The Columbus Telegram
Sept 1 - 15, 2010

COLUMBUS – Gerald “Wayne” W. SPELTS, 87, of Columbus, died Aug 27, 2010. 
Born Dec 8, 1922, Kennard, to George Allen and Gwynethe Carol (Troth) Spelts. 
Grew up in Shelton. Served in the Army Air Corp. Married Elizabeth Cash, 
Mar 6, 1942, Omaha. They lived in Shelton, Biloxi, Miss., Columbia, Mo., and 
New Jersey during his service years. Also resided in St Libory, North Platte, 
Gothenburg and O’Neill where he was involved in the lumber business. Was 
also a Sears dealer in O’Neill for 15 years. Retired to Sun City, Ariz., moving to 
Columbus after his wife’s death. Preceded by his wife in Nov of 2008; parents; 
brother, George Spelts. Services Friday at Federated Church, Columbus. 
Graveside service Friday in Shelton. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

SCHUYLER – Mary L. LADWIG, 89, died Aug 30, 2010. Born July 19, 1921, Colfax 
County, to Frank and Mary (Abraham) Dworak. Married Eldin Ladwig, Jan 26, 1943, 
Clarkson. Made their home in Schuyler where Mary worked as a nurses’ aid at 
Schuyler Memorial Hospital for 39 years. Preceded by her husband on Dec 4, 1988; 
son, LaVern “Butch” on Sept 11, 2002; and grandson, John Ladwig on Sept 18, 2002. 
Services Thursday at St Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial in Schuyler Cemetery. Svoboda 
Funeral Home in charge.

SILVER CREEK – Joseph “Jammer” KONWINSKI, 44, died Aug 31, 2010. Born 
Aug 3, 1966, Silver Creek, to Joseph and Elaine (Bierman) Konwinski. Lived in 
Silver Creek all his life. Worked at Plains Power and Equipment in Osceola as 
a mechanic for 20 years; also worked at K & L Irrigation and Don’s Auto as a 
truck driver. Preceded by his grandparents, Joseph and Florence Konwinski, 
and John and Clara Bierman. Services Friday at St Lawrence Catholic 
Church, Silver Creek. Burial in St Lawrence Cemetery, Silver Creek. 
McKown Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Mary Jean AINSWORTH, 59, died Sept 1, 2010. Born Jan 28, 1951, 
rural Humphrey, to William and Esther (Cook) Backes, the fifth of seven children. 
Married Dean Ainsworth, Aug 2, 1969. Moved to Columbus in 1978. Preceded by 
her parents. Services Saturday at St Isidore Catholic Church, Columbus. Burial in 
All Saints Cemetery, Columbus. McKown Funeral Home of Columbus in charge.

COLUMBUS – Helen Elizabeth DALKE, 90, died Aug 31, 2010. Born Oct 29, 1929, 
Hallock, Minn., to Helge and Elizabeth (Burris) Olson. Married Rev. Arthur G. Dalke. 
Lived and served as a missionary in Canada, Cuba and Venezuela. Spent 25 years 
in South Texas, involved with a Mexican church; moving to Columbus in May, 2008 
to live with her sister. Preceded by her parents; husband. Services Friday at 
Highland Park Evangelical Free Church, Columbus. Burial later in Texas. 
Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Edgar R. KORTE, 91, died Aug 31, 2010. Born Mar 14, 1919, on 
the family farm in Platte County, the eldest son of Ernst and Louise (Otte) 
Korte. Baptized at home. Married Evelyn Wilke, Oct 10, 1940 at Christ 
Lutheran Church [rural Columbus]. Farmed and ran a Grade A Dairy before 
retiring and moving into Columbus in 1984. Preceded by his parents;
brothers, Elmer and Allen Korte; one sister in infancy. Services Friday 
at Christ Lutheran Church. Burial in Christ Lutheran Cemetery 
[rural Columbus]. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

