Columbus Telegram
March 2011


March 1, 2011

MESA, Ariz. – Roger Dean WATTS, 74, died Feb 26, 2011 in Mesa, Arizona. 
Born Jan 22, 1937 in Osceola. Operated the Husker House in Columbus for 
many years. Services private. Mariposa Gardens Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ 
in charge.

DAVID CITY – Dennis R. KILGORE, 66, of David City, died Feb 26, 2011 in 
David City. Services Thursday at St Luke’s Methodist Church, David City. 
Burial later. Kracl Funeral Chapel of David City in charge.

March 2, 2011

OMAHA – Julie Beth CARLSON, 54, of Omaha, died Feb 27, 2011 at her home. 
Born Jan 4, 1957, in Osceola, to Ronald L. and Barbara Jean (Egly) Carlson. 
Married Dana Anderson at United Methodist Church, Columbus. Lived in 
various placed including Lincoln, Brookings, S.D., Howells and Kronborg; 
moved to Aurora, the to Omaha in 2008. Preceded by her parents; 
brother, Steve Carlson; and niece, Andrea Stieren. Services Thursday 
at United Methodist Church, Osceola. Burial in Osceola Cemetery. 
Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg in charge.

COLUMBUS – Florence AERNI, 92, of Columbus, died Feb 28, 2011. 
Born Nov 26, 1918, Polk County, to Frank and Martha (Rinke) Tschauner. 
Married Albert Aerni, June 20, 1939 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. 
Worked for Becton Dickinson for 20 years, retiring in the early 1970s. Preceded 
by her parents; husband; daughter, Anita Aerni; daughter-in-law, Julie Aerni; 
sisters, Rosella Gondringer, Regina Leventhal, Helen Schlesinger, and Emma 
Abegglen; and brothers, Carl, Walter, Hubert, Albert, and Martin Tschauner. 
Services Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. Burial in Roselawn 
Memorial Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

MONROE – Joselyn Sue WIESE, 1, of Monroe, died Mar 1, 2011 at Children’s 
Hospital, Omaha. Services Thursday at Holy Family Catholic Church, Lindsay. 
Burial in Holy Family Cemetery, Lindsay. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

DAVID CITY – Frieda Meister KINDLER, 99, of David City, died Mar 1, 2011. 
Services Friday at St Francis Catholic Church, rural David City. Burial in 
St Francis Cemetery. Kracl Funeral Chapel of David City in charge.

March 3, 2011

HAVELOCK – Robert SCHEULER, 88, died Feb 24, 2011, in Mesa, Arizona. 
Born July 6, 1922, Havelock. Was raised in Columbus; was a WWII Army 
veteran. Married Donna. Private services to be determined at Queen of 
Heaven Cemetery, Mesa, AZ.

FULLERTON – Florence E. SHEMEK, 90, of Fullerton, died Feb 28, 2011 at Bryan 
LGH West, Lincoln. Born Oct 28, 1920, Genoa, to Fairon and Bessie (Harmon) 
Anderson Sr. Worked in the family café until she married. Married Edward F 
Shemek, Oct 20, 1939 at the Catholic parsonage, Genoa. Worked in the 
dietary department at Fullerton Memorial Hospital, retiring in 1980. Preceded 
by her parents; husband on Nov 30, 2007; brother, Fairon Anderson Jr; 
sisters, Gloria Reynolds and infant Bessie Anderson. Services Saturday at 
St Peters Catholic Church, Fullerton. Burial in St Peters Catholic 
Cemetery, Fullerton. Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton in charge.

