U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Donald Murray
ARCADIA -- Donald Murray, 84, of Arcadia, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998, at the Valley County Hospital in Ord.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Ord Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Murry Johnston will officiate. Burial will be at the Arcadia Cemetery.
Visitation will be prior to the service. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Arcadia Rescue Unit.
Mr. Murray was born April 29, 1914, in a sod house near the Lee Park area of Custer County to Fred and Bessie (Johnson) Murray. He attended grade school at Riverview and graduated from Arcadia High School.
He operated Standard Oil in Arcadia.
He married
Evelyn Hyatt on Apr. 29, 1938, in Scotia. The couple made their home in Arcadia. In 1944 the couple moved to the Murray family farm west of Arcadia, where they farmed until 1974 when they moved into the town of Arcadia. They spent the winter months in California.
For 15 years, Mr. Murray was a regional representative of Chief Industries. He was a charter member of the Ord Elks Lodge Post 2371, was a volunteer on the Arcadia Fire Department, and was a board member of the Soil Conservation Service. He enjoyed golf and cribbage.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Kent of Hastings; one daughter, Jan (Mrs. Don) Miller of Loup City; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, Gerald of Ord, and Fred Jr., of Portland, Ore.; and one sister, Elizabeth Greenland of Lincoln.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Raymond.
William Wilcox
ANSELMO -- William "Billy" Wilcox, 38, of Anselmo died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998, at the Jennie Melham Hospital in Broken Bow.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Merna cemetery with the Rev. Doug Jones officiating. Burial will be in the Merna Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow.
Memorials may be made to the Victoria Springs Park, or to the family.
Mr. Wilcox was born Aug. 10, 1960, in Broken Bow to Lois Wilcox and Glen June. He was a lifelong resident of Anselmo, and graduated from Anselmo-Merna High School in 1979.
Following graduation he worked with the Nebraska Department of Roads for one year. In 1981 he began working for the Nebraska State Game and Parks Commission in Victoria Springs, where he was employed at the time of his death.
Mr. Wilcox as an avid hunter and fisherman. Deer and coyote hunting were a special passion, and he enjoyed fishing with his family and friends. He also enjoyed football, basketball, playing cards and playing pool.
Survivors include his mother, Lois Haskell of Anselmo; three brothers, Bryan Haskell, Terry Haskell and Jeremy Haskell, all of Anselmo; three sisters, Carol (Mrs. Blake) Carpenter of Salem, Sherry and Glenda Haskell, both of Anselmo, and grandparents Kenneth and Mae June of Anselmo.
He was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Steve Haskell; and maternal grandparents, Wilbur Wilcox and Nina Ferguson.
Pete Briggs ST. PAUL -- Pete Briggs, 91, of St. Paul died Friday, Aug. 14, 1998, at Heritage Living Center in St. Paul.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Elba Cemetery. The Rev. Del Roper will officiate.
There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the family.
Jacobsen Funeral Home in St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.
Rodger Hahn
HAMPTON -- Rodger Hahn, 71, of Hampton died Friday, Aug. 14, 1998, at his home following a bout with cancer.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Hampton with the Rev. George Damm officiating. Burial will be in the Hampton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Hahn was born on March 10, 1927, at Polk to Leo and Meta (Baack) Hahn. He grew up in the Hampton area. He graduated from Hampton High School and was a member of the 1945 state basketball championship team.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army following graduation and served in Greenland. After his discharge, he became manager of the Farmers Co-op Gas and Oil Co.
Mr. Hahn married
Pollie Jorth on June 20, 1953, in Spencer, Iowa. They lived in Hampton, where he managed the co-op for 33 years. After his retirement in 1983, he worked part time at Husker Co-op in Osceola and Great Plains Meter Co. in Aurora.
He was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, serving in many offices, and was a member of American Legion Post 141 in Hampton. He was secretary of the Hampton Rural Fire District Board at the time of his death and had served as Hampton fire chief. He enjoyed traveling, fishing and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Brian of Cuero, Texas, Michael of Omaha and Andrew of David City; one daughter Patrice (Mrs. Pat) Brost of Kearney; seven grandchildren; three brothers, Howard and Kenneth, both of Hampton, and Marshall of Westbury, N.Y.; and one sister, Ramona Hillman of Syracuse.
