Obituaries from December 2005

Aug. 21, 1922--Nov. 29, 2005 Leila Marilyn Weyeneth died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005, at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 83. She was born Aug. 21, 1922, in Lebanon, the daughter of Fred and Gladys (Zweigle) Jolly. She grew up on a farm south of Lebanon on the Nebraska, Kansas line. She graduated from the Decatur County High School at Oberlin in 1940. She began teaching at the Spring Branch Rural School in Decatur County...

Aug. 28, 1923--Nov. 29, 2005 HERNDON -- Genevieve Eula Kristina Henningsen, 82, died Tuesday (Nov. 29, 2005). She was born Aug. 28, 1923, in rural Rawlins County to Olof W. Erickson and Christina Marie Westman. She attended Linda Country School and graduated from Decatur Community High School...

Nov. 9, 1953--Nov. 29, 2005 BEAVER CITY -- David Walter Buss, 52, died Tuesday (Nov. 29, 2005) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. He was born Nov. 9, 1953, in Gothenburg to Walter and DeVona (Max) Buss. He graduated from Cozad High School in 1972...

Dec. 3, 1938--Nov. 24, 2005 Mary Jane Lewis, 66, died Thursday (Nov. 24, 2005) at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings. She was born Dec. 3, 1938, in Keith County to Eddie and Laura Pankonin Uehling. She graduated from Perkins County High School in Grant in 1956. She became a registered nurse in 1959...

Nov. 18, 1935--Nov. 28, 2005 HARRISON -- Alta "Nadine" Ellicott, 70, died Monday (Nov. 28, 2005) in Crawford. She was born Nov. 18, 1935, in Alliance to Willard and Edna Pearl Carpenter. She was a member of the Harrison Methodist Church and United Methodist Women...

Feb. 22, 1948--Dec. 1, 2005 OBERLIN -- Rich Grafel, 57, died Thursday (Dec. 1, 2005) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Feb. 22, 1948, in McCook to Harlan Grafel and Norma Crocker. He graduated from Herndon Rural High School in 1966 and Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan...

Sept. 2, 1927--Nov. 29, 2005 IMPERIAL -- Bobbie Glenn Case, 78, died Tuesday (Nov. 29, 2005) at his home in Imperial. He was born Sept. 2, 1927, in Lamar to Glenn E. and Elsie (Weiss) Case. He married Nancy Shaw on Jan. 27, 1951. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 until 1948. He was stationed on the USS Helena and the USS Los Angeles in the Pacific Ocean...

Aug. 1, 1910--Nov. 22, 2005 RICHARDSON, Texas -- Irene Florence Lohnes Moran, 95, died Tuesday (Nov. 22, 2005) at Richardson Regional Medical Center in Richardson, Texas. She was born Aug. 1, 1910, in Pekin, Ill., to William A. and Minnie Hunter Lohnes. She graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music in Bloomington, Ill., in 1934...

INDIANOLA -- Isaac Damon Cornwell, infant son of Tim and Janet (Rayer) Cornwell, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, George Cornwell. Survivors include his parents, Tim and Janet Cornwell of Indianola; grandparents, Dick and Jane Rayer of Indianola and Sue Cornwell of LaVista; and uncles, aunts and cousins...

March 31, 1913--Dec. 2, 2005 Agnes A. Mindrup, 92, formerly of rural New Almelo, Kan., died Friday (Dec. 2, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born March 31, 1913, in rural Norton County to Henry J. and Elizabeth (Silke) Mindrup. She attended high school in Clyde, Mo...

Sept. 5, 1918--Dec. 2, 2005 ATWOOD -- Willard Shelton Coffin, 87, died Friday (Dec. 2, 2005). He was born Sept. 5, 1918, to Jesse and Merle (Barret) Coffin in Moravia, Iowa. He received a bachelor's degree in business and accounting from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a master's degree in business administration from Wayne State University...

April 2, 1926--Dec. 4, 2005 HOLDREGE -- Mary Louise Freed, 79, died Sunday (Dec. 4, 2005) at the Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege. She was born April 2, 1926, in McCook to Robert B. and Viola (Johnson) Callen. She graduated from McCook High School in 1944. ...