COLUMBUS – Phyllis Anne COOPER, 87, of Columbus, died Mar 1, 2011 at her home. 
Born Jan 7, 1924, Cambridge, to Charles V. and Nettie Loretta (Tatman) Chadwick. 
Grew up in Scottsbluff. Taught elementary school in California, Lincoln and Scottsbluff. 
Married Lloyd John Cooper, May 20, 1944 in Lyman. Lived in Philadelphia, Miami, 
California, Lincoln and Falls City before moving to Columbus in 1976. Preceded by 
her parents; son, John C. Cooper; brothers, Richard Lockwood Chadwick, Robert 
W. Chadwick, Charles V. Chadwick, Jr.; and sister-in-law, Catherine Rigden. 
Services Monday at Federated Church, Columbus. Burial in Columbus 
Cemetery. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Vernon LeRoy ZIMMERMAN, 93, of Columbus, died Mar 2, 2011. 
Born Jan 17, 1918, Duncan, to Rudolph J. and Anna R. (Ernst) Zimmerman. 
Lived in Clarks from 1933-41. Served in the US Army from 1941 to 1945. 
Married Phyllis E. Carrell, Oct 11, 1947 at Immanuel Lutheran 
Church, Columbus. Worked for the US Postal Service in Columbus for 
over 30 years, serving as Postmaster from 1976-79. Preceded by his 
parents; and brothers, Donald Zimmerman and Kenneth Zimmerman. 
Services Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Columbus. Burial in 
Columbus Cemetery with military honors. McKown Funeral Home 
in charge.

WICHITA, Kan. – William E. “Bill” MURPHY died Feb 28, 2011 at his home. 
Born Apr 22, 1931, David City, to Marvin and Eunice (Nichols) Murphy. 
Married Eva Welker. Preceded by his parents; and brother, Mike Murphy. 
Services Saturday at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Wichita, Kansas. 

COLUMBUS – Joshua John SANDERS, 34, of Columbus, died Mar 1, 2011. 
Born Feb 10, 1977, Columbus, to Dan and Marvel (Schock) Sanders. Listed 
in the 1993-94, “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.” 
Exhibited projects at Northeast Nebraska Academy of Science and Greater 
Nebraska Science and Engineering Fair, where he received several awards. 
Had Bruton’s Agammaglobulinemia, a genetic immune deficiency and cerebral 
degenerative disease of unknown cause. Preceded by his grandparents, John 
and Emma Schock, and Ira and Elsie Sanders; uncles, Harvey Schock and Glenn 
Schock; and cousin, Nicole Schock. Services Saturday at Gass Haney Funeral 
Home, Columbus. 

March 4, 2011

COLUMBUS – Janet STUTHMAN, 67, of Columbus, died Mar 2, 2011, Valley. 
Born Aug 31, 1943, Omaha, to Ray and Dorothy (Sporic) Hatfield. Taught at 
Bennington High School for three years. Married Paul Stuthman, June 15, 1968 
at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Columbus. Continued teaching in Shelby and 
Lakeview High School in [rural] Columbus; also did substitute teaching in 
Schuyler for several years. Preceded by her parents. Services Monday at 
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. Burial in Roselawn Memorial 
Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

March 5, 2011
[no paper]

March 6, 2011

FREMONT – Marvin DOERNEMAN, 88, of Fremont, formerly of Clarkson, died 
Mar 3, 2011 at Fremont Area Medical Center. Services Tuesday at St Patrick’s 
Catholic Church. Burial in Memorial Cemetery [Fremont]. Ludvigsen Mortuary
in charge.

FULLERTON – Ruth H. ZYWIEC, 79, of Fullerton, died Mar 2, 2011 at Boone 
County Health Center, Albion. Born Mar 28, 1931, Columbus, to Henry and 
Emma (Barnas) Paprocki. Grew up in the Tarnov area. Married Leo R. Zywiec, 
July 24, 1951, at Tarnov. Lived in Columbus and worked at Behlen 
Manufacturing for several years; then moved to Fullerton where they 
farmed north of town. Also joint owners of Loup River Inn in Fullerton for 
10 years. Preceded by her parents; husband on Feb 17, 2006; daughter, 
Connie Huse. Services Monday at St Peters Catholic church, Fullerton. 
Burial in St Peters Catholic Cemetery. Palmer Funeral Home in 
Fullerton in charge.

