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Kermit F. Lange
On Oct. 18, 1921, our Lord blessed the union of Walter and Emma Lange with the gift of a son, Kermit Fred.
As an infant, Kermit was received into the family of God through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, and later renewed his Baptismal vows through the rite of confirmation and became a communicant member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod.
At the age of seven, Kermit's father unexpectedly passed away, and a short time later, Emma moved her children from the family farm and into the nearby town of Imperial, Neb. where Kermit grew up with his three sisters and two brothers.
These were difficult and challenging years for the Lange family, but God blessed their hard work and molded them into a strong family unit that has remained close to one another throughout their many years together.
After graduating from high school in Imperial in 1939, Kermit attended Hastings College for a short time, and then entered the US Navy where he served as a Pilot and Navigator from 1942 to 1947, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.
On Dec. 3, 1944 Kermit was united in marriage to Joceline McGlade. The Lord blessed them with nearly 61 years together, five children and 11 grandchildren.
During the course of his life, Kermit worked in various capacities in retail and property management but found his greatest joy in service to Christ, through his church. From visiting the sick and shut-in to serving in a variety of elected offices and other volunteer work, whatever the assignment, Kermit was always a willing and glad worker who found great joy in service to his Savior. In his later years, Kermit found special joy serving in the Builders for Christ of the WELS.
Kermit was preceded in death by two daughters: JoAn and Karen; two brothers: Luther and Roland; and two sisters: Lousetta and Lottie.
He is survived by his wife Jo; two daughters: Tresa Ewerdt and Marsha Vilhauer; one son, Doug; and 11 grandchildren: Anita Plagge; Aaron, Jacob and Philip Ewerdt; Ryan and Blake Found; Katie, Daniel, Emily and Jennifer Lange; and Corey Stirnes; and one sister, Elsie Newman of Imperial, Neb.
Kermit parted this life and entered into the presence of his loving Savior on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2005, at the age of 84.
Memorial services were held Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at 12 noon at the St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Mesa, Ariz.
Private inurnment was held at the Green Acres cemetery in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Lowell Ferrel
Lowell Ferrel, longtime resident of Imperial, passed away Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27, 2005, at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta. He was 85 years of age.
Survivors include wife, Donnabeth of Imperial; son, Dr. Lowell Ferrel and wife, Gennalea of Sterling, Colo.; daughter, Vicky Brown and husband, Jim of Lamar, Neb.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and sister, Margie Machart of Independence, Mo.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday), Dec. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor and Jim Smith officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope cemetery, Imperial, with Military Rites by V.F.W. Post #4668.
Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home or to the First United Methodist Church of Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Esther Kirkpatrick
Esther Kirkpatrick was born on Feb. 23, 1929 at Venango, Neb. She was the sixth of 10 children born to Ralph and Ora Watkins Norman.
The family lived southwest of Grant before moving close to Grant where Esther graduated from Perkins County High School with the class of 1946. She was at the top of her class academically. She attended Nebraska Wesleyan for one year after high school.
Esther was married
to Vance Kirkpatrick on June 19, 1948 at Raton, N.M. Five children were born to this union.
They made their home southwest of Grant until 1956 when they moved to Roswell, N.M.
They returned to Grant in 1962 and lived there until Vance's masonry work took them to Naperville, Ill., in 1987.
They returned to Grant in 1991.
Esther had worked at the Perkins County Assessor's office, Moser's Department Store which later became Sexson's, Himi's and for Kelly Temporary Services in Naperville.
Esther had suffered a stroke earlier this fall and had been moved to the Perkins County Community Hospital where she died Thursday morning, Nov. 17, 2005. She had reached the age of 76.
Esther had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Eagles' Auxiliary, the United Methodist Church and the ladies chorus, the Intervals. She was currently part of the Monday morning friends Bible study at the church. She also enjoyed playing golf.
