MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE 2003 Caroline “Carolyn” MELTON, 86, died Jan. 24, 2003 in McCook. Born Oct. 2, 1916, at Muscotah, Kan., to Mortimer and Minnie (Christ) Roach. On Nov. 10, 1939, she married James William Melton at McCook. Preceding her in death were her parents; and two sisters, Louise Mydland and one in infancy. Services at Carpenter Breland Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook. Johnny Eugene KEANE, 61 years, seven months, died Jan. 23, 2003, at his home in McCook. He was born June 17, 1941, in Alliance, to John Robert and Gatha Beatrice (Hack) Keane. On Aug. 16, 1959, he married Marlene J. Britton at Fort Collins, Colo. On Dec. 8, 1991, he was married to Susan Tyler in Alliance. On Oct. 4, 1996, he married Frieda Ritter. Preceded in death by his parents and son, John Duane. Mass of Christian Burial , Jan. 27, 2003 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in McCook. Burial at Calvary Cemetery in McCook. Mildred Wing HAUXWELL, 98, passed away in North Platte on Jan. 22, 2003. Born Nov. 7, 1904, at Harvard to Harry and Ella (Peterson) Wing. On Aug. 22, 1934, she married Lawrence Hauxwell. Preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and brother, Robert Wing of Hastings. Funeral services Jan. 27, in the Indianola Church of Christ. Interment at the Indianola Cemetery. CURTIS — Marvin D. AMSTUZ, 75, died Jan. 22, 2003 in Kearney. Born Oct. 11, 1927, at Wellfleet, to Oscar and Rachel (Hall) Amstuz. On Oct. 19, 1952, he married Frances Meininger in Los Angeles, Calif. Preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Doug. Funeral services at the Congregational Church in Stockville. Burial in the Arbor Cemetery at Stockville. Blase Wetzel Funeral Home of Curtis is in charge of arrangements. CAMBRIDGE — Clarence SANDMAN, 88, died Jan. 20, 2003. Born July 21, 1914 to Ralph and Gertrude (Richards) Sandman near Harvine. On Aug. 1, 1937, he married Onna Stock in Wauneta. Preceded in death by his parents; two infant children, Eulene and Dwight; and three sisters, Irma Jean, Bernice and Leah. Funeral services at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge. Burial in the Riverside Cemetery at Wauneta. Lockenour-Jones Mortuary of Cambridge is in charge of arrangements. MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE Laura C. MANKER, 81, died Sunday (Feb. 2, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Nov. 8, 1921, in Hillview, Ill., to Harvey and Ruby Helen (Price) Schutz. On Feb. 16, 1945, she married Vernon “Bud” Manker at Mobile, Ala. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Glenn Schutz and Ralph Schutz; and one sister, Beryl Collins. Funeral services will be Wednesday, 2 p.m., at the Herrmann Memorial Chapel in McCook with the Rev. Stan Hendershot officiating. Interment will be in the Indian Hills section of the Indianola Cemetery at Indianola. Herrmann Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carl V. SMOCK, 56, died Sunday (Feb. 2, 2003) at his home south of McCook. He was born May 12, 1946, to Oran Alfanso and Grace (Heine) Smock at Lexington. On June 6, 1981, he married Ree Stout at Indianola. He taught science at schools in Axtell for one year, Dillard for one year, Republican Valley for six years and McCook for 27 years. He was named the McCook Area Educator of the Year in 2001, by the McCook Chamber of Commerce and Education Committee. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Judy; and step-mother, Marge Smock. Memorial services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Stan Hendershot officiating. Inurnment will be at a later time. His body was cremated. Friends may sign his book today until 5 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRESDEN — John L. SPRESSER, 72, died Sunday (Feb. 2, 2003) in Oberlin. He was born March 10, 1930, on a farm south of Dresden, to John “Jack” and Katherine (Kamphaus) Spresser. He was raised on the family farm. On Sept. 12, 1950, he married Erma Jean McCoy in Leoville. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Norman Spresser; and an infant sister, Eleanor Spresser. Funeral services will be Wednesday, 11 a.m., at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Leoville with the Rev. Mathew Vazhappily officiating. Interment will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery at Leoville. A vigil service will be today, 7:30 p.m., at Pauls Funeral Home in Selden. Visitation is today until 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 8-10 a.m. at the funeral home in Selden. Pauls Funeral Home of Selden is in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BRIGHTON, Colo. — Robert “Bob” D. HICKERT, 61, died Thursday (Jan. 30, 2003) at his home in Brighton, Colo., after a short illness. He was born Jan. 5, 1942, at the family farm in Decatur County, to Albert and Amanda (Gilleece) Hickert. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jim and Bill; a sister, Carolyn; and a brother-in-law, Bud Kotschwar. A Memorial Mass will be said Thursday in Brighton. A Mass of Resurrection at New Almelo, Kan., is pending. Notice courtesy of Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darin E. KOETTER, 34 of McCook, died Thursday, (Jan. 30, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born March 14, 1968, to Richard and Marilyn (McKillip) Koetter. He attended country school at District 41 through eighth grade and graduated from McCook High School in 1986. On May 29, 1993, he married Leila Hoyt in McCook. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Arthur Koetter Sr., Mary Koetter and Nile McKillip. Funeral services were today, 2 p.m., at the Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Thurman officiating. Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BENKELMAN — Della F. ROUNDTREE, 80, formerly of Benkelman, died Friday (Jan. 31, 2003) at the Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice. She was born Aug. 22, 1922, in Dundy County, to Ash Jehu and Nellie Lorena (Hester) Roundtree. Preceding her in death are her parents, Ash and Nellie Roundtree; two brothers, and one sister. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. Funeral services will be Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., at Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with the Rev. Norman Prather officiating. Interment will follow services. There will be no visitation and the casket will remain closed. Arrangements are under the direction of Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leon Ray “Red” HIATT died Thursday (Jan. 30, 2003) at McCook Community Hospital. He was 64 years old. Red was born Dec. 7, 1938, at Cambridge, to Ruby Helen (Renniker) and Oscar Wayne Hiatt. He married Dixie Lee Stagemeyer in 1956, and to this union four sons were born. On Feb. 16, 1980, he married Betty C. Sitzman. Preceding him in death were his parents; sisters, Bonita Sue in infancy, Verona Heinz, and Lavanna “Pooge” Chrisplip and brother, Wayne “Dutch” Hiatt. Services will be Saturday, 10 a.m., at Carpenter Breland Chapel with Pastor Clark Bates officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BENKELMAN — Robert Wayne OAKLEY, 75, died Monday (Jan. 27, 2003) in McCook. He was born March 24, 1927, at Denver, Colo., to Oscar Otto and Bertha (Phillips) Oakley. On March 14, 1953, he married Gertrude Johanna Bitterlich in Vienna, Austria. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Bertha Oakley. Survivors include his stepdaughter, Vera; step-mother, Helen Oakley of Benkelman; sister, Marlene and husband, Eldon Cawthra also of Benkelman; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be Friday, 1:30 p.m. (MST), at Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkelman. Interment with military honors will follow services at the Benkelman Cemetery. Visitation is today until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OBERLIN — Joseph H. BARBER, 83, died Wednesday (Jan. 28, 2003) at the Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin. He was born Nov. 11, 1919, in Wakeeney, Kan., to Joseph Abraham and Minnie Mable (Hawks) Barber. He was raised on a farm in Rooks County, Kan. He attended Sand Creek School and graduated from Codell High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. On July 20, 1946, he married Joyce Elaine Glinther. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joyce in 1994; daughter Nancy Jo, four brothers, Virgil Barber, John Lumpkins, Roy Lumpkins and Marion Lumpkins; one sister, Ethel Trexler; and one grandson. Funeral services will be Thursday, 11 a.m., at the Christian Church in Plainville, Kan., with the Rev. Verl Clark officiating. Interment will be in the Plainville Cemetery at Plainville. Visitation is today until 8 p.m., at the funeral home in Oberlin and Thursday after 9 a.m. at the church in Plainville. Pauls Funeral Home of Oberlin is in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CURTIS — Ernest Tyre NELSON was born July 14, 1924, on a farm south of Curtis, to Alvah and Rissena (Jorgensen) Nelson. He died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at the McAllen Medical Center in McAllen, Texas. He was united in marriage to Florence Hansen on May 21, 1944, in Red Cloud. To this union was born three children, Stanton, Cheryl and Cindy. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Nelson Softley; parents, Alvah and Rissena Nelson; sister and brother-in-law, LaVaughn and Marvin Brand; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ray and Bonnie Hansen; sisters-in-law, Winifred Hansen and Doris Blackstone. Memorial services will be Thursday, 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Curtis with the Rev. Rick Sykes officiating. Visitation is today until 9 p.m. Blase-Wetzel Funeral Home of Curtis is in charge of arrangements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALMA — Robert A. PFEIL, 76, died Sunday (Jan. 26, 2003) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Sept. 13, 1926, in Doniphan, to Clarence LaVelle and Nellie Pearl (Sparks) Pfeil. On June 5, 1949, he married Ruth Cicilie Hansen at Laramie, Wyo. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Burdette Pfeil and wife, Joan and Michael Pfeil; and a brother-in-law, Frank Chipperfield. Memorial services will be Sunday, 2 p.m., at the Word Teaching Center in Alma. A private burial was conducted Tuesday in the Alma Cemetery at Alma. Banta-Torrey Funeral Home of Alma is in charge of arrangements. ====== Copyright © 2007 Nebraska Obituary Abstracts NEGenWeb Project