CULVER CITY, CALIF. – Jenonne SHAFFER, 74, of Culver City, Calif., died July 29, 2010 
at Marina Del Rey Hospital, Los Angeles, Calif. Born Sept 16, 1935, Osceola, to Marvin 
and Lillian (Kubicek) Dawes. Raised on the family farm and worked at 1st National 
Bank in Osceola until she was 26; then moved to California and worked at several 
banks. Married Huey Shaffer, Feb 1, 1964, Osceola. Preceded by her parents; one 
infant son; nephew, Scott Scow; brother-in-law, Joe Kelly. Memorial service Sept 4 
at Gates, Kinglsey & Gates Smith Salsbury, Culver City, California

NEWMAN GROVE – Opal BENSON, 99, of Newman Grove, died Aug 30, 2010 at 
Boone County Health Center, Albion. Services Tuesday at Shell Creek Lutheran 
Church, Newman Grove. Burial at Shell Creek Cemetery.

MADISON – LaVera D. YOUNG, 93, of Madison, formerly of Columbus, died 
Sept 1, 2010, Madison. Born Sept 11, 1916, Pilger, to Tom and Elizabeth 
(Van Buskirk) Johnson. Married Max Young, Mar 26, 1937, Wayne. Taught 
school in Wayne County; Portland, Ore; and then in Hays Springs. Preceded 
by her husband; parents; brothers, Eugene Johnson, Thomas J. Johnson. 
Services Saturday at McKown Funeral Home, Columbus. Burial in Columbus 
Cemetery.

LINCOLN – Robert “Bob” E. REEDER, 72, died Aug 31, 2010. Born Aug 27, 1938, 
Columbus, one of nine children born to William J. and Mary (Doud) Reeder. Grew 
up in Cedar Rapids. Earned a doctorate in 1972 from Univ. of Nebr.-Lincoln. 
Married Midge. Taught 37 years in various Nebraska schools, including 
Niobrara, Wayne State, Ainsworth, Lincoln Northeast, Lincoln East High 
School. Also served as a science consultant and taught courses at UNL Teachers 
College and Concordia University. Preceded by his parents; infant son, Mark 
Richard; three brothers; three sisters. Services Monday at St Mark’s United 
Methodist Church, Lincoln. Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral 
Home, Lincoln, in charge.

COLUMBUS – Evangeline A. BREZENSKI, 87, died Sept 2, 2010. Born Nov 7, 1922, 
Barnesville, Minn., to Ignatius and Clementena (Nosal) Staroscik. Married Edward 
Brezenski, Aug 9, 1943, at St Stanislaus Church, Duncan. Worked for Becton 
Dickinson for more than 17 years, retiring in 1985. Preceded by her husband; 
parents; daughter, Patricia Ciurej; sister, Eleanor Niedbalski; brother, Francis 
Staroscik. Services Tuesday at St Isdiore Catholic Church. Burial in 
St Bonaventure Cemetery, Columbus. McKown Funeral Home in 
Columbus in charge.

COLUMBUS – Matthew VanDeWALLE, 39, died Sept 2, 2010 at Nebraska 
Heart Institute, Lincoln. Born Aug 30, 1971, Albion, to Phillip VanDeWalle 
and Marilyn Esau. Preceded by his grandfather, Elmer Esau; grandparents, 
Joseph and Deva VanDeWalle; aunts, Janet O’Cilka and Joan Gray. Services 
Sept 7 at Federated Church, Columbus. Burial in Mt Pleasant 
Cemetery, Petersburg. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – George E. RYCK, 65, died Sept 5, 2010. Born Feb 22, 1945, Omaha
to George A. and Adeline (Yecha) Ryck. Married Dorothy Brian, June 22, 1968, at 
St Mary’s Catholic Church, Omaha. Worked for Nebraska Public Power, Columbus. 
Later owned and operated Little King and LK Sports Cards in Columbus. Preceded 
by his parents; nephew, Kevin Ryck. Services Thursday at St Bonaventure Catholic 
Church, Columbus. Burial in St Mary’s Cemetery, Omaha. McKown Funeral Home 
in charge.

