3/16/1939 – 1/13/2016
Of Omaha, survived by sisters Eloise Lee, Joann Pool, and Pearlie M Matthews; nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorial Service 11am Saturday (1/23/16) at Roeder Mortuary – 4932 Ames Avenue.
7/7/1923 – 1/16/2016
Born July 7, 1923 to Esther Carridell and Theodore Wolfe in Birmingham, Alabama.
She was # 3 of four children, brothers Ted (Wolfie) and George (Bub) and younger sister June.
We grew up hearing the joy-filled stories of their youth during the Great Depression on Kney Street in Memphis, TN. Many children lived on that street and they all played together, shared meals, collected metal and old tires together for the war effort later on and because everyone was in the same depression, the same circumstance, they took it all in stride. Her stories were so vivid that truly to this day, most of my siblings also believe we lived through the Depression ….and are quite proud of it.
She attended Humes High School in Memphis and learned to type there. She had a very kind teacher there she would speak of, but I cannot remember her name. It was with fondness she spoke of Humes. All of her siblings attended and she would say her beloved brothers cast large shadows for her to follow.
Her parents never drove, never owned a vehicle so traveling about the city was on street car. Mom spoke of those days with great love. Her Mother tailored men’s suits at home and her Dad worked on the railroad as a mail sorter, traveling daily from Memphis to Birmingham sorting the mail by hand. Amazing stories.
She wanted to be a teacher and began college. She was a part of the steno-pool for the railroad, Graybar and liked that job.
We grew up with myriad stories of WWII and her brave soldier brothers and then her first boyfriend who was a neighbor who died in WWII, Ian. Again, the stories were so prolific, I as one child believe I too went through the war. She had taken her Sunday School class to Shelby Park in Memphis on that fateful day December 7, 1941. We were there with her during this recollection.
She belonged to a “business woman’s sorority” Beta Sigma Phi…..where she met our Father at a Valentine’s dance and married him. She later spoke about Beta Sigma Phi being a lifesaver to her over the years, because when Dad graduated from Finley Engineering with a degree in Architectural Engineering, they moved often, from job to job. The sorority was an instant support and group of friends for them at each new location. She went up the ladder in Beta Sigma Phi to the highest level and was a lifetime member.
This woman made ALL of her own clothes. Gorgeous things and we grew up with her making all of our clothes, wonderful little dresses. It was a dream for sure and we girls sewed many of our own original creations throughout high school and beyond.
Our Mom always told us why she had so many kids so quickly, because she and Dad were older than their friends when they married and then Dad going through school, they just wanted to get that American Dream going. She had 4 babies in 6 years. She read to us every evening and when we were moving to a new location, we went to the library and got books about the new State and learned all about it. Each of us had library cards by the first grade because of our Mother and used them often.
There was a time in the early 60’s when we lived way out in the country and Mom wanted to get a car and learn to drive (hard not to at this point). Dad told her “no.” Well, as she told it, she broke everything in their bedroom (of course we kids were oblivious, none of us ever saw or heard them argue EVER) and her girlfriend came over the next day with her stick on column station wagon, taught Mom to drive and she got her license. That was that. A truly original bra burner we always said.
She was a Girl Scout through and through. All of her daughters received their First Class standing because of her commitment to us and the many, many lessons we learned from those years. At one point she had 40 girls in her troop. Amazing. Her son went on to receive his Eagle and she was just as dedicated to him.
Our Mother raised us with the idea that she would rather paint or garden or do anything else but cook, even though she was an amazing cook when she did. Consequently, with 3 girls in the home, eager to be homemakers we all did the cooking. Our Mother was one of those who was so very thrilled when Swanson Foods created “tv dinners.” She thought of those as personal gifts and pot pies, a dream!!!
She was a creative spirit and painted most of her life. Painted with all of her grandchildren, encouraging their expression. She taught painting for years, volunteering. She touched many lives in a beautiful way.
When Dad retired they got/SHE got them involved in The Walking Club at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center….and again, included the grandchildren in this beautiful experience.
She went back to school and completed her degree in Art Appreciation at UNO!
The day she retired from Northern Natural Gas/ENRON, she called me and said “I got them.” “You got what I replied?” “My tap shoes….” So, there she was taking tap classes at 65, then clogging, then got our Dad involved and they traveled to Nursing Homes and County Fairs tapping and clogging away. They were the youngest in their ‘troop’ and participated into their 80’s.
Mom took Karate in her 60’s. Dear Lord! It was something else attending a karate meet and have the person on the bleacher next to you ask “which child is yours?” and my response “the one with the white hair.”
