U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Grace Blanke
On Nov. 19, 2005, at Holyoke, Colo. at the age of 97, Grace Irene (Harvey) Blanke went home to be with her Lord.
Grace was born Aug. 29, 1908 in Haddam, Washington County, Kan. to William Oliver and Sarah Orissa (Oliver) Harvey.
Grace attended school in Haddam, Kan.
In the late 1920s she moved with the family to Dundy County, Neb.
After moving to Nebraska she met William Edward "Ed" Blanke from Lamar, Neb. On Jan. 8, 1930 they were married. To this union two daughters were born: Ardith Rose and Estell Arlene. Both of their daughters died shortly after birth.
Grace and Ed had a full life. With no children to keep them in any one area they began traveling around the country. When they found a place they liked they'd stop, rent a farm place, get some hogs, a few chickens and some milk goats. When the desire came to see a different place they'd sell their livestock, load their vehicle with their belongings and their dog and would move on.
Through the years they have lived in many areas of Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, Alaska and Colorado.
Grace often remarked that even though they worked hard and didn't have a lot, she had lots of good memories of their life together. She loved to tell stories about their travels and some of the funny things that happened to them, such as setting up camp after dark thinking it was a park and wake up the next morning to find out it was a city dump.
During World War II Ed worked for the government in Alaska, so Grace earned the cost of the passage for her and her dog.
After Ed passed away she moved into Holyoke, Colo. where she resided until her death.
Grace liked to cook and could make a feast on a minute's notice. She liked to try new recipes and enjoyed having people gather around her table.
While in Holyoke, she became a member of the First Baptist Church; she was very active in the women's organizations.
She helped in SAM making quilts until her health and sight failed her. For many years she brought flowers from her garden for Sunday services. She loved everyone and found many ways to show it.
Preceding her in death were her husband, their two daughters, her parents, three brothers Henry and his wife Clara, Ralph and his wife Eva, Oliver C. "Jim" and his wife Esther, one sister Viola and husband Floyd Cornell, a half brother Fred and his wife Nelly and daughter Ruth and brother-in-law Elmer Wallin and other relatives.
Left to mourn her passing is her sister Ardith Wallin of Imperial, Neb., many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great, great nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A funeral service conducted by Pastor Gary Jones was held Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Holyoke, Colo.
Interment was at the Lamar cemetery in Chase County, Neb.
Jeffers-Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Esther Kirkpatrick
Esther Kirkpatrick was born on Feb. 23, 1929 at Venango, Neb. She was the sixth of 10 children born to Ralph and Ora Watkins Norman.
The family lived southwest of Grant before moving close to Grant where Esther graduated from Perkins County High School with the class of 1946. She was at the top of her class academically. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan for one year after high school.
Esther was married
to Vance Kirkpatrick on June 19, 1948 at Raton, N.M. Five children were born to this union.
They made their home southwest of Grant until 1956 when they moved to Roswell, N.M.
They returned to Grant in 1962 and lived there until Vance's masonry work took them to Naperville, Ill., in 1987.
They returned to Grant in 1991.
Esther had worked at the Perkins County Assessor's office, Moser's Department Store which later became Sexson's, Himi's and for Kelly Temporary Services in Naperville.
Esther had suffered a stroke earlier this fall and had been moved to the Perkins County Community Hospital where she died Thursday morning, Nov. 17, 2005. She had reached the age of 76.
Esther had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Eagles' Auxiliary, the United Methodist Church and the ladies chorus, the Intervals. She was currently part of the Monday morning friends Bible study at the church. She also enjoyed playing golf.
In addition to her parents, Esther was preceded in death by four brothers, Verdell, Ordell, Maynard and Donnie Norman; one sister, Lorraine Norman; and one daughter, Sandra Lynn Neis.
She is survived by her husband, Vance; three sons, Kelly and wife Anne of Grant, Bradley and wife Ann of Aurora, Ill. and Brian and wife Linda of Plainfield, Ill.; one daughter, Janet and husband Larry Herbert of Crofton, Md.; son-in-law, Al Neis of Solon, Ohio; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Eleanor Booth and Ardith and husband John Sexson of Grant and Marilyn Jones of Wichita, Kan.; one brother, Harry and wife Gladys Norman of North Platte, Neb.; many other relatives and friends.
Services were held Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Sally Ruggia-Haden officiating.
Music was by Dolores Sexson and Bob Cummings.
Casketbearers were Jason, Aaron, Mitchell, Michael, Jairus and Zane Kirkpatrick and Kirk Neis.
Burial was in the Grant Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Nebraska Boys Ranch or the Grant Public Library.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Iva Mae Meyer
Iva Mae Meyer died at Chase County Community Hospital on Nov. 10, 2005, after a short illness at the age of 89 years.
She was born Oct. 17, 1916 at Oakland, Pottwattamie Co., Iowa, the daughter of Lyman Ray and Luella Maude (Kennedy) Surber.
Iva Mae moved to Chase County at the age of four and resided with her family in the Chase Community.
She attended Chase County High School and graduated in 1935.
She taught school for three years before marrying Clayton Meyer on May 25, 1938 in McCook, Neb. To this union were born four children: Connie, Karen, Richard and Elvina.