SHELBY – Lloyd Frank SCHLESINGER, 87, of Shelby, died Mar 4, 2011. 
Born May 17, 1923 to William “Bill” and Emmy (Peterson) Schlesinger in 
Rising City. Served in the US Marine Corp. Married Phyllis Jaax, Nov 14, 1946 
at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Shelby. Lived on a farm near Bellwood; then 
moved to a farm near Shelby. Moved to Shelby in the mid-1950s. Preceded by 
his parents; nephew, Kent Braithwait; and brother-in-law, Ross Braithwait. 
Services Monday at Shelby Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial in Shelby 
Sacred Heart Cemetery. Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg 
in charge.

GENOA – Gilbert L. STRNAD, 92, of Genoa, died Mar 4, 2011. Born Oct 31, 1918, 
Schuyler, to Emil and Carried (Vanicek) Strnad. Married Jean Heitz, May 12, 1942, 
at St Augustine Catholic Church, Schuyler. Served in the US Army from 1942-1945; 
then farmed from 1946 to 1983. Preceded by his parents; wife in 2003; and 
grandson, Ryan Evans. Services Tuesday at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church. 
Burial in Valley View Cemetery, Genoa. Rice Funeral Home in Genoa in charge.

HESPERIA, Calif. – Melvin TERNUS, 61, of Hesperia, Calif., died suddenly, Feb 24, 2011. 
Born Mar 23, 1949, Humphrey, to Jack and Laurine (Liewer) Ternus. Served in the 
U. S. Army. Married Phyllis. Lived in California and worked at Shasta Beverages for 
44 years. Preceded by his parents; sister, Judy; brothers, Ed and Tom. Services 
Mar 2 at Desert View Memorial Park, Victorville, Calif.

March 7, 2011

COLUMBUS – Earl GERKEN, 81, of Columbus, died Mar 4, 2011 at Immanuel Medical 
Center, Omaha. Born Aug 25, 1929, rural Creston, to Herman and Clara (Hoefelman) 
Gerken. Worked for Columbus Planing Mill from 1947-1959, then worked for Behlen 
Manufacturing, retiring in 1997. Married LaVon Berends, Apr 28, 1968 at Immanuel 
Lutheran Church. Was a member of the Army National guard for 20 years. Preceded 
by his parents; brother, Marvin Gerkin; sister, Helen Gerken; and brother-in-law, Dan 
Gloor. Services Tuesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. Private burial later. 
Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

March 8, 2011

CRESTON – DeForest JANSEN, 93, of Creston, died Mar 6, 2011 at Countryside 
Home, Madison. Born Mar 17, 1917, on a farm east of Creston, to Herman Fred 
and Dollie Adelpha (Stevens) Jansen. Worked at Palmateer Grocery and helped 
farm; spent one summer in Minnesota with a threshing crew; then worked at 
the Farmers Store. Married Luella Jean Sander, Sept 17, 1940 at St Peter’s 
Lutheran Church, Creston. Bought the Phillips farm east of Creston in 1949 
and remained there until moving to Countryside Home in Madison. Preceded 
by his parents; wife, on Jan 3, 2010; daughter-in-law, Shirley; and one 
great-grandchild. Services Thursday at St Peter’s Lutheran Church, Creston. 
Burial in Fairview Cemetery, Creston. Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont 
in charge.

OMAHA – Terry PILKENTON died. Married Susan Nellis (1967-74). Married Paula. 
Preceded by daughter, Shannon Rae; parents Russell and Wilma; and sister, 
Cinda Pilkenton. Services Wednesday at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Omaha. 
Burial at Evergreen Memorial Park. Roeder Mortuary, Inc. of Omaha in charge.

RICHLAND – Ruth M. SAALFELD, 87, of Richland, died Mar 6, 2011 at Golden 
Livingcenter, Clarkson. Born June 6, 1923, Butler County, to Alfred and Ada 
(Kruger) Beierle. Married Clayton Saalfeld, Oct 14, 1941, Columbus. Worked 
at the ammunition plant in Grand Island making shells for the war and helped 
at the Saalfeld family grocery store in Richland. Moved to Omaha after Clayton 
returned from the service. Worked as a bookkeeper there, until moving to 
Richland in the late 1950s; then worked as a bookkeeper for Richland Grain 
and Hassebrook Farm Services. Preceded by her parents; husband; and half 
sister, Fern Beierle. Graveside services Friday at Roselawn Memorial 
Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

