Seward County Independent
Oct. 2007

Shirley Lee DAVIS, 72, died Sept. 27, 2007, in Lincoln.
Born Dec. 19, 1934, in Pauline to Loren and Helene (Schultze) Slonecker.
Preceded in death by husband Walter; brothers Virgil, Merle, Donald and 
Dale Slonecker; and sister Evelyn Becker. Services were held Oct. 2, 2007 
at Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Interment was at Lincoln Memorial 
Park Cemetery.
     
Erich P. HUMMEL, 46, Lincoln, died Sept. 24, 2007, in Seward.
Born June 29, 1961, in Fairbury to Lowell and Luana (Roberts) Hummel.
Preceded in death by his parents, brother Michael Hummel and uncle 
Jim Smith. Services were Sept. 28, 2007 at the Gerdes-Meyer Chapel 
in Fairbury. Burial was at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, in rural Daykin.
     
Hermania Agnes (Tesina) MACA, 90, Staplehurst, died Sept. 23, 2007.
Born May 17, 1917, in Dwight to John James and Frances A. (Hottovy) Tesina.
On Jan. 24, 1945, she married Louis James Maca in Dwight. Preceded in death 
by husband Louis; daughter RosAnn Maca; great-great granddaughter Morgan 
Renee Bongers; sisters Emma Gruntorad, Frances Vanderheiden and Lucille 
Makovicka; and brothers John "Jack" and Emil Tesina. Services were 
Sept 26, 2007 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Seward.
Interment was at Seward Cemetery.
 
Lorene F. HASS, 90, Malcolm, died Sept. 26, 2007.
Born Aug. 12, 1917, to Otto and Margaret (Kilzer) Imig.
On Aug. 12, 1937, she married Ewald John Frederick Hass at Trinity 
Lutheran parsonage. Preceded in death by husband Ewald Hass; brothers 
Leonard, Leo and Larry Imig; sisters and brothers-in-law Dorothy and 
Milton Sieck, Fern and Alvin Frerichs and Eleanor Jones; brothers-in-law 
Eldon Anderson and Vernon Hass; and sister-in-law Helen Hass.
Services were held Sept. 29, 2007 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Malcolm.
Interment was at Lincoln Memorial Park Mausoleum in Lincoln.

Lola Mae JANTZE, 92, died Sept. 28, 2007, at Seward Memorial Hospital.
Born Oct. 21, 1914, on a farm west of Milford to the Rev. Warren and Anna 
(Kremer) Eicher. On July 24, 1932, she married Lee Jantze. Preceded in death 
by husband Lee; son Jackie; brothers Merle and Ben Eicher; twin sister Lela 
Hershberger and daughter-in-law Alberta Jantze. Services were held 
Oct. 1, 2007 at Beth-El Mennonite Church in Milford. Interment was at 
Milford Mennonite Cemetery.

Leo George TOMES, 83, died Oct. 3, 2007, at North Kansas City Hospital.
Born Oct. 15, 1923, in Touhy to Louis and Bessie Tomes. Served in WWII 
as a U.S. Navy pilot. Preceded in death by brothers Ray, Lewis, Reynold, 
Hank, Ernie and Don. Survivors include wife Elaine; daughters Tami and 
Barb; sons Mark and Reynold; sister Rita; brothers Ben, Lincoln, and 
Bill, Utica; and seven grandchildren. Services were Oct. 6 at St. Charles 
Catholic Church in Gladstone, Mo. 

Agnes Marie SHONKA, 94, Surprise, died Oct. 4, 2007 in David City.
Born July 13, 1913, in Odell to Frank and Anna (Masek) Hajek. 
On Sept. 29, 1936, she married Ernest Shonka. Preceded in death by 
husband Ernest on May 6, 1993; grandson Kenny Shonka; great-grandson 
Ryan Joseph Stuhr; son-in-law Mike Birkel; brothers Frank, Joseph and 
William Hajek; and sisters Anna Hajek, Mary Kubr, Frances Hubl, Caroline 
and Kristina Havlovic, and Josephine, Rose and Emily Benes. Services were 
held Oct. 4 at St. Joseph Villa in David City. Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic 
Cemetery in Ulysses, NE.

