U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Bob Farris
77, World War II Veteran
Edwin "Bob" J. Farris, 77, of Grand Island died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Ronald Benson will officiate. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Heartland Lutheran High School.
Mr. Farris was born June 24, 1924, in Winner, S.D., to George and Matilda (Emery) Farris.
He married
Viola Suhr on Nov. 5, 1945, at Treasure Island, Calif. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving in the Philippines during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Fireman 1st class.
He was a ranch worker and also worked for Peter Kiewit Construction for 10 years. He later owned a painting company for four years. For many years he made and repaired golf clubs and worked as a golf course superintendent in Ainsworth, Winner, S.D., Burnsville, Minn., and Mission, S.D., where he retired in 1989.
He was a member of the American Legion and D.A.V.
Survivors include his wife; four daughters and sons-in-law, Nyhlia and Melvin Kempke of North Platte, Audrey Farris of Olathe, Kan., Judy and Lee Krege of Brandon, S.D., and Debra and Steve Splitt of Torrance, Calif.; four sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Sue Farris of Yakima, Wash., Randy and Jeannie Farris of Olathe, Kan., Rick Farris of Winner, S.D., and Ron and Janelle Farris of Rapid City, S.D.; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a half sister and her husband, Margaret and Ocie Perrett of Ainsworth; and a brother-in-law, Ernest Leach of Mullen.
He was preceded in death by a brother, George Farris, five half brothers and two sisters, Cecelia Fairchild and Florine Leach.
Angela Kolbo
85, School teacher
Angela V. Kolbo, 85, of Grand Island died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Evangelical Free Church. The Rev. Paul Hofrichter will officiate. Private family burial will be in Grand Island City Cemetery.
There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the church. Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Kolbo was born Feb. 18, 1916, in St. Paul to James H. and Louise (Nehls) Robinson. She grew up in St. Paul and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1932. She attended Kearney State Teachers college and the University of Nebraska. She taught in country schools in Howard and Hall counties.
She married
James A. Hedge on Dec. 31, 1938, in Holdrege. Her husband died in 1969.
She later married
Clyde Kolbo on May 27, 1970, in Sparks, Nev. She worked as a bookkeeper for Montgomery Wards while living in California. The couple moved to Grand Island in 1976 and she retired in 1978. Her husband died in 1985.
She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church, Mary Martha Circle and White Cross.
Survivors include a sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Roy Hofrichter of Wood River.
She was preceded in death by her two husbands, a brother and a sister.
Rodney Rodgers
51, Chef
Rodney L. Rodgers, 51, of Grand Island died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Omaha. Dr. Kevin McDonald will officiate.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. Following visitation, his body will be cremated.
Mr. Rodgers was born Oct. 25, 1950, in Omaha to Donald and Patricia (Whitmore) Rodgers. He attended Omaha Public Schools before moving to Augusta, Ga., with his family. He graduated from high school in Augusta in 1970.
Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Port Oregon and Seattle. After his service, he attended culinary school in New York. He returned to Nebraska and cooked for various restaurants.
He enjoyed cooking for friends and the thoroughbred horse racing circuit. He was an avid Nebraska Huskers fan.
Survivors include his mother, Patricia Kellogg of Norfolk; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Rhoda Rodgers of Omaha, Rhonda Rodgers of Atlantic, Iowa, and Rita and Bob Lawson of Springfield; and a brother, Randy of Omaha.
He was preceded in death by his father and an infant brother, Randall.
Anne Saunders
Anne M. Saunders, 85, of Grand Island, formerly of Fullerton, died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, at Hamilton Manor in Aurora where she had lived for the past five months.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Fremont Alliance Church in Fremont. The Rev. Curtis Holzworth will officiate. Burial will be in Valley cemetery in Valley.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at All Faiths Funeral Home with a memorial at 7 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to Evangelical Free Church in Grand Island or Fremont Alliance Church.
Mrs. Sanders was born March 20, 1916, in Gretna to Charles and Sophia (Christensen) Schroeder. She attended a rural country school.
She married
Carroll A. Sanders on March 12, 1938. The couple lived near Waterloo. They moved to Fremont in 1971. Her husband died in 1982. In 1994, she moved to Grand Island to be near her daughter.
She was a member of Fremont Alliance Church and Grand Island Evangelical Free Church. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, baking, gardening and canning.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Larry Fowle of Grand Island; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, Albert of Omaha.
She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant son, Duane C.; four brothers, Otto, Hank, Fred and Edward; and three sisters, Dora, Emma and an infant sister.
June Bessey
97, Bookkeeper
CENTRAL CITY -- June Bessey, 97, of Central City died Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, in Salem, Ore.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Central City Cemetery. The Rev. Joy Savage will officiate.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Solt Funeral Home chapel in Central City.
Mrs. Bessey was born June 10, 1904, in Central City to Joseph R. and Nellie A. (Bollinger) Comstock. She grew up and was educated in Central City.
She married
Orville Bessey on June 11, 1933. She was a bookkeeper for several businesses in Central City, including Woodys Restaurant for more than 20 years. Her husband died Dec. 3, 1970. She continued living in Central City, and after leaving her home she lived at Merrick Manor and Long Term Care before moving to Oregon in September to be near nieces and nephews.
She was a member of United Methodist Church in Central City, Rebekahs, The Oddfellows and D.A.R. She enjoyed crocheting.
Survivors include two nephews, Bernard Comstock and Merlyn Gagle, and two nieces, Laura Ladd and Patricia Ashford, all of Oregon.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers; Karl "Pete" Comstock and Lucius "Bud" Comstock; and two sisters, Lucille Harry and Eleda J. Gagle.
'Jake' Jacobsen
68, Retired operations manager
HASTINGS -- Alton L. "Jake" Jacobsen, 68, of Hastings died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2001, at Madonna Rehab Center in Lincoln.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Grace United Methodist Church in Hastings. The Rev. Jim Miller will officiate. Burial will be in Parkview cemetery in Hastings.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
Brand-Wilson Mortuary of Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Jacobsen was born March 14, 1933, near Dannebrog to Leo and Bergitta (Christensen) Jacobsen.
He married
Fern Blauhorn on Oct. 21, 1956. He lived in Ashland and Grand Island, moving to Hastings in 1963. He was stationed in Germany for two years where he learned to be a radar technician. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He later worked for Southern Nebraska Public Power for 37 years, where he started as a lineman and retired at a operations manager.
He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Eagles Club and Southern Hills Country Club.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Patty Spady of Beatrice, Deb Bartunek of Ayr and Lori Mallory of Lincoln; eight grandchildren; two step grandchildren; two sisters, Delores Petersen of St. Paul and Lorraine Bumbal of Denver; and a brother, Norman of St. Paul.
He was preceded in death by two infant brothers.
