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Gerald Alexander
Gerald Alexander, 69, of North Platte died July 27, 2001, at his home.
He was born Sept. 14, 1931, in Philadelphia. He grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from high school there. He then worked for a helicopter company for 10 years before moving to California, where he met his future wife.
In 1975, he married Evelyn Home in California. They lived in California for six years, then moved to Pennsylvania for six years before moving to North Platte. He did custodial work for the Cedar Bowl and was employed Sixth Street until he retired in 1994.
Mr. Alexander was one of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Survivors include a son, Mark (Nicole) of Fremont; and a brother, Doug, of Philadelphia.
He was preceded in death by his wife in March 1986; and his parents.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Aug. 11, 2001, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Don Saathoff officiating.
The body was cremated. Those wishing to sign a memorial register may do so from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Odean Colonial Chapel and before the services, Aug. 11, 2001, at the church.
Wayne E. Hill
ARCADIA - Wayne Hill, 78, died Aug. 3, 3001, at his home in Arcadia.
He was born June 1, 1923, at Cozad to Vern and Belle Cochran Hill. He attended Cozad schools.
On Oct. 7, 1944, he married Neola Walter at Norton, Kan. He served in the U.S. Navy and following his discharge, returned to Cozad where he worked for Paulsen Construction. He moved to Lincoln where he worked for Capital Bridge Construction. The couple later lived in Colorado and Oregon before returning to Nebraska. He had lived in Arcadia since 1959. Before his illness, he worked as foreman on numerous construction sites.
He was a member of the American Legion.
Mr. Hill is survived by his wife; three sons, Dwayne (Lorraine Hermann) of Miller, Dennis (Sharon) of Cozad and Rick (Pam) of Arcadia; a sister, Bonnie (Lester) Rutledge of Fort Collins, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Doris Hill of Washington; a brother, Elmo (Marilyn) of Avrada, Colo.; six grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Merle.
Memorials are suggested to the Arcadia Rescue Unit.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel in Cozad. Burial will be in the Cozad Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home in Cozad.
Virgil Sanders
SCOTTSBLUFF - Virgil James Sanders, 79, of Scottsbluff, formerly of Ogallala, died Aug. 2, 2001, at the Western Nebraska Veteran's Home in Scottsbluff.
He was born March 28, 1922, at Chappell, the son of Irvan and Alvina Rahe Sanders. He received his education in the Lodgepole schools.
On Nov. 6, 1946, he married Delcie Plunkett at St. Francis, Kan.
The couple lived in Ogallala where he was employed with Robert Kerr, Prairie Theatre, and later as a security guard at TRW.
Mr. Sanders entered the U.S. Army in November 1943 and served in the Pacific. He was discharged from the Army Medical Corps in January 1946.
He was a member of the Church of Christ and belonged to the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a sister, Donna Bowers; and four brothers, Raymond, Marvin, Leeland, and an infant brother.
Survivors include two daughters, Connie (Scott) Westfahl of North Platte and Valerie (Terry) Stearns of Arizona; five grandchildren, Scott, Jim, and Travis Stearns and Suzi and Robin Westfahl; two great-grandchildren, Teashina Marie Stearns and Allison Paige Evans; three sisters, Esther Hood of Ogallala, Clarabelle Dickenson of Lodgepole and Helen Carter of Missouri; also many other relatives and friends.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 10 a.m. MDT Wednesday at the Draucker Funeral Home with Max Towell officiating. Burial with military honors by the North Platte Honor Guard will follow at 2:30 p.m. CDT Wednesday in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Draucker Funeral Home in Ogallala.
Opal V. Smith
OVERTON - Opal V. Smith, 96, of Overton died Aug. 2, 2001, at the Tri-County Hospital in Lexington.
She was born Aug. 9, 1904, at Overton to Earl and Agnes Seifert Smith. She grew up in Overton where she attended school. At the age of 8, she was stricken with rheumatic fever which left her deaf. Her parents took her to Omaha to attend the Omaha School for the Deaf, but could not leave her there so far from home. She returned to Overton with her parents and led a most productive life.
She worked for years at Smith's Grocery in Overton. She was a caretaker for her brother for years and enjoyed having her nieces and nephews over and cooking for them, especially homemade pies.
She was a lifelong member of the Overton Christian Church and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening and baking and spending time with her family and friends.
Miss Smith is survived by a niece, Cheryl Brennan of Overton; three nephews, Bob Smith of Olathe, Kan., Terry Smith of Bennington and Tim Smith of Overton; great-nieces; great-nephews; and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Helen Gleason; four brothers, Don, Larry, Gerald and Woodrow; and a nephew, Richard Gleason.
Memorials are suggested to the Overton Christian Church.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church in Overton with the Rev. Dan Cleveland officiating. Burial will be in the Overton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Overton Funeral Home.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home of Lexington is in charge.
Jeanenne K. James
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Jeanenne K. James of Big Rapids, Mich., a graduate of North Platte High School, died from cancer July 26, 2001, at her home. She was 60.
She was born Feb. 6, 1941, in Wray, Colo., to Ernest and Betty Lou Kruger. She graduated from North Platte High School and attended the Kansas City Art Institute.
On May 3, 1964, she married John James in Liberty, Mo. They made their home outside of Big Rapids.
Mrs. James is survived by her husband; her four children, Leslie (Gerald) Rush of Baltimore, George (Lucianna) of Paracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Stephanie L. James of Big Rapids and Eric J. of Los Angles; two sisters, Karen (Darwynn) Mitchell of North Platte and Melanie Merrill of Louisville, Ky.; two brothers, Dennis and Ernest Kruger, both of North Platte; and three grandchildren.
