William "Bill" Fitzgerald
Exeter resident, 65
William W. "Bill" Fitzgerald, 65, of Exeter died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, in Friend. He was born to John and Ruth (Clayton) Fitzgerald on Feb. 26, 1935, in Central City.
He played semi-pro baseball over 20 years. He was a teacher, coach, activities director, principal at Brock and Exeter Public School for 37 years; member of the United Methodist Church of Exeter; lifetime member of the Nebraska School Education Association and National Education Association, and a past member of the Nebraska Coaches Association and Nebraska School Administrators Association.
Survivors include his wife, Norene, of Exeter; son, George Fitzgerald of Topeka; daughters, Cynthia (Ivan) Tuxhorn of McCool, Shelly (Randy) Hellbusch of Friend, Charice Cay (C.C.) Fitzgerald of McCool; brother, Don (Eva) Fitzgerald of Fullerton; sister-in-law, Janet Fitzgerald of Montgomery; mother-in-law, Helen Havel of Milligan; six grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Darel; sister, Patricia, aunts, uncle and father-in-law, Donald Havel.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church in Exeter. Kim Dunker will officiate. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday at the farmer Funeral Home in Exeter. The family will greet family and friends from 5 to 9 p.m. Memorials may be sent in care of the family in lieu of flowers. Cremation will follow the services.
Charles Sievers
Sioux Falls, S.D., resident, 73
Charles L. Sievers, 73, died Friday, Oct. 13, 2000, at Southridge Healthcare Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was born Dec. 31, 1926, to Michael and Eve (Vilhauer) Sievers in Harlod, S.D. He entered the U.S. Army on Feb. 8, 1946, serving in the Pacific during World War II.
He was married to Beverly Cummings on June 28, 1950. He worked for Greenlee Packing Plant for several years.
He later married Barbara St. Clair on Nov. 17, 1962. She died on Aug. 27, 1982. He worked for Michaels and Bourkes Clothing Store.
He married Beverly (Mitchell) Bonscoljon on Sept. 3, 1983. He worked at Hy-Vee until retiring in 1995.
In addition to his wife, Beverly, he is survived by one daughter, Sherri Sievers of York; three sons, James (Lynn Shaw) Sievers of York; Terry (Jennie) Sievers of Anchorage, Alaska; Dale (Barbara) Sievers of Magnolia, Ky.; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; a brother, Elroy (Donna) Sievers; two sisters, Avis (Dick) Cassam and Eunice (Jack) Giblin.
In addition to his wife, Barbara, he was preceded in death by one son, Rodney; his parents; a grandson; two brothers, Arnold and Delbert, and one sister, May Lewis.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000, in Sioux Falls, S.D., with interment on Wednesday at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis.
Marvin "Doc" Kluck
Clarks resident, 82
Marvin "Doc" Kluck, 82, of Clarks died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, at Seward.
He was born Sept. 10, 1918, to Herman and Dora (Kerkmann) Kluck at Clarks. He attended school at Clarks and farmed near Clarks until 1956 when he moved to Cupertino, Calif., where he worked at Kaiser Aluminum as a foil operating engineer for 28 years.
Marvin was married to Gladys Beckstrom on Dec. 11, 1945, at Central City. To this union three children were born. Marvin returned to Clarks in 1984 where he retired.
Survivors include one daughter, Maureen (Harold) Freitas of Seward; two sons, James (Donna) Kluck of Doniphan, Gary Kluck of Raymond; and one sister, Violet Blahal of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his wife Gladys and one brother Walter.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at the Congregational Church in Clarks. Interment will be at the Clarks Cemetery.
Shirley Kleinschmidt
Hastings resident, 69
Shirley Ann Kleinschmidt, 69, of Hastings, formerly of Grafton, died Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000, at the Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings.
Shirley was born Jan. 1, 1931, in Seward to Oakley E. and Helen (Sorter) Krokstrom. She attended Lincoln public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1945. After high school she worked at KLIN radio and KOLN television station in Lincoln.
