U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Philip Erickson
STROMSBURG -- Philip H. Erickson, 79, of Stromsburg died Sunday, April 1, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Stromsburg Baptist Church, with the Rev. Duane Tweeten officiating. Burial will be in the Stromsburg Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Palmer Funeral Home.
Mr. Erickson was born May 6, 1921, to Alfred and Hannah (Johnson) Erickson in Stromsburg, where he attended school and graduated from Stromsburg High School in 1940.
He attended flight school in Lincoln for one year, then worked at Lockheed Aeronautics Plant until entering the Army in 1941. He was accepted for pilot's training in the Army Air Force and received his wings in November 1944. He became a B-24 Bomber pilot and attained the rank of flight officer.
After leaving the military, he began farming and entered a partnership with his brother until about 1960. He moved to York County in 1953 where he continued to farm. He raised seed corn for Northrup King for 25 years.
On Sept. 12, 1947, he married
Ruth Holmberg.
He was a member of the Stromsburg Baptist Church and a member of the choir. He also was church treasurer, served on the diaconate board and the Christian Education Board, the building committee and taught Sunday school for more than 20 years.
He also was a member of the Stromsburg American Legion, Farmer's Union and served on the Stromsburg Airport Authority.
He was an accomplished woodworking and wood carver, and was a member of the Grand Island Woodcarver Club.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Elaine; two sons, Richard Erickson of Lincoln and Donald Erickson of Kearney; one daughter, Judy (Mrs. Mark) Hanson of Benedict; 11 grandchildren and one sister, Seima Smith of Ephrata, Wash.
He was preceded in death by four sisters, Ensie Hanson, Ruth Tedder, Josephine Erickson and Rose Napolon; two brothers, Lloyd Erickson and one in infancy; and one grandson.
Joe Hovorka
BURWELL -- Joe Hovorka, 81, of Burwell died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at the Valley County Nursing Home in Ord.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell. Interment will be at Madison Square cemetery near Taylor. The Rev. Marty Robbins will officiate.
There will be no visitation.
Memorials are suggested to the Burwell Legion or the Burwell Ambulance Supply Fund.
Mr. Hovorka was born Jan. 4, 1920, in Linwood to Frank and Adeline (Viglicky) Hovorka. He graduated from Schuyler High School. He continued to help with his parents' farm until he turned 21.
He then enlisted in the United States Army. He was sworn into service on Dec. 2, 1941. He enlisted for one year, but because of the war, was in the service for almost four years. He was on the front lines in France, Belgium and Germany for nine months. He suffered minor injuries and was discharged on Oct. 26, 1945. He returned home and helped with farming until March 1949.
He married
Bernice Bartusek on June 20, 1950. The couple had one son, Terry. Bernice died in July 1966. He then married
Elaine Molesworth in Blair. The couple lived in Arlington for a short time before returning to Burwell, where he was employed at Huckfeldt Equipment and Lech Equipment as a parts man.
He was affiliated with International Harvest Co. for 32 years when he retired on Jan. 4, 1985, at the age of 65.
He loved the outdoors and spent many hours fishing. The couple also enjoyed traveling with his sister, Rose, and her husband, Leonard Shonka, and good friends Marvin and Rosie Murphy. He also enjoyed playing cards and video games.
Survivors include his wife Elaine; his son; two grandchildren; one sister, Rose Shonka of Schuyler and one brother, Stanley of Burwell.
He was preceded in death by his first wife; two sisters, Emma and Adeline; and one brother, Anton.
Carmen Lewis
HASTINGS -- Carmen F. Lewis, 79, of Goldbeck Towers, Good Samaritan Village, died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at Perkins Pavilion at Good Samaritan Village in Hastings.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at All Saints Chapel in Hastings. The Rev. Bill Liddell will officiate. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Fort McPherson National cemetery in Maxwell.
Mrs. Lewis was born Aug. 12, 1921, in Fillmore County Township of West Blue, Neb., to Cleveland and Clara Belle (Swartz) King. She graduated from Grafton High School in 1939.
She married
Vernie F. Lewis on Oct. 13, 1941, at Fairbury. They farmed in Chandler, Okla., Loveland, Colo., and Giltner. In 1973 they retired to Loveland, Colo., before moving to Hastings in 1994. She worked as a cook at the Giltner Public Schools and Monroe Elementary School in Loveland, Colo.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, life member of the VFW Auxiliary Post No. 1346 in Hastings, past auxiliary president for Post No. 41 in Loveland, Colo., past Noble Grand Rebekah Lodge Chapter in Loveland, Colo., and Hastings, member of the American Legion Auxiliary and past president of American War Mothers in Loveland and Hastings.
She also spent many hours volunteering her baking talents with the veterans and Good Samaritan Village organizations.
Survivors include five sons, Francis of Pahrump, Nev., Gerald of Erie, Colo., Fred of Elba, Milford of Cotesfield and Lyndle of Hastings; three daughters, Sharon Dasko of Loveland, Colo., Sylvia (Mrs. Don) Fluhart of Hastings and Vanetta (Mrs. Dave) Bauman of Hastings; two brothers, Clifford King of Fairfield, Calif., and Condon King of Lincoln; 20 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; three brothers, Floyd, Loyd and Kyle; and two grandchildren.
Mabel Lopresti
RAVENNA -- Mabel Lopresti, 92, of Ravenna died Sunday, April 1, 2001, at her home in Ravenna.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Ravenna. The Rev. Mark Cadenbach will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Park cemetery in Ravenna.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the church, Ravenna Senior Center or Ravenna EMTs.
Rasmussen Mortuary in Ravenna is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lopresti was born March 4, 1909, in Fullerton to Willard and Ollie (Pitchford) Beeman. She was educated in Fullerton and Palmer.
She married
Michael Lopresti on June 19, 1927, in Aurora. The couple made their home in Palmer. They moved to Ravenna in 1933. Mr. Lopresti died on Jan. 25, 1977.
Mrs. Lopresti was a member of the United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, American Legion Auxiliary and the Rebekah Lodge. She also volunteered as a Gray Lady at the Good Samaritan Center in Ravenna for more than 25 years.
Survivors include two sons, Tom Lopresti of Portland, Ore., and Ted Lopresti of Leavenworth, Kan.; one daughter, Frances Heuer of Ravenna; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one sister, Elsie Foster of Seattle, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her husband and one great-grandson.
George Wyman
SHELTON -- George H. Wyman, 85, of Shelton died Sunday, April 1, 2001, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
There will be family graveside services, with Apfel Funeral Home of Wood River/Shelton in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Wyman was born June 29, 1915, in Kearney to Albert and Sylvia (Howell) Wymann. He received his early education at Shelton Public School. He attended business school at Sioux Falls, S.D.
As a young man, he was self-employed and later served as village clerk and then director of the Shelton Housing Authority until his retirement.
In 1940 he married
Evelyn Parr.
He was a member of the Masons and Shelton United Methodist Church. He enjoyed golf, bowling, traveling and yard work.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn of Grand Island; three daughters, Penny Wymann and Sandra Hoffman, both of Grand Island, and Judi Hendrickson of Gibbon; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by five brothers and four sisters.