March 26, 1925--Dec. 5, 2005 TRENTON -- Henry James Hubl died Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook at the age of 80. He was born March 26, 1925, at Spring Ranch in Clay County, the son of Anton and Bessie (Sochor) Hubl. He grew up in the Lawrence area, where he received his education...

Nov. 1, 1912--Dec. 3, 2005 George A. Foster, 93, died Saturday (Dec. 3, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Nov. 1, 1912, in Gothenburg to Angeloah and Martha (Sikorski) Foster. He graduated from Brady High School in 1931. He was in the U.S. Navy from 1932 until 1936. During World War II he worked in the Mare Island Ship Yard in Vallejo, Calif...

Nov. 24, 1953--Dec. 4, 2005 GRAND ISLAND -- Barbara Esther Thieben, 52, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, at home from an illness. Barbara was born Nov. 24, 1953, to LaVerle and Florence (Wessel) Kesting in Norfolk. She was baptized Dec. 20, 1953, in the Mount Olive Lutheran Church at Norfolk by Rev. B. Meschke...

Aug. 24, 1940--Dec. 5, 2005 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Marlene Joyce Johnson, 65, died Monday (Dec. 5, 2005) in Birmingham, Ala. She was born Aug. 24, 1940, in Sioux City, Iowa, to John Smith and Leona Uehlin. She grew up in Oberlin and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1958...

Oct. 18, 1924--Dec. 6, 2005 OBERLIN -- John A. "Jack" Lamb, 81, died Tuesday (Dec. 6, 2005) at the Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. He was born Oct. 18, 1924, in Grant to Charles E. Lamb and Emma J. Welding. He graduated from Perkins County High School...

Feb. 9, 1953--Dec. 4, 2005 ATWOOD -- Michael Kenneth Migchelbrink, 52, died Sunday (Dec. 4, 2005) in Tulsa, Okla. He was born Feb. 9, 1953, in Atwood to Kenneth and Elaine (Fikan) Migchelbrink. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1971 and attended Goodland VoTech...

Dec. 24, 1913--Dec. 7, 2005 CAMBRIDGE -- Lester J. Johnson, 91, died Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2005) at the Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. He was born Dec. 24, 1913, to Alfred and Hilma (Olsen) Johnson in Furnas County on the family farm near Cambridge. He attended country school...

Nov. 9, 1915--Dec. 2, 2005 GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Goldie Faye Dorson, 90, died Friday (Dec. 2, 2005) in Orange Park, Fla. She was born Nov. 9, 1915, in Jennings, Kan., to Otto Hanson and Bozena Votapka. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1934...

April 9, 1929--Dec. 7, 2005 TRENTON -- John Joseph Colling, 76, formerly of rural McCook, died Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2005) at the ElDorado Manor in Trenton. He was born April 9, 1929, at McCook to Bernard N. and Helen (Kennedy) Colling. He attended school through the eighth grade...

March 14, 1918-Dec. 8, 2005 Ruth A. Perry, 87, died Thursday (Dec. 8, 2005) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born March 14, 1918, in Scandia, Kan., to E. Porter Ahrens and Cora (Armstrong) Ahrens. She attended the Scandia Public Schools and graduated in 1936. She attended Brown Mackie Business School in Salina, Kan...

Dec. 1, 1916--Dec. 10, 2005 OBERLIN -- Helen Charlotte Lindquist, 89, died Saturday (Dec. 10, 2005) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Dec. 1, 1916, in McCook to Fred and Eruilla (Fitch) Adams. She graduated from McCook High School...

WAUNETA -- Otis "Knotty" Knotwell, 82, died Friday (Dec. 9, 2005) at the Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colo. Survivors include his wife, Beryl of Wauneta; daughters, Carol Thompson and husband, Steven of Wauneta, Barb Hinrichs and husband, Gordon of Lexington, Colleen Goings and husband, Dennis of Elsie and Patti Kitt and husband, Lonnie of Schuyler; son, James Knotwell and wife, Denise of Wayne; sister, Esther Einspahr of Wauneta; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren...

July 14, 1939--Dec. 7, 2005 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Harvey "Butch" Rohrbacher, 66, died Wednesday (Dec. 7, 2005) in Peoria, Ariz., as the result of lung cancer. He was born on July 14, 1939, in Bertrand. He attended school in Bartley. He joined the U.S. Air Force shortly after graduation. He was medically discharged and, after undergoing surgery, joined the U.S. Navy...