We learned to stand up for ourselves because that was modeled for us. When we moved to Omaha, our final location since we would soon be entering junior high school and our parents wanted to give us roots, we studied Nebraska and Omaha. Mom took us to a number of the gorgeous old buildings in downtown Omaha that were scheduled for demolition so we could experience their grandeur. Again, we got library cards and visited art museums as we did everywhere we lived.
Art was so important to our Mom. Marla attended Dijon University in France and Mom saved her money and met Marla over there for a trip of a lifetime and certainly seeing many of the masters she so dearly loved and admired.
Every Sunday night our Mom would make cinnamon rolls. At some point as adults, we ask her why was that her ritual. She said “Because when Monday comes, you will each go to school and Dad will go to work and I want this night to be very special for all of us.” We had no idea as children what this meant to her.
She did not begin working out of the home until each of us were in Junior High or High School, busy with our own activities.
She loved the gym when working at ENRON and swam daily. She was a long time member of Toastmasters and enjoyed it immensely. Again , I attended many of her early morning meetings to watch her go through the motions of whatever that particular lesson was. She was also active in Desk & Derrick an organization within ENRON for the secretaries.
We were members of Pearl Memorial Methodist Church for many decades. She and Dad taught Sunday school there and were very active in other aspects.
We all learned to give to others because of our Mother’s influence and teachings. She never missed any of our events at school or church and during our youth was our greatest cheerleader for sure.
She painted up until a few months ago, even though her eyesight no longer allowed her to see.
Not everyone knew that our Mom fought cancer over and over and over. Beginning in the 50’s she had colon cancer, long before it was a known killing disease. We grew up with her telling of that brilliant Dr. who found it and cut out 2 ½ feet of her intestines. Hearing this as children, you just don’t forget. She almost died of pneumonia when we were tiny and because she thought she was on death’s door, instilled in her daughters an independence and ability to take charge that is beyond our peers. Over the years she developed breast cancer, liver cancer that came and went a couple of times and a cancerous brain stem tumor that another brilliant Doctor removed. Each time she lost her hair, she always wanted it to grow back red and curly. We laughed about this, and that hair never did accommodate. She overcame it all and died because she was tired. Of course she was.
What happens when a loved one dies is that your mind swirls with memories. We have 92 ½ years of memories that I pray will hold us through our remaining years. She loved the Lord and hated the Devil and would make such comments often.
Compiled by Kerry Evans Adams
Omaha – Preceded in death by husband Monroe Sr. Survived by children Debra (Dennis) Robinson, Kerry Evans Adams, Marla (John) Rice-Evans, Monroe, JR. (Maxine), grandchildren Angela, Michelle, Stephanie, Natalie, Jesse, Monroe III, 4 great grandchildren, sister June Little, family & friends.
Visitation Wednesday 5-7 PM. Funeral Service 10:00 AM Thursday at Roeder Mortuary. Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery. Memorials to Sure Foundation Ministry.
Roeder Mortuary, Inc. – Ames Chapel
4932 Ames Ave – Omaha, NE – 402-453-5600
www.RoederMortuary.com
5/14/1921 – 1/18/2016
Preceded in Death by Husband Lloyd C. Kull Survived by Sons Lloyd Jr. (Cynthia )Kull Dr. Stanley (Barbara) Kull Grandchildren Kara, Jessica, Molly, Jill, Sabena & Colin Great Grandchildren Lucy, Alice, Lincoln & Bennett Sister Verna Jean Morgan Brothher Rodney Krause numerous other relatives and friends Funeral Service Tuesday 11:00 AM at First Presbyterian Church – 216 South 34th Street Private Interment Forest Lawn Cemetery No Visitation
Roeder Mortuary, Inc. – 108th Street Chapel
2727 N 108th St – 402-496-9000
www.RoederMortuary.com
Survived by Parents: John & Margaret Manson, Jr. Daughter: Jan (Vonda) Marlenee Grandson: Chance Brothers: Dennis (Jay) Manson Frank Manson Sisters: Sherri (Mike) Mahoney Mary Murcek Staci (Matt) Witkowski Numerous Nieces & Nephews Host of Friends
Visitation 5:00 – 7:00 PM Friday with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM( 1/22/2016 ) at Roeder Mortuary – 108th Street Chapel
in Lieu of Flowers Memorials to be directed by the family
4/17/1936 – 1/14/2016
Of Elkhorn, survived by wife Sharon, stepson Matthew (Arlene), stepdaughter Elizabeth all of Elkhorn & Omaha, daughters Diana, Rose Marie, Sherry, and Sandy, brothers Stephen & Allison, 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 10 great great grandchildren. Employed by GE Appliance Division prior to his retirement.