CLARKS – Edward James JARECKE, 83, of Clarks, died Sept 6, 2010, Grand Island. 
Born Dec 5, 1926, on a farm west of Fullerton, to Leo and Julia (Malek) Jarecke. 
Served in the US Army; then started farming south of Fullerton. Married Evelyn 
Boryca, Sept 30, 1952 at Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Krakow. Farmed 
near Fullerton and Clarks until he retired and moved into Clarks in 1996. Preceded 
by his parents; brother, Richard. Services Thursday at St Peters Catholic 
Church, Clarks. Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Clarks with military rites. 
Palmer Funeral Home in charge.

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Barbara Lynn PLANTZ, 51, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Aug 23, 2010. 
Born July 31, 1959, Columbus. Preceded by her mother, Rose H. Plantz. Services 
Saturday at St Michaels Church, Lincoln. Burial at Calvary Cemetery, Lincoln. 
Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Carolyn BERCHTOLD, 84, of Columbus, died Aug 3, 2010 at Monarch 
Care Center, Lincoln, after a fight with cancer. Born Dec 30, 1925, Columbus, to 
William and Lydia (Rodehorst) Welch. Married Delbert Mihulka, Feb 11, 1948. 
Married Carroll “Kelly” Berchtold, Nov 26, 1986. Preceded by her parents; 
husband Delbert on July 20, 1984; husband Carroll on July 3, 1996. Services 
Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbus. Burial in Columbus Cemetery. 
Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

ST. EDWARD – Berniece GRESS, 87, of St Edward, died Aug 31, 2010 at her son’s 
home in Gaithersburg, Md. Services Friday at United Methodist-Presbyterian 
Church, St Edward. Burial in Evergreen Cemetery, St Edward. Miller-Levander 
Funeral Home in St Edward in charge.

MILLIKEN, Colo. – Anna Carolina EDWARDS 96, of Milliken, Colo., died at her 
home on Sept 4, 2010. Born Mar 18, 1914, Cedar Rapids, to Henry and Rignald 
“Carrie” (Hestikind) Rieken. Married Herschel O. Edwards; they later divorced.
Worked various jobs and retired from Dale Electronics in Columbus in 1976. 
Preceded by her parents; husband; daughters, Joyce Taylor of Colleyville, TX, 
Glenda Kilburn, of Denver, Colo., Darlene Latimer, of Eustace, Texas, Connie 
Bird, of Columbus; infant son, Richard Edwards, of Nebraska; four sisters; 
two brothers. Services Friday at Adamson Chapel, Greeley, Colo. Burial at 
Sunset Memorial Gardens.

STROMSBURG – Gerald “Jerry” J. KLEIN, 57, of Stromsburg, died Sept 7, 2010 at 
his home in Stromsburg. Born Dec 22, 1952, David City, to Edgar S. and Lorraine 
M. (Gabel) Klein. Married Becky Sue Mentink, Dec 17, 1972 at St Vincent’s Catholic 
Church, Osceola. Lived and farmed in Polk County his entire life. Moved to Ulysses 
for six years after getting married where he was a dairy farmer; also baled hay 
and farmed. Then moved to his present farm where he lived for the past 30 
years, continued to farm, raise cattle and hogs. Preceded by his father in 1982; 
step-father, John Harbour in 2003. Services Friday at St Vincent’s Catholic 
Church, Osceola. Burial in Osceola Cemetery. Dubas Funeral Home of 
Osceola and Stromsburg in charge.

COLUMBUS – Benjamin “Ben” Daniel ROBAK, 31, died Sept 6, 2010 at his home
in Columbus. Born Oct 12, 1978, Columbus, to Daniel and Marilyn (Fyfe) Robak. 
Previously employed by Appleton’s and worked various jobs as a painter. Preceded 
by his grandparents, Elmer and Elizabeth Robak; grandparents, William and Ruth 
Fyfe; uncle, Richard Fyfe; aunt, Carlene Fyfe. Services Friday at St Bonaventure 
Church, Columbus. Burial in All Saints Cemetery, Columbus. McKown Funeral 
Home in charge.

CROSSLAKE, Minn. – Phyllis A. WILLIAMS, 84, of Crosslake, Minn., died Sept 1, 2010. 
Born Apr 11, 1926, Sac County, Iowa, to Clifford and Naomi (Therkelsen) Irwin. Married 
Rev. Dean William in 1945. Taught for a short time after graduating from Drake University. 
Preceded by her parents; three brothers. Services Sept 4 at Crosslake Presbyterian 
Church. Burial later in Sac City Municipal Cemetery, Sac City, Iowa. 

