Obituaries from February 2021

Ardyth Ann Banzhaf Dec. 17, 1940 - Jan. 29, 2021 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. —Ardyth Ann Banzhaf, 80, long time resident of Orafino, Neb., went to be with her Heavenly Father on Jan. 29, 2021. Ardyth Ann Oehlerking was the fourth child born to Alvin and Lily (Schroeder) Oehlerking on Dec. 17, 1940, in Omaha, Neb...

Vernon J. Thornbrugh Sept. 5, 1942 - Jan. 13, 2021 LINCOLN, Neb. — Vernon J. Thornbrugh died Jan. 13, 2021, in Lincoln. He was born Sept. 5, 1942, to Vernon L. and Edith (Turley) Thornbrugh in Iola, Kan. He graduated from McCook High School in 1960...

D. Bryan Leggott Nov. 25, 1955 - Jan. 29, 2021 TRENTON, Neb. — D. Bryan Leggott, 65, of Trenton passed away at Community Hospital in McCook on Jan. 29, 2021. Bryan was born in Lexington, Neb., on Nov. 25, 1955, to Donald K. and Alice J. (McKim) Leggott.  He graduated from Elwood High School in the spring of 1973 and continued his education at Hastings College. ...

Lyle Eugene Moskal April 29, 1929 - Feb. 3, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Lyle Eugene Moskal, 91, of McCook, passed away Wednesday morning, Feb. 3, 2021, at Highland Park Retirement Community. Lyle was born on April 29, 1929, in North Platte, Neb. He graduated from McCook High School in 1947, joined the Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. ...

Mary Ellen Dahnke Dec. 19, 1931 - Feb. 1, 2021 STRATTON, Neb. — Mary Ellen Dahnke was born Dec. 19, 1931, in the Eden Community, south of Wauneta, Neb., to Guy S. and Florence L. (Long) West. As a young girl, she attended rural country school and went on to attend Wauneta High School...

Leora Mae Messersmith Sept. 6, 1937 - Jan.31, 2021 FARNUM, Neb. — Leora Mae Messersmith, 83, of Farnam, died Jan. 31, 2021, at the Elwood Care Center. She was born Sept. 6, 1937, in North Platte, Neb., daughter of Mike and Sylvia Knoll. She attended rural school at the Knoll family ranch early on and then attended school just south of the family ranch on the “Booze place.” She was united in marriage to Garold “Keith” Messersmith on Aug. ...

Karen D. Verraneault Aug. 6, 1953 - Jan. 31, 2021 KEARNEY, Neb. — Karen D. Verraneault, 67, of Kearney, was welcomed into heaven Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 at her home after a courageous journey with breast cancer. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m., Feb. ...

Archie Wickizer Dec. 6, 1935 - Jan. 26, 2021 LINCOLN, Neb. — Archie Wickizer, 85, of Lincoln, died on Jan. 26, 2021. Archie was born Dec. 6, 1935, to Clarence and Ruth (Clements) Wickizer in Max, Neb. Archie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arlene (Scheneman) Wickizer; granddaughter, Rachelle Renee Wickizer; sisters, Leta (Wickizer) Gardner, Van Nuys, Calif., and Sally (Wickizer) Jenkins, Long Beach, Calif.; and brothers, Bernard Wickizer, Cambridge, Neb., and Lloyd Wickizer, Lewiston, Idaho.. ...

Georgia Yvonne Hager Feb. 22, 1935 - Feb. 3, 2021 CRETE, Neb. — Funeral services for Georgia Yvonne Hager will be on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in McCook, Neb., with Pastor Jeff Kelley officiating. A private family burial will be at the Memorial Cemetery in McCook before the service...

Mark W. Hankins Nov. 11, 1949 - Jan. 27, 2021 PHOENIX, Ariz. — On Wednesday Jan. 27, 2021, Mark W. Hankins 71, loving husband, father and grandfather, suddenly passed away at his home in Phoenix. Mark Warren was born on Nov. 11, 1949, to Everett W. Havick and Betty L. Havick in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Mark was adopted June 9, 1958, by Ray E. Hankins. Mark graduated from Wilsonville High School, Class of 1968. He went went on to Kearney State College and graduated...

Ward Clarence Urbom Feb. 2, 1922 - Feb. 4, 2021 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Ward Clarence Urbom, age 99, of Arapahoe, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, at the CA Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. Ward was born on Feb. 2, 1922, at Atlanta, Neb., to Clarence Andrew Urbom and Anna Myrl (Irelan) Urbom...

Roy E. Anderson Feb. 6, 1955 - Feb. 7, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Roy E. Anderson, 66, of McCook, passed away Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 2021, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was born in Cadillac, Michigan on Feb. 6, 1955, to Richard “Dick” Oscar Anderson and Victo “Vickie” Ruth (Park) Anderson. ...

Alice “Jane” Pennock Aug. 23, 1940 - Feb. 2, 2021 YUMA, Ariz. — Jane Pennock passed on Feb. 2, 2021, in Arizona close to her winter home in Yuma. Jane was born Aug. 23, 1940, in Oberlin, Kan., to Cloyd Peters and Naomi “Barrett” Peters. Jane met her husband, Ron Pennock, at Evangel University in Springfield, Mo. They were married on Sept. 3, 1960, in Oberlin.They had two children, Ronda Jane and William “Bill” Cloyd...

