Wahoo News
May 2006

CERESCO - Joyce Alvina Behrend, 58, of Ceresco, died May 4 at 
her daughter's home in College Station, Texas. 
Born on Feb. 20, 1948 to Royce and Hazel (Miller) Ling in Harvard. 
Preceded in death by her husband, Eldred "Gabby" Ray Behrend; her 
parents; her grandparents, Bernard and Frances Miller; and a step son, Todd Behrend. 
Funeral services were held May 8 at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home 
in Lincoln with burial at Lincoln Memorial Park. 

NORTH BEND - Lyle E. Blanchard, 78, of North Bend, died May 1 in Omaha. 
Born July 22, 1927 to Robert and Mary (Berka) Blanchard in Morse Bluff. 
Served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. 
On June 16, 1955 he married Florence E. Kracl at the former Purple Cane 
Church near North Bend.
His parents, and a twin brother, Lloyd Blanchard, preceded him in death. 
Funeral services were held May 5 at Moser Memorial Chapel in North Bend. 
Burial was at Memorial Cemetery in Fremont with military honors conducted 
by VFW Post 8223 and AmVets Post 20 of North Bend and American Legion 
Post 340 of Morse Bluff. 

DAVID CITY - Martha Dolezal, 90, of David City, died May 5. 
Born Sept. 6, 1915 to John B. and Mary (Samek) Svoboda in Appleton. 
On June 1, 1936 she married Frank E. Dolezal at Assumption Catholic 
Church in Appleton. 
Her parents, her husband, a sister, Emma Stara and five brothers, 
Adolph, Joe, John, James and Bill Svoboda, preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held May 9 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in David City. 
Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery in David City. 
Kracl Funeral Chapel of David City was in charge of the arrangements.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Helen Grozier, 79, died May 3 in San Antonio, Texas. 
Born June 25, 1926 to Frank and Helen (Churda) Koukal in Prague. 
Preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Rex Grozier, a daughter, Michele 
Grozier, a son, James K. Shipps and a sister, Norma Breunig. 
Survived by children, Sue Zurovec, Brad Shipps and Steve Shipps; grandchildren, 
S. Travis Shipps, Ashley Mae Sattenwhite and Allie M. Keen; great-grandchild, 
Fatima I. Zurovec; a sister, Arline Adkinson; step-children, Rick Grozier and 
Donna Grozier; and a brother-in-law, Richard Breunig of Wahoo; nieces and nephews. 
Graveside and burial services were held May 6 at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio, Texas. 

REINBECK, Iowa - Opal L. Speckmann, 97, died April 27 in Reinbeck, Iowa. 
She taught in numerous country schools in Saunders County. 
On June 24, 1931 Opal L. Moody married Benjamin J. Speckmann of Mead. 
Her husband preceded her in death.
She is survived by a son, Gary Speckmann; sisters-in-law, Helen and Vern 
Schmidt of Wahoo, Evelyn and John Speckmann of Columbus and Bertha 
and Ray Westphal of Omaha; niece Norma and Gilbert Speckmann of Yutan 
and Vicki Moody of Fremont. 

OMAHA -Lillian Swartz, 96, of Omaha, formerly of rural Valparaiso, died May 8. 
Born May 29, 1909 to August and Emma (Hynek) Swartz in rural Valparaiso. 
Her parents, a sister, Irene Meester and brothers, Leonard, Alfred and Richard 
Swartz, preceded her in death. A sister, Georgia Vavak of Wahoo; and a 
sister-in-law, Amalie Swartz of Prague; nieces and nephews survive her. 
Funeral service will be held Monday May 15 at 2 p.m. at Kucera Kracl Funeral 
Home in Prague. Interment will be at the National Cemetery in Prague. 
Svoboda Funeral Home of Wahoo is in charge of the arrangements. 

DAVID CITY - Ladd R. Svoboda, 75, of David City, died May 8. 
Born May 18, 1930 to Theodore J. and Lillian (Sypal) Svoboda on the 
family farm near Brainard. He graduated from Assumption High School 
in Dwight. He served with the United States Marines during the Korean Conflict. 
On June 5, 1957 he married Ramona Kubik at Sts. Cyril and Methodius 
Catholic Church at Plasi. 
His parents, and a sister, Dorothy Hahn, preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held May 12 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Brainard. 
Burial was at Holy Trinity Cemetery with military honors conducted by the 
Brainard American Legion Post 273. Holesovsky Mortuary of Brainard was 
in charge of the arrangements. 

NORTH BEND - Wilma A. Dlouhy, 88, of North Bend died May 11 Elkhorn. 
Dlouhy was born June 12, 1917 to Joseph and Antonia "Toni" (Pacl) 
Semrad at Rescue. On Aug. 19, 1935 she married Frank L. Dlouhy at 
St. Charles Catholic Church in North Bend. She was preceded in death 
by her parents; her husband, two grandsons, Paul F. Chudomelka and 
Thomas Dean Lux; great-grandson, Corey Joseph Chudomelka; 
brother, Joseph L. Semrad; son-in-law, Paul S. Chudomelka and 
brother-in-law, Chris Arps. 
Mass of Christian Burial was held May 16 at St. Charles Catholic 
Church in North Bend. Burial was at Woodland Cemetery at North Bend. 

WAHOO - Bessie L. Holubar, 88, of Wahoo died on May 11. 
She was an elementary teacher in Saunders County for 55 years. 
Funeral services will be held May 31 at 10 a.m. at Svoboda Funeral Home in Wahoo. 
Svoboda Funeral Home of Wahoo is in charge of the arrangements. 

