U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Meredith Knauss, age 93 (1914-2004)
Meredith Knauss, age 93, of Cozad, Nebraska, died March 31, 2004, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.
She was born October 3, 1910, at Johnson Lake, Nebraska, to V. E. and Mabel Benson Gosnell. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1928. She attended Kearney State College and taught rural school for several years in Dawson County.
On June 22, 1935, she married Harold L. Knauss at the Methodist Church in Lexington. The couple resided and farmed east of Cozad. Mr. Knauss preceded her in death in 1960, and she continued living on the farm until 1968, when she moved to Cozad.
She was a member of Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church, Order of the Eastern Star, Past Matrons of Eastern Star and Chapter CO P.E.O.
Survivors include two daughters, Marilyn Jessen of Minden, Nebraska, and Nadine (Dennis) Berke of Eustis, Nebraska; a son, Don (Marian) Knauss of Cozad; six grandchildren, Stuart (Tammy) Knauss, Spencer (Dona) Knauss, Sonya (Dan) Hays, Kevin (Chas) Berke, Karma Jessen and Kyle Browne; a granddaughter-in-law, Teri Berke; six great-grandchildren, Jake and McKenzi Knauss, Kole, Kennedy and Karson Berke and Alex Jessen; and two step-great-grandsons, Nick and Andy Peterson.
She was also preceded in death by an infant brother; a sister, Orbia Wallace; a grandson, Scott Berke; and a son-in-law, Al Jessen.
Memorial services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 5, 2004, at the Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church east of Cozad with Ethel Fox officiating. A private family burial was in the Cozad Cemetery prior to the memorial services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Meredith Knauss Memorial.
The Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Emilyne L. Shostrom, 93 (1911-2004)
Emilyne L. Shostrom, 93, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died April 1, 2004, at Hilltop Estates.
She was born on February 13, 1911, at Gothenburg, to George A. and Jarda A. (Nystrom) Shostrom. She graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1933. She cared for her parents for many years and later lived at Hillcrest for a number of years.
Survivors include Emilyne's friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Julia, Hazel, Lillie and Elaine; and one brother, George.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 5, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg, with Rev. Sharee Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Lindberg Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the Donor's Choice.
Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg was in charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth "Betty" Zgud, 81 (1914-2004)
Elizabeth "Betty" Zgud, age 81, of Cozad, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, April 4, 2004, at Cozad.
She was born May 9, 1922, at Bretz, West Virginia, to Louis and Helen Stonic Galusky. She graduated from Kingwood, West Virginia High School and attended a business college. She was employed in secretarial work.
On May 12, 1945, she married John Zgud at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They made their home in Baltimore and Philadelphia before moving to Cozad in 1959. She worked with her husband operating John's Plumbing business.
She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and was active in Altar Society, Legion of Mary and Cursillo. She was also active in several Compassionate Friends Chapters including North Platte. She and her husband were active in volunteer hospice work and were recognized by the State as Volunteers of the Year. She also enjoyed cooking and baking, with many people benefiting from her generosity.
Survivors include her husband, John of Cozad; a son, Michael (Mary) of Kearney, Nebraska; three granddaughters, Zoe Gatch of Savage, Minnesota, and Alexis and Brianna Zgud, both of Lincoln, Nebraska; three brothers, Leonard (Shirley) Galusky of Bowie, Maryland, Joseph (Fran) Galusky of Safford, Arizona, and Everett (Katy) Galusky of Bretz, West Virginia; two sisters, Marcella Burge of Kingwood, West Virginia, and Jean (David) Boyd of Morgantown, West Virginia; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a son, John, Jr.; a daughter, Mary and husband Gonzalo Vallejo and their two children, Ilsa & Alonso; two sisters, Helen Lewis and Carolyn Gaudreault; and three brothers, Chester, Bernard and Lewis.
Rosary was recited Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at 8 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cozad. Mass of the Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ The King Catholic Church with The Rev. Don O'Brien as Celebrant. Burial was in the Cozad Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Chapter of Compassionate Friends, Central Plains Home Health and Hospice or Christ the King Catholic Church.
The Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Francis "Skeet" Bean, 87 (1916-2004)
Francis "Skeet" Bean, age 87, of rural Cozad, died April 5, 2004 at his home.
