U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Warren A. Trank
July 14, 1915 - March 20, 2008
Warren A. Trank, 92, of Alliance, died Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.
He was born July 14, 1915 in Cook, Nebraska to Lynn and Goldie (Ingersoll) Trank.
In 1940 he graduated from the University of Nebraska with his Degree in Botany and Agronomy. The following two years he continued is graduate work in Pathology and Agronomy.
On November 11, 1944 he was united in marriage to Gladys M. Smith in Hutchinson, KS.
Warren joined the Navy in June 1942 and spent the next three years as a naval aviator in the Pacific flying with the Black Cats.
An Alliance resident for over 60 years Warren was the manager of Potato Certification Association. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon, Elder and Trustee, Rotary Club, a long time member of the Nebraska Boys Ranch Board of Directors, a Paul Harris Fellow, Admiral in the Nebraska Navy and an Honorary Life member of the Potato Association of America.
He is survived by his wife Gladys, daughters and their husbands, Judy and Bob Chaloupka and Marsha and Dr. Michael Green of Scottsbluff, Jane and Dan Kusek of Alliance. His grandchildren Maren Chaloupka of Scottsbluff, Kirsten (Chaloupka) and husband Paul Edelbrock of Parker, CO, Michael Chaloupka of Denver, Nathan Green and fiancé` Courtney McPartland of Lincoln and Christopher Green of Scottsbluff, Jeff Kusek of Lincoln, Mitch Kusek and fiancé` Kari Mohs of Denver, CO, Greg Kusek of Alliance, and great-grandchildren Ansley Edelbrock and Alex Edelbrock survive him.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by 2 brothers and 1 sister.
Memorial services will be Monday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Stephen T. Roosa officiating.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the First Presbyterian Church.
Velma May Hallesy
February 7, 1920 - March 20, 2008
Velma (Tiny) Hallesy passed away March 20, 2008 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, NE.
She was born February 7, 1920 to Robert and Olive (Lattin) Cunningham in Burwell, Nebraska.
Velma married
Vern Dinnel in Gering, NE in 1936. They lived a short time in Morrill, NE. They then moved to Sunrise, WY. Four boys and three girls were born to this union.
She worked various jobs in Guernsey, WY. Then she worked for two years as a Radio Dispatcher for the Torrington, WY Police Department. She attended First Baptist Church in Guernsey and was a lifetime member of the Women Auxiliary Post No. 4471 in Guernsey.
In 1986 she married
Jack Hallesy in Torrington, WY.
Her survivors are her two daughters and their husbands, Donna and Robert Robbins of Commerce City, CO, and Verna and John Rebillet of Alliance, NE, son Dennis Dinnel of Scottsbluff, NE and 5 stepchildren. Velma enjoyed her 9 grandchildren, 8 step grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 3 step-great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She will be dearly missed and always loved by all. Bless you Grandma T.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, daughter Roberta Stewart, son Stan Dinnel, infant sons Melvin and Kenneth, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
Memorial services will be Wednesday, March 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Alliance with Pastor James Rowe officiating. Graveside services will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Prairie Rest cemetery in Guernsey, WY.
Memorials may be given to a charity of the donor's choice.
Maxine M. Snyder
May 22, 1919 - January 5, 2009
Maxine M. Snyder, 89, died Monday, January 5, 2009 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.
She was born May 22, 1919 at Pilger, Nebraska to John Richard and Lucille E. (Foy) Muntz.
On August 19, 1967 she was united in marriage to Lloyd Snyder in Denver, CO.
Maxine worked for many years as a nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Alliance. She was a member of the V.F.W. and Eagles Auxiliary, RSVP and Burlington Vets.
Her survivors are her nephews Douglas Johnson and Mark Johnson of Wheat Ridge, CO and her niece Michelle Dudley of Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brothers John Muntz and Dalton Muntz and her sister Ione Johnson.
Funeral services will be Thursday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bates-Gould Chapel with Pastor Steve Meysing officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to Good Samaritan Health Care Center, St. John’s Lutheran Church or the Alliance Humane Society.
Luella Mae Rietz
May 7, 1926 - March 20, 2008
Luella Mae Rietz, 81, of Alliance, died Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, CO.
She was born May 7, 1926 in Comstock, Nebraska to David and Nettie (Shanks) Nordstrom. Her mother died during her birth and she was raised by Amilia and Elmer Shanks. She was a graduate of Sargent High School in Sargent, Nebraska.
Luella moved to Alliance in 1943. On February 23, 1946 she was united in marriage to John G. Bolinger in Alliance. To this union two sons Donald and Bill and a daughter Dianna were born. Following her husband's death in 1967 she was married
to Floyd Rietz on September 3, 1974. He preceded her in death in 1984.
She worked as a waitress at numerous Alliance restaurants for many years. She was a member of St. John's United Lutheran Church and BNSF Veterans Association.
Her survivors are her children and their spouses, Donald and Gretchen Bolinger and Bill and Pam Bolinger of Alliance, Eileen (Dale) Nelson of Redding, PA, son-in-law Bill Ditsch of Alliance, 9 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters Millie Slagle of Palisade, CO and Terry Drake of Comstock, NE, her cousin Leona Anderson of Hastings, NE and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, daughter Dianna Ditsch, 1 brother and 1 sister.
Funeral services will be Monday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John's United Lutheran Church with Rev. Dr. Larry Spomer officiating. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, March 23 from 1-5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be given to Prairie Haven Hospice.
Lester D. Wilken
April 24, 1930 - December 17, 2008
Lester D. Wilken, 78, died Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance, NE.
He was born April 24, 1930 on the family farm near Hildreth, Nebraska to John George and Echimina “Minnie” (Harms) Wilken.
Lester graduated from Hildreth High School in 1948 and worked on the family farm until 1952 when he joined the U.S. Army. Following his honorable discharge in 1954 he began his employment with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. His career took him to various Nebraska communities including Alliance in 1969 where he worked until his retirement in 1992.
He was a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, American Legion, Telephone Pioneers, American Trap Shooters Association and a life member of the N.R.A.
On April 11, 1969 he was united in marriage to Emily Ann (Rice) Schoenemann in Kimball, NE.
He is survived by his step-children, David (Terry) Schoenemann of Kimball, Rhonda Randall of Burley, ID, Stan (Paula) Schoenemann of Crawford, his grandchildren Misty Johnson of Prior Lake, MN, Jennifer Randall of Burley ID, Tamra Smeltzer of Yarmouth, ME, Kirk Schoenemann of Kimball, Michelle Osmotherly of Crawford, Melissa Schoenemann of Alliance and Michael Schoenemann of McCook, NE and 8 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his special niece Mary Mockerman of Alliance, his brother Orville Wilken of Hildreth, NE and other numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Emily, brother Elmer Wilken and sister Margaret Lonn.
Memorial services will be Saturday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m. at. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Alliance with Father Don Huber officiating. Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be at a later date at Elk Mountain Cemetery, Elk Mountain, Wyoming.
Memorials may be given to Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, 706 Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.