She was married to Donald Lloyd Kleinschmidt on Aug. 16, 1961, in Omaha. To this union two sons were born: Steven D. and Michael G. They made their home on a farm near the Bruning Airbase in Bruning. In 1964 they moved back to a farm near Grafton. She was a local reporter for the area, reporting to the Clay County News in Sutton and the Nebraska Signal in Geneva. Her husband died Feb. 4, 1989. After his death she lived in Geneva and Lincoln. In 1996 she became a resident of the Hearthstone in York and in March of this year she moved to Perkins Pavilion in Hastings. She was a member of the Federated Church.
She is survived by her sons, Steve (Dee Ann) Kleinschmidt of Johnston, Iowa, and Mike (Bette) leinschmidt of Hastings; her mother, Helen Krokstrom of Lincoln; two brothers, Paul Krokstrom of Grand Island and Larry Krokstrom of Lodi, Calif.; three grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband and father.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Federated Church in Sutton with the Rev. Bill Jardine officiating. Burial will be in the Sutton Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family. Kohler Mortuary of Sutton is in charge of arrangements.
Albert Dissmeyer
Aurora resident, 87
Albert Dissmeyer, 87, formerly of Hampton, died Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000, at his home in Aurora.
He was born on Feb. 2, 1913, to William and Mary (Poppe) Dissmeyer in Lincolnville, Kan. He was baptized March 9, 1913, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Lincolnville, Kan.
His mother died Sept. 26, 1913. He moved to Nebraska with his father, brothers and sisters when he was 18 months old. They lived near Beatrice where he attended school. At the age of 13, Albert came to Polk. He was confirmed June 11, 1933, at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Hordville. He moved to Hampton in 1934. He spent one year in Phoenix, Ariz., and one year in Toole, Utah, as an employee of the U.S. government before returning to Hampton.
He was married to Dorothea Kohtz on Feb. 16, 1936, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hampton. They farmed northeast of Hampton for 59 years. They moved to Aurora and have lived there since that time. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothea, of Aurora; two daughters, Gloria (LaVerne) Bamesberger of Marquette and Gladys (Jim) Huebner of Forsythe, Mo.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Hampton. The Rev. Loren Cooper will officiate. Interment will be in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Norma Richters
Seward resident, 68
Norma D. Richters, 68, of Seward, co-owner of Richters Inc., died Friday, Oct. 27, at her home.
She was born March 12, 1932, to Bernhard Wieman and Hulda (Heitman) Wieman in rural Utica and graduated from Utica High School in 1949. She was married to Donald Richters on Dec. 18, 1955, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gresham
Survivors include her husband, Donald; her son, Thomas (Jill) Richters of Seward; daughter, Alise (Martin) Dart of Seward; brother, Wilmer Wieman of Utica; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Services will be held Monday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward. The Rev. Mark Cutler will officiate. Burial will be in Seward Cemetery.
Ruth "Susie" Miller
Exeter resident, 65
Ruth E. "Susie" Miller, 65, of Exeter died on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2000, in Exeter.
She was born to Harry and Hannah (Hansen) Vantine on Aug. 26, 1935, at Tecumseh.
Survivors include her husband, Bernard J. Miller Sr. of Exeter; sons, Harry (Lori) Miller of York, Bernard J. Jr (Carol) Miller of Exeter, Roger (Janet) Miller of Exeter, Mark Miller of Exeter; daughters, Elaine (Joel) Vavra of Crete, Andrea Hinders and Daryl Styskel of Exeter, Amy (Jason) Skinner of Minersville, Pa., Karen (Dave) Elznic of Geneva; brothers, Donald (Dorothy) Vantine of Boyce, Va., Harry (Peg) Vantine of Show Low, Ariz., William (Dora) Vantine of Exeter, Ed (Joyce) Vantine of Palms, Calif.; sisters, Gladys Perry of Lincoln, Margaret Melvor of Omaha; sisters-in-law, Emma Coates of Exeter, Pearl Miller of Deer Creek, Minn., Bernice Vantine of Falls City; 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 2, at the United Methodist Church in Exeter. Visitation will begin Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Farmer Funeral Home in Exeter. Memorials may be directed to the family. Graveside services will be held at the Exeter Cemetery. Kim Dunker will officiate.