COLUMBUS – Twila MILLS, 66, died Sept 8, 2010 at her home in Columbus. 
Born Nov 24, 1943, Columbus, to Harold and Della (Kinzer) Thoms. Preceded 
by her father; step-father, Tony Bernecki. Services Monday at Gass Haney 
Funeral Home, Columbus.

LINCOLN – Robert L. PLANTZ, 75, of Lincoln, formerly of Columbus, died 
Sept 8, 2010. Preceded by his parents; wife, Rose Plantz; daughter, Barbara 
Lynn Plantz on Aug 23, 2010. Services Saturday at Saint Michael’s Catholic 
Church, Lincoln. Burial in Calvary Cemetery, Lincoln. Butherus, Maser & Love 
Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Tadeusz W. LAZAREVIC, 63, died Sept 6, 2010 at his home 
in Columbus. Services Monday at McKown Funeral Home, Columbus.

ALBION – Albert J. LABENZ, 83, of Albion, died Sept 10, 2010. Services 
Tuesday at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Albion. Burial in Valley View 
Cemetery, Genoa. Levander Funeral Home in charge.

DAVID CITY – George W. MASTERA, 81, died Sept 9, 2010. Services Monday 
at Presentation Catholic Church, Marietta. Burial in St Mary’s Catholic 
Cemetery, David City, with military honors. Kracl Funeral Chapel in 
David City in charge.

ST. EDWARD – Janet Esther CUMMING, 71, died Sept 12, 2010. Born 
Sept 21, 1938, Boone County, to Roy Glenn and Esther Mathilda (Olson) 
Cumming. Taught at a rural school near St Edward for one year; then 
completed her education. Worked as a parish worker in several different 
Lutheran churches across the Midwest and Eastern states. Began work 
at Augsburg Fortress Publishers in Omaha in 1976 and was there for 22 
years until it closed. Entered Cloverlode Care Center in St Edward in Oct 2005. 
Preceded by her parents. Services Thursday at Salem Lutheran Church, St Edward. 
Burial in Evergreen Cemetery, St Edward. Levander Funeral Home in charge.

OMAHA – Jerry Dewain JACOBS, 71, died Sept 9, 2010, at his home in Omaha. 
Born May 13, 1939, Columbus, to Henry and Pearl (Hasner) Jacobs. Followed 
the horse racing circuit working for many different owners as a groomer for 
30 years; then became a handyman in Omaha until retiring. Preceded by his 
parents; brothers, Hank, Wayne, Bernard and infant James; four half brothers; 
four half sisters. Services Sept 13 at Westlawn Hillcrest Funeral Home, Omaha.

ABILENE, Texas – Shirley Ann HOLDORF, 78, of Abilene, Texas, died Sept 11, 2010. 
Born July 13, 1932, Hoskins, to Ernest and Ella Muhs. Worked at various jobs in 
Wayne; then moved to Norfolk and worked at Norfolk Daily News, Penney’s and 
Kmart. Moved to Abilene, Texas in 1979 and worked for Penney’s, Kmart and 
Ambers, retiring in 1993 Preceded by her parents; brother, Larry Muhs. Graveside 
services Sept 15 at Elmwood Memorial Park, Abilene, Texas. Elmwood Funeral 
in charge.

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Virgil Jerome VOIGT, 54, died Sept 11, 2010. Born Apr 6, 1954, 
Lemmon, S.D., to Edwin and Vernice (Menke) Voigt. Diagnosed with severe cerebral 
palsy at a young age. Lived with his parents until moving to Black Hills Workshop in 
Rapid City, S.D. Preceded by his grandparents, William and Ida Menke; grandparents, 
Ralph and Katie Voigt; uncle, Jacob Krull; aunt and uncle, Evelyn and Rayburn Rueb. 
Services Friday at First Baptist Church, Columbus. Burial in Shell Creek Baptist 
Cemetery, rural Columbus. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

ALBION – Ella Mae DOZLER, 76, died Sept 13, 2010. Services Thursday at 
St Michael Catholic Church, Albion. Burial in the parish cemetery. Levander 
Funeral Home in Albion in charge.

