Imperial Republican
Mar 2008

Russell Irenus WILLIAMS Sr., MD, 96, died on Dec. 13, 2007. 
Born July 27, 1911 in Wauneta, Neb. Married Carleen Steckelberg of Lincoln 
in 1939 and took up residence in Cheyenne, Wyo. in 1942. Graduated in 1936 
from the University of Nebraska Medical School. Enlisted in the U.S. Army in 
1936, reached the grade of Captain and was honorably discharged in 1942. 
A private family memorial service was held. 

William E. "Bill" PANKONIN, 60, died Feb. 12, 2008 in Benkelman, Neb.
Born Oct. 2, 1947 to Edward and Gladys (Pollard) Pankonin at Grant, Neb. 
On Feb. 12, 1966, married Sharon Mae Snyder. On May 1, 1980, Bill married 
Clara Bea Nichols. His parents, Ed and Marie Pankonin, precede him in death.
A memorial service was Feb. 16, 2008 at Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman. 
A private inurnment will take place at a later date.

Margaret "Margie" Jane (Covert) CRANWELL was born on Jan. 12, 1920 to
William Franklin and Bertha May (McGaughy) Covert. She died Feb. 22, 2008. 
On Sept. 19, 1938 married Kenneth Sidney Cranwell in Holyoke, Colo. Preceded 
in death by her parents, William and Bertha Covert; her son, Gene; 
granddaughter-in-law, Melinda and great grandson, Westyn; two sisters, Bernice 
and Minnie; six brothers, infant Floyd, Lloyd, Orville, Wayne, George "Bud" and 
stillborn Charles; two nephews and one niece. Funeral services were held 
Feb. 27, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Holyoke, Colo. Interment 
followed at the Holyoke Memorial Park. Baucke Funeral Home of Holyoke 
was in charge of arrangements. 

Merle Genevieve Newman BOCK was born Feb. 10, 1923, at Chase, Neb., 
to Harry and Edyth (Tallman) Newman. Merle moved to California in 1944 
and became a Physical Therapist. Married Dr. John Bock in June of 1950. 
After 46 years of marriage, John passed away in 1996 and Merle moved 
to Imperial in 2001 to be near family. Merle died, Mar 1, 2008. She was 
85 years of age. Preceded in death by her husband, Dr. John Bock; 
parents, Harry and Edyth Newman; her sister, Maye and husband, Arthur 
(Boots) Creveling and great-nephew, Dick Creveling. Graveside inurnment 
services held Mar 4, 2008 at Mount Hope Cemetery. 

Elsie Rosa KESSLER was born May 27, 1918, at Hiawatha, Dundy Co., Neb. 
to Joseph Guy and Ella O'Tillie (Talmon) Hendrix. Married Michael Andrew Kessler
on Oct. 11, 1937, at Imperial, Neb. Mike's died in 1996. Elsie died Feb. 28, 2008. 
She was 89 years of age. Preceded in death by her parents and husband, Mike.
Survivors include daughter, Cheryl Hamilton and husband, Richard, of Wauneta.
Private family inurnment services were held at Mount Hope Cemetery. 

Margaret Grace SCHILZ was born Aug. 24, 1923 on a farm northwest of 
McCook, Neb. to Jacob and Nellie (Spurgeon) Schilz. Married Al Heskett on 
Aug. 29, 1944, at Immaculate Conception Church in Westerly, R.I., where 
Al was stationed in the Navy. Margaret died Mar 2, 2008, Franklin, Neb., 
at the age of 84. Preceded in death by her parents; her husband; infant 
daughter, Janice; son, Kirk; brothers, Leo, Bernard and Gene and 
sister, Florence. Funeral Mass Mar 6, 2008 at St. Patrick's 
Catholic Church. Interment at Mt. Hope Cemetery.

Kenneth "Pete" Lee WERNER was born Sept. 16, 1953, in Colorado 
Springs, CO, to Art "Shorty" Werner and Rose (Oeseau) Werner. 
Married Gwen (Robbins) Werner on July 1, 1986, in Palestine, Texas. 
He died Feb. 29, 2008, Imperial. He was 54 years of age.
Preceded in death by his parents and sister, Patty Miller.
Funeral services fwere held Mar 3, 2008, at the Berean Fundamental 
Church of Imperial. Interment followed at the Palisade Cemetery, Palisade.

William "Bill" HORST, 71, died on Mar 2, 2008, in his home in Arnold after 
a long battle with cancer.Born Aug 11, 1936, in Scottsbluff, NE, one of 
five children and the third son of Peter and Lydia (Reh) Horst. Both sets 
of his grandparents were German immigrants who fled the Volga River 
area in Russia. Preceding him in death are his parents, brother Gerald 
Horst and a stepson, Mitchell Marsh. Services Mar 6, 2008, at the First 
Baptist Church in Arnold, Neb. Burial in the Arnold Cemetery. 

Karl Raymond KIRWAN was born April 6, 1963, in North Platte, Neb. to 
Myron (Mike) and Jean (Larreau) Kirwan. Karl died Mar 7, 2008, in 
Dublin, Ireland. He was 44 years of age. Preceded in death by his 
sister, Kathie and brother, Michael. Funeral services were held 
Mar 19, 2008, at 11 a.m. (MT) at the First United Methodist 
Church of Imperial. Interment followed at Mount Hope 
Cemetery, Imperial.

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