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Joseph Kracl
Joseph T. Kracl, 84, of Fremont died Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Fremont Area Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 26, 1919 in Schuyler. He married
Helen Knoell on Nov. 26, 1942, in Papillion. They farmed near North Bend for two years and moved southeast of Fremont where they farmed for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Fremont Eagles Club.
Survivors include: his wife, Helen, of Fremont; a son, Ronald (and wife, Sally) Kracl of Fremont; a daughter, Judy (Mrs. Mark) Monson of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; a sister, Lucille Peters of Mesa, Ariz.; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister.
There will be a private family service. The public is invited to the graveside service at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Memorial cemetery in Fremont. A lunch will follow at the Fremont Eagles Club where the family will greet friends.
A memorial has been established to the Kidney Foundation.
Kracl Funeral Chapel in Schuyler is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Huff
Betty Jean Huff, 91, died last Wednesday at the Leonardville Nursing Home in Leonardville, Kan. She was born Jan. 6, 1923, at Clay Center, Kan., the daughter of Frank and Maude (Starkweather) Katrades.
Betty graduated from high school in 1940 and married
Bruce O. McCullough. They later divorced. She then married
Ray W. Huff on Sept. 1, 1944. He died on May 24, 1976. She was employed as a bookkeeper at Browne's Clothing then as a dental assistant for Dr. Robert Montgomery for 21 years.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, president of Business and Professional Women's Club, member of the Clay County Historical Society and a former Brownie Scout troop leader.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one sister.
Survivors include a daughter and former Superior resident Mrs. Al Kucek (Diana), Clay Center, Kan.; a son. Bruce McCullough, Superior; a brother, George Katrades, Menifee, Calif.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Her funeral was held Saturday at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center. Pastor Scott Lingle officiated. Burial was in the Greenwood cemetery.
Elda Becker
The funeral for Elda L. Becker, 82, of Beemer, formerly of Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Redeemer Lutheran Church in West Point.
She died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point.
She was born Feb. 19, 1921, in Crete, Ill. She attended St. Johns Lutheran School and rural school near Crete. She continued to live near Crete before living in Harvey and Homewood, Ill., while working in Chicago. She was employed at IBM as a keypunch operator. She moved to Norfolk in 1976 and later moved to Beemer in 1992. She had resided at the Wisner Care Center Assisted Living since the fall of 2003.
She was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in West Point.
She was preceded in death by two brothers.
The Rev. Alfred J. Tschopp will officiate Thursdays service. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday at Kuzelka-Minnick Funeral Home in Beemer and will continue from 9 a.m. to service time at the church. A prayer service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Wisner Care Center. Burial will be 1:30 p.m. in the New Lutheran cemetery in Norfolk.
A memorial has been established to Redeemer Lutheran Church in West Point.
Edna Reinke
Edna Marie Lizetta (Brockman) Reinke, 89, died Dec. 16 at the Superior Good Samaritan Center. She was born Aug. 29, 1925, to William and Sophie (Kirchhoff) Brockman near Plymouth.
She was baptized on Sept. 13, 1925, by Pastor C.P. Pebler at Zion Lutheran Church near Harbine. She confirmed her faith on April 2, 1939, at St. Paul Lutheran Church near Stoddard in the presence of Pastor John Vollstedt. Her confirmation verse was Hebrews 13:5.
Edna attended school at a country school near Hebron. Her calling for caring for people started young, as she would go and stay with families, caring for children, the elderly and helping with household chores. She worked many years for Dr. and Mrs. Richard Penry, Hebron, as well as at Blue Valley Lutheran Nursing Home in Hebron.
She married
Clarence Reinke on March 4, 1973, at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Chester. She enjoyed living in the rural community, raising chickens, gardening, quilting, sewing, cooking and, best of all, caring for her grandchildren. Edna was always available to help and was always concerned about local news and changes.
She was active in the St. Peter's Lutheran Church women's group. Many pounds of soap were made and quilts were tied for Lutheran World Relief.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Fredrick Brockman; and one grandson, Jason Carl Reinke.
Survivors include her husband, Clarence, Superior; sister, Mrs. Ervin Luntzmann (Helen), Deshler; step children, Mrs. Howard Reinke (Marlys) of Byron; Mrs. Delmar Reinke (Janice) of Byron; and Melva Nondorf of Belleville; grandchildren: Stuart Reinke, Byron; Jason Reinke, Byron; Amber Livasy, Fremont; Ryan Reinke, Lincoln; Theresa Walker, Wichita; Katherine Thaemert, Hill Rose, Colo.; Amy Baer, Clay Center, Kan.; Ann Levendofske, Belleville; several great-grandchildren; two special nieces, Mrs. Jeff Anderson (Alice) of Hastings and Judy Donner of Deshler; other relatives and many friends.
