Seward Co. Independent
Oct 2008

Janet Lynn (Wroughton) ROWLAND, 46, died Oct. 8, 2008, at her home in Milford.
Janet was born May 29, 1962, in Nelson to Richard Dudley and Lorraine Kay (Kelley) 
Wroughton. She married Martin James Rowland on May 19, 1984, at St. Joseph's 
Catholic Church in Superior. To this union three children, Caitlin, Sean and 
Trace, were born. She was preceded in death by her grandparents and her 
father-in-law John P. Rowland. Service was Oct. 13, 2008, at St. Vincent dePaul 
Catholic Church in Seward. Graveside service and burial at Blue Mound 
Cemetery, Milford.

Dean E. STRUEBING, 79, Rising City, died Oct. 6, 2008, in David City.
Born Feb. 2, 1929, to Christian E. and Gusta Ann (Grubaugh) Struebing 
at Rising City. On Nov. 5, 1950, he married Janice Harriet Smith at the 
United Methodist Church in Rising City. To this union three sons were born.
Preceded in death by his parents and brother James Struebing. Service was 
Oct. 10, at the United Methodist Church in Rising City. Burial was in the 
Circle Mound Cemetery.

James E. GEIST, 78, Lincoln, died Oct. 5, 2008. James was born 
Oct. 14, 1929, in Louisville, to Alex and Elsie (Zelenka) Geist.
Served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Preceded in death 
by his parents; sister and brother-in-law June and Virgil 
Henderson, Lompoc, Calif.; and brother-in-law Bob Arnold, Missoula, Mont.
Service was Oct. 10, 2008, at First-Plymouth Congregational Church, Lincoln.

Rita Frances (Coffey) ANDERSON, 76, Seward, died Sept. 22, 2008, in Lincoln.
Born April 27, 1932, in Seward, to Frances Coffey. Marriage to Dale Anderson 
at the United Church of Christ, Seward. Preceded in death by her mother 
Frances Coffey; son Steve Anderson and brother Richard Varner. Service was 
Sept. 26, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Seward. Interment was at 
the United Church of Christ West Blue Cemetery, Milford.

Lela M GRIMES, 87, died Oct. 18, 2008, at Milford.
Lela was born on the family farm near Goehner on May 14, 1921, the 
oldest child of Emmanuel Eugene and Amalia Elizabeth (Schwerin) Wurst.
She was married to Francis Grimes on Dec. 3, 1941, at the Utica Methodist 
Church and to this union two children, Harold and Ellen were born. Preceded 
in death by her parents Emmanuel and Molly Wurst; husband Francis in 2004; 
daughter Ellen Gebhard; granddaughter Bethany Sims; and sister Doris Heller.
Service was Oct. 21, 2008, at Milford United Methodist Church. Interment was 
at the Utica Cemetery.

Robert Allen GREEN, 84, died Oct. 18, 2008, in Lincoln.
Dr. Green was born Dec. 5, 1923, in Seward to Langdon Dewey and 
Ruth Elizabeth (Reynolds) Green. He attended Concordia University 
for two years and then entered the U.S. Army in 1943 during WWII.
Upon his discharge from the service he returned to Nebraska and 
attended the University of Nebraska graduating from the College 
of Dentistry in 1948. On Mar 29, 1947, he married Nancy Jane Baker 
in Lincoln. Later he entered the Air Corps during the Korean War and 
was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha. Dr. Green was 
preceded in death by his parents Langdon D. and Ruth E. Green; wife 
of 58 years Nancy J. Green in 2005; and daughter, Barbara Steinheider.
Service was Oct. 23, 2008, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Seward.
Graveside service and interment with military honors at Seward 
Cemetery, Seward. 

Edwin Adolf Rudolf SCHULZ, 82, died Oct. 15, 2008, in Seward.
He was born April 21, 1926, in Garland to William Adolf August 
and Sophia Wilhelmina (Tiemann) Schulz. On Mar 11, 1948, he 
married Nora Frieda Klintworth at the home of the bride's parents 
in rural Seward County. They had five children. Preceded in death 
by his parents William "Bill" and Sophia Schulz; siblings and spouse 
Alma and Paul Warnsholz, Lester Schulz; parents-in-law Dietrich and 
Louise Klintworth; brother-in-law Elmer Schultz. Service was 
Oct. 20, 2008, at St. John Lutheran Church, Seward. Graveside 
service and interment at Seward Cemetery, Seward. 