Iva Mae was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial where she was baptized and confirmed on April 11, 1958, Rev. Walter A. Meyer officiating.
Clayton and Iva Mae began their married
life on a farm just east of Imperial and then moved to their farm northwest of Imperial.
Clayton died on Nov. 1, 1968.
In 1973 Iva Mae moved to Imperial where she lived the remainder of her life. After moving to Imperial, Iva Mae took great pride in being a cook at the Chase County schools. Baking bread was her specialty.
Iva Mae thoroughly enjoyed her chance to volunteer at the Senior Center, make quilts and spent time with her family. She loved working in the yard and enjoyed her plants. Her card club meetings were a special time for her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton; a daughter, Connie Tellier; her parents, and four sisters, Eva Baldwin, Muriel Jaeger, Luella Carlton and Mary Eilene Surber.
She is survived by two daughters, Karen Welch and husband, Jack, of Imperial and Elvina Hiatt and husband, Dale, of Fort Worth, Texas; a son, Richard, and wife, Lynn, of Imperial; a brother, Howard, and wife, Norma, of Imperial; two sisters, Clara Severin, and husband, Gene, of Los Altimos, Calif. and Millie Stinnette of Pasco, Wash.; 10 grandchildren, Kim Arpin, Lisa Tellier, Rick and Melissa Welch, Ryan, Gracie and Amy Meyer, Sean, Jason and Terry Hiatt; three great grandsons, Gregory, Brett and Scott Arpin; nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were held Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, at 2 p.m., at the Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial with Rev. David Kahle presiding.
Escorts were Amy Meyer, Ryan Meyer, Rick Welch, Gracie Meyer, Melissa Welch and Richard Johnson.
Music was provided by J. Gordon Christensen and the Zion Lutheran Choir.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Esther Newman
Esther Newman, youngest child of John and Barbara Hier was born Sept. 30, 1909 on the family farm one mile west of Imperial.
She attended Imperial Grade School and graduated from the Imaculate Conception Academy high school in Hastings, Neb. in 1929.
She worked at the Imperial Bakery and the JCPenney store after graduation. She later worked at the ASC office until her marriage to Charles Newman on June 17, 1943. They resided on a farm 12 miles west of Imperial. One daughter, Charlene Ann, was born on Sept. 8, 1944.
Esther was a member of the school board of District #17 for several years and active in the neighborhood extension club.
In 1957, she and Charlie moved to the farm one mile west of Imperial, where she was born.
In 1978 they moved to Imperial.
Esther did volunteer work at the senior center. She loved to travel and visited 32 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie, in 1985 and daughter, Charlene Ann, in 1960; when she was a freshman in high school, her parents, three brothers and two sisters.
She leaves behind a sister-in-law, Mary Wallin and many nieces and nephews.
Esther passed away Nov. 8 at the Imperial Manor.
Rosary was held Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial.
Funeral mass was held Monday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Fr. Greg Pawloski celebrating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcy Nesbitt and soloist was Mr. Ron Moritz.
Casketbearers were Irvin Weiss, Glenn Weiss, Gerald Weiss, Frank Clements, Leo Weiss, Bob Weiss, Kermit Kuecker, Jess Goddard and Burdette Bauerle.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alan Dinsmore
Alan Hume Dinsmore, 47, of Omaha, passed away Nov. 8.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy (Hume) Dinsmore.
Survivors include wife Joni; sons Nicholas, Adam and Drew; father Dr. James Dinsmore and wife Vicki, all of Omaha; and sister Carolyn (Dinsmore) Lee and husband Gary of Imperial.
Services were Friday in Omaha, followed by interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Julia E. Wood
Julia Evelyn Woods was born on Dec. 17, 1916, at Hayes Center, Neb., to Cornealus and Marie (Durham) Johnson.
As a young girl she attended school in Imperial, graduating from Chase County High School, and went on to become a teacher.
In 1937 she married
Roy Borland and from this union three children were born: Perry, Gloria and Larry. Later on June 19, 1946, she married
Harold W. Woods, at Hays, Kan. and to this union one son Chester was born. The couple had made their home in Imperial until the present time.
During her lifetime, Julia was a homemaker and employed at the nursing home for several years. She also was employed at Curtis and Curtis Law Firm and various other businesses in Imperial.
Julia was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed crocheting, tatting, cooking, sewing, gardening and especially loved all of her grandchildren.
Julia passed away early Sunday morning, Nov. 6, 2005, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. She was 88 years of age.
Survivors include: sons, Perry Borland and friend Judy of Holyoke, Colo., Larry Borland and wife Carolyn of Cambridge, Neb. and Chester Woods and friend Marcy of Westminster, Colo.; daughter, Gloria Borland of Laramie, Wyo.; special friend, Helen Bailey of Laramie, Wyo.; eight grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; one great, great grandson; and sister, Arleta Barkoff of Missouri Valley, Iowa.
Julia was preceded in death by her husbands, Roy Borland and Harold Woods (1997); brothers, B.A. Johnson and Cornealus Johnson Jr. and one sister, Leola Fern Spady.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 9, 2005, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and soloists were Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.
Casketbearers were Mike Borland, Chris Borland, Brian Borland, Greg Borland, Brad Borland and Jason Borland.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Manor Nursing Home.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