He was preceded him in death by one brother, Dwight.
Edith Maurer
GENOA -- Edith Enore Estelle Maurer, 91, a lifelong resident of Genoa, died Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1998, at Memorial Community Long-Term Care in Aurora.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Augustana Lutheran Church in Genoa.
Hasch-Patrick Funeral Chapel in Genoa is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the church.
Mrs. Maurer was born on April 2, 1907, northeast of Genoa to August and Emma Stromberg. From the age of 2, she was raised by her uncle and aunt, Per Victor and Tilda Peterson. She attended District 35 School (the Kalberg School) and Genoa High School.
She married
Robert Faye Maurer in 1925 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She clerked at the Farmers Union Store and was a nurse's aide at the Genoa Hospital.
She was a member of Sylvia Chapter 80, Order of the Eastern Star and the Genoa Hospital Auxiliary. She had been a member of Augustana Lutheran Church for 77 years.
Survivors include four sons, Robert D. Maurer of Holdrege, Richard D. Maurer of Cheyenne, Wyo., Marvin D. Maurer of Lincoln and Philip J. Maurer of Omaha; one daughter, Roberta L. Sohrweid of Denver; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Irene Cromwell of Genoa and Emma Pearson of Tecumseh, Okla.
She was preceded in death by her husband; three brothers, Ernest Stromberg, Rubin Stromberg and Carl Stromberg; and two sisters, Elsie Mielak and Chestine Foust.
Benjamin McKeeman
Belgrade -- Benjamin C. McKeeman, 72, of Belgrade died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998, at his home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fullerton. Burial will be in the Belgrade Main cemetery with military rites. The Rev. Don Cleary will officiate.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m., Monday at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton.
Mr. McKeeman was born on Oct. 3, 1925, in Belgrade to Sylvester and Eva (Main) McKeeman. He attended grade school in Belgrade. His family moved to Lincoln, and he graduated from Lincoln High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 8, 1943, to Dec. 25, 1946. He worked for Kelloggs for several years, then moved to Belgrade, where he farmed and raised cattle.
He married
Ellen Lovell on Feb. 14, 1949, in Scottsbluff. She died in 1992.
He married
Rita Zaruba on April 15, 1993, at Fullerton. He retired and continued to live on the farm.
He was a member of American Legion Post 151 of Fullerton, American Legion Post 99 of Belgrade and St. Peter's Catholic Church.
He enjoyed flying and Nebraska football.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Dr. Robert McKeeman of Friend and Bill McKeeman of Fullerton; one daughter, Eva (Mrs. Steve) Abby of Omaha; three stepsons, Robert Zaruba of Bennington, Don Zaruba of Savage, Minn., and LeRoy Zaruba of Albion; three stepdaughters, Kathy (Mrs. Larry) Burnight of Haywarden, Iowa, Judy (Mrs. Rick) Swiolka of St. Paul, Minn., and Mary (Mrs. Jim) Buck of Fullerton; six grandchildren; 15 step grandchildren and eight step great-grandchildren.
In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by one brother.
Bradley Rahe
DEWITT -- Bradley A. Rahe, 47, of DeWitt died Thursday, Aug. 13, 1998, at the Beatrice Community Hospital.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in DeWitt. The Rev. James Lindgren will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery in DeWitt. Military graveside services will be conducted by Hawes-Wood American Legion Post 212.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. Sunday at Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt and one hour before services Monday at the church. A family prayer service will be at 10:15 a.m. Monday in the church chapel.
A memorial has been established.
Mr. Rahe was born on July 20, 1951, in Beatrice and lived in DeWitt all his life. He was a 1969 graduate of Tri-County High School. He served in the Army from 1969 to 1972 in Korea.
He married
Peggy Sealey on Aug. 3, 1974, in DeWitt. He worked at American Tool in DeWitt for 29 years and was the maintenance manager at the time of his death.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Hawes-Wood American Legion Post 212, both of DeWitt; and Geddes-Thober Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1077 of Beatrice. He enjoyed attending sporting events.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Travis of DeWitt; one daughter, Trisha of DeWitt; his parents, Raymond and Arlene Rahe of DeWitt; and three brothers, Brian Rahe, Bruce Rahe and Brent Rahe, all of DeWitt.
