Obituaries from April 2019

Paul (Paulie) Neff Sept.12, 1929 - March 27, 2019 SELDEN, Kan. — Paul (Paulie) Neff, 89, of Selden, died on March 27, 2019. He was born on Sept. 12, 1929, to P. D. and Laura Neff at Selden. He graduated from eighth grade while he was farming for his dad. ...

Gertrude (Vlasin) Lankas March 7, 1917 - April 1, 2019 LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Gertrude (Vlasin) Lankas, 102, formerly of Atwood, Kan., died Monday, April 1, 2019, in Lee’s Summit. She was born to Joseph and Rose (Kucera) Vlasin, near Hayes Center, Neb., in Hayes County, on March 7, 1917. ...

Ann Wissink June 15, 1939 - April 1, 2019 STRATTON, Neb. — Ann Louise Wissink was born on June 15, 1939, to LeRoy (Pete) and Jewell (Lines) Barnett, on the family homestead near Stratton. As a young lady she grew up and attended school in Stratton, graduating from Stratton High School in 1957. Ann continued her education, attending business school in Denver...

Marjorie Lou Wright Jan. 22, 1922 - March 30, 2019 ELKHORN, Neb. — Majorie Lou (John) Wright died March 30, 2019, in Elkhorn. She was born Jan. 22, 1922, to Clinton Walter John and Caroline Louise (Thuman) John. She was born and raised in Cambridge, Neb., where she graduated high school and kept her ties to Cambridge through her life. ...

Mary Lucille (Dillard) Henzel Dec. 16, 1934 - March 29, 2019 OBERLIN, Kan. — Mary Lucille (Dillard) Henze, 84, died March 29, 2019, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. She was born Dec. 16, 1934, in Merrill, Ore., to Uel and Wilma (Dawson) Dillard...

Dr. Lawrence William Bauer, Sr. Oct. 11, 1916 - April 7, 2019 KEARNEY, Neb. — Dr. Lawrence William Bauer, Sr., 102, of Kearney, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2019, at his home. Funeral services will be Monday, April 15, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at Evangelical Free Church in Kearney. ...

Robert M. Hanes April 17, 1924 – April 5, 2019 GREELEY, Colo — Robert M. Hanes, 94, of Greeley, passed away April 5, 2019. He was born on April 17, 1924, in Bartley, Neb., to Ellsworth and Fern Hanes. Robert attended Stockville School in Nebraska and later was self-employed in the cattle industry for many years. He married Joyce Yates in 1980 and always took a great interest in horses and cattle...

Melissa R. Rasmusen Sept. 26. 1972 - April 6, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Melissa R. Rasmusen was born to Michael Herrick and Clytie (Bowden) Herrick in Portland, Maine, on Sept. 26, 1972. Most of her growing years she lived In South Amboy, N.J. Melissa moved to Ralston, Neb., to join her “Knight in Rusty Armor,” Steven Rasmusen in 2004. After moving to Cushing, Okla., for three years in 2008, then back to North Platte, Neb., in 2012, the family settled here in McCook in September 2014...

Leah Rae Metcalf Nov. 23, 2018 - April 7, 2019 OBERLIN, Kan. — Leah Rae Metcalf, infant daughter of Shannon Michael Metcalf and Elizabeth “Libby” Jean Fort, died April 7, 2019, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. She was born Nov. 23, 2018, in Wichita...

Thunder Games “Jet” Linner Aug. 13, 2003 - April 8, 2019 NORTON, Kan. — Thunder Games “Jet” Linner, 15, of Norton, died Monday (April 8, 2019), at Norton. He was born Aug. 13, 2003, and adopted at three weeks by Kimberly and Roger Linner. At 14, he moved in with his aunt and uncle, Jimmy and Heidi Linner in Norton...

Myrtle Olivia Luster Gibson Nov. 8, 1930 - April 8, 2019 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Myrtle Olivia Luster Gibson, 88, of Arapahoe, died Monday (April 8, 2019), at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. She was born Nov. 8, 1930, to Anna (Anderson) and Joseph Valentine in Manassa, Colo...

Barry David Walker May 16, 1971 - April 5, 2019 SELDEN, Kan — Barry David Walker, 47, died Friday (April 5, 2019), in Northglenn, Colo. He was born May 16, 1971, in Wheatridge, Colo. He graduated from Lake County High School in Leadville, Colo. He was preceded in death by his brother, Brian; and grandparents, Dorman and Carol Hill and Mahlon and Gladys Walker...

Kieth Alan Alstrom April 23, 1928 - April 11, 2019 OBERLIN, Kan. —Kieth Alan Alstrom, 90, died Thursday (April 11, 2019), at Decatur Health in Oberlin. He was born April 23, 1928, in Summit Township to Carl Hjalmer and Bessie Carr (Huff) Alstrom.He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1946. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and served until 1953 as a PFC during the Korean War. He married Dorothy Lorentz at the Evangelical Reformed Church in Herndon, Kan., on Dec. 25, 1953...

Gerald “Jerry” Traphagan March 25, 1950 - April 17, 2019 CHADRON, Neb. — Funeral services for Gerald “Jerry” Traphagan will be at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at 4 p.m., with Dr. Russ Seger and Father Todd Philipsen officiating. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery...

Bonnie Annette Johnson Aug. 9, 1947 - April 14, 2019 WICHITA, Kan. — Bonnie Annette Johnson, 71, passed away on April 14, 2019, surrounded by family at her home in Wichita. She was born in Sutherland, Neb., on Aug. 9, 1947. Bonnie, the daughter of Bessie and Alva Carl Pickel, grew up on a farm southwest of Sutherland. When she was seven, her father passed away. She grew up with her step-brother, Donald Knotts, and step-sister, Evelyn Staudemier...