Visitation Sunday 2-4 PM Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone Gretna, NE. Funeral Service Monday (1/18/16) Roeder Mortuary 11710 Standing Stone Gretna, NE. Interment Calvary Cemetery Omaha, Nebraska. Memorials to Wounded Warrior
Projects
Omaha. Born in California and moved to Nebraska. Survived by his wife of 65 years Sandra; children, Jeff, Karen Rathbun (Bruce), John (Nancy), Daniel all of Omaha; eleven grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Edward (Angela), Herb, Charles (Kathleen). Preceded in death by daughters, Nancy Foley and Marilyn Sprague, brother Robert. Passed away at Methodist Hospital surrounded by family. Family will observe a private celebration of life at a later date. Memorials can be directed to Methodist Hospital Cardiac Rehab.
8/19/1928 – 1/9/2016
Omaha. She is survived by her Brother Alphonso (Josephine) Benjamin; Children: Janet Boggess, Rosemary Beaugard, Jesse Reed Jr, Judith Hall, Michael Walker, Eddie (Audrey) Walker III, Debra Walker, Larry (Tamika) Walker, Carol Walker-Settles. 19 Grandchildren, 17 Great Grandchildren, 10 Great Great Grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Visitation with Family Sunday 4PM-6PM
Service 10AM Monday (1/18/16) all at 4932 Ames Ave
Interment to follow at Graceland Park Cemetery
7/15/1920 – 1/13/2016
Omaha – Preceded in death by wife, Christel Faye (Pratt) Kent, survived by sister Helen C. Pickard, nieces Cathy L. French, Peggy Y. Shannon, Lisa H. Kent, and great nieces and nephews, all of Michigan. Served as an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II and post war in the National Guard. Graduated in 1951 from Creighton University School of Law and served as Legal Counsel for the U.S. Corp of Engineers from 1951 until his retirement. By his wishes no services.
Roeder Mortuary, Inc. – 108th Street Chapel
2727 N 108th St – Omaha, NE – 402-496-9000
www.RoederMortuary.com
5/10/1935 – 1/11/2016
Preceded in death by parents, Earl and Edith Murren and siblings, Clifford Murren, Cleo Murren, Loraine Miller, Velma Snodgrass, Maxine Anderson, Evelyn Briggs and Larry Murren. Survived by husband of 53 years, Sheridan; children, Teresa and Terry and grandchildren, Lauren, Nathan and Kathryn. Please make a donation to your favorite charity in Charlotte’s memory.
VISITATION Friday, January 15, 2016 from 6-8pm at Roeder Mortuary 108th Street Chapel. FUNERAL SERVICE Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 10:30am St. Andrews United Methodist Church 15050 West Maple . Interment Evergreen Memorial Park .
Dostal, Kenneth W. Mar 30, 1940 – Jan 12, 2016
We are THANKFUL to have had Dad in our lives…….He was not only husband, father, and grandfather ,…. but also teacher, coach, and motivator……he did it ALL for our family. God has definitely BLESSED US.
Dad’s attributes included strong work ethic and eternal optimism even to the last week of his life. The glass was always half full and not half empty.
Ken was the 4th of 11 children, born to café owner Leon and homemaker Mayme in Scribner, NE. As a child, he worked in the café and had many adventures with his brothers. He played football, basketball, and track in high school, including a 50 second 440, which was 5th place All-Class at the State Track meet. At 6 foot 6 inches, he was the biggest and fastest guy on the football team playing on the line, but his buddies thought they would have won more games if they would have let Kenny carry the ball. He carried the family trait of severe near sightedness and had to play football without glasses, but still made the tackle anyway. He experienced a huge thrill with beating his guy on the line and storming into the backfield to make a tackle, as it made him feel fast and free. He told Shawn recently “Boy, I loved that!” Dad, you can have that in heaven where we know you are running free again.
He left home at age 18 for UNL, where he had a full ride scholarship to play football. After one year, he transferred to Peru State College. At Peru, he met his soulmate, Lee Christen. He was the football star and she was the homecoming queen. After college, Ken and Lee moved to Lincoln to start their teaching careers. Ken and Lee were married February 2, 1963 on a shoestring, with no diamond ring and had to pay back college loans. Ken and Lee both worked very hard to pay the bills. During early marriage years, Ken was a teacher by day and semi-pro Omaha Mustangs football player in the evenings from 1964-68. He was offered a contract to play with the Denver Broncos. He turned it down because they were expecting their first child, and did not think that would be a stable way to earn a living. Three children arrived within three years. After his Mustang career ended, he taught high school at Omaha Tech and often worked night jobs to support his family. These extra jobs included lugging beef in a South Omaha packing plant and working on the dock for Yellow Freight Trucking Company. In his summer free time, he received grants to obtain graduate safety training at University of California-Berkeley, Central Missouri State-Warrensburg, and Colorado State University. The family loved the travels to these places as well as annual trips to the Kearney Ramada Inn pool for Driver’s Ed Convention and World’s of Fun in Kansas City.