Robert E. Niemeier Aug. 2, 1922 - Feb. 4, 2021 HASTINGS, Neb. — Robert E. Niemeier, 98, died on Feb. 4, 2021, at Providence Place Memory Care in Hastings. He was born on Aug. 2, 1922, to August H. Niemeier Sr. and Mathilde (ten Bensel) Niemeier in Holbrook, Neb. He grew up in the area and graduated from Holbrook High School in 1940...

Dorothea Clara “Dorothy” Hoefs Nov. 27, 1938 - Feb. 7, 2021 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Dorothea Clara “Dorothy” Hoefs, 82, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (Feb. 7, 2021), at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege, Neb. She was born Nov. 27, 1938, at Gosper County, Neb., to Cornelius and Clara (Ziebell) Wendland...

Kori J. Ohlson April 21, 1994 - Feb. 8, 2021 HOLDREGE, Neb. — Celebration of Life Services for Kori J. Ohlson will be Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege with Pastor Daren Popple officiating. Following the funeral service, cremation will take place and a private family inurnment will be at a later date at the McCook Cemetery, McCook, Neb...

Robert Schilling Nov. 12, 1935 - Feb.9, 2021 PAWNEE CITY, Neb. — Robert Schilling passed away Feb. 9, 2021. He packed a lot of living into his 85 years, leaving his family with many memories. Bob was born Nov. 12, 1935, to Robert and Sarah Margaret (Weltmer) Schilling at Sabetha, Kan. ...

Archie Lawrence Aman Nov. 7, 1934 - Feb. 14, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Archie Lawrence Aman, age 86, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, at his home in McCook. Aman was born in Lowry, S.D., to Alice Tews and Albert Aman on Nov. 7, 1934. He grew up in Java, S.D., and graduated from Java High School in 1952...

Garrett Wade Nokes November 17, 1975 – February 14, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. - Garrett Wade Nokes, 45, of McCook, Nebraska died February 14, 2021 after a horse accident. Garrett was born on November 21, 1975 in McCook to Ray and Brenda (Bolen) Nokes. His life began with a tractor ride halfway to town in a blizzard to get to the hospital. ...

Warren Eldred “Wuzzy” Harper November 28, 1940 – February 6, 2021 HOLBROOK, Neb. - Warren Eldred “Wuzzy” Harper, age 80, passed away at his home in Holbrook, Neb. on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Wuzzy was born November 28, 1940 in Clay Center, Kan., son of Charles Eldred “Ike” Harper and Nellie Harper...

Gerald Allan Cole May 18, 1934 - Feb. 1, 2021 NORTH PLATTE,Neb. — Gerald Allan Cole, 86, formerly of Curtis, Neb., died Feb. 1, 2021, at Great Plains Health in North Platte. Gerald was born May 18, 1934, in Curtis, Neb., to Everett and Martha (Clawson) Cole. ...

Kathleen Ann Hesterwerth June 8, 1948 - Feb. 16, 2020 McCOOK, Neb. — Kathleen Ann Hesterwerth of McCook passed away on Feb. 16, 2020, at Hillcrest Caring Center in McCook. Kathy was born June 8, 1948, in McCook, the youngest of John J. and Dorothy C. (Meehan) Hesterwerth’s three daughters. Kathy grew up in McCook, where she also attended St. Patrick’s Catholic School, and McCook High School, graduating with the Class of 1966...

Norma Jean Wickham May 14, 1932 - Feb. 16, 2021 AXTELL, Neb — Norma Jean Wickham, 88, of Axtell, formerly of Arapahoe, Neb., died Tuesday (Feb. 16, 2021), at the Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege, Neb. She was born May 14, 1932, to, Frank Colburn and Alma Sophia Louise (Stagemeyer) Paxton...

Delores Mae (Skraback) Gohl Jan. 5, 1932 - Feb. 20, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Delores Mae (Skraback) Gohl, age 89, of McCook, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Hillcrest Caring Center in McCook. Delores was born Jan. 5, 1932, in Max, Neb., to parents, Carl and Doretta (Agena) Skraback. ...

Mae June Donnelly Aug. 21, 1925 - Feb. 20, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Mae June Donnelly, 95, of McCook, passed away on Feb. 20, 2021, at Kearney Regional Hospital in Kearney, Neb. June was born to John and Mae (Meissner) Brumgard on Aug. 21, 1925, in McCook. June fondly remembered working at Hested’s dime store and operating the soda fountain for many years. She attended school in McCook and graduated from McCook High School...

Norma Lea Gardner Oct. 2, 1927 - Feb. 24, 2021 McCOOK, Neb. — Norma Lea Gardner, 93, of McCook, formerly of Beaver City, Neb., died Wednesday (Feb. 24, 2021), at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born Oct. 2, 1927, in Atlanta, Neb., to Frank and Mary Emma (Leigh) David...