BREWSTER - Allan H. Nygren, 69, of Brewster, died May 10 in Kearney. 
Born Aug. 24, 1936 to Paul H. and Linnea (Samuelson) Nygren in Mead. 
He was a graduate of Mead High School and then attended Luther Junior 
College in Wahoo. He entered the service on June 6, 1955 and served in 
the U.S. Air Force. Married Bette J. Behrens on Oct. 15, 1956 in Leshara.
His parents preceded him in death. Funeral services were held May 16 at 
the Cornerstone Berean Church in Kearney. Burial was in the Brewster 
Cemetery with Military rites conducted by Brewster American Legion Post 323.

WEST POINT - Julia Ortmeier, 93, of West Point died May 13. 
Born July 3, 1912 to Kaspar and Mary (Ulrich) Guenther at Monterey. 
She attended St. Boniface Catholic School. 
On Nov. 18, 1931 she married Joseph B. Ortmeier at St. Boniface 
Catholic Church at Monterey. Preceded in death by her husband, an 
infant daughter, Mary, a step-daughter, Irene Herman; brothers, 
Frank and Al Guenther; and a step-grandson, Russell Herman.
Mass of Christian Burial was held May 16 at St. Anthony's Catholic 
Church at St. Charles west of West Point.

FREMONT - Clarence H. Drews, 85, of Fremont, formerly of 
Malmo, died May 19 at the Fremont Area Medical Center. 
Born on Oct. 17, 1920 to William and Elsie (Eggers) Drews in rural Yutan. 
On Feb. 27, 1945 he was united in marriage to Blanche Scharf in Lincoln. 
His parents, brothers, Lester and Ervin Drews, preceded him in death 
Funeral service was held May 23 at Edensburg Lutheran Church in Malmo. 
Burial was at Sunrise North Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
WAHOO - Bessie L. Holubar, 88, of Wahoo, died May 11. 
Born on April 27, 1918 to James and Ann (Vlah) Dolezal of rural Ceresco. 
She married George Holubar, who died in 1986. 
She was an elementary teacher for 55 years. 
She is survived by her son Dennis and his wife, Jean, of Denver, Colo.; 
her special and helpful companion, Ernest Hula; many nieces, nephews, 
students, parents and friends.
Funeral services will be May 31 at 10 a.m. at Svoboda Funeral Home 
in Wahoo. Interment will be at Sunrise Cemetery. 

WAHOO - Keith D. Kneeland, 71, of Wahoo, died May 15. 
Born May 21, 1934 to Frank and Mary (Ohlman) Kneeland at Bennet. 
His parents, his sister, Ruth Wilson, and brother, Frank Kneeland Jr, 
preceded him in death. He is survived by a sister, Lora Watts Church 
of Teyhoma, Texas.
Funeral services were held May 19 at the Pruss-Nabity Funeral Home. 
Interment was at Bennet Cemetery in Bennet. 
      
 SEWARD - Edward V. Kotera, 77, of Seward, died May 19 in Lincoln. 
Born Feb. 26, 1929 to Louis Sr. and Marie (Bohuslavksy) Kotera in Brainard. 
Preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Emil; brother, Ernest 
Kotera and sister, Rose Furasek. He is survived by a brother and 
sister-in-law, Louis, Jr. and Marie Kotera of Seward; a sister, Helen 
Eller of Valparaiso; sister-in-law, Dorothy Kotera of Seward; nieces 
and nephews and their families and friends. 
Mass of Christian Burial was held May 23 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic 
Church at Bee. Burial was at Assumption Catholic Cemetery at Dwight. 
     
DAVID CITY - William A. Ortmeier, 72, of David City, died May 20. 
Born March 18, 1934 to Arthur and Matilda (Strehle) Ortmeier in West Point. 
On Dec. 29, 1953 he married Marilyn E. Buerman at Aloes. 
His wife preceded him in death. Mass of Christian Burial was held 
May 24 at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Roberts-Chermok Funeral Home of David City was in charge of the arrangements. 

WAHOO - Dorothy Pearson, 96, of Wahoo, died May 9. 
Born July 19, 1909 to Oscar Ludvig and Alice Augusta (Lusch) Hagstrom 
on a farm near Swedeburg. She married Malvin Pearson April 12, 1936 in Swededburg. 
Funeral services were held May 13 at Grace Lutheran Church in Swedeburg. 
Interment was at Sunrise Cemetery in Wahoo. 
Pruss-Nabity Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

WAHOO - Wilmer L. Thoms, 89, of Wahoo, died May 18. 
Born Aug. 21, 1916 to Emil and Anna (Schmidt) Thoms at Ithaca. 
He attended District 6 country school. 
Served in the U. S. Army in the European Theater during World 
War II and was wounded in action, re-ceiving the Purple Heart. 
Married Verona Snelling after the war; she died in 1969, and he later 
married Albina Rerucha. He was preceded in death by his wife, Verona; 
brothers, Harry and Albert Thoms; sisters, Laura Saathoff, Marie Miller and Lena Miller. 
Survived by his wife, Albina; a son, Ron Thoms of Lincoln; a sister, Margaret 
Bergman of Wahoo; two step-daughters and their families, many nieces and nephews. 
Mass of Christian Burial will be held May 27 at 11 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic 
Church in Wahoo. 
Interment will be at St. Francis Cemetery at Wahoo with Military Honors 
by American Legion Post 4502 and VFW Post 82 

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