U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Marvin D. Richards, Schuyler, Sept. 17, 2009, age 84
Marvin Dale Richards, 84, of Lincoln, formerly of Schuyler, died Thursday at the Lancaster Manor in Lincoln.
Marvin Richards, 84, son of Kenneth Reynold and Pluma Hazel (Gillespie) Richards, was born in David City, Oct. 6, 1924. He was married
to Ila Barnes, now deceased.
Marvin is survived by sister Alice Smith of Nebraska City; his son, Kenneth Richards of Greenville, S.C.; daughter, Debbie Burns of Lincoln; three grandchildren; three great grandchildren.
Marvin was a highly decorated corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during WWII. He majored in veterinary medicine at Peru State and was a hatcheryman and feed dealer for the majority of his career.
A graveside service in Schuyler, will be held for Marvin in October, date to be announced later. Kracl Funeral Chapel, Schuyler, in charge of arrangements. Obit dated Sept. 23, 2009
Ralph A. Widhelm, North Bend, Sept. 6, 2009, age 83
Ralph Anthony Widhelm died Sept. 6 at St. Francis Hospital in West Point. Funeral services are pending arrangements for the arrival of family living overseas.
Ralph was born Feb. 2, 1926, one of ten children born to John and Catherine (Wegner) Widhlem at Howells. He graduated from Howells High School in 1944. In 1947 he and his brother Herman started Widhlem TV & Electric in North Bend.
On Aug. 8, 1950, Ralph married
Katherine Lemke of Cedar Bluffs. She died March 5, 1993. From 1950-51 Ralph served in the U.S. Army in Korea.
In 1967 Ralph and Kathy started a Gambles hardware store on Highway 30 in North Bend. In 1990 Ralph retired from the store, but continued doing appliance repair work.
Ralph was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church and the Bald Eagles trio that entertained in the area and at family events.
Ralph is survived by children Doris (Mike) O’Malley of Des Moines, Iowa, Linda (Carl McElroy) Parsons of Barretode, Guam, Gary (Robin) Widhelm, Greg Widhelm, all of North Bend, Jane (Don) O’Neill of Omaha, Nancy (Dennis) Petersen of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Genni (Steve) Cerny of North Bend; brother Joe (Ellen) Widhlem of Fremont; sister Wilma Dunker of Fremont; 22 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be at St. Charles Catholic Church with burial at Woodland Cemetery.
Lowell C. Johnson, North Bend, Sept. 1, 2009, age 89
Lowell C. Johnson died Sept. 1, at his home at Shalimar Gardens in Fremont.
Lowell was born June 12, 1920, in Pleasant Valley Township, rural North Bend, to L.C. Jack and Louise (Iske) Johnson. He graduated from North Bend High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1942. While at the university, he was a founding member of the Lutheran Student Center.
On June 21, 1943, Lowell married
Ruth Sloss at the North Bend United Presbyterian Church. They had four children, Mark, Kent, James and Nancy. Ruth died Sept. 6, 1992.
Lowell was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II where he served as a ship repair officer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
Lowell was formerly employed as a research engineer for Phillips Petroleum and a plant manager for Watson Industries in North Bend and Fremont. He was a field representative for Congressman Charles Thone. Lowell was a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 1981-1992 where he served as Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee as well as numerous other committees. In 1994, he was elected to the Nebraska Public-Service Commission and served as a commissioner until his retirement in Jan. 2007.
Lowell served on numerous community boards and organizations, among them the North Bend Board of Education, the USDA National Advisory Council on Rural Development, Memorial Hospital of Dodge County Board of Trustees, the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council, and the Fremont Chamber of Commerce Legislative Affairs Committee.
Lowell was a member of the North Bend United Presbyterian Church, American Legion Post No. 340; the Fremont Rotary Club, North Bend Masonic lodge No. 119, Scottish Rite, Shrine, and Eastern Star. He was a past member of the Nebraska Republican State Central Committee.
He was active in the family farm operation and served as president of Johnson-Sloss Land Company.
