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Debra Kay Grady
STAPLETON — Debra Kay Grady, 46, of Stapleton died Jan. 13, 2001, at Lincoln.
She was born March 17, 1954, at North Platte to Richard and Grace Kennedy Merritt. She was raised in the Wellfleet community where she attended rural school. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1971.
On Dec. 11, 1971, she married Jack Grady at North Platte.
Mrs. Grady was the owner of “US-KIDS COUNTRY CRAFTS.” She took great joy in giving her crafts to others as much as selling them.
She is survived by her husband; two daughters, Becky (Joey) Dupree and their three children, Paul, Lexi and Gracie, of Wendell, Idaho, and Jessi Grady of Kearney; her mother of Wellfleet; her grandmother, Bea Kennedy of North Platte; two sisters, Chris Miller of Maxwell and Sherry (David) Carr of Wellfleet; three brothers, Eddie (Sherry) Merritt and Roger (Trudy) Merritt, both of Wellfleet, and Gary (Deanna) Merritt of Maywood; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father and grandfathers and grandmother.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Stapleton Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Mark Christopher officiating and Mark Lovitt assisting. Burial will be in the McCain Cemetery at Stapleton.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home of North Platte is in charge.
Harold ‘Huck’ Harvey
MORRILL — Harold “Huck” Harvey, 82, a Cozad native, died Jan. 12, 2001, at his home at Morrill.
He was born Dec. 23, 1918, to Floyd and Anna Frye Harvey at Cozad, where he grew up and graduated from high school in 1936. He worked for O’Briens Market in Cozad until he entered the service. He served from 1941 to 1945. He was a radio signalman in the Army Infantry and landed on Utah Beach on D-Day. His 90th Infantry Division was involved in five major campaigns all over Western Europe and at war’s end, was just outside Pilson in Czechoslovakia After the war, he returned to Cozad and O’Briens Market.
In February 1947, he married Jane York. They moved to McCook where he worked for Safeway. The company transferred him back to Cozad when the company began shutting down their stores in Nebraska. When the Cozad store also closed, he joined Frank Miller and opened Harvey’s Quality Meats in what became Millers Super Market in the old O’Brien building. He stayed with the Millers in their move west on Eighth Street to a larger building that became Foodtown.
Mr. Harvey retired on Jan. 1, 1978, and he and his wife moved to the family farm five miles south of Cozad.
He was a member of the America Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for a short time after the war. He was a 50-year member of the Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, his gun collection, trap shooting, gardening and spending time with his grandchildren. He will be remembered by his family for the wonderful letters he wrote them.
He is survived by a daughter, Janice (Jim) Forbis of Longmont, Colo.; a son, Jon (Jackie) Harvey of Papillion; his companion, Audette Ostendorf of Morrill; a sister and brother, June Stuckey and Bill Harvey, both of Denver; grandchildren, Tara Forbis of Boulder, Colo., Robyn and Hernan Sosa of Asuncion, Paraguay, Tess Forbis of Durango, Colo., and Gracie Harvey of Papillion; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1987; a son, Alan; his parents; a sister, Norma Grafton; and a brother, Cecil.
Memorials are designated for the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and may be sent to Jon Harvey, 1606 Bristol St., Papillion, NE 68046.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at the West Way United Methodist Church in Morrill with the Rev. Charles Kathurima Murithi officiating.
Further services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Cozad with the Rev. Debra Tompsett-Welch officiating. Burial with military rites by the Cozad Honor Guard will be in the Cozad Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church in Cozad.
Jones Mortuary in Mitchell is in charge.
Elsie W. Koch
EUSTIS — Elsie Koch, 87, of Eustis died Jan. 14, 2001, at Southview Manor Care Center in Cozad.
She was born March 31, 1913, north of Eustis to William and Emma Hauser Grabenstein. She attended rural school and graduated from Eustis High School in 1930. She made her home in Omaha for a short time.
On Jan. 1, 1943, she married Herman Koch. They made their home in Lexington and Denver before returning to Eustis in 1949.
Mrs. Koch was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and was active in the choir for many years. She was the first woman to be elected to the Eustis Village Board. She had been active in the founding of the Eustis Senior Center and the Nebraska Community Improvement Program work. For several years, she was in charge of preparing meals for the Eustis Lions and Rotary clubs. She took great satisfaction in doing things with and for her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Barbara (Terry) Ferguson of Concordia, Kan., and Carolyn (Larry) DeBaere of Omaha; a son, William “Bill” of Eustis; three sisters, Helen Grabenstein of Rock Falls, Ill., Ruth (Delmore) Olson of Ames, Iowa, and Mildred (Walter) Gengenbach of Lincoln; two brothers, Tony (Frances) Grabenstein of Omaha and Ray (Ruth) Grabenstein of Eustis; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three stepgrandsons.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Harriet Schutz and Rose Schilpp, and three brothers, George, Norman and Thomas.
Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church with her nephew, the Rev. Gerry Gengenbach, officiating. Burial will be in the East Cemetery at Eustis.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Eustis.
Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad is in charge.
Larry O. Magner
KEARNEY — Larry O. Magner of Kearney, a former resident of North Platte, died at his home Jan. 12, 2001. He was 61.
He was born Dec. 2, 1939, in Hastings to Oliver W. and Cynthia Stowers Magner. He grew up in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School in 1957.
On Nov. 26, 1961, he married Donna McMorris in Hastings. They lived in North Platte, Hastings and O’Neill. In 1986, they moved to Kearney.
