Bernhardt Henry Rasmussen
York resident, 96
Bernhardt Henry Rasmussen was born to Andrew Rasmussen and Anna (Petersen) Rasmussen on February 9, 1908, at Friend, Nebraska, and passed away May 16, 2004, in York, Nebraska, at the age of 96 years, 3 months and 7 days. He was one of 8 children in the family.
Bernard grew up on a farm north of Exeter and attended rural District # 23. He was baptized and confirmed in the St. John's Danish Lutheran Church in Cordova.
Bernard was married to Anna Olsen of Exeter, Nebraska on March 11, 1931, and to them 4 children were born.
They farmed in the Friend and Exeter area for 25 years. In 1955 they moved to Exeter where he operated the Standard Oil Gas Station for 17 years. After retirement he drove a school bus for the Exeter schools.
Bernard was a member of the United Church of Christ in Exeter and cared for the church grounds for many years.
He took great pride in caring for his yard, flowers, and garden, and spent much time listening to music. He enjoyed fishing, visiting family, and attending grandchildren's activities.
Bernard was a 60 year member of the Danish Brotherhood, and served on the Exeter school board, cemetery board and church board.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, wife Anna; son Dale; grandson William Robert who died in infancy; sons-in-law Gary Ruhl and Gene Bailey; sisters Viola Jensen, Clara Petersen, Dagmar Johnson, and Lydia Wilkinson; brothers Anton, Richardt and Andrew; and brothers-in-law Iner Olsen and Henry Olsen.
He is survived by his sons Dr. Robert Rasmussen and wife Joellyn of Chadron, Gary Rasmussen and wife Frances of Vermillion, South Dakota; daughter Delores Bailey of York; daughter-in-law Peg McKitterick and husband Robert of Lincoln; sister-in-law Florence Olsen of Cordova; 19 grand children, 42 great grand children and 4 great great grand children.
Funeral services were conducted from United Church Of Christ, Exeter, Nebraska on Wednesday, May 19, with Rev. Bharat Surender officiating. Jeannine Krejci accompanied Nancy Friesen who sang "In The Garden, " "The Lord's Prayer, " and "Eyes On The Sparrow." Jeannine Krejci also accompanied the congregation who sang "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." Casket bearers were Darrell Rasmussen, Randy Rasmussen, Jim Rasmussen, David Rasmussen, Ric Rasmussen, Dan Rasmussen, Dale Ruhl, Robert Ruhl, and Tom McKitterick. Interment was in the Exeter Cemetery with Farmer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Memorials are directed to United Church Of Christ or Exeter-Milligan School Foundation.
Willis R. Kamtz
York resident, 89
Willis R. Kamtz, age 89 of York, died Friday, May 21, 2004 at York. He was born near Hampton, NE on August 9, 1914 to William and Clara (Otto) Kamtz. Willis was a graduate of Hampton High School and was an Army veteran of WWII having served in the European Theatre. He married Winifred Werth at Hampton on October 20, 1940. After returning home from the war, he became trained in auto body & fender repair and worked at Towle Motor, Geis Motor and John Kohl Motors in York until his retirement. In retirement he was a handyman for the Village Inn for several years. Willis was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in York where he had been a longtime active and dedicated member.
He is survived by his wife Winifred of York; son Gary (Karen) Kamtz of Scottsbluff; 2 daughters, Bonnie Gates of Omaha and Diane (Randy) Drew of York; 13 grandchildren, Lori Holmes, Kelly (Erika) Gates, Brett Gates, Heather Gates and Eric Gates all of Omaha, Terry Cramer of Chicago, Curt (Holly) Cramer of Blair, Jody (Omar) Diaz of Chihuahua, Mexico, Cory (Kathie) Cramer of Wilbur, Amber Drew of York, Jennifer (Gregg) Hart, Allison Kamtz and Zach Kamtz all of Omaha; 2 step-grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter. Also surviving are his 2 brothers, Glade (Norma) Kamtz of Lincoln and Don (Dorothy) Kamtz of Axtell and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church at York with the Revs. Art Brinkmeyer and Tim Marshall officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at York. Memorials may be directed to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church or School. Visitation will begin at noon on Monday. Condolences may be emailed to metz@metzmortuary.com.
Metz Mortuary of York is handling arrangements.
Olga L. Gentry
Utica resident, 79
Olga L. Gentry, 79, of Utica died May 22, 2004 in Utica.
She was born Dec. 4, 1924 southeast of Utica to Carl and Reika (Naber) Abrahams. She graduated from Utica High School in 1942.
She married Richard Gentry Oct. 5, 1948, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica. She worked for the Lincoln Telephone Company and also 1st National Bank of Utica and retired from Civil Service at Offutt Air Force Base. She was a member of Utica American Legion Auxiliary Unit 49.