Survivors are sons Mark C. Johnson of North Bend, Kent R. (Sheryl) Johnson of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; daughter Nancy J. Coetzee of Durban, South Africa, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services are Sept. 9, 10:30 a.m., at United Presbyterian Church in North Bend with the Rev. Mike Thomas from Salem Lutheran Church in Fremont officiating. Masonic Services are at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Moser Memorial Chapel, North Bend, conducted by North Bend Masonic Lodge 119, A.F. & A.M. Closed casket visitation Sept. 8. 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends on Tues. from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
The will be a private burial at Woodland Cemetery, North Bend, with military honors conducted by VFW Post 8223, AmVets Post 20, both of North Bend and the American Legion Post 340 of Morse Bluff.
Memorials are suggested to the North Bend Library Building Fund or the North Bend United Presbyterian Church. Obit dated Sept. 9, 2009
Robert J. Wagner, Schuyler, Aug. 31, 2009, age 71
Funeral services for Robert J. Wagner of Schuyler were Sept. 4 at the Kracl Funeral Chapel in Schuyler with Quentin Wagner speaking.
Memorials are suggested for Whispering Pines in Schuyler.
Bob died Aug. 31 at his home at Whispering Pines.
Bob was born May 15, 1938 to Clyde and Mary (Lewis) Wagner in Dunning. He graduated from Cortland High School as salutatorian of his class.
On February 5, 1970, Bob was united in marriage to Frieda Hoesche in North Platte. Bob had lived in Schuyler since 1975, living at the Whispering Pines for the last 11 years. He had worked construction, drove cement truck for Woods Brothers in Schuyler, and drove a dump truck for the county. Bob also drove a mail route for Zelda trucking.
Bob is survived by his wife Frieda of Clarkson, sons Quentin (Yong Park) Wagner of Norfolk, Mike (Toon) Wagner of Atlanta, Ga,; daughter Mary (Dustin) White of Columbus, NE, Vicki (Tim) Burley of Atlanta, Ga., Lori (George) Kritikos of Brooklyn, N.Y.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; brother Richard (Denise) Wagner of Kearney, sister Martha Rae (Desmond) Miller of Summersville, Mo.
Obit dated Sept. 9, 2009
Martha (Kventensky) Fryzek, Ord, Aug. 29, 2009, age 75
Martha Mae Fryzek of Ord died Aug. 29 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.
Funeral services were Sept. 2 at the Ord Memorial Chapel. Burial was at the National Bohemian cemetery west of Ord. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Ord Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Martha was born Nov. 4, 1933, to Ladislav and Martha (Janicek) Kventensky on the family farm southwest of Elyria. Martha and attended District 29 rural grade school and graduated from Ord High School in 1950.
On April 5, 1951, she married
George Fryzek in Ord. Martha worked at Ord businesses and was the head cook at the Ord Public Schools on her retirement in 1994.
Martha is survived by a son Charles (Linda) Fryzek of Burwell; daughter Deborah (Don) Andrews of North Bend; seven grandchildren; four great-grand-children; brothers Joseph Kvetensky of Cedar Rapids,, Anton (Mary) Kvetensky of Grand Island, Lillian Kvetensky of Ralston; sister-in-law Bess Fryzek of Greeley, Colo.
Martha, a 50 year member of ZCBJ Lodge at National Hall was preceded in death by her husband, infant sister Marie Ann Kventensky, and brother Ladislav Kventensky.
Obit dated Sept. 2, 2009
Ruby (Krater) Bame, Schuyler, Aug. 28, 2009, age 91
Funeral services for Ruby Bame were Aug. 28 at Kracl Funeral Chapel with the Rev. William Mattfeld officiating. Burial was at Schuyler Cemetery
Ruby died Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Golden Living Center in Schuyler. She was born Nov. 25, 1918, in Rogers to Charles and Emma (Draper) Krater.
Ruby attended high school in North Bend. On Nov. 6, 1935, she married
Emil A. Bame in Wahoo.
She worked at the Oak Ballroom, Ben Franklin, Valley Court Motel and the Avalon Bar. Ruby was a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Schuyler.
