John Straube
York resident, 96
John Wilhelm Straube, age 96 of York, died Saturday, July 10, 2004 at York. John was born to Amelia (Trandacht) and Wilhelm Straube in Liepaja, Latvia on June 27, 1908. As a boy he lived in Siberia and St. Petersburg, Russia where he remembered witnessing the Russian Revolution and World War I. After the turmoil of that time his family moved back to Latvia. As a young man John served in the Latvian Army. When World War II broke out he was drafted into the German Army. After the war he reunited with his family, who had fled to Germany. It was here, in Fritzlar, Germany, that he met his future wife, Ruth (Stelter) Roesler. They married November of 1950. In 1952 John and his new family immigrated to the United States, settling in Nebraska. The early years in Nebraska were difficult for John and his family and they survived on hard work and the kindness of many wonderful people in both Broken Bow and York. John spent many years working for the York Blank Book Company, York Printing Co. and retiring at age 76 from
North Printing Co. in York.
John was a true intellectual, fluent in seven languages. He read and had sophisticated tastes in both music and literature. He was artistic, had a wonderful sense of humor and cared deeply about social issues. He will be remembered by his family as a loving, loyal husband and caring father.
Ruth, his beloved wife of many years and his parents preceded him in death. He is survived by one brother Oskar Straube of Germany; sons, Adolph Roesler and wife Audrey of Bennett, NE, Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube and wife Sonya Prestridge of Durham, NC; daughters Hilde Knezevic and husband Mike of Coloma, MI, Edie McNeese of Panama, NE and Velta Straube of Loveland, CO. John had 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; 3 nephews and a niece.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10:00 am at the Metz Chapel in York with the Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at York. Visitation will begin at 4:00 pm Monday. Metz Mortuary of York is handling arrangements.
Leslie C. Cash
Stromsburg resident, 86
Leslie C. Cash, 86, of Stromsburg, died Wednesday, July 7, 2004 at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Hospital in Osceola. Services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday at Evangelical Free Church in Stromsburg with Rev. Kerry Relihan officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Island Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. with military rites by American Legion Post #132. Visitation will be Sunday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Palmer Funeral Home in Stromsburg.
Palmer Funeral Home in Stromsburg is in charge of arrangements.
Martha M. Vogt
Elmwood resident, age 102
Martha M. Vogt, 102, of Elmwood, died in Louisville on Sunday, July 4, 2004. She was born with her twin sister, Hulda, on March 21, 1902 in rural Cass County to Fred J. and Henrietta (Schweppe) Luetchens. On March 23, 1921 she married William H. Vogt. Martha was a homemaker, a member of St. Paul's Methodist Church where she was active in the Women's Fellowship, a member of Cass County Chorus, Clover Leaf Extension Club, Wabash Kensington Club, Legion Auxiliary and Elmwood's Quilters. She and her twin were a part of and attended the International Twin Convention for many years.
She is survived by her daughter, Marie and Linnier Backstrom, Lincoln; son, William F. Vogt, Unadilla; daughter-in-law, Joan Vogt, Elmwood; son, Armin and Mary Vogt, Lincoln; son, Elmer and Marietta Vogt, Elmwood; daughter Margaret and Wendell Walkup, York; son, John and Kathy Vogt, Springfield, Ore.; sister, Edna Guelker of Murdock; 20 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, numerous nieces, nephew, cousins and friends.
Proceeded in death by her parents, husband, infant son Richard Vogt, son Lloyd Vogt, brother Herold Luetchens, twin sister Hulda Oehlerking, daughter-in-law Gwen Vogt and grandson Steve Vogt.
Graveside services 10 a.m. Friday, July 9 at Emmanuel Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Elmwood. Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. with family greeting friends 7-9 p.m. at the Hammons Family Funeral Chapel, Elmwood. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Methodist Church. Arrangements made by Hammons Family Funeral Services, Elmwood.
Justin Grotz
Kentucky resident, 36
Justin Alfred Grotz, 36 of Mayfield, KY passed away July 4, 2004.
Mr. Grotz was born January 20, 1968 to Ralph and Linda Grotz in York, Nebraska. He graduated from York High School in 1986.
He is survived by parents, Ralph and Linda Grotz, sisters, Gretchen Gina Klinetobe and her husband Steve, Lisa Linda Thomson and her husband Christopher, and Annette Diane Grotz and her husband Manny; nephews, Tristan Joe Klinetobe, William Dean Klinetobe, and Alex Theodore Klinetobe; numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, and girlfriend, Lana Cook from Mayfield, KY.
Graveside services will be 10:00AM Friday, July 9, 2004 at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Kerrville, TX with Joyce Lawrence officiating. Visitation will be Friday morning prior to the service. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Kerrville Funeral Home (830) 895-5111.
Marie Clayton
Marie Clayton, 85, of Central City, formerly of Hordville, died on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City.