He was born December 16, 1916 at Arnold, Nebraska, to Chester and Florence (Dennis) Bean. He attended rural school at Arnold and worked on the family farm. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1938 to 1945.
On May 2, 1942, he married Mable Magnuson at Las Vegas, Nevada. Following his discharge, they returned to the family farm at Arnold. In 1956, they moved to Cozad, Nebraska, where he was employed with the hay mills and later with Monroe Auto Equipment Company from 1965 until retiring in 1980.
In retirement, he enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and working with livestock. The couple also enjoyed traveling, which included family and military reunions.
He was a member of the Cozad Christian Church and the Arnold American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Mable of Cozad; two sons, Charles (Sharon) of Cozad and Mitchell (Katie) of North Platte, Nebraska; a daughter, Peggy (Roger) Maack of Cozad; six grandchildren, Todd (Stacey) Bean of Minden, Nebraska, Tonya (Randy) Weatherly of Cozad, Greg (Sue) Maack of Eaton, Colorado, Marla Maack of Gothenburg, Nebraska, and Jeff and Allison Bean, both of North Platte; six great-grandchildren, Braden, Sydney and Aleigh Bean, Madison Weatherly and Morgan and Cassandra Maack; and two sisters, Lorine Rutner and Betty (Doug) Cole, all of Arnold.
He was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Emily Bean; two brothers, Lloyd and Walter; and two sisters, Marjorie Geiser and infant, Lela.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 9, 2004, at the Cozad Christian Church with Larry Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell with military honors.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad.
Memorials are suggested to the Cozad Christian Church or Central Plains Home Health and Hospice.
The Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad is in charge of arrangements.
Lucile Knauss, age 85 (1918-2004)
Lucile Knauss, age 85 of Cozad, Nebraska, died May 31, 2004, at her home.
She was born June 17, 1918, at Wilcox to O. L. and Erma Marsteller Bentley. She grew up in Wilcox and graduated from the Wilcox High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Music from Hastings College. She later attended Kearney State College and earned a Masters Degree in the Science of Education with an endorsement in Special Reading.
She had made her home in Cozad for many years and was an educator in the Cozad City Schools.
She was a longtime member and organist of the Church of Christ. She was a member of the Cozad Art Club, Cozad Area Arts Council and a past member of the North Platte Art Study League. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star and Past Matrons, Delta Kappa Gamma, 100th Meridian Museum, Robert Henri Museum, Sheldon Traveling Art Show Docent, Variato, and the Red Hat Society. She was a board member of the Cozad Entertainment Series and did volunteer work.
She enjoyed reading, quilting, painting, playing bridge, and of course, sharing coffee with friends. Lucile's paintings have been displayed at the Henri Museum, Dawson County District Society and the Association of Nebraska Art Clubs.
Survivors include her son, Charles.
In lieu of cut flowers, plants are suggested or tree plantings.
Memorial services were held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, 2004, at the Church of Christ on Newell in Cozad with Roger Sloan officiating.
Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Detta (Moritz) Wiles, 75 (1929-2004)
Detta (Moritz) Wiles, 75, of Harvard, Nebraska, died May 31, 2004, at Lincoln, Nebraska.
Services were held June 6, 2004, at Harvard, Nebraska.
She was born May 23, 1929, to John and Lucy (Puls) Moritz at Eustis, Nebraska.
After graduating from Hastings Beauty Academy, she was a cosmetologist in Holdrege, Hastings and Harvard until her retirement in 2002.
Survivors include her husband, Robert; three daughters, Gail Rath of Aurora, Nebraska, Dixie Smith of Hastings, Nebraska, and Roberta Conway of Harvard; four sons, Cliff Wiles of Jesup, Iowa, Rodney Wiles of Lincoln, Randy Wiles of Richmond, Kentucky, and Patrick Stull of Lincoln; 26 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Sterling of Lexington, Nebraska, and Kenneth of Cozad, Nebraska; and two sisters, Donna Lehman of Juniata, Nebraska, and Berdina Houlden of Elwood, Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by one son, Tony Wiles; two brothers, Ralph and Paul Moritz; and two sisters, Laverne Sieh and Susan Oakland.