In addition to her parents, Esther was preceded in death by four brothers, Verdell, Ordell, Maynard and Donnie Norman; one sister, Lorraine Norman; and one daughter, Sandra Lynn Neis.
She is survived by her husband, Vance; three sons, Kelly and wife Anne of Grant, Bradley and wife Ann of Aurora, Ill. and Brian and wife Linda of Plainfield, Ill.; one daughter, Janet and husband Larry Herbert of Crofton, Md.; son-in-law, Al Neis of Solon, Ohio; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Eleanor Booth and Ardith and husband John Sexson of Grant and Marilyn Jones of Wichita, Kan.; one brother, Harry and wife Gladys Norman of North Platte, Neb.; many other relatives and friends.
Services were held Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Sally Ruggia-Haden officiating.
Music was by Dolores Sexson and Bob Cummings.
Casketbearers were Jason, Aaron, Mitchell, Michael, Jairus and Zane Kirkpatrick and Kirk Neis.
Burial was in the Grant cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Nebraska Boys Ranch or the Grant Public Library.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Grace Blanke
On Nov. 19, 2005, at Holyoke, Colo. at the age of 97, Grace Irene (Harvey) Blanke went home to be with her Lord.
Grace was born Aug. 29, 1908 in Haddam, Washington County, Kan. to William Oliver and Sarah Orissa (Oliver) Harvey.
Grace attended school in Haddam, Kan.
In the late 1920s she moved with the family to Dundy County, Neb.
After moving to Nebraska she met William Edward "Ed" Blanke from Lamar, Neb. On Jan. 8, 1930 they were married
. To this union two daughters were born: Ardith Rose and Estell Arlene. Both of their daughters died shortly after birth.
Grace and Ed had a full life. With no children to keep them in any one area they began traveling around the country. When they found a place they liked they'd stop, rent a farm place, get some hogs, a few chickens and some milk goats. When the desire came to see a different place they'd sell their livestock, load their vehicle with their belongings and their dog and would move on.
Through the years they have lived in many areas of Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, Alaska and Colorado.
Grace often remarked that even though they worked hard and didn't have a lot, she had lots of good memories of their life together. She loved to tell stories about their travels and some of the funny things that happened to them, such as setting up camp after dark thinking it was a park and wake up the next morning to find out it was a city dump.
During World War II Ed worked for the government in Alaska, so Grace earned the cost of the passage for her and her dog.
After Ed passed away she moved into Holyoke, Colo. where she resided until her death.
Grace liked to cook and could make a feast on a minute's notice. She liked to try new recipes and enjoyed having people gather around her table.
While in Holyoke, she became a member of the First Baptist Church; she was very active in the women's organizations.
She helped in SAM making quilts until her health and sight failed her. For many years she brought flowers from her garden for Sunday services. She loved everyone and found many ways to show it.
Preceding her in death were her husband, their two daughters, her parents, three brothers Henry and his wife Clara, Ralph and his wife Eva, Oliver C. "Jim" and his wife Esther, one sister Viola and husband Floyd Cornell, a half brother Fred and his wife Nelly and daughter Ruth and brother-in-law Elmer Wallin and other relatives.
Left to mourn her passing is her sister Ardith Wallin of Imperial, Neb., many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great, great nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
A funeral service conducted by Pastor Gary Jones was held Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 at the First Baptist Church in Holyoke, Colo.
Interment was at the Lamar cemetery in Chase County, Neb.
Jeffers-Baucke Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Esther Newman
Esther Newman, youngest child of John and Barbara Hier was born Sept. 30, 1909 on the family farm one mile west of Imperial.
She attended Imperial Grade School and graduated from the Imaculate Conception Academy high school in Hastings, Neb. in 1929.
She worked at the Imperial Bakery and the JCPenney store after graduation. She later worked at the ASC office until her marriage to Charles Newman on June 17, 1943. They resided on a farm 12 miles west of Imperial. One daughter, Charlene Ann, was born on Sept. 8, 1944.