Surviving are brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert and Elizabeth Gentry and Charles and Ruby Gentry, all of Tucson, Ariz.; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Blasky of Mt. Clemens, Mich., Jeanene Brown of Salina, Kan., and Karen Gentry of Lincoln; nephews and nieces, Bill and Judy Deremer of Utica, Jim and Gloria Deremer of Beaver Crossing and Roger and Patricia Anderson of Minden. Preceded by her parents, Carl and Rieka Abrahams; husband, Richard; infant brother and sister, Ruth Deremer.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 27, 2004 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica with the Rev. John Burger officiating. Inurnment Beaver Crossing Cemetery. Cremation, no viewing.
Gertrude Bergt
Schuyler resident, 102
Gertrude Bergt, 102, of Schuyler, Neb., died May 23, 2004 at Alegent Health Memorial Hospital in Schuyler.
She was born Sept. 26, 1901 in rural Schuyler to Ed and Ida (Ernst) DeBower. She attended Colfax County Rural Schools and Immanuel Lutheran School in Schuyler.
She married Erich Bergt Nov. 26, 1922 at Schuyler. She was a homemaker, member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, church Ladies Aid, LWML and AAL, Concordia University Guild of Seward and a charter member of Schuyler Historical Society. She loved to sew and garden (both vegetables and flowers). She sewed a granddaughter's wedding dress at age 92.
Survivors include sons: Ervin (Pearl) Bergt of Schuyler, Paul (Helen) Bergt of Columbus; daughters, Ruth Brauer of Minneapolis, Minn., Ellen (Harlan) Glanzer of Norfolk; 22 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sisters, Edith DeBower of Schuyler (who lived with the Bergts and was Gertrude's care giver over the last several years) and Loretta (Melvin) Grotelueschen of Schuyler. Preceded by husband, Erich, Aug. 2, 1979; infant daughter; brother, Edward DeBower III; sisters, Sophie Muhle and Mabel DeBower and son-in-law, Milford Brauer.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, . May 28, 2004 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Schuyler with the Rev. Robert Pierce and Deacon William Mattfeld officiating. Visitation is Thursday noon to 8 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to noon at Svoboda Funeral Home North Chapel and Friday 1 - 2 p.m. at the church. Prayer service 7 p.m., Thursday at the North Chapel. Interment Schuyler Cemetery.
Memorials are family choice. Svoboda Funeral Home of Schuyler is in charge of arrangements.
Gertrude Bergt
Schuyler resident, 102
A change in times for visitation and funeral services have been made for Gertrude Bergt, 102, of Schuyler, Neb., who died May 23, 2004 at Alegent Health Memorial Hospital in Schuyler.
Visitation will be Thursday noon to 8 p.m. at Svoboda Funeral Home North Chapel and Friday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Prayer service 7 p.m., Thursday at the North Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 28, 2004 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Schuyler with the Rev. Robert Pierce and Deacon William Mattfeld officiating. Interment Schuyler Cemetery.
Memorials are family choice. Svoboda Funeral Home of Schuyler is in charge of arrangements.
Alma Lampshire
Robertsdale, AL resident, 97
Alma Lampshire, 97, died April 19, 2004 at Robertsdale Health Care in Robertsdale, AL. She was a loving and devoted wife to Charles Gilbert Lampshire who preceded her in death in May, 1996, seven months short of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Survivors include a son, Wayne (Dorothy) Lampshire of Foley, Al., and a daughter, Stella (Marvin) McKenzie of Raymore, Mo.; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and two sisters, Alberta Nelson and Margaret Myers. Preceded in death by four sisters and two brothers.
She was active in the United Methodist Church and served as Worthy Matron of Eastern Star.
A private family service will be held at a later date in Hordville, Neb.
Family suggests contributions to the Polk Senior Center or Community Hospice, 2770 So. McKenzie, Foley, Al. 36535.
Helen Samuels
Polk resident, 92
Helen Edith Samuels, 92, of Polk, died at York General Hospital on Tuesday, April 27, 2004. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 1st at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Polk with Revs. Richard Melano and John Dale officiating. Visitation will be Friday, April 30th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Solt Funeral Home in Polk. Burial is in the Arborville Cemetery near Polk.
Helen is survived by one son-Vern and Mary Jane Samuels of Polk; one daughter-Anita and Mike Norquest of Polk; six grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; two sisters-Gladys Andrews of Polk and Bula and Don Springer of Belleville, Illinois; and one brother-in-law Cliff Penrose of Godfrey, Illinois.
Herman H. Epp
Henderson resident, 88
Herman H. Epp, 88, of Henderson died Friday evening, May 28, 2004, at the Henderson Care Center.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 1 at Henderson Bethesda Mennonite Church with the Rev. George Kaufmann officiating. Interment was in Bethesda Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation was held Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.
Herman H. Epp, the son of Jacob M. and Marie (Peters) Epp, was born in York County, Nebraska on February 4, 1916 and died in Henderson, Neb. on May 28, 2004, at the age of 88.
He was raised on a farm south of Henderson and attended District School #31 through the 8th grade.
On Nov. 2, 1938, he was united in marriage to Emma Friesen at Henderson. They farmed south of Henderson and in 1944 they moved to a farm south of Aurora. In 1974, they retired from farming, and moved into Henderson. Emma passed away on Aug. 4, 1993.