May 28, 1921--Dec. 9, 2005 CURTIS -- Roy Davis, 84, died Dec. 9, 2005, at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. He was born May 28, 1921, near White to Elmer E. and Martha Hoschouer Davis. He married Marian Candace Bailey on April 18, 1941, in Norton. The couple made their home on a farm southwest of Curtis...

May 17, 1920--Dec. 9, 2005 ATWOOD -- Robert Charles Miller, 85, died Friday (Dec. 9, 2005) at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. He was born May 17, 1920, to John Jacob Miller III and Naomi Beryl (Dillon) Miller in Atwood. He attended two years of college...

Aug. 18, 1913--Dec. 10, 2005 Dillworth A. Johns, 92, died Saturday (Dec. 10, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Aug. 18, 1913, to Johnnie J. and Clara L. (Crouse) Rankin in Goodland, Kan. She married Francis Lynn Carpenter on Sept. 24, 1931, in Goodland. He preceded her in death in 1967. She married Horace J. Johns in Miami, Fla., on Dec. 29, 1970. They made their home in Florida until his death in 1975. She then returned to McCook...

May 3, 1908--Dec. 13, 2005 NORTH PLATTE -- Florence Eggleston Clough, 97, died Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2005) at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte. She was born May 3, 1908, in Coventry, N.Y., to Henry Leroy and Carolyn Mable Spencer Eggleston. She graduated from Wallace High School in 1925...

June 10, 1912-Dec. 10, 2005 MAYWOOD -- Helen Farrar, 93, died Saturday (Dec. 10, 2005) at Senior Living Choices in Curtis. She was born June 10, 1912, to Charles and Nellie (Turner) Harris at Red Cloud. She married Eldon Haresnape on May 13, 1930, in Red Cloud. He preceded her in death in 1945. She married Wallace Farrar in Maywood in 1954. He preceded her in death in 1980...

Feb. 21, 1945--Dec. 11, 2005 ATWOOD -- James Edmund Finn, the second child of Edmund J. and Ruth (Cole) Finn was born Feb. 21, 1945, in Salida, Colo. He departed this life on Dec. 11, 2005, in Denver, Colo., at the age of 60 years, 9 months and 20 days...

Sept. 25, 1922--Dec. 12, 2005 Wayne Allen Boyer, 83, died Monday (Dec. 12, 2005) at his residence at Willow Ridge in McCook. He was born Sept. 25, 1922, in Red Willow County to Benjamin E. and Retha M. (Puelz) Boyer. He graduated from Danbury High School in 1940...

May 23, 1927--Dec. 14, 2005 OXFORD -- Virgil L. "Whitey" Luke, 78, died Wednesday (Dec. 14, 2005) at Curtis as the result of an illness. He was born in Oxford on May 23, 1927, to Arthur L. and Rose Anna (Solberg) Luke.  He graduated from Oxford High School in 1944. ...

Oct. 14, 2005--Dec. 14, 2005 PALISADE -- Maya Michelle Blackman, infant, died Wednesday (Dec. 14, 2005). She was born Oct. 14, 2005, in North Platte to Jared Carson and Missy Michelle (Vrbas) Blackman. She was preceded in death by maternal great-grandfathers, Van Peterson and Donald Vrbas, and an uncle, Luke Blackman...

July 24, 1917--Nov. 11, 2005 WRAY, Colo. -- Marcella Jeanne (Colfer) Callahan, 88, died Nov. 11, 2005, at the Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colo. She was born July 24, 1917, in McCook to Francis M. and Margaret H. Colfer. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook Junior College with an associate's degree in library science...

Sept. 1, 1926--Dec. 15, 2005 OBERLIN -- Gordon Eugene Anderson, 79, died Thursday (Dec. 15, 2005) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Sept. 1, 1926, in rural Decatur County to Carl A. Anderson and Olga E. Olson. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1944...

July 24, 1946--Dec. 17, 2005 Patricia J. Hecox, of McCook, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was 59 years old. Patricia was born on July 24, 1946, to Edwin Eugene and Shirley Patricia (Otis) Bacon. She graduated from Cozad High School in 1964 and Hastings College in 1968...

