfort of Kansas City, Mo., Deb Tracy of Ravenna and Katie Boston of Kearney
Memorials: to the church
Kearney Hub, 21 April, 2017
VACHA, Shannon, 39, of Kearney died Thursday, April 27, 2017, at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha
Memorial service: Saturday at Kearney Evangelical Free Church
Born: in Kearney to on May 15, 1977
Parents: Linda and Floyd Spencer; was later adopted by her stepfather, Al Vacha
Attended school in Kearney, graduated from Kearney High School
Worked in nursing homes as a certified nursing assistant and cook
Was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Amy Spencer and Alma Peters; and her grandfather, John Nemecek
Survivors include: her parents; children, Schyler Vacha and his fiancée, Mattie, Elisa Vacha and daughter Mia, and Alex Lopez and Taylor Lamothes, all of Kearney; sisters, Vanessa Rastovic of Pennsylvania, Jodi Martinez of Cozad, Christi Galloway and husband Ken of Kearney and Erin Smotherman and son Kaid of McCook; brothers, Brad Spencer of South Dakota, Mike Booher and wife Deniz and daughter Selale of Detroit and Nathan Vacha of Kearney; grandmother, Helen Nemecek of Minden; and many aunts, uncles and cousins
Memorials: for Shannon’s final expenses and the education of her two younger children
Kearney Hub, 2 May, 2017
VANDEN BERGE, Arvin Lagene, 89, of Kearney died Thursday April 13, 2017, at Cozad Community Hospital
Service: Monday at North Harrison Reformed Church in Harrison, S.D.
Burial: Harrison Cemetery
Mortuary: Koehn Bros. in Stickney, S.D.
Born: March 6, 1928, in Douglas County, S.D.
Parents: Leendert (Lane) and Jennie (Bordewyk) Vanden Berge
Grew up in Douglas County, S.D., attended Harrison School until the eighth grade
Military: March 22, 1951 to February 17, 1953; did basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash., served with the 11th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion in Europe; was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal; returned to the family farm in South Dakota
Married: May 2, 1957, to the former Jessie Overweg
After marriage, lived on a farm in Aurora County until shortly after Jessie’s death in 1996; moved into Stickney and had several enjoyable years of fishing, playing cards and attending local high school sporting events
Activities: life-long member of Harrison Reformed Church, served as both elder and deacon; later relocated to Leisure Living and Corsica, S.D., then moved to Kearney to be close to his eldest son, Leon
Was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie (Overweg) Vanden Berge, his parents and three brothers, Kenneth, Glenn and Calvin
Survivors include: his children and their spouses: Leon and Jodi Vanden Berge of Kearney, Sharon and Rick Heying of Mitchell, S.D., Shirley and Matt Kosmicki of Charlotte, N.C., and Wayne and Jill Vanden Berge of Dubuque, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and three sisters, Eileen Nelson of Milbank, S.D., Betty Lamp of Burke, S.D. and Ruby Lindeman of Selby, SD.
Memorials: Harrison Cemetery Association. Kearney Hub, 15 April 2017
WATSON, Shirley Lou, 76 of Kearney died Sunday, April 16, 2017, at her home
Service: Saturday at First Lutheran Church
Burial: Mount Pleasant Cemetery near Cairo
Mortuary: O’Brien Straatmann Redinger
Born: July 21, 1940, in Columbia, Mo.
Parents: Laurence E. and Minnie A. (Wyatt) Stoeger
Grew up in Cairo and graduated from Cairo High School
Married: Nov. 1, 1957, to Jerry C. Watson at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island;he died on Oct. 25, 2000
After marriage, lived in Grand Island, then moved to Kearney in 1977
Activities: was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother; member of First Lutheran Church, volunteered countless hours at the church and Jubilee Center; also enjoyed fishing, camping, gardening, hunting and quilting; most of all, loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Survivors include: her two sons, Rick Watson and wife Ann of Grand Island and Ron Watson and wife Regina of Lexington; her daughter, Kay Watson of Kearney; four grandchildren, Brett Watson and wife Catherine, and Brice Watson, all of Lexington, and Cody Watson and Carrie Watson, both of Grand Island; two great-grandchildren, Payton Watson and Emmett Watson, both of Lexington; a brother, Bud Stoeger and wife Pat of Dannebrog; three sisters, Betty Pokorney of Grand Island, JoAnn Robertson and husband Mike of Grand Island and Peggy Veeder and husband Harold of Cairo; a brother-in-law, Jim Watson and wife Elaine of Burwell; and several nieces and nephews
Was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her parents-in-law, Charlie and Thelma Watson; and a brother-in-law, Charlie Pokorney
Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church or the Jubilee Center
Kearney Hub, 19 April 2017