The Columbus Telegram
September 16 - 30, 2010

COLUMBUS – Anthony J. “Tony” CZAPLA, 91, died Sept 15, 2010. Born May 13, 1919, 
Columbus, to Joseph B. and Agnes (Kush) Czapla. Worked in Omaha at the Wilson 
and Cadahy packing houses after graduation; then returned to the family farm from 
1943-46. Worked for Clarence Mimick in 1960; then was a supervisor at D & L until 
retiring in 1984. Preceded by his parents; five sisters; six brothers. Services Saturday 
at St Bonaventure Catholic Church, Columbus. Burial in St Stanislaus 
Cemetery, Duncan. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

WEST BEND – Vern A. SUHR, 69, of West Bend, died Sept 11, 2010. Services Sept 16 
at Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home, West Bend. Burial in Wisconsin Memorial Park, Brookfield.

OMAHA – Edmund H. ALBRACHT, 88, died Sept 13, 2010. Born Oct 27, 1921, Lindsay. 
Preceded by his parents, John and Anna (Schaecher) Albracht; sisters, Irene Borer, 
Marie Zuehlike, Margie Pfeifer; brothers, Walter, Louis and Alfred Albracht. Services 
Sept 16 at Christ the King Catholic Church, Omaha. Burial in Holy Family 
Cemetery, Lindsay. John A. Gentleman Mortuaries in charge.

COLUMBUS – Edward John MILLS. Born July 27, 1971, Broken Bow, to Edward 
Gerald and Peggy (Efurd) Mills. Raised on a farm in rural Westerville Got his 
start in advertising at KCNI in Broken Bow in 1988; then went to work at 
The Columbus Telegram, where he worked until 2001. Established Mills 
Marketing in June 2010. Preceded by his father; paternal grandparents, 
Edward Weaver and Avis Mills; and maternal grandparents, John W. and 
Mary Addie Efurd. Services Tuesday [Sept 21] at United Methodist 
Church, Broken Bow. Burial in Westerville Cemetery. Govier Brother 
Mortuary in charge.

COLUMBUS – Trent James PRICE, Jr., son of Trent and Sharon (Yates) Price
was born into heaven Sept 16, 2010 at Columbus Community Hospital. 
McKown Funeral Home in charge.

ST. EDWARD – Donald G. PRUDEN, 74, died Sept 17, 2010, Broken Bow. 
Born Dec 1, 1935, Ewing, to T.S. “Fuzz” and Dorothy (Neubauer) Pruden. 
Served in the US Amry from May 22, 1953 to Apr 21, 1955. Married Martha 
Holcomb, May 18, 1963, Neligh. Moved to Golden Livingcenter, Broken Bow
in 2007. Preceded by his parents; wife; great-granddaughter, Emma Pruden. 
Services Sept 21 at Methodist-Presbyterian Church, St Edward. Burial in 
Evergreen Cemetery, St Edward, with military rites. Miller-Levander 
Funeral Home in St. Edward in charge.

COLUMBUS – Clyde Doyle LNENICKA, 80, died Sept 18, 2010, at his 
home near Columbus. Was a veteran and served in Korea. Gass 
Haney Funeral Home in charge.

LINCOLN – Elsie Alvina SLATTERY, 91, formerly of Grand Island, died Sept 17, 2010 
at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Lincoln. Born Oct 30, 1918, on the family farm 
near Fullerton, to George and Anna (Worzal) Koza. Married Edward W. Slattery, 
Aug 9, 1947 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Grand Island. Worked for Chicago Lumber 
Company, Silver Creek and Norfolk; Donaphin Electric Cooperative in Troy, Kan., 
Southern Nebraska Public Power District in Grand Island, and retired in 1987 
after 19 years with the City of Grand Island. Preceded by her husband; three 
infant grandchildren, Mark Slattery, Kathryn Slattery and Laura Slattery; her 
parents; brithers, Joseph Koza, Frank Koza, Charles Koza, Edward Koza, 
Adolph Koza, Henry Koza and Benedict Koza; sisters, Tillie Stanczyk and 
Dorothy Barnes. Services Tuesday at St Mary’s Cathedral, Grand Island. 
Burial in Calvary Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery [Grand Island?]. 
Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home in charge.

