First Name: Last Name:

Bob Asher
Bob Asher, 72, of Aurora, died at his home in Aurora, Saturday morning, April 28, 2001. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 in the Aurora United Methodist Church. Dr. Joe Scahill will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M., Monday evening at Higby Mortuary in Aurora. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 P.M. at the mortuary. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com. Survivors include his memory are his three sons, Terry (Kathryn) of Des Moines, Iowa; Randy (Shari) of Aurora and Mark of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; three daughters, Jan (Ed) Dick and Mardell (John) Jasnowski all of Aurora; and Sandi (Doug) Sweeney of Grand Island; five brothers, Ben, Harold and Jerry of Page; Dick of Powell, Wyo., and Kenneth of Atkinson; two sisters, Lillie Kemper of O'Neill, and Helen Snoeck of West Lake Village, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Sara, Chelsie, Sophie, Erin, Katie, Shane, Evan, Emily, Jamie, Alexandra, Myles and Shannon; and one great-granddaughter, Madison; and a special friend Joyce Heath.

Donald Witt
Donald Witt, 71, of Aurora, died Monday, April 23, 2001 at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island. Funeral services were Friday, April 27 at the Church of Christ in Grand Island. Brother Gary Bennett and Brother Jerry Bady officiated. Burial was in the McPherson Cemetery in Maxwell. He is survived by his wife, Mildred of Aurora; children, Beverly (Philip)Esposito of New York, Donna (Jerry) Gannon of Wisconsin, Barbara (Stanley) Henderson of North Dakota, Leslie Witt of California, Lori Creps of North Dakota, Gary Witt of North Dakota, James Witt of North Carolina and Marcella Witt of Nebraska; a brother, Bill (Elaine) Witt of McCook; a sister, Rebecca (Mel) Berkenbosch of California; grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Helen G. Cundiff
Helen G. Cundiff, 83, of Lincoln (a former Aurora resident), died Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at Lincoln. Funeral services will be announced at a later date. Survivors include her sons, David Cundiff of Denver, Colo., and Rev. (Nancy) Thomas Cundiff of Saginaw, Mich.; daughter Susan (Charles) Barnes of Lincoln; grandchildren, Derek, Andrew and Emily Cundiff and Brandon Hugo; sisters, Betty Swain of Carpenteria, Calif., and Dorothy Stucky of Lincoln.

Leona Foss
Leona Foss, 94, of York, formerly of Grand Island, died Saturday, April 21, 2001 at The Hearthstone in York. Funeral services were Wednesday, April 25 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Island. Bishop Richard Whitaker officiated. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery. Survivors include two sons, Craig (Sue) Foss of Grand Island and Steve (Claudia) Bernston of Los Angeles, Calif.; a daughter, Kathy Brown of York; seven grandchildren; two step-grandsons; 17 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mildred L. Sheffield
Mildred L. Sheffield, 85, of Aurora, formerly of Grand Island, died Thursday, April 19, 2001 at Hamilton Manor in Aurora. She was cremated; the inurnment was Wednesday, April 25 at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with Vicar Ronald Benson officiating. Survivors include three sons, Rodney Sheffield of Grand Island, Larry Sheffield of Lakewood, Colo., and Douglas Sheffield of Niwat, Colo.; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a brother, Marvin Muchow of Grand Island.

Frances Collingham
Frances Collingham, 77, of Aurora, died Sunday, April 22, 2001 in Omaha at St. Joseph's Hospital. Funeral services were Wednesday in Messiah Lutheran Church in Aurora. Rev. Al Duminy and Rev. Jim Garfield officiated. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery. Survivors include her husband, Orion 'Sarge' Collingham of Aurora; five children, Connie (Roger) Merchant of Polk; Tom (Joyce) Collingham of Aurora, Karen (Dennis) Johnson of Polk, Keith (Bev) Collingham of Aurora and Larry (Vicki) Collingham of Aurora; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Titman of Aurora and Rose (Bob) Anderson of Guernsey, Wyo. and a brother, Rodney (Aileen) Schafer of Aurora.

Maurice Medaris
Maurice 'Mose' Medaris, 82, formerly of Aurora, died Saturday, April 24, 2001 in Olathe, Kan. Funeral services were Wednesday, April 18 at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Aurora. Rev. Monty Nelson and Rev. Mark Dunham officiated. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery with full military honors. He is survived by his wife, Anna, of Olathe, Kan.; two sons, James E. Medaris of Lawrence, Kan., and Jerry W. Medaris of Olathe, Kan.; a grandson, Adam N. Medaris of Olathe, Kan.; a sister, Ruth Ann Leymaster and her husband, Homer, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; a niece and two nephews.