Elizabeth C. SIMERDLA, 86, Milford, died Oct. 1, 2007. Born Nov. 6, 1920, on 
the farm near Loma to Joseph L. and Mary (Hoffbauer) Simerdla. Preceded in 
death by brothers Joe, Charlie, Louis, Ludvik and Jake; and sister Mary Tvrdy.
Survivors include nieces and nephews. Services were held Oct. 4 at St. Anthony 
de Padua in Bruno. Burial was at Appleton Catholic Cemetery in rural David City.

Anna SAMEK, 96, Brainard, died Oct. 1, 2007, in David City, NE.
Born Jan. 28, 1911, on the family farmstead northwest of Brainard to 
Vaclav and Mary (Polak) Havlovic. On Oct. 2, 1933, she married Louis Samek 
at Holy Trinity Church in Brainard. Preceded in death by her husband Louis; 
brothers Joseph, John, Vaclav and Edward; and sisters Emma, Mary and 
Rose Kriz and Sister Ernestine (Ludmilla). Services were Oct. 4 at Holy 
Trinity Catholic Church in Brainard. Burial was at the church cemetery.

Lillian Amelia NABER, 82, Utica, died Oct. 3, 2007. Born Jan. 22, 1925, in 
rural Milford to Otto W. and Amelia (Unzicker) Anderson. On June 3, 1945, 
she married Virgil E. Naber at Goehner. Preceded in death by husband Virgil; 
brothers Raymond and Lloyd; and sister Clara. Services were held Oct. 7, at 
St. John's Lutheran Church in Waco. Burial was at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery.

Paul John YODER, 90, died Oct. 2, 2007 in Milford. Born Jan. 2, 1917, on a 
farm near Kalona, Iowa, to John J. and Rebecca (Miller) Yoder. On Nov. 21, 1943, 
he married F. Berneice Reber at her parents' home in Milford. Preceded in death 
by wife Berneice on Oct. 1, 2001; brothers Fred, Truman, Emil and Floyd Yoder, 
and a brother-in-law Kenneth Reber. Services were held Oct. 6 at Bellwood 
Mennonite Church in Milford. Inurnment was at East Fairview Cemetery in 
rural Milford prior to the memorial service.

Gilbert G. NOVACEK, 79, died Oct. 5, 2007. Born Oct. 31, 1927, in Touhy 
to Charles A. and Florence C. Novacek. He served in the U.S. Army during 
the Korean War. Preceded in death by nephew Jeffrey Novacek. Services 
were held Oct. 7 at Assumption Catholic Church. Interment was at Assumption 
Catholic Church with full military honors by Dwight Legion Post 110.
 
Walter William NIEMANN, 93, died Oct. 1, 2007, in Utica.
Born Feb. 14, 1914, on the family farm near Staplehurst to William and 
Agnes (Welk) Niemann. On Dec. 25, 1939, married Edna Neujahr at Friedens 
United Church of Christ in Seward. Preceded in death by brothers and 
sister-in-law Erwin "Tuffy" and Florence, Elden "Dick," and Vern "Bud" and 
Otto Niemann; and sister and brother-in-law Marie and Ralph Burhoop.
Services were held Oct. 5 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Goehner.
Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery in Seward.
     
Shirley M. SARGENT, 72, Pompano Beach, Fla., died Sept. 24, 2007.
Born May 9, 1935, in David City to Joseph and Francis (Coufal) Sedlak of Dwight. 
In May 1957, she married Jack Sargent. Preceded in death by husband Jack and 
brother Richard Sedlak, Seward. Services were Sept. 28 at Kraeer Funeral Home. 
Burial was at Lauderdale Memorial Cemetery. 

Robert EASTMAN, 80, died Oct. 12, 2007 in Seward.
Born June 3, 1927 in Omaha to George and Julia Eastman.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
In 1952, Mr. Eastman married VermaLou Ellen Watkins.
Preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Services Oct. 17, at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church. 
Burial at Fort McPherson Cemetery in Maxwell. 
 
