Obituaries from December 2011

James William Jacox Jan. 2, 1946 - Nov. 29, 2011 MCHENRY, Illinois -- James William "Jake" Jacox, 65, of McHenry and recently of McCook, Nebraska, died Tuesday, (Nov. 29, 2011), at Centegra Hospital - McHenry, with his beloved daughter, Shelly and her husband, Peter Meehan, at his side...

John Edward Brennan July 9, 1925 - Dec. 2, 2011 STRATTON, Nebraska -- John Edward Brennan, originally of Stratton, passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. He was 86 years old. John was born on July 9, 1925, in Manson, Iowa to Edward and Amy (Eccles) Brennan...

Garry Lee Krutsinger March 13, 1942 - Nov. 22, 2011 PARKS, Nebraska -- Life-long Dundy County resident Garry was born in Benkelman, Nebraska on March 13, 1942, to the late Bus and Lillian (Phifer) Krutsinger. He passed away Nov. 22, at the North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, Colorado. Since April, Garry had resided in Sunset Manor in Brush, Colorado...

Carolyn Sue Wendland March 7, 1951 - Dec. 2, 2011 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Carolyn Sue Wendland, age 60, died on Friday (Dec. 2, 2011), at the Cambridge Hospital, in Cambridge, Nebraska. She was born on March 7, 1951, at McCook, Nebraska to Richard and Viola (Wieland) Wendland...

Zella Elaine Rooney Dec. 18, 1922 - Dec. 2, 2011 BENKELMAN, Nebraska --Zella Elaine Rooney, age 88, of Stratton, Nebraska passed away Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Nebraska. Elaine was born on a farm north of Bird City, Kansas on Dec. ...

Luella McDonald March 1, 1919 - Dec. 4, 2011 TRENTON, Nebraska --Sarah Luella McDonald died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at the El Dorado Manor Nursing Home in Trenton, Nebraska at the age of 92. She was born March 1, 1919, south of Trenton in the upper Drift Wood Community of Hitchcock County, Nebraska. Luella was the daughter of the late Perry W. and Sadie (Vohs) Sadler...

Lillian Tepley Jan. 26, 1924 - Dec. 5, 2011 ELSIE, Nebraska -- Lillian Minnie Melita Wicke Tepley, 87, of Elsie passed away Dec. 5, 2011. Lillian was born Jan. 26, 1924 and was the only daughter of Frederick and Anna Louise Hillman Wicke. She was born seven miles south of Wauneta, Nebraska on a farm...

George B 'Butch' Sharp March 27, 1943 - Dec. 3, 2011 HAIGLER, Nebraska -- George B "Butch" was born March 27, 1943, South of Vernon, Colorado to Carl B. and Helen E. (Calhoon) Sharp. He departed this life Dec.3, 2011, at the Golden Living Center in Broken Bow, Nebraska after a long and courageous battle with MS...

Lois Duensing Nov. 22, 1917 - Dec. 6, 2011 OXFORD, Nebraska -- Lois Arlene Duensing, 94, died Tuesday (Dec. 6, 2011), at the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center in Alma, Nebraska. She was born Nov. 22, 1917 at Nora, Nebraska to Martin and Oral (Coles) Hamel. In 1922 her family moved to a farm near Holbrook, the town she would call home for most of her life. She attended school in Holbrook and graduated from Holbrook High School in 1935...

Genevieve Idona Hamilton Oct. 20, 1918 - Dec. 7, 2011 GOTHENBURG, Nebraska -- Genevieve Idona Hamilton, 93, died Wednesday (Dec.7, 2011), at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg. She was born Oct. 20, 1918, north of McCook, to Charles and Marie (Hansen) Appleyard...

Donald James Kennedy May 24, 1918 - Dec. 5, 2011 LOVELAND, Colorado -- Donald James Kennedy, 93, of Loveland, Colorado, went to be with our Lord Dec. 5th, 2011. Don was born May 24th, 1918, in Quick, Nebraska, to Martin and Mable (Schlick) Kennedy. He was raised on a farm in Nebraska and at 17 left home to travel where he became skilled in various trades. ...

J. Dane Thompson Oct. 21, 1941 ~ Dec. 3, 2011 MONTEREY, California -- Dane Thompson passed away in Monterey, California, following a short illness which took him from us too soon. Dane was born in Oxford, Nebraska, the only child of Ralph and Maxine Thompson. Dane's mother had been a teacher and performed with Ruth Kackley and Her Girls, and his father started a local Oxford grocery store. Ralph later relocated his family and opened another grocery store in Alma, Nebraska, where Dane grew up...