March 9, 2011

COLUMBUS – Irene SLUSARSKI, 91, of Columbus, died Mar 6, 2011. Born Dec 29, 1919, 
Polk County, to Joseph and Stella (Berzenski) Small. Raised in Polk and Merrick counties. 
Worked as a housekeeper for several Columbus families, and later at Sears in Chicago 
for two years. Married Rudy Slusarski, May 22, 1944, at St Rose of Lima in Genoa. Farmed 
for many years by Monroe. Preceded by her husband; parents; two brothers; two sisters; 
and one grandson. Services Saturday at St Isidore Catholic Church, Columbus. Burial in 
St Bonaventure Cemetery, Columbus. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Ronald STEINER, 76, of Columbus, died Mar 6, 2011 at his home. Born 
May 20, 1934, Columbus, to Leo and Emma (Schmidt) Steiner. Entered the National 
Guard at age 17. Married Donna Garbers, Sept 3, 1955, Beatrice. Worked in 
management for Hinky Dinky for 20 years; then for the State of Nebraska Dept of 
Agriculture, retiring in 1996. Preceded by his parents; and brother, Robert Steiner. 
Services Friday at Highland Park Evangelical Free Church. Burial in Roselawn 
Memorial Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

March 10, 2011

WAVERLY – Adeline LAMB, 89, of Waverly, died Mar 8, 2011. Born Dec 12, 1921, Silver 
Creek, to William Leith (formerly VonderLieth) and Ever Ann (Dickson) Leith. Taught 
rural schools in Nebraska and Iowa, finishing her last 25 years in Silver Creek. 
Married Orville Lamb, May 3, 1947. Preceded by her parents; step-father, Alvin Roth; 
brothers, Lester, in infancy, Martin, in 1943, lost at sea with the USN, and Harvey; 
sisters, Mildred Richardson, and Dorothy Whitaker; and brothers-in-law, Floyd Lamb, 
Russell Sherman and Louis Weber. Services Friday at United Methodist Church, Silver 
Creek. Burial in Silver Creek Cemeteyr. McKown Funeral Home in charge.

MADISON – Betty J. POJAR, 83, of Madison, died Mar 6, 2011. Born May 12, 1927, 
Lindsay, to John and Dorothy (Engelbert) Euteneuer. Employed as an LPN at 
St Mary’s Hospital in Columbus. Married Jerome Pojar on Feb 10, 1962 at 
St Bonaventure Church, Columbus. Farmed in the Madison area. Preceded by 
her parents; husband in 1994; brothers-in-law, Charles Pojar and Leonard Pojar; 
sister-in-law, Marcella Pojar; and nephew, John Pojar. Services Saturday at 
St Leonard’s Catholic Church, Madison. Burial in the parish cemetery.

SHELBY – Rachael M. KUTA, 89, of Shelby, died Mar 8, 2011 at her daughter’s home 
in rural Shelby. Born July 22, 1921, in Cedar Rapids, to Frank and Louise (Rutten) 
Zarek. Married Edward James Kuta, Aug 19, 1941, in Genoa. Worked as a cook and 
also for BD for nine years after moving to Columbus. Preceded by her husband; 
brothers, Art and Delbert Zarek; and sister, Rita Baxa. Services Saturday at 
St Bonaventure Catholic church, Columbus. Burial in St Bonaventure 
Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

March 11, 2011

COLUMBUS – Michael Peter “Mikol” HESS, 57, of Columbus, formerly of Clark, S.D., died 
Mar 6, 2011 at his home. Services Saturday at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Clark, S.D. 
Burial in St Boniface Cemetery, Clark, S.D. Furness Funeral Home, of Clark, S.D., in charge.

ST. EDWARD – Regina M. “Jean” DROG, 81, of St Edward, died Mar 9, 2011. Born Jan 7, 1930
on the family farm in Nance County, to Frank S. and Elizabeth Nowak. Worked as a secretary 
for Frank G. Arnold Agency until her marriage. Married Edmund Drog, Oct 2, 1951. Farmed 
north of St Edward, residing on the farm until shortly before her death. Preceded by her 
parents; husband in 1989; infant children, Frances Edmund and Mary Kathryn; and 
sisters, Eleanor Chereck and Phyllis Bosak. Services Monday at St Edward Catholic 
Church. Burial in the parish cemetery. Miller-Levander Funeral Home of St Edward 
in charge.

