U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
George Martin
85, O.P. Skaggs founder
George W. Martin, 85, of Grand Island died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001, at his home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. The Rev. Ray Schroeder will officiate. Burial will be in Grand Island Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.
Mr. Martin was born Feb. 15, 1916, at Davenport, Iowa, to George and Laura Martin. He grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1934. He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1938 and came to Grand Island in 1939. He was in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946, serving in the Pacific.
He married
Marian Bowers Luther on Jan. 3, 1947.
He established the O.P. Skaggs Super Market, now known as Skagway.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and a 50-year member of Tehema Shine.
Survivors include his wife; a son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Raynette Martin of Grand Island; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Ben Herring of Ft. Worth, Texas; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother and two children.
John Plautz
John Fredrick Plautz, 84, of Grand Island died Thursday, December 20, 2001 at his home.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Gollaher Chapel at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Island. The Revs. Onamae Waddel and Jim Keyser officiating.
Memorials are suggested to Trinity United Methodist Church.
Mr. Plautz was born April 24, 1917 at Merrill, Wis., to John and Laura (Engels) Plautz. He attended school in Merrill, graduating from Merrill Senior High where he excelled in sports.
He married
June Freiberg in 1940 at Merrill. She preceded him in death.
He married
Fay D. Verna on March 24, 1974 in Grand Island. The couple lived in Grand Island where he worked at Fairacres Dairy and later Chicago (Century) Lumber. He retired in 1982.
He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. He enjoyed coaching little league baseball, woodworking, gardening, hunting, fishing and playing cards.
Survivors include his wife, Fay Plautz of Grand Island; four sons, John W. Plautz of Lakewood, Colo., James K. Plautz, of Rapid City, S.D., Joel F. Plautz of Grand Island and Jeff L. Plautz of Amarillo, Texas; one daughter, Jane E. Dreher of Redlands, Calif., one stepson, Gene Verna of Kansas City, Kan., two stepdaughters, Beverly Overbeck of Lebanon, Ore., and Debbie Fette of Lincoln; 12 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; a brother, Arthur Plautz of Merrill Wis.; and two sisters, Hazel Maas of Wausau, Wis., and Vera Vonderhied of Minocqua, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his two wives; one brother, Ellsworth Plautz; and three sisters, Lillian Schult, Mertle Zastrow and Ila Plautz.
Anne Zebert
Anne E. Zebert, 48, of Grand Island died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001, at her home due to illness.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at United Congregational Church. The Rev. Lonnie Logan will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kleine Funeral Home chapel.
Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society for Research or Crane Meadows Nature Center.
Mrs. Zebert was born April 29, 1953, at Burwell to Keith and Dorothy (Duncan) DeLashmutt. She received her education in Burwell.
She married
Dale Zebert on Dec. 5, 1969, in Grand Island. The couple lived in Grand Island.
She was a member of the Christian faith. She enjoyed reading, camping, watching cranes and deer, flowers and plants and being with her family and cat.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca "Becky" and Mark Rupprecht of Lincoln; three sons and a daughter-in-law, John and Kristi Zebert of Grand Island, Brian Zebert, who is stationed with the U.S. Army Infantry in Vilseck, Germany, and Daniel Zebert of Grand Island; four grandchildren; a sister, Martha Thorman of North Carolina; a sister-in-law and caretaker, Donna Tuning of Goldendale, Wash.; and a special friend, Jodi Zebert of Grand Island.
'Louie' Greenwalt
ELYRIA -- Aloysius "Louie" Greenwalt, 101, of Elyria died Monday, Dec. 17, 2001, at Valley County Hospital in Ord.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ord. The Rev. Bob Rooney will officiate. Burial will be in Ord Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Ord Memorial Chapel with a rosary at 7 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the church or donor's choice.
Mr. Greenwalt was born Aug. 22, 1900, in Valley County to Zack and Mary (Carkoski) Greenwalt. He grew up in the Ord and Elyria area, attending the Valley County schools.
He married
Elizabeth Benben on May 4, 1926, in Elyria. The couple lived and farmed in the area for many years. His wife died June 19, 1993. In 1986, he suffered a stroke. In August 2000, he celebrated his 100th birthday.
He remained on the family farm until his death with the care of his grandson, David Eiberger.
He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed music, playing the accordion and playing with his family in a band at many dances. He also enjoyed telling stories, playing cards and fishing.
Survivors include two daughters and a son-in-law, Dolores and Maurus Eiberger of St. Paul and Rita Lliteras of Grand Island; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife; a son-in-law, Jack Lliteras; three sisters, Rose Lonowski, Magdalen Wisniski and Dorothy Niemeyer; and a brother, Edwin Greenwalt.
Irene Matya
AURORA -- Irene D. Matya, 78, of Aurora died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001, at Memorial Long Term Care in Aurora.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora. The Rev. Craig Doty will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora with a rosary at 4:30 p.m.
Mrs. Matya was born April 27, 1923, at Grand Island to Ralph W. and Lora (Denton) Dean. She grew up in Fullerton and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1939. She attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln from 1939 to 1940.
She married
Francis J. Matya on Sept. 28, 1942, in Lincoln. The couple lived in St. Edward and Kansas City, Mo., before moving to Grand Island in 1945. They both worked at the Army Ammunitions Depot. They moved to Columbus in 1949, then to Aurora later that same year. She was a dental assistant for Dr. Earl Shafer from 1963 to 1983. They moved to Central City in 1978. When her husband retired from farming in 1984, they returned to Aurora. Her husband died Sept. 12, 1988.
She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora and the Nebraska Dental Assistants Association. She was an avid fan of the New York Yankees. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, bowling and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include four daughters and sons-in-law, Stephanie Harms of Kearney, Laurie and Jim Pfeifer of Aurora, Diane and Michael Thompson of Sutton and Vicki and Tom Pfeifer of Aurora; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard and Melba Dean, and R. M. Dean, all of Omaha, and Phillip and Mary Ann Dean of Callaway.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, Patrick D. Matya, and a sister, Dorothy Dean.
Lillian Nickerson
RAVENNA -- Lillian I. Nickerson, 89, of Ravenna, formerly of Kearney, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2001, at Ravenna Good Samaritan Center.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. James Catholic Church. The Revs. Charles Torpey and Tim Stoner will officiate. Burial will be in Kearney Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary chapel in Kearney with a wake service at 7 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the church or Ravenna Good Samaritan Center.
Mrs. Nickerson was born March 31, 1912, on a farm in Valley County north of Ord to Frank and Julia (Slavacek) Krikac. She graduated from Comstock High School in 1930 and then attended Grand Island Business College. She worked in Grand Island until 1938 when she moved to Kearney.
She married
Fred L. "Nick" Nickerson. Her husband died March 20, 1980.
She was a member of St. James Catholic Church and Eagle's Auxiliary in Kearney for more than 50 years.
Survivors include a brother, Emil Krikac of Renton, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a brother and a sister.