John Romsdal
York County resident, 94
John R. Romsdal, 94, longtime York County resident, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2000, at Tabitha Hospice in Lincoln.
John was born May 25, 1906, in Lockridge Township, York County, to Frederic W. and Lucy Belle (Miller) Romsdal. He attended York schools and Milford Trade School.
On March 20, 1936, he was married to Marylea Watson at York. They lived and farmed near York until 1942. John served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1945 in England. After returning home from the service he held various occupations until 1959 when he became a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He retired in 1976.
John was a member of the Waco United Methodist Church, Irvin J. Blum V.F.W. Post #1609, American Legion Bolton Post #19, and Rural Letter Carrier Association. He had been a member of the Waco Village Board, Sertoma, the Waco Volunteer Fire Dept., and was a charter member, past president and treasurer of the York County Historical Society.
John is survived by his wife, Marylea of Lincoln; two daughters, Karen A. Romsdal and Rita J. Jarvis, and his granddaughter, Megen K. Jarvis, all of Lincoln. Also surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, Stanton Dale and Barbara Romsdal of Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii.
Preceding him in death were his parents and three brothers, Cecil, Alton Earl and William.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church at Waco with the Rev. Joel Rathbun and Joyce Ekart Donahue presiding. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at York. Memorials may be directed to the York County Historical Society. Metz Mortuary of York is in charge of arrangements.
Jerome "Jerry" Bair
South Dakota resident, 61
Jerome "Jerry" D. Bair, 61, of Lake City, S.D., died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at the Marshall County Healthcare Center. His memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at the United Methodist Church of Britton with Pastor Tim Vorlage officiating. The memorial service will be performed under the direction of the Price Funeral Chapel of Britton.
Robert Reed
Sidney resident, 76
Robert Gordon Reed, 76, a longtime Potter resident, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, in his home in Sidney.
He was born Dec. 29, 1923, in York to Robert T. and Fern Ocean (Cook) Reed. He graduated from Central City High School in 1942, and served in the Army Air Corps as a high speed radio operator in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His first major operation was the invasion of the Philippines.
After the war, Gordon obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Nebraska Central College, receiving his teaching certificate in 1949. He taught high school English, history and Spanish in Mason City, Potter, Bayard and Norfolk.
While teaching in Potter, he met his wife to be, Charlotte Margaret Enevoldsen. They were married Dec. 23, 1956, at the Methodist Church in Potter.
He changed professions in 1959 and went to work at National Bank and Commerce NBC in Lincoln. He moved to Potter to work for the Potter State Bank in 1960 and remained there until his retirement in 1992.
He was active in community affairs, being a member of the American Legion Post 291, the Potter Melodrama, the United Methodist Church, the Potter Lions Club, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Masonic Lodge and Shrine, and the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Potter Public School Board of Education, Village Board of Trustees, and the Educational Service Unit in Sidney.
He is survived by four children: Jennifer Lynn (Dr. Jeffrey Alan) Cook of Sidney, Robert (Noriko) Frederick of Warren, N.J.; Timothy Cameron and Yumiko Reed of Tokyo, Japan; Susan Margaret (Maj. Mark David) DeLong, Yorktown, Va.; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, at the Potter United Methodist Church with Father Lyle Martin officiating. Military graveside services will be held in the Potter Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 5l from 1-6 p.m. The family will greet visitors at the funeral home from 4 until 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Robert Gordon Reed Memorial Fund.
Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney is in charge of the arrangements.