John Schaffert
John Schaffert, 85, of Aurora, died Wednesday morning, April 18, 2001, at Hamilton Manor in Aurora. Funeral services were Friday, April 20 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hampton. Rev. George E. Damm officiated. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery. Survivors include his wife Virginia of Aurora; daughter, Sherry (Delmar) Peters of Aurora, John (Lynn) Schaffert II of Doniphan, Deryl 'Buck' (Kim) Schaffert of Aurora, Greg (Jean) Schaffert of Harrison, N.Y. and Chris (Mary) Schaffert of Aurora.

Bryan C. Ratzlaff
Bryan C. Ratzlaff, 51, of Henderson (formerly of Sutton), died early Tuesday morning, June 19, 2001 at his home. Funeral services were Saturday morning, June 23 at the Mennonite Brethren Church in Henderson. Pastors J. Epp and George Kaufman officiated. Burial was in the Bethesda Mennonite Cemetery near Henderson. Survivors include his mother, Jeanne Ratzlaff, of Henderson; a sister, Candice J. and her husband, Royce A. Friesen of Wichita, Kan.; a brother, Terry L. and his wife, Loretta Ratzlaff of Auburn; four nephews, David Ratzlaff of Omaha, Michael and his wife, Kristey Friesen of Wichita, Kan., Steven Friesen of Wichita, Kan., and James Ratzlaff of Auburn; two nieces, Anna and her husband Albert Boggs and Lori Ratzlaff, all of Lincoln; six grandnieces and grandnephews, Luke Ryan and Isabel Boggs and Brandon, Brystal and Britney Friesen; and aunts, uncles and cousins.

Eleanor Dankert
Eleanor Dankert, 78, of Central City, died Thursday, June 21, 2001 at Merrick Manor in Central City. Funeral services were Saturday morning, June 23 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Central City. Pastor Bradley Rick officiated. Burial was in the Central City Cemetery. Survivors include two sons, Dennis Dankert of Hampton and Ron and his wife Shelly Dankert of Central City; three daughters, Betty and her husband Clinton Hensen of Central City, Delores 'Dee' and her husband Harold Sautter of Aurora and Carol and her husband Bill Wilcox of Central City; a sister, Irene Buk of Atwood, Kan.; 12 grandchildren, Dennis Dana and Matthew Dankert, Kristie Hensen, Jennifer Chapman, Dawn Dankert, Jason Sautter, Lisa Buller, Jana Sautter, Lori Sautter, Leah Wilcox and Andy Wilcox; and nine great-grandchildren.

Elsie Ross
Elsie Ross, 93, of Harvard, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001 at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island. Funeral services were Friday afternoon, June 22 at the Harvard United Church of Christ. Rev. Stan Crawford officiated. Burial was in the Harvard Cemetery. She is survived by a sister, Mary Croft of Arlington, Tex.,; a sister-in-law, Verna Ross; and nieces and nephews.

Arlo Hayes
Arlo Hayes, 89, of Grand Island, formerly of Marquette, died Saturday, June 23, 2001 at Veterans Hospital in Grand Island. Graveside services were Tuesday morning at the Richland Cemetery near Marquette. Rev. Rich Savage officiated. Survivors include his wife, Agnes, of Grand Island; four children, Helen Foulk and her husband Ron of Central City, Ronald Hayes and his wife, Diane of Hastings, Clara Hardy of Aurora and Shirley Stevenson and her husband, Greg, of Grand Island; 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, R. Kent Hayes of California and Arthur E. Hayes of Greensboro, N.C.

Dorothea Dissmeyer
Dorothea Dissmeyer, 89, of Aurora, formerly of Hampton, died Saturday, June 23, 2001 at Memorial Hospital in Aurora. Funeral services were Tuesday morning, June 26 at Zion Lutheran Church near Hampton. Rev. Kurt Letcher officiated. Burial was in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Survivors include her two daughters, Gladys Huebner and her husband, Jim of Forsyth, Mo., and Gloria Bamesberger and her husband, LaVerne of Marquette; two grandchildren, Robin Hansen and her husband, Steve of Aurora and Craig Bamesberger of Houston, Tex.; and two great-grandchildren, Mitch and Tara Hansen.

Essie 'Lee' Starostka
Essie 'Lee' Starostka, 80, of Columbus, died Monday, June 18, 2001 at Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus. Funeral services were Thursday morning, June 21, at McKown Funeral Home Chapel in Columbus. Rev. Timothy White officiated. Burial was at Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Columbus. Survivors include a daughter, Connie (Ron) Faulk of Columbus; a son, Larry (Gayle) Conger of LeMars, Iowa; a brother, Harry L. Johnson of Otis, Colo.; a sister, Helen A. Youngs of Lincoln; and four grandchildren.