She was born on Feb. 28, 1915, in Hordville to John Emil and Emily C. (Bengston) Veburg. She graduated from Hordville High School in 1933 and attended Luther College in Wahoo. She taught school in Hordville from 1934 to 1942.
On April 2, 1944, she married Kenneth Robert Clayton. While her husband was in the service, she lived and worked in San Francisco, Calif., and Washington, D.C. After his term of service, they returned to Hordville to live.
After her husband's death on Aug. 21, 1969, she returned to school and received her Bachelor of Education degree from Kearney State College in 1978. She taught at District 11 near Fullerton until her retirement in 1985, after which she tutored students. She moved To Central City in 1997 and to Long Term Care in 1999.
She was a member of Fridhem Lutheran Church in Hordville, the Lutheran Christian Women and was a Sunday School teacher. She wrote the history of Hordville and she wrote the "Hordville News" for the Polk Progress, the Central City Republican Nonpareil, and the Aurora News-Register.
Survivors include three sons, Alan Clayton of Menomonee Falls, Wis., Paul (Joyce) Clayton of Central City and Robert Clayton of Schuyler; two brothers, Ron (Darlene) Veburg of Hastings and Conrad (Mildred) Veburg of Columbus; one sister, Agnes Anderson of Bettendorf, Iowa; three sisters-in-law, Delores Veburg of Hordville, Gwen (Ken) Leach of Ord and Anna Lee Cobb of Central City; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother, Richard Veburg.
Services will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, at 11 a.m., at Fridhem Lutheran Church in Hordville with the Rev. Charles Pollard officiating. Burial will be in the Hordville Cemetery. Visitation is Friday, Sept. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Solt Funeral Home in Central City. Memorials are suggested to the Fridhem Lutheran Church.
Winford R. Lantz
Winford R. Lantz, 95, a resident of Chillicothe, Mo., died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at the North Missouri Baptist Home, Chillicothe, Mo.
Arrangements are pending and will be announced later by the Lindley Funeral Home, in Chillicothe.
Irma Mercedes Watson
Irma Mercedes Watson, 89, of Benedict died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000, at Fairview Manor in Fairmont. She was born March 25, 1911, at Benedict to Cecil and Luella (Johnson) Kohn. Mercedes, known to many as Merc, graduated from Benedict High School and married David Watson on Nov. 11, 1934, at Benedict. The couple farmed near Benedict and Mercedes worked for many years as a waitress at the Ideal Cafe in York. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Benedict.
She is survived by her daughter, Judith (Kenneth) Hewitt of Rochester Hills, Mich.; two sons, Harry (Mary) Watson of Lincoln and Daryl (Linda) Watson of Benedict; nine grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; sisters, Evelyn I. Folts and Carol Bittinger, both of York, and one brother, Charles (Joan) Bittinger of Benedict. Preceding her in death were her parents and husband, David, in 1971.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Metz Chapel in York with the Rev. Dick Woolard officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, York. Memorials are suggested to her church or the Benedict Community Hall. Visitation will begin Saturday morning at Metz Mortuary in York which is in charge of arrangements.
Lorene Lambert
Lorene E. Lambert, 82, of Osceola died at the Osceola Good Samaritan Center on Sept. 21, 2000. She was born Aug. 3, 1918, in Fullerton to Westel and Emma Beckman Andersen. She attended Fullerton High School. She was married on Nov. 18, 1937, to Eugene Lambert in Rye, Colo. She has lived in Osceola since 1982.
Survivors include one son, Art (Sharon) Lambert of York; two daughters, Laurella Cerny of Albion; Linda (David) Cerny of Osceola; eight grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one brother, Bill Andersen, one infant son, and a son-in-law, Julius Cerny Jr.
Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at Kepner-Roberts Chapel in Osceola with the Rev. Richard Dimond officiating. Interment will be in Phillips Cemetery in Phillips.
Ervin Christjaener
Ervin F. Christjaener, 89, of Pleasant Dale died Sept. 20, 2000. He was born Aug. 17, 1911, to Henry and Katherine (Beckmann) Christjaener near Pleasant Dale. He was a farmer in the Seward area and a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Malcolm.
He is survived by his wife Gretchen of Pleasant Dale; a son, Denis of Pleasant Dale; a daughter, Carol (Gale) Gruber of Waco; a sister-in-law, Amanda Schulz of Seward; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Edna Schulz and Lueda Christjaener, and a brother, Leonard Christjaener.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Malcolm with the Rev. Todd Schlechte officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery at Malcolm. Visitation will be held from noon to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at Wood-Zabka Funeral Home of Seward with family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday. Memorial donations may be made to the donor's choice in care of the Christjaener family.
Roberta Storms
Roberta Mae Storms, 84, of Holdrege died Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000, at Christian Homes in Holdrege. She was born Feb. 8, 1916, at York, one of three daughters of Charles H. and Hulda M. (Swartzwelder) James. She attended York Public Schools and graduated from York High School with the class of 1932. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1937 with a bachelor's degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and a Certificate of Journalism. She was employed as a social worker in York, Lincoln, Grand Island and Omaha from 1937 to 1942.