TULIA, Texas – Otta A. “Sam” WARTH, 80, died Sept 16, 2010 at his home in Tulia. 
Born Oct 6, 1929, Cornlea, to Otto A. and Adeline (Borer) Warth. Served in the 
U. S. Army from 1951 to 1953. Married Jeanette Gilsdorf, Sept 11, 1957, Cornlea. 
Worked for the Continental Grain Company for 35 years, 27 years in Cornlea and 
8 in Tulia, retiring in 1991. Preceded by his parents; sister, Rita Albin; 
parents-in-law, Joe and Rose Gilsdorf; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bill 
and Cleo Mae Wiese and Marvin and Rhoda Gilsdorf; brothers-in-law, Mark 
Gilsdorf and Bob Gilsdorf. Services Thurs at St Francis Catholic Church, Humphrey. 
Burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Cornlea. Korner Stone Funerals in charge.

SUTHERLAND – Frederick J. BUCHHOLZ, 83, of Sutherland, died Sept 13, 2010 
at Veterans Hospital, Grand Island. Born Nov 12, 1926, Columbus, to Emil A. 
and Clara (Grotelueschen) Buchholz. Graduated from Bremerton [Washington] 
High School and University of Nebraska. Preceded by his parents; brother, James 
Buchholz. Memorial services later. Burial to be in Fort McPherson, Maxwell. 

CEDAR RAPIDS – Irene Mable LOEFFLER, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died Sept 21, 2010 
at Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Center, Albion. Born Nov 3, 1919, Primrose to 
Harrison and Mable (Fitzsimmons) Hartford. Taught in Boone County rural schools 
for 4 years. Married Stanley Loeffler, Dec 31, 1940 at St Anthony’s Catholic 
Church, Cedar Rapids. Lived in Cedar Rapids where they owned and operated 
the Minneapolis Moline Dealership. Moved to a farm east of Cedar Rapids in 1957, 
then back to Cedar Rapids in 1999. Preceded by her husband in 2007; parents; 
two infant children; daughter, Judy Bitto; sister, Mildred; brother, William. 
Services Thursday at St Anthony’s Church, Cedar Rapids. Burial in St Anthony’s 
Catholic Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Levander Funeral Home in charge.

MALMO – James KASPAR, 81, of Malmo, died Sept 20, 2010 at Pathfinder 
House, Fremont. Burial in Prague National Cemetery. Kracl Funeral Chapel 
of Schuyler in charge.

GENEVA – Betty J. DeLANCEY, 76, of Geneva, formerly of Fullerton, died 
Sept 20, 2010. Services Friday at Palmer Funeral Home, Fullerton. Burial 
in Fullerton Cemeteyr.

LINCOLN – Richard L. “Dick” KEHLER, 79, of Lincoln, died Sept 19, 2010 after a 
four-year battle with cancer. Born May 7, 1931, Lincoln, to Alex and Alma (Mallau) 
Kehler. Served in the US Army. Married Wilma Jean Bender. Worked for the Journal 
Star for 25 years. Retired as an independent commercial business owner. Preceded 
by his parents. Services Friday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Lincoln. Burial in 
Lincoln Memorial Park.

DAVID CITY – Dorothy K. LISSMAN, 89, of David City, died Sept 20, 2010. 
Services Friday at Zion Lutheran Church, Sutton. Burial in Sutton Cemetery. 
Chermok Funeral Home in David City in charge.

DAVID CITY – Ellis PROSKOVEC, 85, of David City, died Sept 20, 2010. 
Services Saturday at St Mary’s Catholic Church, David City. Burial in 
St Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, Bruno. Kracl Funeral Chapel of 
David City in charge.

