Ashland Gazette
Dec 2007

WAHOO - Evelyn COE, 94, of Wahoo, died Nov. 23. 
Born on Dec. 5, 1912, to Fred J. and Clara Marie (Martin) Stamp near Yutan. 
Married Alfred Coe on Feb. 3, 1946. An infant daughter, her parents, and 
sister, Leona McClinton, preceded her in death. Survived by a niece, Joan 
Skelton of Conway Ark.; a nephew and spouse, Leon and Sue McClinton of 
Little Rock, Ark.; and several cousins. Funeral services Nov. 27, 2007 at the 
Pruss-Nabity Funeral Home Chapel. Interment at Hollst Lawn Cemetery in Yutan. 
 
HASTINGS - Robert D. ECKHOFF, 73, of Hastings, formerly of Holdrege and 
Sutherland, died Nov. 26, 2007. Born at Sutherland on Aug. 27, 1934 to 
Alva and Jewell (Oliver) Eckhoff. Married Rosalee Rieger on Feb. 21, 1954 in 
Falls City, NE. Preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Alvin. 
A memorial service was held Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. at the United Methodist 
Church in Sutherland. Inurnment at Sutherland Cemetery. 
 
ASHLAND - Samuel J. FAILLA Sr., 63, of rural Ashland, died Nov. 30, 2007
in Lincoln. Born April 11, 1944 in Omaha. Enlisted in the U. S. Navy in Nov 1963 
and served nine years. On Aug. 28, 1965, married Ruth Puza in Milwaukee, Wis. 
He married Diana Williams on Sept. 8, 1990 in Glenwood, La. Preceded in death 
by wife Ruth Ann and father Samuel Failla.  Funeral services were held Dec. 4, 2007 
at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ashland. Interment followed at the Ashland 
Cemetery with military honors by American Legion Post 129.  
 
DWIGHT - Frances Dorothy "Francie" HOTTOVY, 83, of Dwight, died 
Nov. 29, 2007 in Lincoln. Born July 3, 1924 to Andrew Ludvik and Josephine Agnes 
(Hajek) Benes near Valparaiso. On June 14, 1949, married Raymond Adolph Hottovy 
in Lincoln. Preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brothers, Paul and Ernest 
Benes; sister, Margaret Kouma; grandchildren, Jason and Matthew Knaub; 
great-granddaughter, Cheyenne Helen Kuhn; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Albert 
and Georgia Hain, Ivan and Margaret Hottovy, Alois Hottovy and Robert Snyder. 
Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 3, 2007 at Assumption Catholic Church in 
Dwight, NE. Interment was at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Dwight. 
 
PAPILLION - Richard Joseph "Dick" HOUFEK, 89, of Papillion, formerly of Lincoln, died 
Nov. 28, 2007 in Omaha, after a fall near his home. Born Dec. 14, 1917, to Joseph 
and Emma (Wesley) Houfek on a farm near Prague. Married Helen Lindgren of Malmo. 
Preceded in death by his parents and brother, Raymond. Services were held 
Dec. 4, 2007 at Edensburg Lutheran Church in Malmo. Burial was at Edensburg 
Lutheran Cemetery near Malmo.  
 
LINCOLN - Daniel Ray JOHNSON, 53, of Lincoln, died Dec. 4, 2007. 
Born on May 3, 1954 to Raymond F. and Lucille J. (Bohlen) Johnson at Hastings, NE. 
He was a U. S. Army Veteran. He was a retired Raymond Central High School speech 
teacher and coach. His father preceded him in death. Services held Dec. 7, 2007 at 
Evangelical United Lutheran Church, in Lincoln, NE. Entombment at Lincoln Memorial 
Park Mausoleum.  
 