Her funeral was Saturday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, rural Byron, with Pastor Breen Marie Sipes officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. Ahrendts Funeral Home of Deshler was in charge of the arrangements.
Virginia L. Cottam
Virginia L. "Gin" Cottam, 80, the daughter of Vergil Cottam and Edith (Vaughn) Cottam, was born Aug. 9, 1934, on a farm south of Hubbell. She died Monday Feb. 9, at Thayer County Health Services, Hebron.
She grew up in the Hubbell area and attended the local public schools, graduating from Hubbell High School in 1952. She later attended one year of college studying cooking and foods.
Her first job was at the Elgin Watch Company. Later she was a cook at Coopers Restaurant for 17 years. She returned to the Hubbell area and was a cook for 15 years at the Blue Valley Nursing Home at Hebron. Upon the death of her brother, Robert, she took over the operation of the tavern in Gilead from 1988 until she retired because of ill health in 1995.
She was a lifetime member of the VFW at Hebron, and the Hubbell Methodist Church. She enjoyed crocheting and other craft work.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Vergil and Edith Cottam; one brother, Robert Cottam; and an infant brother.
Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Jerry Brake (Mary Lou) of Beatrice and Mrs. Robert White (Wanda) of Topeka; nephews and nieces, Mrs. Marvin Seibert (Jana) of Dewitt, Neb., JD Brake of Lee's Summit, Mo., Kent Cottam, Kathy Browers, Kevin Cottam, and Mrs. Eric Mathiesen (Kristy) all of Hebron, Jon Leonard and Mrs. Rob Tappan (Nicole) of Topeka.
Her funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Bachelor-Surber Memorial Chapel, Belleville, with Pastor Mark Baldwin, officiating.
Inurnment will be at a later date at the Hubbell cemetery.
Friends may call to sign the register book from 1 until 9 p.m. today (Thursday).
Edward Shute
George Edward Shute, 81, was born July 15, 1933, in Hastings. He was raised on the Shute family's 1882 homestead in Jewell County. Edward was the only boy in the family with three sisters and mother Alice (Wittwer). His dad, Ralph, was the only Shute boy with six sisters. He attended the nearby Windy Point one-room school for eight years with the neighborhood youngsters including his best friend, Vaden Davis, Jr., and Vaden's little sister, Jeri. Edward was valedictorian of Esbon High School in 1951 and went on with Vaden to attend Kansas State College at Manhattan.
Edward and Jeri Davis were married
Aug. 15, 1954, in the Union Chapel country church. They lived in Manhattan until his graduation in ag economics in December, 1955. He and Vaden were commissioned into the U.S. Air Force. Lt. Shute went on to pilot training and USAF assignments in Texas, North Carolina, Mississippi, California and New Jersey. His family farm had just received REA electricity when he started flying jet airplanes. He served four years flying 2,000 hours on transport and search aircraft, with more than 50 missions overseas to Germany, England and Japan.
Edward and Jeri and their young family moved back to Jewell County in 1960, where they built a healthy farm enterprise in three counties and two states with strong ties to their community. Ed was active in school board and his youngsters' sports and their church. In his 40s, Ed bought a small airplane and flew it from a grass strip west of their house. The strip was marked as Shute Airport on FAA maps.
In 1993, they semi-retired and moved to Red Cloud, where they were even more active in church and community, including Lions Club. Edward remained active on the farm as needed, usually running the combine or planter as well as he had flown the 4-engine C-118 Constellation. Ed and Jeri traveled to many places, including a visit to son Scott's home in England and Japan, where he carried a fork in his pocket to avoid starvation while trying to use chopsticks.
Edward Shute was never heard by his children to speak a harsh word about any person. He had a twinkle in his eye and a chuckle ready. Ed suffered a flu-worsened heart incident and died Feb. 3, 2015, in Lincoln, Neb.
Survivors include his wife, Jeri; sisters, Maribelle Sealock of Toppenish, Wash., Millie Wallace of Papillion and Mrs. Jerry Dewitt (Polly) of Salina; his children, Steve of Glenwood Springs, Colo., Tom of Jewell County, Mrs. Tom Wheeler (Julie) of near Kansas City, Karla of Great Bend, and Scott of San Jose, Calif.; and grandchildren, Aaron Shute of Boulder, Colo., Joel Shute, Girdwood, Alaska, Ben Wheeler, Austin Shute and Alix Orrick, all of Kansas City, Mark Wheeler of Madison, Wisc., Jeremy Essmiller of Great Bend, Wes Essmiller of Orlando, Fla., Manon Emery of Rolla, Mo., Kameron and Anjali Shute of San Jose; and five great-grandchildren.
His funeral was held Monday at the First United Methodist Church in Red Cloud with the Rev. Warren Schoming and Dick Wallace officiating. Interment was in the Red Cloud cemetery.