On May 22, 1943, she was married to A. W. Storms in North Platte. To this union one son, Robert, was born. They made their home in North Platte until January of 1944 when A. W. served as Assistant Attorney General in Washington, D.C. They lived in Washington until 1945 when they moved to Holdrege and A. W. practiced law in the firm of Anderson and Storms.
Roberta was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege where she was an elder from 1976 to 1982 and past president of the Presbyterian Women's Association. She served as Red Cross Home Service chairman from 1945 to 1949, and was president of the Holdrege Community Concert Association and member for 32 years. She served on the Holdrege School Board from 1976 to 1980 and was past president of Chapter H of the PEO in Holdrege. She served as volunteer at the Phelps County Museum. Roberta organized and served as leader of the Phelps County PLUS (Project Literacy United States) which volunteered services in conducting G.E.D. classes and one-to-one assistance to persons unable to read.
Survivors include her son, Dr. Robert J. Storms of Atlanta, Ga., and one sister, Elizabeth Eggers of Las Vegas, Nev. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, A. W., and one sister, Dorothy Stream.
Funeral services for Roberta Storms will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Dixon Powers officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege. Visitation will be on Monday, Sept. 25, 2000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nelson-Harris Funeral Home in Holdrege.
Dorothea Fischer
Dorothea K. Fischer, 85, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, in Utica. Services will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Wayne Behnken
Wayne Behnken, 80, of Columbus died Monday, Sept. 25, 2000, at Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus.
He was born on June 18, 1920, in rural York County to Charles and Meta (Heins) Behnken. He attended rural schools in York County and then went to York High School. On Oct. 3, 1941, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was active in World War II, spending two years in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands aboard supply ships. He received the rank of MM2c and was discharged on Sept. 13, 1945.
On Oct. 10, 1945, he married Dorothy Matousek at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Gresham. He worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads in York and Neligh for 36 years and retired in 1983 as area maintenance supervisor. After retiring, they moved to Columbus.
He was active in the American Legion, the VFW, and Peace Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Columbus; son, Scott Behnken of Owatonna, Minn.; brother, Dale (Donna) Behnken of York; sisters, Luwana (Don) Funk of Seward and Dorothy O'Brien of York; a granddaughter and a grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Ruth Behnken and Opal Dey.
Memorials may be sent for the choice of the family.
Funeral services will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 10:30 a.m., with the Rev. Michael Klatt officiating. Military honors will be presented by York Bolton Post 19. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Gass Haney Funeral Home and Thursday, Sept. 28, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m., Thursday, at the church. Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery at York at 2:30 p.m., Thursday.
Helen Anderson
Helen J. Anderson, 82, of Stromsburg died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000, at the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg.
She was born Oct. 29, 1917, at Hartington, to Baltasar and Theresa (Thuringer) Kirchmeier. She attended schools in South Dakota and in Hartington. She was married to Vernon Cole in 1937. To this union three sons were born. The family resided in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. She returned to Nebraska and worked at a cafe in Osceola.
On July 27, 1967, she married Carl Anderson. To this union, one son was born. They lived in Shelby where she did housecleaning and worked at Ray's Tavern.
She retired in 1980. On May 22, 2000, she entered the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg where she resided until her death.
Survivors include four sons, Bob (Mary) Cole of Denver, Colo.; Ray Cole of Minneapolis, Minn., Gary (Lynn) Cole of Nashville, Tenn., and Roger Anderson of Columbus.; three brothers, Herman Kirchmeier of Scappoose, Ore., Don Kirchmeier of Kansas City, Kan., and Norbert Kirchmeier of Wynot; one sister, Louise Baker of Harrod, Ohio; 11 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her husband, Carl; four brothers, Bernie, Martin, Clarence and Leo Kirchmeier; and two sisters, Mary Ayers and Babe Haahr.
Services are Monday, Oct. 2, at the Palmer Funeral Home in Stromsburg with the Rev. Jeff Thurman officiating. Visitation will be Monday, Oct. 2, from noon until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Stromsburg Cemetery.
Sylvia Kennel
Sylvia Kennel, 84, of York, formerly of Geneva, died on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, in York.
She was born on Sept. 4, 1916, at Davenport, to Nicholaus and Magdolena (Rediger) Lichti.
Survivors include a son, Galen Kennel of Shickley; three daughters, Arla Rediger of York, Karen Soontag of Aurora, Colo., and Lana Sutton of Petaluma, Calif.; two sisters, Nancy Nickel of Geneva and Lilly Farnsworth of Lincoln; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m., at the Salem Mennonite Church in rural Shickley. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, at Farmer and Son Funeral Home, Geneva. Graveside services will be held at Salem Cemetery in Shickley with the Rev. Wilton Detweiler officiating.
Gayla Taylor
Gayla Taylor, 54, of York, died Friday, September 29, 2000 at York. Services are pending at Metz Mortuary in York.