The body was cremated. There were no services.
Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids was in charge.
Betty Ruth Smolik
Betty Ruth Smolik, 77, formerly of North Platte, died Aug. 4, 2001, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg.
She was born Feb. 28, 1924, at Loup City to William and Mabel Elsie Meese George. She grew up and attended school in Arcadia and Omaha. She worked at a defense plant in Indiana during World War II and later moved to North Platte.
On Nov. 20, 1948, she married Jearld Smolik in Ogallala and they made their home in North Platte.
Mrs. Smolik worked for the North Platte Public Schools for 24 years, first as a cook and then as a custodian. She retired in 1989.
As a young woman, she accepted the Lord as her savior. She was a member of the Berean Fundamental Church and had cooked for Maranatha Bible Camp for several summers.
Surviving her are two daughters, Donna C. Reiff of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Jackie J. (Steve) Broeder of Grant; a son, Donald C. (Colleen) of Bossier City, La.; two sisters, Alice Knapp of Sidney and Shirley Coleman of North Platte; a brother, Harold (Lilus) George of North Platte; six grandchildren, Daniel Foster, Sharon Axthelm, Mindy and Christopher Broeder, Jody Larsen and Billy Joe Reiff; five great-grandchildren, Case Axthelm, Evan Foster, Kaylee Reiff, Jakelynn Broeder and Makayla Larsen; a sister-in-law, Peggy George of North Platte; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; four sisters, Irene Slifka, Opal Krause, Dorothy Frickey and Loye White; four brothers, Max, Ralph "Bud," LeRoy and Donald George; and two grandchildren, Sandra Kay Smolik and James Daniel Broeder.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Maranatha Bible Camp.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Berean Fundamental Church in North Platte with the Rev. Tom Walker officiating. Burial will be in the Gaslin Cemetery south of Brady.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Odean Colonial Chapel.
Minnie Irene Wilson
Minnie Irene Wilson, 89, of North Platte died Aug. 5, 2001, at Sutherland Care Center in Sutherland.
She was born Jan. 15, 1912, to Hugh Elmer and Mary Gibson Neal at Seneca. She was the youngest of five girls. Her father died in an accident in 1918. The family moved to Tryon in 1919 and in 1925 they moved to North Platte. She attended school in Tryon and North Platte.
On July 26, 1934, she married Robert W. Wilson in Lexington. He preceded her in death Nov. 26, 1969.
Mrs. Wilson was past president and vice president of the Roosevelt Parent-Teacher Association. She was a life member of the PTA and Union Pacific Club 8. She was a volunteer for the Red Cross for 30 years, resigning in 1999. She was also a member of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and worked at the museum and the girls' and boys' softball games. She managed the Lariet Motel in 1962, was a cook in the 1960s at North Platte High School, worked in the housekeeping department at St. Mary's Hospital and also worked at the Cedar Lodge Motel. She enjoyed flower gardening, especially roses.
Survivors include a daughter, Beverly (Garry) Luedke of Paxton; a son, Warren (Beverly) of Kansas City, Mo.; five grandchildren, Kerry and Jon (Susan) Wilson, all of Kansas City, Douglas (Jerri Lynn) Luedke of Bridgeport, Kristie (Ken) Pfeiff of Sutherland and Bobbie Luedke and special friend, Tony, of Paxton; six great-grandchildren, Anthony and Tim Pfeiff, Derek Luedke, Levi McKim and Drake and Justyn Lynell Luedke; a niece; and two great-nephews; an honorary grandson, Bill Sellers of North Platte; and many friends.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Hazel Genau, Helen White, Clara Neal and Doris Petri; a great-granddaughter, Hope McKim in October 1994; and a nephew, David Genau in 1998.
A memorial has been established to the North Platte Chapter of the American Red Cross or to the Sutherland Care Center.
The body was cremated.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Adams & Swanson Chapel with the Rev. Bracken J. Sheldon officiating. Inurnment will be at North Platte Cemetery.
Those wishing to sign the register may do so from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.
Margaret E. Kunkee
GOTHENBURG - Margaret E. Kunkee, 55, of Gothenburg, died Aug. 6, 2001, at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.
She was born Aug. 19, 1945, at Haigler to Clarence Harry and Ida Ellen Redden Sass. She grew up in Haigler where she attended school.
In September 1961, she married Jack Wisdom. They lived in Yuma and Wray, Colo., before moving to Oberlin, Kan., in 1976. Her husband preceded her in death.
On June 19, 1987, she married Raymond Kunkee at Oberlin and they lived in McCook. He preceded her in death April 15, 1991.
Mrs. Kunkee is survived by three daughters, Judy (Tim) Carlson of Cambridge, Teresa (Marty) Gonshor of McCook and Tracy (Darren) Huxoll of Indianola; a stepdaughter, Amy Kunkee of Lincoln; a son, Jeff (Sandra) Wisdom of St. Joseph, Mo.; a stepson, Mark (Leanne) Kunkee of San Diego; three sisters, Rachel (Dean) Gallatin of Oberlin, Freda (Darryl) Hosick of Stockville and Nancy (Dennis) Corrick of Corvallis, Ore.; two brothers, Paul (Axie) Sass of Oberlin and Bill (Julie) Sass of Yuma; seven grandchildren; and three stepgrandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Wesley and Arthur Sass.
Memorials may be given to the Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook with the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Thurman officiating. Memorial services will follow burial at the United Methodist Church in McCook.
Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook is in charge.