AURORA - David Walter PIPER, 45, of Aurora, died Nov. 26 in Lincoln, NE. 
Born on Oct. 2, 1962 to Ronald Gene and Marilyn Judy (Hendrickson) Piper in Wahoo, NE. 
Married Dawn Jansen on June 29, 1985 in Wahoo, NE. A brother, Ron Piper, preceded him 
in death. Funeral service was held Nov. 29 at Roper and Sons Chapel, in Lincoln. 
Burial was in Sunrise Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Lenora V. SMITH, 87, Indianapolis, Ind. died Nov. 28, 2007. 
Born June 15, 1920, to the late Ernest and Maude Gilmore in Ashland. Seven sisters 
and one brother preceded her in death. Services Dec. 2 at Flanner and Buchanan 
Funeral Center, Indianapolis, IN. Entombment will take place at Washington Park 
East Cemetery. 
 
LINCOLN - William R. "Bill" VANDERFORD, 74, of Lincoln, died Nov. 30, 2007. 
Born Jan. 25, 1933 to Roy and Nellie (Kalberg) Vanderford at Auburn. He was a 
Korean War Veteran. Preceded in death by his parents and son, Billy. Funeral service 
Dec. 6 at Christ United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Lincoln Memorial Park. 
 
LINCOLN - Lillian B. VESKRNA, 93, of Lincoln, formerly of Malmo, died Nov. 26, 2007. 
Born April 12, 1914 in Chicago, Ill. On Feb. 21, 1940, she married William Veskrna at 
Mead, NE. Her husband, daughter, Carol, and stepbrother, Carl Peterson, preceded 
her in death. Funeral services were held Nov. 30 at Edensburg Lutheran Church in 
Malmo, NE. Interment was at Edensburg Lutheran Cemetery in Malmo. 

RISING CITY - Mary Jane CHLOUPEK, 85, of Rising City, died Dec. 6, 2007 
in David City, NE. Born Feb. 9, 1922, to John F. and Adah (Pickrel) Kilzer 
in Seward. Married Ernest Chloupek on June 1, 1940 at Papillion. 
Preceded in death by her parents, her husband; sisters, Vera Winter and 
Nellie Odell; brother, Billy Kilzer; grandchildren, Theresa Chloupek and David 
Chloupek, great-grandson, Ben Chloupek. Services held Dec. 10 at United 
Methodist Church in Rising City, NE.  Arrangements by Chermok Funeral 
Home of David City.  
 
ASHLAND - William R. COOK, 86, of Ashland, died Dec. 7, 2007. 
Born Mar 3, 1921 in LaPorte, Iowa, to Richard and Celia (Pierre) Cook. 
He grew up in Ashland and was a graduate of Ashland High School. 
Served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. On April 14, 1944, married 
Ila Stootsberry in Groton, Conn. Preceded in death by his wife. 
Funeral services held Dec. 12, 2007 at United Methodist Church 
in Ashland. Interment will be at Ashland Cemetery with military 
honors by American Legion Post 129. Arrangements by Marcy 
Mortuary, Ashland 
 
LINCOLN - Jeremy Wayne DREWEL, 32, of Lincoln, died Dec 9, 2007. 
Born July 23, 1975 in Lincoln to Kenny and Debbie (Mertz) Drewel. 
On June 26, 1999 he married Lisa Marie Ray. Preceded in death by 
grandfather's Eldon W. Drewel and Robert R. Mertz. Memorial Services 
held Dec 13 at the First United Methodist Church in Lincoln. There will 
be a private inurnment at Lincoln Memorial Park. 
 
WAHOO - Mildred M. HOUFEK, 98, of Wahoo, died Dec. 8, 2007. 
Born on April 20, 1909 to John and Mary (Petersen) Schultz on a farm north of Malmo. 
Married Adolph Houfek on May 29, 1935 at Czech Presbyterian Church near Wahoo. 
She was a teacher. Preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a son, Leland, 
a sister, Grayce Volin and a nephew, Jimmy Volin. Funeral Service held Dec. 12, 2007 
at the First Presbyterian Church in Wahoo, NE. Interment was at Sunrise Cemetery 
in Wahoo. 
 