July 24, 1921--Dec. 17, 2005 HAIGLER -- Albert F. Zuege, 84, died Saturday (Dec. 17, 2005) at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born July 24, 1921, in Haigler. He was a farmer. Survivors include his wife, Sophia P. (Keller) Zuege of Haigler; sons, Albert Zuege Jr. of Imperial and Alfred Zuege of South Dakota; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren...

June 17, 1935--Dec. 16, 2005 INDIANOLA -- Gerald Dean "Pudge" Sitzman, 70, died Friday (Dec. 16, 2005) at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. He was born June 17, 1935, at Culbertson to Henry C. and Helen (Hill) Sitzman. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1952...

March 18, 1916--Dec. 17, 2005 LUDELL -- Joseph James Havel, 89, died Saturday (Dec. 17, 2005) at the Morton County Care Center in Elkhart, Kan. He was born March 18, 1916, on a farm south of Ludell to Joseph and Frances (Urban) Havel. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1935 and Hemphill Diesel School in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1939...

Feb. 25, 1915--Dec. 16, 2005 ARAPAHOE -- Floyd Wayland Robbins, 90, died Friday (Dec. 16, 2005) at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. He was born Feb. 25, 1915, to Ernest W. and Queenie V. (Jones) Robbins in Naponee. He attended Arapahoe Public Schools...

Sept. 4, 1949--Dec. 19, 2005 LINCOLN -- Larry "Buzz" Wellman, 56, died Monday (Dec. 19, 2005) at his home in Lincoln. He was born Sept. 4, 1949, to Alvin and Gloria (Bock) Wellman in Nebraska City. He married Denise Hightree on March 18, 1994, in Lincoln...

April 5, 1918--Dec. 18, 2005 MAYWOOD -- Rita Cox, 87, died Sunday (Dec. 18, 2005) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born April 5, 1918, to George E. and Cecilia M. (Bendel) Bates in Maywood. She married Richard B. Cox on Nov. 9, 1935, in Stockville. He preceded her in death in 1991...

Feb. 8, 1925--Dec. 22, 2005 OBERLIN -- Elmer L. Zodrow, 80, died Thursday (Dec. 22, 2005) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Feb. 8, 1925, in Sheridan County to Leo J. Zodrow and Elizabeth Kamphaws Zodrow. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1943 and attended the University of Kansas. He served in the Eighth Armored Division of the U.S. Army in...

WAUNETA -- Della Merrill, 92, died Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2005) at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home. Services will be Tuesday, 10 a.m., at the Wauneta Church of Christ with Randy Hayes officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta...

Feb. 6, 1931--Dec. 23, 2005 Eleanor Ruth Carter, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook. She was 74 years old. Eleanor was born on Feb. 6, 1931, in Indianola, to Marvin A. and Ruth E. (Liston) Nelms. She attended rural school through the eighth grade in Red Willow County and graduated from McCook High School in 1948. ...

Oct. 13, 1918--Dec. 24, 2005 NORTH PLATTE -- Edith Angie Hansen, 87, died Saturday (Dec. 24, 2005) at her home at Premier Estates in North Platte. She was born Oct. 18, 1918, to Robert and Edna Grout in Atwood. She graduated from Atwood High School and attended cosmetology school...

Dec. 11, 1915--Dec. 23, 2005 Howard Frank Morris, 90, formerly of Holbrook, died Friday (Dec. 23, 2005) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Dec. 11, 1915, in Holbrook to Frank and Sophie (Noltymeyer) Morris. He graduated from agricultural school in Curtis...

May 31, 1907--Dec. 27, 2005 CAMBRIDGE -- Doris Lorene Moore, 98, died today (Dec. 27, 2005) at the Cambridge Manor in Cambridge.  She was born May 31, 1907, north of Bartley to William and Sylvia (Premer) Wight, her twin sister died at birth. She attended country school through the eighth grade...

BARTLEY -- M. Ellen Moore, 92, died Wednesday (Dec. 21, 2005) at the Cambridge Manor in Cambridge. She was born to Elmer L. and Charlotte (Burton) Turpen in Bartley. She graduated from Bartley High School in 1931. She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Orville and Morris; and daughter, Nancy Jane...

Dec. 6, 1917--Dec. 26, 2005 CULBERTSON -- ylvia Altman, 88, died Monday (Dec. 26, 2005) at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. She was born Dec. 6, 1917, to Mary (Schmidt) and Hugh E. Little. She graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1934 and St. Francis School of Nursing in 1941, receiving her degree as a registered nurse...

