U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Edith M. Nelson, 93
7/3/03 - 6/26/97
Edith M. Nelson, 93 died Thursday, June 26, 1997 at Sunset Manor Nursing Home in Brush, Colo.
Services were held Monday in the Blair Cemetery.
Nelson was born July 3, 1903 in Kennard to Ernest and Margaret Epperly. On Oct. 21, 1921, she married
Martin P. Nelson in Omaha. They owned and operated the Nelson Paint and Wallpaper Store in Blair for several years. Following her husband's death in 1952, she owned and operated a restaurant in Fremont and later the Commercial Hotel in Sidney.
She was a member of the Blair Congregational Church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Moose Lodge and the Royal Neighbors.
Survivors are two sons, Jack of Tahoe Paradise, Calif. and Jim of Brush; six grandchildren; eight great - grandchildren and three great - great - grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one sister and her parents.
Heer Mortuary in Brush was in charge of the preliminary arrangements. Campbell - Aman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements in Blair.
Gerald Otte, 58
11/7/38 - 6/29/97
Gerald Lee Otte, 58, died Sunday, June 29, 1997 at his home in Blair from complications resulting from a malignent brain tumor.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church. Family graveside services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Blair Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Campbell - Aman Funeral Home with family visitation from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. The casket will be closed at the funeral home.
Gerald Lee Otte was born in Omaha, Nov. 7, 1938 to Russell and Alice (McArdle) Otte. After his graduation from Valley High School in 1957, he attended Midland Lutheran College, graduating in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree. In 1967, he received his masters degree in education and in 1971, received his specialist degree in education administration.
He taught social studies in the Arlington School System from 1961 - 64; coached football and track and was assistant baseball and basketball coach. In 1964, he moved to the Blair School system where he taught social studies and was track coach for four years. He was principal of Blair High School from 1966 - 73 and in 1973 became assistant superintendent for Blair Community Schools. He served in that capacity until becoming superintendent in 1979.
He married
Dianne Hinrichs in 1960 at Sidney, Neb.
He was a member of Phi Kappa Delta, North Central Accreditation, Nebraska Schoolmasters Association, Nebraska Council of School Administrators, and was past president and a member of Nebraska State Superintendent Organization. He was a member of the Blair Lions Club and was past president for two separate terms. He was also a member of First Lutheran Church and was a past president of the congregation.
Survivors are his wife, Dee; two sons and a daughter - in - law, Mark and Starlyn Otte, David City, Neb. and Eric Otte, New York City, N.Y.; one daughter, Laura Otte, New York City; two grandchildren, Morgan and Corinn Otte; his mother and her husband, Alice and Eugene Whiteaker, Fremont; four sisters, Virginia (Mrs. Loyd) Jensen, Waterloo, Neb.; Joyce (Mrs. Marvin) Petersen, Fremont; Patricia Whiteaker, Washington, D.C.; Kathy (Mrs. Steve) Sarada, Denver, Colo.
Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church.
Gerald Otte (article)
Blair Schools superintendent dies
Long - time Blair Community Schools Superintendent Jerry Otte died at his home Sunday morning.
Otte, 58, died from complications resulting from a malignant brain tumor which was diagnosed in December 1996.
Otte's professional life was dedicated to education. He had been superintendent the last 18 years. He also had served as the district's assistant superintendent, the high school principal and as a teacher and coach.
Larry Bock, a friend and co - worker of Otte's the past 23 years, said his friend's death came as a surprise.
"He; was a very good friend, " Bock said. "I; have never worked with anybody that long.
"I; think Jerry had very high principles and very high expectations. Those were his attributes."
Bock said Otte played some role in hiring nearly all the staff currently working in the Blair School District. Otte provided strong leadership for the district, Bock said.
Up until the last few weeks, Otte had been working in the office, Bock said. Otte recently took some sick leave and vacation time.
The Blair Community School Board will decide who will fill the superintendent's position. Bock is the assistant superintendent. As of yet, no official action had been taken by the board.
Funeral services for Otte are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church. Family graveside services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Blair Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, with family visitation from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Lauren Spangler, 75
8/21/21 - 6/26/97
Dr. Lauren E. Spangler, 75 died Thursday, June 26, 1997 at his Arlington home.
Services were Monday at the Arlington Community Church. Rev. Lee J. Milligan officiated. Burial was in the Arlington cemetery with military graveside services by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8332 and American Legion Post No. 71, both of Arlington.
Spangler was born Aug. 21, 1921 at Arlington to Thurman and Hazel (French) Spangler. He lived all his life in the Arlington area and graduated from Arlington High School in 1939. He received his bachelor of science degree at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont in 1943. He was a 1950 graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in Lincoln. He took Naval Officer Training at Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. and served in the Navy during World War II in the Asiatic Pacific on Submarine services as lieutenant from May 31, 1943 to Feb. 7, 1946. He had a dental practice in Arlington from 1950 to 1993.
On Sept. 23, 1943, he married
Jackie Peterson at Fremont.
He was inducted into the Arlington Education Hall of Fame in 1990. While at Midland College, he was a Hall of Fame member of the Little Giants Football Team.
Survivors are his wife, Jackie; a son and daughter - in - law, Laurence "Larry;" and Stephana Spangler of Greenwood, Neb.; three daughters, Leanne Knott and Michelle Brown, both of Omaha and Melissa Spangler of Lincoln; a brother, Raymond Ludwig, Jr. of Arlington; three sisters, June Warder of Marshalltown, Iowa; Joan Kerkhoff of Rochester, Minn. and Germaine (Mrs. Darrell) Johnson of Greeley, Colo. and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step - father, Raymond Ludwig, Sr.
Pallbearers were Dr. Lloyd Diedricksen, Dr. Louis Otto, Gordon Spangler, Dr. Jerry Swanson, William Rhea, Tom Brown and Dr. Roy Baker.
Honorary pallbearers were Jim Becker, Gene Kruger, Bob French, Don Norskov, Loren Rogers, Paul Adams, John Ludwig, Kent Kerkhoff, Paul Sorensen, Mel Sorensen, Walt Pfeiffer, Robert Pfeiffer, Gilbert Hokamp, Henry Lyddon and Andy Svendgard. Memorials may be given to the Arlington Education Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Reckmeyer - Moser Funeral Home in Arlington was in charge of arrangements.
George Watts, 92
3/20/05 - 6/29/97
George Dexter Watts, 92, died Sunday, June 29, 1997 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Blair.
Services are 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church. Burial will be in the Blair Cemetery. Rosary will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Campbell - Aman Funeral Chapel.
George Dexter Watts was born March 20, 1905 in Axtell, Kans. to Pleasant, II, and Margaret (Mefford) Watts. He lived in Axtell until he was six when his family moved to a farm at Bruchard, Neb.
On Dec. 30, 1925, he married
Marie Spiney. They moved to Kennard in 1942 and to Blair in 1991. He worked as a farmer, carpenter, substitute mail carrier; and also as a custodian, retiring in 1973.
Survivors are two sons, Deuane of Aurora, Colo. and Donald of Blair; two daughters, Lillian Cole of Blair and Madelon Hansen of Kennard; 19 grandchildren; 33 great - grandchildren; four great - great - grandchildren; one brother, Carl of Blair; a sister, Lily Mae Raerick of Waterloo and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; four brothers; four sisters and an infant son.