WAHOO - Lucille K. JONAS, 87, of Wahoo, died Dec. 7, 2007. 
Born on May 30, 1920, to John and Helen (Dockweiler) Konecky at Valparaiso, NE. 
She was a teacher. Married Joseph "Joe" Jonas on Aug. 4, 1942 at St. Wenceslaus 
Church in Wahoo. Preceded in death by her husband, a son-in-law, Wally Swartz 
and brother, Dale Konecky. Mass of Christian Burial held Dec. 13 at St. Wenceslaus 
Catholic Church in Wahoo. Interment at St. Francis Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
WAHOO - Rudy R. LUDVIK, 84, of Wahoo, died Dec. 8, 2007. 
Born on Sept. 3, 1923, to Rudolph and Agnes (Jakub) Ludvik in rural Weston. 
Married Lillian Hula on Sept. 10, 1946 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wahoo. 
His parents, a brother, Leonard, and brother-in-law, Lloyd Johnson, preceded him 
in death. Mass of Christian Burial held at Dec. 14 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic 
Church in Wahoo. Interment will be at St. Francis Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
VALPARAISO - Ellis J. MASEK, 73, of Valparaiso, died Dec. 7, 2007 in Wahoo. 
Born on Nov. 2, 1934 to Joseph C. and Mary C. (Kobza) Masek in rural Raymond. 
He served in the U. S. Army from 1957 to 1959. Preceded in death by his parents, 
niece, Connie Johnson, nephew, Ben Masek, aunts and uncles. Mass of Christian 
Burial was held Dec. 11 at Sts. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church in Valparaiso. 
Interment was at St. Vitus Cemetery in Touhy, with military honors conducted 
by American Legion Post 371 and VFW Post 10491. 
 
Colon - Judy PETERSON, 60, of Colon, died Dec. 5 at her home. 
Born on April 9, 1947 to LaVern and Darlene Needham in Fremont, NE. 
Married Ralph Peterson on Dec. 13, 1967 in Cheyenne, Wyo. Her father and 
brother-in-law, Gene Teterus, preceded her in death. Funeral service 
Dec. 11, 2007 at Svoboda Funeral Home in Wahoo. Interment at Sunrise 
Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
FREMONT - Dewain A. "Joe" SANDERSON, 62, of Fremont, died Dec. 4, 2007. 
Born on July 29, 1945, to Louis and Helen (Schrock) Sanderson in San Rafael, Calif. 
He married Wanda Leighton on Feb. 29, 1964 in Fremont. Preceded in death by his 
parents, and infant twins, a brother and sister. Funeral services were held Dec. 7, 2007
at the Fremont Presbyterian Church in Fremont, NE. Burial was at Memorial Cemetery 
in Fremont. 
 
DAVID CITY - Adeline SPICKA, 90, of David City died Dec. 6, 2007. 
Born Dec. 9, 1916 to Joseph and Ann (Svoboda) Horacek in Brainard. 
On June 3, 1940 she married Frank Spicka in Brainard. Preceded in death by her 
husband, a son-in-law, Robert Racek, two brothers, Raymond Horacek and Leonard 
Horacek, a sister, Loretta Svoboda and grandsons, Francis Spicka and James Racek. 
Funeral service was held Dec. 10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in David City, NE. 
Burial was at Sunrise Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
ASHLAND - Alice J. ANDERSON, 77, of Ashland died Dec 13, 2007 at the home 
of her daughter in Juniata. Born in Sioux City, Iowa on Mar 12, 1930 to John 
and Anne (Kirby) Joaness. She moved to Ashland where she met Jack Anderson. 
They were married in Omaha on Sept. 16, 1956. Preceded in death by: husband 
John T. "Jack" Anderson; daughter Amy Lu Anderson; parents; sister Charlotte Hendrix. 
Funeral Service held Dec. 18, 2007, at the First Christian Church in Ashland. 
Following the services, her body will be donated to science. 
Arrangements by Marcy Mortuary, Ashland, NE. 
 
ASHLAND - Harold "Chuck" GILLESPIE, 74, of Ashland, died Dec. 12, 2007l in Omaha. 
Born in Bergoo, WV on Dec. 16, 1932 to Harold and Gladys (Lane) Gillespie. Served in 
the U. S. Army as a paratrooper during the Korean War. Married Frances Dunagan on 
April 1, 1961 in Omaha. She preceded him death on Nov. 13, 1998. Funeral services 
were held Dec. 17 at Marcy Chapel in Ashland. Interment at Sloan Cemetery near 
Sloan, Iowa with Military Honors by American Legion Post 295, on Dec. 22, 2007.
 