Esther was a member of the school board of District #17 for several years and active in the neighborhood extension club.
In 1957, she and Charlie moved to the farm one mile west of Imperial, where she was born.
In 1978 they moved to Imperial.
Esther did volunteer work at the senior center. She loved to travel and visited 32 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie, in 1985 and daughter, Charlene Ann, in 1960; when she was a freshman in high school, her parents, three brothers and two sisters.
She leaves behind a sister-in-law, Mary Wallin and many nieces and nephews.
Esther passed away Nov. 8 at the Imperial Manor.
Rosary was held Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005, at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Imperial.
Funeral mass was held Monday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Fr. Greg Pawloski celebrating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcy Nesbitt and soloist was Mr. Ron Moritz.
Casketbearers were Irvin Weiss, Glenn Weiss, Gerald Weiss, Frank Clements, Leo Weiss, Bob Weiss, Kermit Kuecker, Jess Goddard and Burdette Bauerle.
Interment was at Mount Hope cemetery, Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Iva Mae Meyer
Iva Mae Meyer died at Chase County Community Hospital on Nov. 10, 2005, after a short illness at the age of 89 years.
She was born Oct. 17, 1916 at Oakland, Pottwattamie Co., Iowa, the daughter of Lyman Ray and Luella Maude (Kennedy) Surber.
Iva Mae moved to Chase County at the age of four and resided with her family in the Chase Community.
She attended Chase County High School and graduated in 1935.
She taught school for three years before marrying Clayton Meyer on May 25, 1938 in McCook, Neb. To this union were born four children: Connie, Karen, Richard and Elvina.
Iva Mae was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial where she was baptized and confirmed on April 11, 1958, Rev. Walter A. Meyer officiating.
Clayton and Iva Mae began their married
life on a farm just east of Imperial and then moved to their farm northwest of Imperial.
Clayton died on Nov. 1, 1968.
In 1973 Iva Mae moved to Imperial where she lived the remainder of her life. After moving to Imperial, Iva Mae took great pride in being a cook at the Chase County schools. Baking bread was her specialty.
Iva Mae thoroughly enjoyed her chance to volunteer at the Senior Center, make quilts and spent time with her family. She loved working in the yard and enjoyed her plants. Her card club meetings were a special time for her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton; a daughter, Connie Tellier; her parents, and four sisters, Eva Baldwin, Muriel Jaeger, Luella Carlton and Mary Eilene Surber.
She is survived by two daughters, Karen Welch and husband, Jack, of Imperial and Elvina Hiatt and husband, Dale, of Fort Worth, Texas; a son, Richard, and wife, Lynn, of Imperial; a brother, Howard, and wife, Norma, of Imperial; two sisters, Clara Severin, and husband, Gene, of Los Altimos, Calif. and Millie Stinnette of Pasco, Wash.; 10 grandchildren, Kim Arpin, Lisa Tellier, Rick and Melissa Welch, Ryan, Gracie and Amy Meyer, Sean, Jason and Terry Hiatt; three great grandsons, Gregory, Brett and Scott Arpin; nieces, nephews and friends.
Services were held Monday, Nov. 14, 2005, at 2 p.m., at the Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial with Rev. David Kahle presiding.
Escorts were Amy Meyer, Ryan Meyer, Rick Welch, Gracie Meyer, Melissa Welch and Richard Johnson.
Music was provided by J. Gordon Christensen and the Zion Lutheran Choir.
Interment was at Mount Hope cemetery.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Alan Dinsmore
Alan Hume Dinsmore, 47, of Omaha, passed away Nov. 8.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy (Hume) Dinsmore.
Survivors include wife Joni; sons Nicholas, Adam and Drew; father Dr. James Dinsmore and wife Vicki, all of Omaha; and sister Carolyn (Dinsmore) Lee and husband Gary of Imperial.
Services were Friday in Omaha, followed by interment in Forest Lawn cemetery.
