U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Robert Wozny
FULLERTON -- Robert Leo Wozny, 60, of Fullerton died Wednesday, March 17, 1999, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Omaha.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fullerton. Burial will be in the Fullerton Catholic cemetery with military rites.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday with a vigil service at 7 p.m. followed by a rosary at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton.
Virgil Nelson
NEWMAN GROVE -- Virgil D. Nelson, 75, of Newman Grove died Thursday, March 18, 1999, at BryanLGH Medical Center in Lincoln following a heart attack.
Services are pending with Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
More information will appear later.
Margaret Contillo
WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Margaret M. Contillo, 77, of West Melbourne, Fla., formerly of Grand Island, died Tuesday, March 16, 1999, at a hospital in Palm Day, Fla.
Services are pending at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home.
John Gray
John L. Gray, 79, of the Grand Island Veterans Home died Friday, Feb. 12, 1999, at the veterans home.
Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the All Faiths Chapel at the veterans home. The Rev. James Schmitt will officiate. Burial will be in Burkett cemetery at the home.
There will be no visitation. Mr. Gray was cremated. Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Gray was born on Aug. 5, 1919, at Albion to Jehu and Eliza (Watson) Gray. He grew up on a farm in Wheeler County.
He served in the U.S. Army from April 6, 1945, to Feb. 3, 1946.
After his discharge, he lived and worked in Des Moines, Iowa. He moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home in 1998.
Survivors include two daughters, Letha Hinkle of Spalding and Debbie Haley of Des Moines, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ethel Sandford of St. Edward.
He was preceded in death by one son, Ralph; an infant granddaughter; three sisters; a brother; and an infant brother.
Ellen Curran
ALBION -- Ellen F. Curran, 97, of Albion died Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999, at the Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, Kan.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Albion. The Rev. Frank Baumert will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., with a 6 p.m. wake service, Friday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
Cole Nealon
FARWELL -- Cole Patrick Nealon, infant son of Gordon and Thereasa Nealon of Farwell, died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are pending with Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul.
Irving Nelson
AURORA -- Irving Bernard Nelson, 85, of Aurora died suddenly Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at his home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Aurora First Christian Church. The Rev. Jay Mitchell will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Nelson was born on Oct. 1, 1913, at Marquette to Swan and Edith (Nordell) Nelson. He grew up and was educated in Hamilton County. In his early years, he drove a truck across the United States.
He married
Marian Hurst on June 4, 1939, at Aurora. They moved to California in January 1940, and he worked in an aircraft plant until the end of the war.
They returned to Nebraska in October 1946 and farmed from 1947 to 1979, when they retired and moved into their home in Aurora.
He was a member of the Aurora First Christian Church. He enjoyed wood crafting in his shop and did work in his church and many kitchens in the area. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 378 in Grand Island.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Ron of Tacoma, Wash.; one daughter, Karen (Mrs. Marvin) Tessman of Sutton; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Albert Pokorney
ORD -- Albert Pokorney, 85, of Ord died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at the Valley County Nursing Home in Ord.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Ord Memorial Chapel. The Rev. James Miller will officiate. Burial will be in the Ord City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.
Mr. Pokorney was born on Jan. 20, 1914, on the family farmstead west of Ord to Anton and Fannie (Buran) Pokorney. He was educated at country schools in Valley County.
He married
Evelyn Hynek in 1955 at Ord. He farmed on the family farmstead west of Ord all of his life. Mrs. Pokorney died in 1982. Mr. Pokorney moved to the Valley County Nursing Home in 1991.
He enjoyed woodworking and gardening.
Survivors include one daughter, Marilyn Pokorney of Ord; and one brother, Joseph Pokorney of Ord.
He was preceded in death by his wife; five brothers, Frank, Anton, John, Jim and an infant brother; and four sisters, Tracy Krajnik, Mary Krajnik, Agnes Gerdis and Julia Nevrivy.
Robert Sestak
ARCADIA -- Robert L. Sestak, 71, of Arcadia died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services are pending with Peters Funeral Home in Loup City.
Bessie Taylor
CAIRO -- Bessie A. Taylor, 88, of Cairo died Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, at Lakeview Rehab/Nursing Center in Grand Island.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Cairo United Methodist Church. The Rev. Alan Davis will officiate. Burial will be in Cameron cemetery north of Wood River.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Apfel Funeral Home in Cairo.
Memorials are suggested to the church, Alzheimer's Association or donor's choice.
Mrs. Taylor was born on March 16, 1910, at Wood River to Hans and Margretha (Engle) Dibbern. She attended rural school near Wood River.
She married
Charles Taylor on Nov. 4, 1936, at Hastings. The couple farmed southwest of Cairo throughout their marriage. Mr. Taylor died in 1970.
Mrs. Taylor was a member of the Cairo United Methodist Church, Cairo United Methodist Women, XL Club and Happy Homes Card Club.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Alma Siek, Celia Siek and Lula Wilcox; and four brothers, Herman, Harry, Walter and Myles.