Willis H. Staley Nov. 10. 1923 - Dec. 5, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Willis H. Staley passed away at his home in McCook on Dec. 5, 2011. He was 88 years old. Willis was born on Nov. 10, 1923, at Freedom, Nebraska, in Frontier County to Carl and Frances (Edgar) Staley. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1941, and continued his education at McCook Community College...

Doris M. Missing Dec. 10, 1935 - Dec. 4, 2011 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Doris M. Missing, 75, died Sunday (Dec. 4, 2011), at the Cambridge Hospital. She was born on Dec. 10, 1935, at Hastings, Nebraska to Curtis and Nellie (Hasemeyer) Heath. She attended school at Holdrege High School and graduated with the class of 1954. ...

Kathryn Sauvage BRULE, Nebraska -- Kathryn Sauvage, 53, of Ogallala, died Monday (Nov. 28, 2011), at a residence south of Brule. Survivors include her mother, Eleanor Hogsett Crab of Wauneta; two sons, Daniel Sauvage and DeLane and wife, Crista Sauvage, all of Oberlin, Kansas; one daughter, LaCosta Fishler of Kearney, Nebraska; one brother, Carol McFoos of Wauneta; one sister, Chris Aarons of Colby, Kansas; and three grandchildren...

Norma L. Burton Oct. 3, 1923 -- Dec. 8, 2011 ST. CHARLES, Missouri --Norma Lucille Burton died Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, at Benchmark Healthcare in St. Charles, Missouri. She was born Oct. 3, 1923, on the family farm near Bartley in Red Willow County, Nebraska to Carl and Amelia "Millie" (Fichner) Bamesberger. Norma attended country school and later graduated from McCook High School in 1941. As a girl, she was a star softball pitcher, and she loved to roller skate all the way into her early 70s...

Bill D. Carroll HUTCHINSON, Kansas -- Bill D. Carroll, 89, died Nov. 29, 2011, in Hutchinson. A veteran of World War II, he was a sergeant in the 3rd Ranger Battalion, U.S. Army. Bill was wounded at Monte Cassino, Italy, and spent six weeks in a hospital in North Africa, after which he returned to the front lines to help liberate Rome, then fought his way through southern France and Germany...

Kenneth G. W. Groves Feb. 2, 1922 - Dec. 9, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Kenneth G. W. Groves died Friday (Dec. 9, 2011), at his home north of McCook in Frontier County, Nebraska at the age of 89. He was born Feb. 2, 1922, in the Quick Community of Frontier County, Nebraska. He was the son of the late Frederick S. and Carrie (Anderson) Groves. Kenneth grew up on the family farm and graduated from Red Willow High School in 1940. On Oct. 26, 1940, Kenneth married Madaline Dewane at Oberlin, Kansas...

Frankie A. John May 11, 1940 - Dec. 11, 2011 BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Frankie A. John, 71, formerly of Beaver City, died Sunday, (Dec. 11, 2011), at Mt. Carmel Nursing Home in Kearney, Nebraska. She was born May 11, 1940, at Campbellsville, Kentucky, to Frank and Anne (Breeding) Edwards...

Barbara Alice Beougher Oct. 1, 1936 - Dec. 13, 2011 BIRD CITY, Kansas -- Barbara Alice (Jones) Beougher, 75, died Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2011), at Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center, Kansas She was born Oct. 1, 1936 in Cheyenne County, Kansas. She was a homemaker and teacher...

Ronald J. Penner April 14, 1944 - Dec. 13, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Ronnald J. Penner, 67, died today (Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011), at his home in McCook, Sevices will be Friday, 10:30 a.m., at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook,. Visitation will be at Carpenter Funeral Home in McCook Thursday, from 1-8 p.m., with family present from 6-8 pm...

Beverly Sue Berndt Nov. 11, 1954 - Dec. 14, 2011 LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Beverly Sue Berndt, formerly of Trenton, Nebraska, died Wednesday (Dec. 14, 2011), at the Sunrise Country Manor in Milford, Nebraska. Services are pending at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook...

Cecil Lafferty Jan. 5, 1923 - Dec. 13, 2011 KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Cecil Lafferty, 88, died Tuesday (Dec. 13, 2011), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. Services are pending at Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook.

Ervin A. Westfahl Oct. 22, 1916 - Dec. 11, 2011 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Ervin Arthur Westfahl was born to Charles and Elda (Tietz) Westfahl on Oct. 22, 1916, above the family cheese factory at Sugar Bush, Wisconsin. The family soon moved to Eland, Wisconsin, where he grew up...

Beverly Sue Berndt Nov. 11, 1954 - Dec. 14, 2011 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Beverly Sue Berndt of Lincoln, originally of Trenton, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at Sunrise Country Manor. She was 57 years old. Beverly was born on Nov. 11, 1954, at McCook to Gilbert Everett and Phyllis G. ...