She is survived by her niece, Evelyn Coates of Schuyler. She was preceded in death by her husband and two infants. Obit dated Sept. 2, 2009
Elizabeth (Moser) Parr, Seward, Aug. 26, 2009, age 89
Elizabeth C. Parr of Seward died Aug. 26, at Ridgewood Rehab Center in Seward.
Betty was born Nov. 1, 1919, in rural Hooper to Josepth and Caroline (Baechler) Moser. She grew up on the family farm southwest of Hooper, attending District 38 School.
On June 4, 1938, Betty married
Albert A. Parr in Hooper. The couple owned and operated a Standard Oil business in Scribner for 36 years. Al died March 27, 1977, Betty worked in the kitchen of the Good Samaritan Center in Scribner and as a housekeeper and cook for the clergy and sisters at St. James Parish in Omaha. She moved to Steward in 2001.
Betty was a member of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church at Seward.
Survivors include sons Ronald (Darlene) Parr of Greensboro, N.C., Roger (Marlene) Parr of Fremont; daughter Mary (Roger) Grunke of Seward; daughter-in-law Maureen Parr of Omaha; sister-in-law Charlotte Moser of Columbus; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was Sept. 1 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Scribner with the Rev. William Fitzgerald and the Rev. Vitalis Anyanike officiating. Burial was at St. Mary’s Catholic cemetery at Ridgeley near Scribner.
Memorials are suggested for St. Lawrence Catholic Church or the donor’s favorite charity. Obit dated Sept. 2, 2009
Frederick D. Longwith, Fremont, Aug. 25, 2009, age 82
Frederick D. Longwith of Fremont died Aug. 25 at Fremont Area Medical Center. He was born Dec. 26, 1926, to Albert and Ethel (Furr) Longwith at Schuyler.
Fred grew up in Schuyler and was a graduate of Schuyler High School. He served in the Coast Guard during World War II. Fred lived in North Bend from 1948 until moving to Norwolk, Calif., in 1964. He moved to Albany, Ore., in 1968, Hastings in 1969 and Fremont in 1971. Fred worked as a carpenter.
On Feb. 15, 1948, Fred married
Shirley M. Vincent at Schuyler. She died Oct. 12, 1994.
Survivors include his daughter Sandra Brewer of Fremont; brother Richard Longwith of Mission, Texas; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be Sept. 2, 11 a.m., at Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont with Rev. Scott Jensen, chaplain at FAMC, officiating. Military honors will be conduted by the Fremont Honor Guard of VFW Post 854 and American Legion Post 20.
Memorial may be directed to the family. Obit dated Sept. 2, 2009
JoAnn (Riggle) Robinson, Scribner, Aug. 25, 2009, age 44
JoAnn E. Robinson died Aug. 25 at her home in Scribner. She was born Feb. 8, 1965, to Charles and Geraldine Riggle of Council Bluffs, Iowa. At age 11 the family settled in LaVista. She graduated from Papillion High School. In 1986 JoAnn moved to Bremerton, Wash., and in 1990 moved to Scribner. She worked for Platte Chemical in Fremont for several years.
On June 30, 1995, JoAnn married
Robert Robinson in Winslow.
Survivors include her husband Robert of Scribner; daughters Jessica (Mark LaFrancis) Rounds of Nickerson, Sarah (Scott Sunday) Rounds of Grand Island; father Charles Riggle Jr. of Red Oak, Iowa; mother Geraldine (Ronald) Herd of Scribner; brother Charles (Tara) Riggle of Nickerson; sisters Lora (Herb) Stahl of Blair, Kristina (Mark) Hadden of Sioux City, Iowa, Sandra (Jeff) Sousek of Prague; half sister Amanda Riggle of Red Oak, Iowa.
The funeral was Aug. 29 at First United Methodist Church in North Bend with the Rev. Fred Andersen officiating. Burial was at Woodland Cemetery, North Bend.
Memorials have been established for the Scribner Volunteer Fire Dept. and the North Bend New Library Building Fund.
Obit dated Sept. 2, 2009