Herman was a member of the Henderson Bethesda Mennonite Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two daughters-in-law, Debbie Epp and Mary Epp, and a brother a two sisters.
Those left to cherish his memory are his three sons, Roger (Pam) Epp of Aurora, Ardell (Diane) Epp of Aurora and Stanley (Jean) Epp of Omaha; three daughters, Dara Dean (James) Peters of Lincoln, Mary Ellen (Robert) Pankratz of Henderson and Ardenna (Delmar) Friesen of Sutton; 17 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Robert D. Epp and two sisters, Jeanette (Alfred) Regier and Louise Swan.
Patrick F. Reinsch
Shickley resident, 44
Patrick F. Reinsch, 44, of Shickley, died Friday, May 28, 2004 at Geneva.
He was born at York on Nov. 19, 1959, to Francis and Marilyn (Leininger) Reinsch.
Surviving are his parents, Francis J. "Tanny" and Marilyn Reinsch of Shickley; sisters and brother-in-law, Christine and Reginald Sissel of Davenport, Laurie Reinsch of Lincoln; nieces, Theresa Sissel of Phoenix, Ariz., Katie Sissel and fiance, Michael Veck of Omaha; nephew, Ross Sissel of Davenport. Preceded in death by grandparents, Ernest and Florence Reinsch, John Leininger and Christena (Leininger) Kaspari.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shickley with Msgr. Ivan Vap officiating. Rosary service will be at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva. Visitation begins Wednesday from 1 p.m. until Rosary. Graveside services at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Shickley.
Memorials suggested to the family.
Maurice J. Clark
McCool Jct. resident, 85
Maurice J. Clark, 85 of McCool Junction, died Sunday, May 30, 2004 in York. He was born November 22, 1918 near Beaver Crossing to John J. and Margaret A. (Geiger) Clark. Maurice graduated from McCool High School in 1937 and joined the Air Force in 1942. He initially had trained as a pilot-instructor. After graduation from Randolph Field in Texas, he was sent to Fairmont Air Base, Fairmont, NE and trained as a tail gunner on B-29 for six weeks. There his squadron was chosen by Colonel Paul Tibbets and sent to Wendover Field in Utah. While there he underwent more training and became part of the 509th Composite Group First Atomic Bombardment. On July 30, 1945 he and fellow crew members were sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico to pick up the second atomic bomb called the "Fat Man." They delivered it to Tinian Island in the Marianas. In March of 1946 he was discharged as a Sergeant and returned to the farm. He married Regina Barkmeier on July 30, 1946 in Exeter. Maurice was a longtime farmer and livestock producer. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCool Jct., McCool American Legion Ronald Porter Post #341 and served on the McCool Farmer's Co-op board.
Survivors include two daughters, Sharon (Bill) Cuda and Shirley (Tom) Scholz both of York; five sons, Dennis (Joan) Clark, Ron (Marcia) Clark and Allen (Shelly) Clark all of McCool Jct., Roger (Edy) Clark of Milford and Mike (Brenda) Clark of Lincoln; 29 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; one brother, Lyle Clark of York.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and one brother, Jerome.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in York with burial and Military rites at St. Joseph's Cemetery near York. A rosary will be said Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at Metz Chapel in York. Memorials in care of the family. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at Metz Mortuary in York.
Ronald Ray Hofmann
Lincoln resident, 57
Ronald Ray Hofmann, age 57, of Lincoln, died May 28, 2004. Ronald was born September 6, 1946 to Edward and Ella (Rokey) Hofmann in Sabetha, KS. He was a United States Navy and Vietnam veteran. Ron married Mary Lu Walker on April 26, 1969 in Lincoln. They had three children, Denny, Rob and Ronda, and most recently their 1st grandson Zaiden Merle Hofmann. Ron had several jobs throughout his life including Capital Telephone Co., L.T.& T., N.P.P.D., and Walton Construction Inc. He loved his family, dirt, construction, and vintage dirt bike racing.
Survivors include his wife, three children, grandson, mother, sister & brother-in-law: Sharon & Rod Waser, Hiawatha, KS, brother: Rick Hofmann, Pawnee City, uncle: Robert Rokey, Sabetha, KS, sister-in-law & brother-in-law: Patty & Dick Clark, Lincoln, brother-in-law & Sister-in-law: Bill & Denise Walker, Walton, KY, brother-in-law: Chuck Walker, Lincoln, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father; grandparents; step-father, Warren Lang and father-in-law & mother-in-law: Merle and Talma Walker.
Funeral services will be held at11:00 AM, Wednesday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14, Lincoln, with the Rev. Dean Joy officiating
Graveside services will take place at 3:00 pm, Wednesday, at DuBois Cemetery, in DuBois, with a reception at the DuBois American Legion Club following.
Visitation was held from 3 pm to 9 pm Monday, with family 3 pm to 5 pm: 9 am to 9 pm Tuesday: 9 am until services Wednesday, all at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Zaiden Merle Hofmann Education Fund.