Leona Josephine Hughes Aug. 13, 1919 - Dec.. 14, 2011 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska --Leona Josephine Hughes, age 92, of Cambridge, Nebraska, died at the Cambridge Manor on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. She was born near Brule, Nebraska, on August 3, 1919, to Teresa Spoenaman. ...

KENESAW, Nebraska -- Matilda "Tillie" Catherine Knecht, 94, of Hastings, Nebraska, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at Haven Home in Kenesaw. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City, Nebraska, with Father Martin Egging officiating. ...

Adell J. Yingling June 9, 1023 - Dec. 15, 2011 BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Adell J. Yingling passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was 88 years old. Adell was born on June 9, 1923, at Cedar Bluffs, Kansas to Roy and Sylvia (Vernon) Lipsey. She completed school through the 10th grade, at which time she quit to help her father on the farm...

Donna Mae Ruggles Oct. 19. 1923 - Dec. 17, 2011 McCOOK, Nebraska --Donna Mae Ruggles, age 88, of McCook, passed away Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Donna was born Oct. 19, 1923, in Hayes County, Nebraska, to parents Isaac (Ike) and Susan Isabell (Belle) (Troxell) Berry. She was one of 10 children. Donna grew up on the family farm in Hayes County, graduating from Hayes Center High School...

Doris D. Hergenrader July 30, 1931 - Dec./15, 2011 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Doris D. Hergenrader, 80, of North Platte, passed away Dec. 15, 2011, at her home. She was born July 30, 1931, to Elmer and Eva (Keiper) Hilton at Farnam, Nebraska. She grew up in the Cozad and Gothenburg areas and graduated in 1949 from Gothenburg High School...

Alice Babbitt July 22, 1930 - Dec. 18, 2011 OGALLALA, Nebraska -- Alice Babbitt, age 81, of Paxton, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at the Indian Hills Manor Nursing Home in Ogallala. Alice was born July 22, 1930, at Wilsonville, Nebraska, the daughter of Charles Renwick and Mary Alice (Sherrard) Anderson. ...

Bob Gage LONGMONT, Colorado -- Bob Gage, 54, died Sunday (Dec. 18, 2011), at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont. Survivors include his parents, Keith and Mary Etta Gage of Wauneta, Nebraska; wife, Cyndy Gage of Longmont; sons, Jason Gage of Boulder, Colorado and Robert T. ...

Karin L. Kotschwar Feb. 12, 1950 - Dec. 4, 2011 LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Karin L. Kotschwar, 61, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Lincoln. She was born Feb. 12, 1950 to Vernon "Bud" and Cecelia (Hickert) Kotschwar. She attended St. Patrick's Catholic School, McCook Senior High and McCook Community College. She also attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln...

Leon R. Wolf Dec. 23, 1947 - Dec. 21, 2011 GRINNELL, Kansas -- Leon R. Wolf, 63, died Wednesday (Dec. 21, 2011), at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley. He was born Dec. 23, 1947, in Grinnell to Fred and Mary (Meerian) Wolf. He married Lynette Wahrman on June 2, 1973 in Herndon. He was a farmer/stockman and cattle buyer and U.S. Army veteran during the Vietnam War. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Jim...

Nelda N. Barenberg Jan. 17, 1924 - Dec. 23, 2011 KEARNEY, Nebraska --Nelda N. Barenberg, 87, of Kearney and formerly of Hastings died Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services will be Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. ...

Jerel 'Jerry' Keith Taul Jan. 9, 1948 - Dec. 27, 2011 NORTH PLATTTE, Nebraska --Jerel "Jerry" Taul, 63, of North Platte, former long-time Trenton resident, died Dec. 27, 2011 at his home in North Platte. He was born Jan. 9, 1948, at Stratton, Nebraska to Clarence and Ella (Seybold) Taul. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis in 1967...

Wallace Lee 'Wally' Underwood Dec. 27, 1925 - Dec. 27, 2011 BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Wallace Lee "Wally Underwood, 86, died Tueday (Dec. 27, 2011),at Dundy County Hospital. He was born Dec. 27, 1925, in Cheyenne County, Kansas, He was an implement dealer...

Vernon C. LeMon McCOOK, Nebraska -- Vernon C. LeMon, 94, died Thursday (Dec. 29, 2011), at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Herrmann Funeral Chapel in McCook with the Rev. Lance Clay officiating. Interment will be in the Bartley Cemetery at Bartley...

Lawrence D. Richard Lawrence D. Richard was born northeast of Parks, Nebraska in Dundy County on April 12, 1929, to Nellie & Jasper Richard. He grew up farming on his grandfather's home place with his three brothers and three sisters. He attended country school and was drafted into the Army in Sept. ...