Naomi Mick
Naomi Mick, 77, of Aurora, died Monday afternoon, June 18, 2001 at Bryan/LGH East Hospital in Lincoln. Funeral services were Friday morning, June 22 at the Higby Mortuary Chapel in Aurora. Rev. George E. Damm officiated. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Arnold of Aurora; eight daughters, Kathy McConnell and her husband, Walter of Aurora, Carmen Chandler of Omaha; Sharon Wrightson and her husband, Tom of Fremont, Regina Mick and her special friend, Gary Jensen of Aurora, Marilyn Wolff and her husband, Jerry of Caldwell, Idaho, Lori Hofmann and her husband, Fred of Sutton, Bonnie Henzel and her husband Vince of Lincoln and Sandra Pokorny and her husband, Roy of Kathy, Tex.; one son, Thomas Mick of Beatrice; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Lucile Heftie
Lucile Heftie, 91, of Aurora, died Tuesday morning, Aug. 14, 2001 at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island. Funeral services will be Thursday morning, Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m. at the Stockham Community Church. Rev. Paul Nauman will officiate. Burial will be in the Stockham Cemetery. Visitation is from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15 at Higby Mortuary in Aurora. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com. Survivors include her children, Maxine Shunkwiler and her husband Wesley of Fairfield, Delbert Heftie and his wife Karen of Wisner, Clifford Heftie and his wife Dorothy of Clay Center, Ronald Heftie of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Richard Heftie and his wife Cheryl of Stockham and Dennis Heftie and his wife Susan of Houston, Tex.; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Clyde Lyon and his wife Carol of Seward.

Roy A. Larson
Roy A. Larson, 90, of Central City died Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City. Services were Monday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Solt Funeral Home in Central City. The Rev. Rich Savage officiated. Burial was in the Central City Cemetery. Survivors include his wife Iva of Central City; two sons, David (Janet) Larson of Greenfield, Ind. and Richard (Susie) Larson of Littleton, Colo.; one daughter, Patricia Gerdts of The Villages, Fla.; nine grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

James Harvey Lewis
James Harvey Lewis, 74, of Conyers, Ga. (a former Aurora resident), died Friday, Aug. 10, 2001. His body was cremated; a private memorial service was given at his home. Interment of ashes is planned at a later date at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell. There will be a memorial service at the Aurora United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18. The memorial service is for both Harvey and Ralph Lewis, who died June 26, 2001 in England. Condolences may be sent to Grace Lewis, 641 Corley Rd., N.W. Conyers, GA 30012-2164 or to Bobbie Lewis, 24 Richmond Road, Inpwich, Suffolk, England, IPI RDP or e-mailed to LEWBOB@lewis423. freeserve.co.uk. Survivors include his wife, Grace; a son, Russell (Ethyleen) Lewis of Honolulu, Hawaii; a step-daughter, Marie (Robert) Buice of Georgia; two grandchildren and two step-grandchil-dren; a brother-in-law, Don Vetter of Marquette; four sisters, Lois Lohmaugh of Yuba City, Ariz., Thelma Salmon, Hannah Miller and Dorothy (Wayne) Campbell, all of Aurora; and nieces and nephews.

Olga Bigger
Olga Bigger, 89, formerly of Aurora, died Monday evening, Aug. 6, 2001 at Park Place Nursing Home in Grand Island. Funeral services were Thursday morning, Aug. 9 at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. Dr. Joe Scahill officiated. Burial was in the Aurora Cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com. Pallbearers were Christopher Bigger, Robert Bigger, Ronald Bigger, Daryl Connell, David Gates and Galen Lif. Honorary pallbearers were Ted Berggren, Richard Bristol, Art Gulzow, Al Potter and Kenneth Wilson. She is survived by her son, Gordon, Jr. 'Bud' and his wife, Sharon of Grand Island; a daughter, Ruth Ann Lif and her husband, Donald of Lexington; four grandchildren, Robert and Ronald Bigger, Lesa (Lif) Gates and Galen Lif; five great-grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew, Jordan and Jenna Bigger and Austin Gates.

Avis Carnes
Avis Carnes, 73, of Hampton, died Tuesday evening, Dec. 4, 2001 at her home in Hampton. Graveside services will be conducted at a later date at Maxwell Cemetery near North Platte. Survivors include her husband, Ken of Hampton; two children, Barbara Sue Mays of Benecia, Calif., and Robert Frederick Silva of Vacaville, Calif.; and 14 grandchildren.

Betty Arlene Glause
Betty Arlene Glause, 71, of Chapman, died at her home on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2001. Services were Saturday, Dec. 8 at Zion United Methodist Church near Archer with Rev. Rich Savage officiating. Burial was in the Archer Evangelical Community Cemetery. Survivors include her husband John of Chapman; one daughter, Sharon K. (Bruce) Kleint of Grand Island; two sons, Craig (Pat) Glause of Chapman and Steve (Beckie) Glause of Chapman; two sisters, Winona (Buddy) Tuttle of Aurora and Fern (Alton) Jacobsen of Hastings; eight grandchildren, Todd Kleint, Travis Kleint, Justin Kleint, Amy Glause, Shelley Glause, Branden Glause, Chad Glause, and Jenny Glause; and five great-granddaughters.