March 25, 1965--Dec. 23, 2005 HAYES CENTER -- Andrew Dean "Andy" VanCura, 40, died Friday (Dec. 23, 2005) at his rural home near Hayes Center. He was born on March 25, 1965, in Ogallala to Delmar Dean and Charlette Ann (Hood) VanCura. He attended school in Madrid and received his GED in 1996...

Feb. 19, 1908--Dec. 26, 2005 ARAPAHOE -- Herbert Rudolf Wendland, 97, died Monday (Dec. 26, 2005) at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit, Kan. He was born Feb. 19, 1908, to Herman W. and Emma E. (Sydow) Wendland in Gosper County. He attended Immanuel Parochial School...

WAUNETA -- Virgil Kerchal, 81, died Sunday (Dec. 25, 2005) at the Johnson County Hospital in Tecumseh. Survivors include three sons, Ken and wife, Loretta of Tecumseh, Duane of Tamarac, Fla., and Rex and wife, Deborah of Wauneta; brothers, Leonard and wife, Frona of Benkelman and Keith and wife, Nona of Wauneta; sister, JoAnn Vicary and husband, Rob of Lincoln; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren...

AURORA, Colo. -- Mildred Deininger, 88, died Sunday (Dec. 25, 2005) at her home in Aurora, Colo. Survivors include one granddaughter; two grandsons; and four great-grandchildren. Services will be Friday, 10:30 a.m. MT, at the United Methodist Church in Wauneta with the Rev. Judy Dye officiating. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta...

Dec. 24, 1924--Dec. 28, 2005 Donna Marie Waterman died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Community Hospital of McCook at the age of 81. She was born Dec. 24, 1924, at Danbury, the daughter of John Charles and Elva Pearl (Reeves) Townley. She grew up at Lebanon, where she graduated from Lebanon High School in 1942/ She also attended McCook Junior College...

Sept. 23, 1928--Dec. 28, 2005 SYRACUSE -- Gloria A. Wellman, 77, died Wednesday (Dec. 28, 2005) at her home in Syracuse. She was born Sept. 23, 1928, in Otoe to Fred W. and Stella A. (Bond) Bock. She graduated from Syracuse High School in 1945. She married Alvin C. Wellman on April 27, 1947, in Otoe...

Nov. 22, 1937-Dec. 29, 2005 CULBERTSON -- Dewey William Le Droit, 68, formerly of North Platte, died Thursday (Dec. 29, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Nov. 22, 1937, to Dewey and Elizabeth (Spiegel) Le Droit in Lexington. He grew up in North Platte and Lexington...

Jan. 28, 1920--Dec. 29, 2005 Lucille Ireland, 85, died Thursday, December 29, 2005 at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born Jan. 28, 1920, in Red Willow County to William and Lillian (Junker) Baumbach. She was raised in the Ash Creek Community southeast of McCook where she attended school and was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola...

HAIGLER -- Marcella M. Samler, 87, died Wednesday (Dec. 28, 2005) at the Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis. Services will be Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in Haigler with the Rev. Chris Farmer officiating. Interment will follow services at Hope Valley Cemetery in Cheyenne County, Kan...

Jan. 28, 1920--Dec. 29, 2005 Lucille Ireland, 85, died Thursday, December 29, 2005 at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born Jan. 28, 1920, in Red Willow County to William and Lillian (Junker) Baumbach. She was raised in the Ash Creek Community southeast of McCook where she attended school and was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola...

Jan. 15, 1918--Dec. 28, 2005 HAIGLER -- Marcella M. Samler, 87, died Wednesday (Dec. 28, 2005) at the Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis. She was born Jan. 15, 1918, to Thomas and Myrtle (Quimby) Hardwick in Dundy County. She attended country school near her family's farm. She graduated from Parks High School in 1934. She attended Riverside Junior College in Riverside, Calif...

Nov. 22, 1937-Dec. 29, 2005 CULBERTSON -- Dewey William Le Droit, 68, formerly of North Platte, died Thursday (Dec. 29, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Nov. 22, 1937, to Dewey and Elizabeth (Spiegel) Le Droit in Lexington. He grew up in North Platte and Lexington...