DAVID CITY – Goldiemae PALENSKY, 87, died Sept 22, 2010. Born Feb 14, 1923, 
Fremont, to Frank and Edna (Diaz) Manzel. Married Leonard Palensky, Feb 5, 1945 
at St Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Abie. Lived in Abie area for many years. 
Preceded by granddaughter, Renee Palensky; brothers, Marvin and Jack Manzel; 
sisters, Mern Pfieffer, Nona Babe and Dorothy Reier. Services Monday at St Mary’s 
Catholic Church, David City. Burial in Assumption Cemetery, Appleton. Svoboda
Funeral Home in charge.

GRAND ISLAND – Dr. James R. “Jim” BURWELL, 87, of Grand Island, formerly of 
Ogallala, died Sept 20, 2010 in Aurora. Born July 2, 1923, Kansas City, Kan., to 
Raymond and Marguerite (Ramsey) Burwell. Served in the Army Air Corps; later 
enlisting in the US Navy. Married Myrna Olson, Nov 1, 1958, Grand Island. Lived 
in Grand Island where he worked for the VA Medical Center. Moved to Ogallala 
where he was in private practice, retiring in 1995. No services. Was cremated. 
All Faiths Funeral Home in charge.

SCHUYLER – Matthew WACHAL, 88, died Sept 23, 2010. Born Oct 19, 1921, 
Schuyler, to Matthew Sr and Anna (Najmon) Wachal. Married Arlene Dubsky, 
Nov 29, 1950 at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Schuyler. After retiring from farming 
he worked for John Deere Implement, Grubbs Grocery, North Bend Trailer Factory 
and operated a maintainer for Colfax County. He owned and operated the Happy 
Travelers Tour Bus Company from 1997-2009. Preceded by brothers, Stanley and 
Elmer Wachal. Services at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Schuyler. Svoboda Funeral 
Home in Schuyler in charge.

COLUMBUS – Jean Therese GERBER, 79, died Sept 24, 2010, Schuyler. 
Born Aug 8, 1931, Columbus, to Fred W. and Frances (Schilz) Gerber Sr. 
Served in the US Navy Nurse Corp from 1956-60. Worked as a registered 
nurse at St Joseph Hospital in Omaha and Columbus Community Hospital. 
Preceded by her parents; brother, Fred (Virginia) Gerber, Jr. Services 
Monday at St Bonaventure Catholic Church, Columbus. Burial in 
St Bonaventure Cemetery, Columbus, with military honors. 
McKown Funeral Home in charge.

ALBION – Robert “Bob” Alex STREETER, 90, died Sept 25, 2010, Fullerton. 
Born July 3, 1920, Albion, to Alex R. and Clara M. (Riley) Streeter. Served 
in the US Army from Sept 1942 to Jan 1946. Married Florence Klassen, 
Apr 20, 1949 at St Michael’s Church, Albion. Lived and farmed west of 
Loretto until 1977, when they moved to a farm near Petersburg. Moved 
to Albion in 1981 where he worked for the State of Nebraska, Katyon’s 
Implement and Albion Farmer’s Co-op. Preceded by his parents; son, Bill 
in 1981; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Carol Streeter; sister and 
brother-in-law, Eudine and Keith Sexton; and sister-in-law, JoAnn 
Klassen. Services Tuesday at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Albion. 
Burial in St Michael’s Cemetery. Levander Funeral Home in charge.

PHOENIX – Bradford W. ERICKSON, 50, of Phoenix, died Sept 1,4 2010 at 
Creighton Medical Hospital, Omaha. Born May 7, 1960, Columbus, to Andrew 
and Annabelle Erickson. Attended Columbus schools, graduating from Kearney 
High. Preceded by his father. Services Sept 22 at Phoenix Memorial Park and 
Mortuary.

BRAINARD – Jerome J. HAVLOVIC, 64, of Brainard, died Sept 24, 2010 at 
his residence. Services Wednesday at Holy Trinity Church, Brainard. Burial 
in Holy Trinity Cemetery. Holesovsky Mortuary in Brainard in charge.