March 12, 2011
[no paper]

March 13, 2011
[notices/brief obits only]

March 14, 2011

COLUMBUS – Leonard J. BECHER, 85, of Columbus, died Mar 10, 2011. Services 
Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. Burial in Roselawn Memorial 
Cemetery, Columbus, with military honors. Gass Haney Funeral Home in charge.

COLUMBUS – Gerald ROSENDAHL, 70, of Columbus, died Mar 11, 2011 at his home 
after a short battle with cancer. Born June 6, 1940, rural Creston, to Emil and Rose 
(Novak) Rosendahl. Married Billie Woodward, June 20, 1958. Worked for Safeway 
in Omaha until 1973; then for Nebraska State Patrol, retiring in 2000 after 27 
years of service. Married Helen (Stark) Harding, Jan 21, 1995 at Trinity Lutheran 
Church, Columbus. Worked part-time as courtroom security from 2000-2010. 
Preceded by his parents. Services Tuesday at Peace Lutheran Church, Columbus. 
Burial in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home 
in charge.

March 15, 2011

GENOA – Homer ANDERSON, 93, of Genoa, died Mar 14, 2011. 
Ramaekers Patrick Funeral Chapel in Genoa in charge.

CLARKSON – Paul DVORAK, 30, of Clarkson, died Mar 14, 2011. 
Miller Funeral Home in Clarkson in charge.

COLUMBUS – Dorothy BECHER, 85, of Columbus, died Mar 14, 2011. 
Services Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Columbus. Burial in 
Roselawn Memorial Cemetery, Columbus. Gass Haney Funeral Home 
in charge.

GENOA – Joseph A. CIELOHA, 94, of Genoa, died Mar 12, 2011. Born June 27, 1916
on a farm in rural Nance County, to John and Josephine (Swerczek) Cieloha. Farmed 
in the Genoa area. Married Stella Cuba, May 10, 1949 at Sts Peter & Paul Church. 
Preceded by his parents; wife in 1994; infant son, James; son, Jerome; brother, 
Edmund; and step-great-granddaughter, Oliva Koza. Services Thursday at Sts Peter 
& Paul Catholic Church in Krakow (rural Genoa). Burial in Sts Peter & Paul Cemetery. 
Rice Funeral Home, in Genoa, in charge.

COLUMBUS – Jean Belle SAVAGE, 98, of Columbus, formerly of Central City, died 
Mar 13, 2011 at Prairie Village Retirement Center, Columbus.  Born Oct 29, 1912, 
Polk County, to John and Kathrine (Kontor) Lisko. Married Tony Savage, Sept 11, 1935 
at St Mary’s Catholic Church, north of Osceola. Lived in Columbus, Ord, and West Point
until Sept of 1941 when then moved to Washington, D.C., then to Central City in 1977
and to Columbus in 2002. Preceded by her husband on May 15, 1999; parents; 
sisters, Dorothy Lisko, Melania Kubas and Alta Rakowski; brothers, Edward Lisko, 
Leonard Lisko (killed at the Battle of the Bulge), and Clifford Lisko. Services Friday 
at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Central City. Burial in St Lawrence Cemetery, near 
Silver Creek. Solt Funeral Home of Central City in charge.

ST. EDWARD – Richard W. “Dick” PETERSON, 70, of St Edward, died Mar 14, 2011 in Genoa. 
Preceded by his parents; and wife, Carol. Services Thursday at Augustana Lutheran 
Church, Genoa. Burial later. Rice Funeral Home in Genoa in charge.

CLARKSON – Don TROJAN, 88, of Clarkson, died Mar 15, 2011 at his rural 
Clarkson home. Miller Funeral Home in Clarkson in charge.

======
Copyright © 2011
Nebraska Obituary Abstracts 
NEGenWeb Project