SCHUYLER - Kenneth GOFF, 76, of Schuyler died Dec. 13, 2007 in David City, NE. 
Born May 20, 1931 at Ashland to Clifton and Mary Kathryn (Kitrell) Goff. Served in 
the Marines, during the Korean War and completed a tour of duty in Korea. 
He married Rachel Hancock on Nov 2, 1955 in Papillion. Preceded in death by his 
wife, Rachel (February 24, 2000); parents, Clifton and Kathryn Goff. 
A funeral service was held on Dec 17 at the First Presbyterian Church 
in Schuyler. Burial with Military Honors by Ashland American Legion Post 
129 was held at the Ashland Cemetery in Ashland, NE. 
 
WAHOO - Allan Roy LARSEN, 76, of Wahoo, died Dec. 27, 2007. 
Born Mar 19, 1931, to Roy and Jennie (Larson) Larsen in Wahoo and grew up 
on a farm near Mead. His parents, and a brother, Harold, preceded him in death. 
Several cousins and other relatives survive him. Funeral services Dec. 31, 2007 
at the Pruss-Nabity Funeral Home. Interment will be at Sunrise Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
WAHOO - John W. "Bill" LINDLEY, 75, of Wahoo, died Dec. 19, 2007. 
Born June 4, 1932 to Jack and Dorothy (Larson) Lindley in Wahoo.  
He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, and 
his brother-in-law, Dr. Richard Brunmeier. Funeral services Dec. 22, 2007 at the 
First Presbyterian Church in Wahoo. Interment will be at Sunrise Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. - Susan MUGGLI, 63, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died Dec. 20, 2007. 
Born Oct. 11, 1944, to Frank and Evelyn Waiss of Loma. Married Roger Muggli on 
Sept. 14, 1968 at Loma, NE. Her parents, an infant son, and brother, Alan Waiss, 
preceded her in death. A funeral Mass was held Dec. 28, 2007 at St. Thomas 
Aquinas Church in Crystal Lake, Ill. Querhammer and Flagg Funeral Home of 
Crystal Lake, Ill. was in charge of the arrangements.  
 
BEATRICE - Anthony F. OTTIS, Jr., 59, of Beatrice, died Dec. 27 in Lincoln, NE. 
Born Aug. 24, 1948, to Anthony F. Sr. and Johanna (Purchal) Ottis in Norfolk. 
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Ann Purchal and Killian 
and Frances Ottis, infant brother, William Dale Ottis and nephew, Eric Ottis. 
Funeral Mass Dec. 31 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wahoo, NE.. 
Interment will be at St. Francis Cemetery in Wahoo. 
 
WAHOO - Joyce E. "Elaine" SIEMSEN, 79, of Wahoo, died Dec. 22, 2007. 
Born April 20, 1928 to Clarence and Rose (Severyn) Johnson at Malmo. 
On April 24, 1944, she married Arthur L. Siemsen in Wahoo. Her husband, 
a son, Gary and her parents preceded her in death. Funeral service held 
Dec. 27 at Svoboda Funeral Home in Wahoo. Interment will be at Edensburg 
Lutheran Cemetery at Malmo. 
 
ASHLAND - Edna Mae "Kay" (Koehler) SNODGRASS died on Dec. 25, 2007, in 
Ashland with her husband by her side. She died from Multiple Myeloma, a 
cancer of the plasma cells. Born on June 26, 1932, near Clay Center, to 
George and Clara (Wichelt) Koehler. On May 27, 1962 she married George 
Noel Snodgrass. Preceded in death by her parents, one brother, two 
brothers-in-law and one nephew. Funeral services held Dec. 29 at the 
Ashland United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Ashland Cemetery. 
Marcy Mortuary in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.  

======
Copyright © 2007
Nebraska Obituary Abstracts 
NEGenWeb Project