Mr. Magner worked for the Earth Grain Bread Company for more than 23 years. He was a member of the Nebraska Country Music Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Surviving him is his wife; three sons, Steve of North Platte, Kip of Lincoln and Brian of Axtell; three sisters, Jackie Huxel of Arapahoe and Tami Coffin and Trishia Magner, both of Loup City; four brothers, Dan of Juniata, Ron of McCook, Calvin of Broken Bow and Rick Lestreance of Lincoln; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the O’Brien-Straatmann-Apfel Funeral Home in Kearney. The Rev. Don Bryant will officiate. Burial will be in the Kearney Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and one hour prior to services Wednesday at O’Brien-Straatmann-Apfel Funeral Home in Kearney.
Fred Fricke
OGALLALA — Fred Fricke, 75, of Ogallala died Feb. 1, 2001, at the Ogallala Community Hospital.
He was born Sept. 14, 1925, in Westerville to Fred and Rhoda Amsberry Fricke.
He entered the U.S. Army Nov. 27, 1943, and he served in the European Theatre. He was discharged March 4, 1946.
In 1948, he married Deloris Buechler in Kimball. He was recalled to the Army because of the Korean Conflict and served until 1951. In 1952, his wife and unborn child were killed in a traffic accident.
In 1954, he married Fern Alexander.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid gardener. He was active in the Elks Lodge, Veterans of the Foreign War, and Big Mac Sports Club.
Mr. Fricke is survived by his wife; two daughters, Shirley Schacht of Aurora and Linda Avery of Ogallala; one son, Dwight of Ogallala; three brothers, Clarence (Pauline) Fricke of Roscoe, Harold (Norma) Fricke of Kimball and Don (Linda) Fricke of Culbertson; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Freddie; two sisters, Rozena Hughes and Leonna Trump; and two brothers, Carl and Bill “LeRoy.”
A memorial has been established.
Service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Radiant Life Assembly of God on Fox Hill Road in Ogallala with the Revs. David Gill and Max Towell officiating. Burial will in the Ogallala Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. today at the Draucker Funeral Home in Ogallala.
Donovan Darrell Gift
ARNOLD — Donovan Darrell Gift, 67, formerly of Arnold and nephew of Fern Hall of Arnold, died Jan. 28, 2001, in Middleton, Wis.
He was born Jan. 9, 1934, at Arnold to Donovan Lewis and Margaret Jane Schroeder Gift. He graduated from Sargent High School in 1951. On September 17, 1956, he joined the U.S. Army and was discharged two years later. He spent most of his service time at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
After his discharge, he worked in Omaha and then transferred to Wisconsin with the Rayovac Company. After leaving the company, he started his own business and also contracted with several companies to build electric boards.
He was an avid hunter and enjoyed science fiction books and movies. He was a member of the Methodist church.
Mr. Gift is survived by two aunts, Fern (Cameron) Hall of Arnold and Gayle Godsey of Council Bluffs, Iowa; an uncle, Donald Schroeder of Malvern, Iowa; and many cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five aunts, six uncles and four cousins.
Memorials are suggested to the donor’s chioce or the family.
Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with the Rev. J. H. Schroeder of Elizabeth, Colo., officiating. Burial will be in the Custer Center Cemetery with military honors.
Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to service time today at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow.
Lamoine McKillip
HAYES CENTER — Lamoine McKillip, 69, of Hayes Center died Feb. 1, 2001, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
He was born March 23, 1931, in Hayes Center to Fay and Mae Gangwisch McKillip. He grew up on the family farm east of Hayes Center and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1949. He joined the U.S. Air Force and served during the Korean Conflict.
On Jan. 1, 1953, he married Betty Ward at McCook. They spent their married life farming and ranching in Hayes Center. He was a member of the Evergreen Union Church where he served on the church board and the Hayes Center School Board.
Mr. McKillip is survived by his wife; two daughters, Sue (Kenny) Messersmith of Hayes Center and Carla McKillip of Hayes Center; three sons, Kirk (Jane) of Houston, Tim (Cindy) of Wauneta and Monte (Kathy) of Lincoln; two sisters, Delores (Harold) Richards of Hayes Center and Devona Downs of Maize, Kan.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Hayes Center High School Auditorium. Burial will be in the Hayes Center Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook.
Carrie Maria Neal
Carrie Maria Neal, 78, of North Platte died Jan. 31, 2001, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.
She was born May 16, 1922, north of Ringgold in McPherson County to Christian Karl and Marie Lenore Weiland Lange. She attended school in Tryon and moved to North Platte when she was 12. She worked for the Hirschfeld family before moving to Seattle in 1943, to build bomber airplanes for Boeing Aircraft during World War II. In 1946, she returned to North Platte and worked at Woolworth’s for many years.
On May 20, 1966, she married James Pleasent Neal at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Platte. In 1990, they moved to Colorado and cared for her brother, Pete, until his death. She also had cared for her sister, Minnie, in 1975.
She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 163, Eagles Auxiliary 2839 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post 1504. She also was an avid league bowler and enjoyed playing cards.
Mrs. Neal is survived by her husband; a sister, Helen Wendling of North Platte; nieces; nephews; and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Bill Jensen; three sisters, Minnie Johnson, Hattie Weedman and infant sister, Laura Lange; and three brothers, Harold “Pete,” Albert “Bus,” and Richard “Dick” Lange.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with the Rev. Dr. Nathan R. Wadewitz officiating. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte.
