U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
'Fred' Boelts Jr.
MESA, Ariz. -- Hubert "Fred" Boelts Jr., 56, of Mesa, Ariz., died Feb. 13, 2001, at Desert Samaritan Hospital in Mesa.
Services were Feb. 19 at the Community Christian Church in Yuma, Ariz. The Rev. Doug McCallister officiated. Burial was in Desert Lawn Memorial Park cemetery of Yuma.
A memorial scholarship fund is being established in memory of Mr. Boelts and his wife, Becky.
Mr. Boelts was born Oct. 3, 1944, at Palmer to Hubert "Hube" and Esther (Nagel) Boelts. He attended Gardner School District 23, graduated from Central City High School in 1962, and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in agronomy in 1964.
He married
Rebecca "Becky" Trendle on Sept. 4, 1965, in Fullerton. The couple farmed near Central City. He then began working for the National Farmers Organization in several communities before relocating to Corning, Iowa. In 1972, the family returned to Archer, where they farmed until 1986. They then moved to Yuma, where he pursued a career as a produce ranch manager. Mrs. Boelts died Aug. 30, 1998. He moved in 1999 to Mesa, to begin work on his technical computer credentials at Mesa Community College and worked as an MCI WorldCOM technical advisor.
He was a member of the B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 476 of Yuma.
Survivors include one daughter, Heidi (Mrs. Wiley) Allgood of New Baden, Ill.; two sons, Robert Boelts and John Boelts, both of Yuma; six grandchildren; one brother, Norman Boelts of Fairbanks, Alaska; and one sister, Gail Cool of Casper, Wyo.
Other than his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Catherine.
Bruce Stoltenberg
77, retired farmer
Bruce Thomssen Stoltenberg, 77, of Grand Island died Tuesday, July 3, 2001, at the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Leo's Catholic Church in Grand Island. Father Jack R. Rademacher will officiate.
Burial will be in the St. Libory Cemetery. There will be a service by the Elk's at the cemetery following the committal service.
Visitation will be Friday from 4-8 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at the St. Leo's Church. All Faiths Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Stoltenberg was born Feb. 24, 1924, to Rudolph P. and Anita E. (Thomssen) Stoltenberg in Grand Island.
He grew up and lived his entire life on the family farm southwest of Grand Island.
He attended District 3 Elementary School and graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1942. Following graduation, he worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant and the family farm.
He continued to farm and sell DeKalb Seed Corn until retirement.
He married
Mary A. Trentman on Jan. 23, 1950, at the St. Libory Catholic Church.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, competitive shooting and woodworking. He participated in rodeos in his youth.
He was active in the Nebraska Fur Harvesters, a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a past Exalted Ruler of the Elk's Lodge 604.
Survivors include his wife; one son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Jeri Lynn Stoltenberg of Gering; daughter, Vicki Arrasmith of Grand Island and daughter and son-in-law, Cyndy and Mike Ryan of Shelton; four grandsons, two granddaughters and three great grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Michelle Mary Stoltenberg and a foster brother, Steve Lehman.
Marc McConnell
LOUP CITY -- Marc McConnell, 13, the son of Leon and Jill McConnell of Loup City, died Tuesday, July 3, 2001, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Services are pending with Higgins Funeral Home in Loup City.
Helen Morris
ALBION -- Helen Morris, 69, of Albion died Wednesday, July 4, 2001, at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha of heart complications.
Services are pending with Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
Jack Witty
SUN CITY, Ariz. -- Jack L. Witty, 87, of Sun City, Ariz., formerly of Arcadia, died Monday, July 2, 2001, at the Westview Healthcare Center in Sun City.
Gravesides services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Arcadia cemetery in Arcadia with the Rev. Richard Brian officiating.
Memorials are suggested to the family's choice. Peters Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Witty was born on April 15, 1914, in Hopkinsville, Ky., to Lee and Alice P. (Todd) Witty. He was educated and grew up in Kentucky. He served in the U.S. Navy in the mid to late 1930s. Upon his discharge, he lived in California where he worked in the shipyards.
While there he met and married
Mary Madsen. During World II he was called to serve again in the U.S. Navy until 1945. At that time the couple moved to the Madsen family farm five miles east of Arcadia. In 1953, a tornado claimed the lives of Mrs. Madsen, their three children, her parents and several other family members.
Mr. Witty later married
Gwendolyn Earl in Ord. They moved to California and later returned to Arcadia to farm. In 1960, they moved to Omaha where he worked at the Armour Packing Plant. In 1968, they moved to Arizona where he was last employed as a security guard for the State of Arizona at the Capitol Complex Building.
He was survived by one son, Mike Witty of Glendale, Ariz.; one daughter, Janet Davis of Waddell, Ariz.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; one sister, Annie Laura of Kentucky; and three brothers, Harding Witty of Florida, Calvin Witty of Indiana and Raymond Witty of Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mary; two daughters, Thelma and Patty Witty; one son, Gary Witty; four sisters and one brother.
Gary Boersen
Gary Lee Boersen, 40, of Grand Island died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at All Faiths Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Boersen was born on Feb. 14, 1960, at Grand Island to Fritz H. Sr. and Pearl (Castor) Boersen. He grew up in Hall and Merrick counties and attended school in Central City.
He married
Pamela Behring in Grand Island.
He worked for Chief Industries and Knight Brothers Sand and Gravel of Chapman for many years. He also worked for McCain Foods until ill health forced him to stay home.
He was a member of the Eagles.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; five brothers, Richard, Larry, Fritz and John, all of Grand Island, and Mike of Phillips; and a sister, Ronda (Mrs. Walter) Ross of Grand Island.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald.
Arthur Neighbors
Arthur W. Neighbors, 88, of Grand Island died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000, after an illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Kleine Funeral Home with the Rev. George Wheat officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Neighbors worked with Bill Baasch on the restoration of a horse-drawn hearse, and it will be used to take Mr. Neighbors' casket to the cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., with the family receiving friends and family from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Mr. Neighbors was born on Aug. 14, 1912, at Oakland, Iowa, to John H. and Martha J. (Boyd) Neighbors. He attended school in Albion and worked on his parents' farm.
He married
Bernice E. Foreman on Feb. 19, 1934, in Albion.
The couple farmed near Albion and later moved to Petersburg, where he worked at a local garage. They later lived in Cedar Rapids for several years before returning to Albion. They moved to Grand Island in 1950. He worked for International Harvester. After his retirement, he worked with Bill Baasch for 20 years, helping restore antiques and rebuilding wagons.
Mrs. Neighbors died on March 31, 2000.
Survivors include one son, Dennis of Grand Island; one daughter, Virginia (Mrs. Richard) Poole of Council Bluffs, Iowa; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Lena, Dorothy, Alice and Mary Jane, all of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and one brother, John Edward of Red Oak, Iowa.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by one great-granddaughter and six brothers, Farmer, Loren, Oscar, Eldon, Jerry and Dale.