Evelyn Brennfoerder
Evelyn Ruhga Brennfoerder, 95, youngest child of Charles and Bertha Ruhga, was born on her parent's farm west of Angus, on Dec. 29, 1919. She died Friday at the Rosebrook Care Center in Edgar.
Evelyn attended Stone School north of their home and graduated from Nelson High School in 1936.
Evelyn was an operator for the Lincoln Telephone Company at Nelson until her marriage to Arthur Brennfoerder Feb. 10, 1941 at Omaha. Three children came to bless their home. They all became members of the Church of Christ. They lived on a farm near Edgar until the death of her husband.
Evelyn was employed at the Saint Elizabeth Health Center in Lincoln for several months, then at the telephone company there and in Hastings for several years. She actively helped Arthur with raising the children, farming, gardening and yard work. She enjoyed reading, writing letters, and teaching in Sunday school, camps and Bible school, and hearing from and about her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother in 1928, her father in 1971, her husband in 1973. She also was preceded by granddaughter, Brenda Glass; her two sisters, Helen Eckles and Ilah Brennfoerder; and her brother, Marvin Ruhga.
Survivors include daughters, Dorthy Glass and Mrs. Jessy Jauregui (Melody); sons, Duane and Gene of Topeka, Gary, DudLee, Brad and Stan of Edgar, Leroy of Argyle, Texas, and Andrew Seoul of South Korea; and 20 grandchildren.
Her funeral was held Monday at the Williams Funeral Home Chapel in Edgar. Burial was in the Edgar cemetery.
Ruth Robb
Ruth Marie Robb, 75, the daughter of Elizabeth (Blasdal) and Virgil Geist, was born Sept. 1, 1939, at Hutchinson. She died Saturday at Wesley Towers in Hutchinson.
Ruth grew up in the Plevna, Kan., community where she received her formal education and graduated with the Class of 1957. She pursued a bachelor's degree at Sterling College, majoring in elementary education and physical education. She later earned a master's degree from Kearney State College, majoring in special learning and disabilities. Ruth taught school for two years at Minneapolis, Kan. On June 2, 1962, she was united in marriage with Gene Robb. They moved to Deshler, where they both taught school for two years. Their careers then took them to York where Ruth continued teaching until her retirement in 2001. That same year they moved to Guide Rock to make their home.
Ruth's personality was pervaded by her passion for learning and her dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to her students. Ruth had a number of interests and activities. She enjoyed working with her flowers, reading, baking and playing a game of cards. She was accomplished with her caligraphy work and created countless projects. They always enjoyed camping and in their retirement years Ruth and Gene became wagon masters for a tour group, hosting campers on extended trips to Mexico, Canada, Alaska and the western United States.
She was a longtime member of the Community Church and then the Guide Rock United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Nebraska Teachers' Association and the York Education Association.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant son, Cory.
Survivors include her husband, Gene Robb of Guide Rock; a daughter, Karla Robb of Ureka, Calif.; a son, Darin Robb of Juanita; sisters, Mary Lou Comley of Hutchinson, and Mrs. Joe Miller (Margaret) of El Cajon, Calif.; brothers, Don Geist of Arlington, Texas; Tom and Rich Geist, both of Plevna, Kan.; and two grandchildren.
Her funeral was held Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Guide Rock with the Rev. Warren Schoming officiating. Interment was in the Guide Rock cemetery.
Carrie Anderson
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Megrue-Price Funeral Home for Caroline "Carrie" Anderson, 90, of Hemet, Calif. She was a former Republic, resident. .
Stanton Maple
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Megrue-Price Funeral Home for Stanton "De" Maple. A Superior resident, he died Sunday.
Betty Allen
Betty Eileen Hess, 87, was born Feb. 7, 1928, to John and Agnes (Rieke) Hess in Greenwood, Neb. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Narka. While living there, her mother became ill and died at an early age. While in her teens, Betty moved to a little farm on the edge of Belleville. She graduated from Belleville High School in 1946. While working at Arbuthnot Drug Store she met Garold Allen. They were married
on Oct. 8, 1950, and made their home on a farm just north of Courtland. In 1966 they welcomed their son, Michael, into their home and a year later their daughter, Michele. Betty sold Avon products and worked at the Courtland Vet Clinic. In 1991 she and Garold retired from the farm and moved into Courtland.
Betty died Saturday surrounded by family and loved ones at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville. Survivors include her daughter, Mrs. Bradley Hudson (Michele); three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Gladys Moline, Ardith Stone and Blanche McCall; and a brother, Fred Elyea. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Garold in 2012; great-grandson Cayden Dunstan; sister, Laura, and brother, Stanley.
Her funeral will be Friday at the Courtland United Methodist Church with Pastor Kathy Aeillo officiating. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Pleasant cemetery, rural Courtland. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, Belleville, was in charge of arrangements.