Ken moved his young family to west Omaha at 117th and Center in 1968. By 1972, Ken and Lee’s family had increased to five children. Ken became involved in nearby Mary Our Queen Parish, including helping start their athletic programs. The Mary Our Queen mascot became the Mustangs in honor of his prior team the Omaha Mustangs. He helped coach his kids in track and football. He continued to do odd jobs to supplement his income, such as running a yard service. The boys had great times with Dad driving around in the 76 Chevy and tilling gardens with the Gravely tractor. For their efforts, they were rewarded with a huge butterscotch malt at Goodrich Dairy.
In 1978, Ken and Lee achieved their dream of returning to their farming roots by purchasing an acreage in Gretna, Nebraska. They planted over 500 trees and built a house on the 5 acre lot about 1 mile west of town. This allowed Ken room to expand his toy collection, including restored 1929 Ford truck, John Deere tractor, 3 wheeler, golf cart, and numerous driving school cars. He became involved in developing the athletic facilities and programs at Gretna High School, including starting the annual Knights of Columbus Track meet. He was also active as a discus official at the Nebraska State Track Meet for 26 years. He really enjoyed attending all of his kid’s high school sporting events including football, basketball, track, and volleyball. We could always hear him cheering on the sidelines “Go D!” which meant “Go Defense!”
With a lot of mouths to feed and bills to pay, he took a big chance by starting All-Metro Driving School in 1980. Starting a new business was tough with accounting in the red the first year. We always told him how proud we were of him that he worked hard every day to make it into a successful business! In addition to running his Driver’s Ed school, Dad’s daily routine was to read daily scriptures. He continually strengthened his faith and found peace by doing this………one of the many ways he LEAD by his actions. He always gave his kids booklets and asked them to read them to strengthen their faith and become closer to God. A scripture that best described Dad’s faith was to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7).
After the last child graduated high school, Ken and Lee got a Suzuki Side Kick and could frequently be seen cruising around town with their hair flapping in the breeze and enjoying the company of their friends. They had more time to do things they loved, such as road trips to watch football teams their sons played on (Kearney, Nebraska, Wyoming and Iowa State). They also enjoyed many trips to Okoboji including stopping for ice cream in Le Mars, steaks at the top of Snowy Range mountain in Wyoming, and 1999 Family Reunion at Rocky Mountain National Park. They ventured further to Alaska, Italy, and Hawaii and had a fantastic time. But their favorite place was HOME, sitting on the driveway together with a cold beer and watching the sun set.
In 2013, they celebrated 50 years of marriage with a big celebration in the St. Patrick’s Parish Center. The kids gift to them was a trip to a Notre Dame football game, which they immensely enjoyed. Kneeling at the Notre Dame grotto, they felt the presence of Jesus and Mary.
In the last few months of his life, Mom and each of the kids had many great talks with Dad. We are thankful to have had moments to re-live memories, share laughs, and say we loved each other.
Mom, we love you so much. Thank you for taking such great care of Dad for over 50 years. You have countless wonderful memories together. Among them, all the football and basketball road trips, weekly trips to church and praying together at night. They would hold hands and say the Our Father and Hail Mary. Mom, you were a pillar of strength in guiding and caring for him through his illness, including helping him realize when enough was enough and it was all in God’s hands.
Thank you ALL for being with us through this difficult time. Your cards, food, caring words and visits to the house have truly helped us. Thank you so very much for the LOVE you have given.
It gives us peace to remember the GOOD TIMES with our Dad…….and the ways he touched our lives. We are peaceful to know that our Dad’s pain is gone. We will be together again. We love you Dad……….thank you for being OUR Dad.
Dad spent his whole life taking care of us. At the end of his life, we were happy we could return the love. Shawn felt really bonded to Dad as he regularly shaved him. On his last evening, all of us watched the national championship game with Dad. Sandi and Scott used lotion to massage Dad’s hands and feet, as we knew he liked that . Shawn gave Dad a shave at half time which he seemed to enjoy and he was looking really dapper. He was surrounded by love, comfort, and football. Go “D”!
Visitation Friday 5-7 PM with Vigil Service 7 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church 508 Angus Street Gretna, Nebraska. Funeral Mass Saturday (1/16/16) 10:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church 508 Angus Street Gretna, Nebraska. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery at Gretna, Nebraska In Lieu of Flowers Memorials to St. Patrick Catholic Church or Gretna Neighbors Association.