Robert Joe Raburn Dec. 10, 1937 - April 16, 2019 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Robert Joe Raburn, age 81, passed away at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. He was born in Lebanon, Neb., on Dec. 10, 1937, to Floyd and Viola (Hale) Raburn. Joe graduated from Cambridge High School in 1956 and he continued his education for two years at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Joe then went to South Dakota State University and graduated with his degree in pharmacy in 1961...

Melinda Sue (Adamson) Phillips Nov. 3, 1950 - April 15, 2019 YORK, Neb. — Melinda Sue (Adamson) Phillips, age 68, of York, died Monday, April 15, 2019, at York. She was born Nov. 3, 1950, in Ottawa, Kan., to Hal O. and Peggy Sue (Yohn) Adamson. Melinda graduated from Olathe (Kan.) Senior High in 1969 and then attended Mid-America Nazarene University, where she met her future husband, Rev. Art Phillips. They were married March 24, 1972 in Olathe, Kan...

Richard E. Wright Nov. 21, 1942 - April 16, 2019 HOLDREGE, Neb. — Richard E. Wright, age 76, of Holdrege, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. Richard was born Nov. 21, 1942, in McCook, Neb., to parents, Emmanuel James and Dorthey Fern (Thornley) Wright. Richard grew up in McCook, where he attended and graduated from McCook High School with the Class of 1963...

Marlys Joan (Nitsch) Henrickson Sept. 14, 1932 - Feb. 5, 1968 McCOOK, Neb. — Marlys Joan (Nitsch) Henrickson was born Sept. 14, 1932, at McCook, Neb., to parents, Henry and Berniece (Moulton) Nitsch. She was united in marriage in May of 1950 to Charley Brown at the White Church in Hayes County. To this union two daughters, Carolyn and Dixie, were born. The family made their home in North Platte, Neb., later moving to Denver and eventually making their home in Sun Valley, Calif...

Walter Eugene Schwab June 29, 1940 - April 18, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Walter Eugene Schwab, age 78, passed away in his home surrounded by family, on April 18, 2019. He was born in Soldier, Kan., on June 29, 1940, to Emanuel and Bernice (Area) Schwab. He attended Norcatur grade school and graduated from Decatur Community High School with the Class of 1958...

Jesse D. Jones Feb. 6, 1945 - April 19, 2019 PALISADE, Neb. — Jesse D. Jones, age 74, of Palisade, passed away Friday, April 19, 2019, at Community Hospital in McCook, Neb. Jesse was born Feb. 6, 1945, in Dresden, Kan., to parents, Jesse Roller and Dorothy (Mowry) Jones. He was one of five children born to this union. Jesse grew up in Dresden, where he also attended high school...

Peach Beims Dec. 9, 1944 - April 13, 2019 HERNDON, LKn. — Peach Beims, 74, of Herndon, died Saturday, April 13, 2019, at her home. On Dec. 9, 1944, the world was about to change for many, not because World War II was coming to an end, but because in a small hospital room in San Antonio, Texas, Katherine Sartorius was about to give birth to her and Dr. ...

Penny Jean Soderlund Feb. 1, 1963 - April 21, 2019 OBERLIN, Kan. — Penny Jean Soderlund, 56, died Sunday (April 21, 2019), at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. She was born Feb. 1, 1963, in Oberlin to Clarence and Karen (Nielsen) Fisher. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1981 and attended Colby Community College. She married Jim Soderlund on Sept. 4, 1982, at the United Methodist Church in Oberlin. She was an administrative assistant at the Decatur COOP...

Leona Nelson Nov. 20, 1935 - April 23, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Leona Nelson, age 83, of McCook, passed away at her home on April 23, 2019. She was born in Decatur County, Kan., on Nov. 20, 1935, to Arthur and Elsie (Wesch) Berndt. She attended grade school in Cedar Bluffs, Kan., and graduated from the Decatur Community High School in Oberlin, Kan., in May of 1953. ...

Ronald George Tophane Oct. 18, 1944 - April 24, 2019 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Ronald George Tophane was born on Oct. 18, 1944, at St. Catherine’s Hospital in McCook, Neb., and passed away at the age of 74, surrounded by his family, friends and loved ones, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte...

Griff Carfield Sept. 13, 1950 - April 24, 2019 LEBANON, Neb. — Griff Carfield, age 68, of Lebanon, went to be with the Lord on April 24, 2019. Griff was born Sept. 13, 1950, in McCook, Neb., to Kenneth and Mary Majestie (Rayburn) Carfield. Griff graduated from McCook High School in 1969. He was drafted to the Vietnam War shortly after graduation, where he served in the Army...

Dee Andrew Traphagan April 30, 1941 - April 26, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Dee Andrew Traphagan, of McCook, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, April 26, 2019, at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings. Dee was just four days shy of celebrating his 78th birthday...

Kenneth W. Gibson Jr. DENVER, Colo. — Kenneth W. Gibson Jr., 67, died Friday (April 26, 2019), at the Aurora Medical Center in Aurora, Colo. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kan.

Lillian W. Kugler TUSTIN, Calif. – Lillian W. Kugler, 97, of Tustin, died Saturday (April 27, 2019), at Tustin.

MACON, Ga. - Eleanor Randel Granum, longtime Warner Robins civic leader and volunteer, died on April 27, 2019. She was 98. Born in McCook, Neb., on June 12, 1920, to Pearl Hollingshead Randel and Elmer Randel, she grew up on a farm homesteaded by her grandfather in 1879 following his journey to Nebraska in a wagon train that originated in the Ohio Valley. ...