Tom KOLAR, 54, Collierville, Tenn., died Oct. 6, 2007.
Born May 27, 1953, in Seward to Louis Thomas and Ruby Viola (Lusher) Kolar. 
On July 14, 1973, married Joyce Potter. Services were held Oct. 12 at St. Vincent 
dePaul Catholic Church in Seward. Interment was at Seward Cemetery.
      
Dr. David F. DEMUTH, 57, York, died Oct. 9, 2007, in Lincoln.
Born Oct. 26, 1949, in David City to George W. and Martha (Zitek) Demuth. 
On Sept. 1, 1973, he married Deborah Ann Suck. Preceded in death by his father 
George W. Demuth; parents-in-law Milton and G. Darlene Suck and brother-in-law 
Marshall S. Collins. Services were held Oct. 14 at the York High School auditorium. 
Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery in York with military honors.
    
Dianne L. FITZGERALD, 59, died Oct. 18, 2007, in Lincoln.
Born April 13, 1948, in Stuart to Leo and Vivian (Reiling) Schracherer.
Survivors include husband Calvin, Lincoln; sons LaShawn Jones, Lincoln, 
and Jeff Meyer, Miami, Fla.; daughter Calia Jones, Lincoln; sister Susan 
Schacherer, Albuquerque, NM; and grandchildren. Services will be 
announced at a later date.
     
Wilbur Friedrich SCHLECHTE, 93, died Oct. 15, 2007 in York, NE.
Born Aug. 4, 1914, near Waco to Henry and Clara (Naber) Schlechte.
On April 24, 1938, he married Anna Rathje at Emmanuel Lutheran Church 
in York, NE. Preceded in death by wife Anna; brothers and sister-in-law 
Harold and Eileen Schlechte and Melvin Schlechte; and sister and 
brother-in-law Verna and Edgar Petri. Services were held Oct. 18, 2007 
at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica. Interment was at Utica Cemetery.

Lyle Leslie DAVIS, 91, died Oct 17, 2007, in Seward, NE.
Born Aug. 16, 1916, east of Beaver Crossing to John Lovell and Ora 
Inez (Englehaupt) Davis. On Nov. 22, 1938, married Blanche Loretta Farmer. 
Following Blanche's death in 1948, Lyle married Doris Mae Tucker in Lincoln 
on June 3, 1956. Preceded in death by wife Blanche Davis; and daughter 
and son-in-law Jean and Gary Bluhm. Services were Oct. 20, 2007 at Beaver 
Crossing United Methodist Church. Interment was at Beaver Crossing Cemetery.

Opal Caroline Schlechte, 87, died Oct. 26, 2007, in Aurora.
Born Dec. 28, 1919, on the family farm near Ulysses to Rudolph and 
Hulda (Suhr) Neujahr. In 1938, she graduated from Gresham High School.
On Dec. 15, 1945, she married Edgar Schlechte at St. Paul's Lutheran 
Church in Gresham. Preceded in death by husband Edgar; brother Orville 
Neujahr; and sisters and brother-in-law Mildren and Ray Niemann and 
Janice Struebing. Services were held Oct. 29 at Volzke Funeral Home 
Chapel in Seward. Interment was at Greenwood Cemetery in Seward. 

LaVern KREMER, 90, died Oct. 23, 2007 near Milford. Born Oct. 28, 1916, on 
a farm near Dorchester to Joseph and Ella (Stutzman) Kremer. On April 11, 1937, 
he married Ruth Reil. Preceded death by his wife Ruth; and brothers Oris, Morris, 
Bernard and Richard Kremer. Services were held Oct. 27 at Milford Mennonite 
Church. Interment was at Milford Mennonite Cemetery.

Elfriede A. KLEINE, 75, Daykin, died Oct. 27, 2007, at her home.
Born April 22, 1932, in Fairbury to John and Anna Goeking Schoenrock.
Preceded in death by husband Melvin. Services held Nov. 1, at St. John 
Lutheran Church in Daykin. 
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