Gene A. GARD, 84, died Oct. 26, 2008, in Dodge City, Kan.
Gene was born Nov. 9, 1923, at Beaver Crossing, to Alvin J. and 
Ruth Pratt Gard. Served in the US Army during WWII as a meteorologist.
On April 25, 1979, he married Helen M. Adams Smith at Scott City, Kan.
Preceded in death by stepson Kenny Smith; and brother John Gard.
Service Oct. 31, 2008, at the Scott County Cemetery, Scott City, Kan.
Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, Kansas. 

Vietta BIRKEY, 92, Goshen, Ind., died Oct. 26, 2008.
Born in Milford Mar 1, 1916, to Jake and Phoebe (Rediger) Zimmerman.
She married Clarence E. Birkey Mar 4, 1936, in Manson, Iowa. He died 
Feb. 10, 1995. Mrs. Birkey was preceded in death by her husband; five 
sisters; and four brothers. No public funeral service was held. A family 
service was held in Violett Cemetery, Goshen. 

Dorothy Marie DAAKE, 89, died Oct. 25, 2008 in Hastings.
Dorothy was born Mar 20, 1919, in Seward to Reuben and Nellie 
(Huffman) Vogel. She graduated from Seward High School in 1937. 
On Jan. 9, 1938, she married Melvin Daake at St. John Lutheran 
Church, Seward. Preceded in death by her parents; husband 
Melvin; brother Ruben Vogel; son-in-law Jerry Anstine. Service 
Oct 31, 2008, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Utica. Inurnment at 
Utica Cemetery in Utica.
 
Donald George RUTLEDGE, 84, died Oct. 24, 2008, in Seward.
Mr. Rutledge was born Mar 14, 1924, at Syracuse to Glenn 
and Helen (Bray) Rutledge. He was a veteran of WWII, serving 
in the U.S. Army. On Dec. 21, 1943, he married Mae Beth Van 
Druff in Lincoln. Preceded in death by his parents; wife Mae 
Beth; sister Geneve Graham. No service. Inurnment at Lincoln 
Memorial Park, Lincoln. 

Lee Graham LIGGETT, 90, Lincoln, died Oct. 22, 2008.
Mr. Liggett was born Mar 31, 1918, in Utica to George Cassius 
and Charlotte (Zumwinkel) Liggett. Commissioned an Officer in 
the U.S. Army in 1942 and retired as a Brigadier General in 1972. 
During WWII he served as an Adjutant General with General 
Patton's 3rd Army. Service was Oct. 27, 2008, at Southwood 
Lutheran Church in Lincoln. 

Francis F. WOOLSEY, 79, died Oct. 21, 2008, at his home near 
Staplehurst. Born Nov. 23, 1928, near Surprise to James Frederick 
and Gladys Mae (Parke) Woolsey. On Aug. 19, 1951, married Marjorie 
Anne Coufal at the United Methodist Church in Ulysses. Preceded in 
death by his parents James Frederick and Gladys Woolsey and 
brother Robert Woolsey. Service was Oct. 25, 2008, at the United 
Methodist Church in Seward. Interment at Ulysses Township 
Cemetery, Ulysses.
 
Ralph Henry NIELSEN, 76, died Oct. 18, 2008, in Sioux City, Iowa.
Ralph was born on the family farm near Bloomfield on Dec. 12, 1931, to 
Rudolf and Selma (Bloedorn) Nielsen. On June 13, 1956, he was married 
to Cleo Krohn at First Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomfield. Preceded in 
death by his parents. Service was Oct. 22, 2008, at St. John Lutheran 
Church in Seward. Interment at Mound Prairie Cemetery, Goehner.
Military graveside service was conducted by Beaver Crossing 
American Legion Holmes Post 178.

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