VAN NUYS, Calif. – Harriet VOSSELER, 81, of Van Nuys, Calif., died Aug 6, 2010. 
Born Aug 19, 1928, Columbus, to Franz and Ruby (Koch) Luchsinger. Raised in 
rural Polk county. Married Gene Vosseler in Fremont Served churches in 
Missouri Valley, Iowa; South America; Hawaii; and Fresno, Calif. Spent 3 years 
in rural Jamaica as a Peace Corps volunteer between 1979-1982. Preceded by 
her parents; daughter, Cheryl. Memorial service Saturday [Oct 2] at St Luke’s 
UCC, Columbus. Burial in Roselawn Cemetery, Columbus. 

FORT ATKINSON, Wis. – Jack Daniel RUMSEY, 84, died Sept 17, 2010 
at St Mary’s Hospital, Madison. Dunlap Memorial Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Elaine RAHTZ, 68, died Sept 27, 2010. Born Apr 7, 1942, 
Stuart, to Lyle and Vera (Lenz) Walter. Raised on a farm near Chambers, 
later moving with her family to Norfolk. Married Don Rahtz, Aug 2, 1961. 
Moved to Columbus. Preceded by her parents; brothers, Clifford and 
Loren Walter. Services Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. 
Burial in Schuyler Cemetery. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

OMAHA – Robert B. CZAPLA, 57, of Omaha, died Sept 28, 2010. Born 
Apr 15, 1953, Columbus. Preceded by his parents, William and Victoria 
Czapla; daughter, Melanie; sister, Vicky Wagner. Services Friday at 
St Cecilia Cathedral. Burial in Evergreen Memorial Park, Omaha. 
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, of Omaha, in charge.

COLUMBUS – Loren D. CRUMLEY, 87, died Sept 27, 2010. Born 
Jan 17, 1923, Sparks, Okla, to Charles and Margaret (Blemmel) 
Crumley. Lived in Oklahoma until 1929 when the family moved to 
Platte Center, moving north of Columbus in 1936. Married Elsie 
Bruckner, Dec 7, 1946, in Glenwood, Iowa. Worked in automobile 
sales for over 50 years, selling cars for George Ewert Motor Company;
the Charlie Ball Motor Company, Wertz-Christensens, and Columbus 
Motors. Preceded by his wife; son, William Crumley; parents; 
step-father, Gary Schutte; infant son; brothers, Albert and Wilburn 
Crumley; sisters, Dorothy Mae Crumley and Elba Loraine Ophiem. 
Services Friday at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, Columbus. 
Burial in Roselawn Cemetery, Columbus. McKown Funeral 
Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Harold K. FORCE, 87, died Aug 5, 2010. Burial with 
military honors Oct 9, 2010 in Evergreen Cemetery, St Edward.

SCHUYLER – Edward Daniel BARTA, Jr. died unexpectedly Sept 27, 2010. 
Born Feb 7, 1954, Lexington, to Edward Sr and Charlene (Overton) Barta. 
Served in the Army from 1973 to 1976. Married Patsy Parsons, May 23, 1974, 
Lexington. Made their home in Schuyler since 1988. Was a welder by trade 
and operated the family business in Lexington. Preceded by his father; 
brother-in-law, Dusty Boeckman. Services Thursday at Svoboda Funeral 
Home North Chapel, Schuyler. Burial at Fort McPherson National 
Cemetery, Maxwell.

DAVID CITY – Elvin J. STANEK, 89, of David City died Sept 28, 2010 in Lincoln. 
Was a WWII veteran. Services Saturday at Chermok Funeral Home, David City.  
Burial in the Prague National Cemetery.

RICHLAND – Ward Josiah STEVENSON, Jr., 82, of Richland, died Sept 28, 2010 
at Alegent Health, Schuyler. Born Feb 12, 1928, north of Richland, to Ward J. 
and Galatia (Smith) Stevenson, Sr. Served in the US Army during the Korean 
Conflict. Married Florence Abraham, June 28, 1953. Worked his entire life, until 
retiring, raising hogs, cattle, corn, grain and hay. Preceded by his parents; and 
sister, Arlene Ebner. Services Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Schuyler. 
Burial in Schuyler Cemetery. Kracl Funeral Chapel in charge.

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