Joan Davis, wife of Deacon Michael Davis, dies

 

Joan Davis, 62, of North Platte, wife of Deacon Michael Davis, died April 14, 2023. 

Mass of Christian Burial was April 18 at Holy Spirit Church with Fr. Vidya Sagar presiding, assisted by Deacons Kevin Fuller and Mark Stadler. Burial was at Ogallala Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to P.E.O. Continuing Education for Women or Holy Spirit Church. 

Mrs. Davis was born on Oct. 12, 1957, to Joseph Toro and Lois Mae Toro at Andover, Mass. In her early years, the family lived in Plainfield, N.J., until 1968 when her father took an electrical engineering position with TRW Electronics in Ogallala. 

She earned an English teaching degree at the University of Lincoln in 1978 and later a master’s degree in administration. She taught in Riverton, Wyo., on the Wind River Reservation and then began a long tenure at North Platte Public High School, serving in various capacities: English Teacher, speech and debate coach, K-12 district English curriculum coordinator and finishing her career as the co-lead teacher of the life-changing alternative High School, TLC, The Learning Center, retiring in 2017. 

She was an excellent cook and baker, enjoyed traveling, murder mysteries, and attending musicals, especially ‘Les Miserables’ which was her first date with her ‘to be’ husband. She enjoyed family and friends and she was sought out for her kind and quiet conversations of substance or frivolity.

She is survived by her husband; daughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Davis; brother, Gary Toro; sisters, Bev Toro and Annie Lopez.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

In the hope 4/27/23

LeRoy Wadzinski, 94, of West Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Ravenna, died April 19. Funeral Mass April 29 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ravenna with Fr. Rod Pruss officiating. Burial at Highland Park Cemetery in Ravenna. Survivors: wife, LaVera; children, Terry Wadzinski of Mesa, Ariz., Michael Wadzinski of Sioux City, Iowa, Judy McInroy of Round Rock, Texas, Deb Huber of Mesa, Ariz., and Lori  Polich of Hermosa Beach, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Carol Banke.

John Galvan, 76, of Grand Island died April 22. Funeral Mass April 26 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island with Fr. Jorge Canela will be the celebrant. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors: sons, Kevin, Ritch, and John; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

Norma Cunningham, 96, of Grand Island died Dec. 10. Funeral Mass April 28 at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Frs. Thomas Vijumon Choorackel and Joseph Broudou officiating. Survivors: children, John Cunningham of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Mark Cunningham of Jeffersonville, Penn., Ann Brondel of Grand Island and Jane Cunningham of St. Paul, Minn.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. 

Dacia Dzingle, 69, of Loup City, died April 19. Funeral Mass April 25 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City. Burial at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Survivors: husband, James; son, Kevin Dzingle of Kearney; daughter, Dayna Phillips of Kearney; four grandchildren; brothers, Dennis Day, Daniel Day and Doug Day.

Kenneth Maschka, 88, of Ashton died April 18. Funeral Mass April 24 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City with Frs. Richard Piontkowski and Alex Borzych officiating. Burial at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery in Ashton. Survivors: wife, Lois; daughter, Therese Hulinsky; sons, Jim and John Maschka; daughters, Lisa Harrington and Susie Kizer; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.

Leo Stenka, 85, of St. Paul, died April 19. Funeral Mass April 22 at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in St. Paul with Frs. Vince Parsons and Alex Borzych officiating. Burial at Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Survivors: wife, Virginia; children, Tami Stenka of St. Paul, Lisa Blessin of Sutherland, Robert Stenka of Lincoln; four grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.

Jerome “Jay” Determan, 87, of Grand Island died April 18. Funeral Mass April 24 at Resurrection Church. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: daughters, Diann Manning of Kansas City, Kan., Nancy Tjaden-Nolan, Karen Terry and Lisa Sanders, all of Grand Island; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Simpson of Madison, S.D., and Donna Sommars of Mitchell, S.D.; brother, Joe Determan of Mead. 

Charles Pfaff, 79, of Omaha, formerly of Grand Island, died March 26. Funeral Mass April 22 at St. Leo’s Church in Grand Island with Fr. Don Buhrman officiating. Survivors: wife, Pat; daughters, Allison Harlow and Megan Durham, both of Omaha; six grandchildren; sisters, Frances Sleddens, Phyllis Watters and Sharon Davis.

Franklin Eurek, 78, of Kearney, died April 11. Funeral Mass April 18 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Survivors: wife, Maryann; daughter, Jennifer; son, Jeff; two grandchildren; brothers, Ernest Eurek of Lewisville, Texas, David Eurek of Howells.

Ronald Wortman, 76, of Wood River, died April 6. Funeral Mass April 13 at St. Mary’s Church in Wood River with Fr. Josh Brown officiating. Burial at Cedar View Cemetery in Doniphan. Survivors: sisters, Kathleen Wortman of Grand Island, Dorothy Wortman of Wood River, and Patricia Adam of Hildreth; stepdaughter, Stacie Taylor of Columbus; three stepgrandchildren.

Charles Walz, 94, of Grand Island, died April 6. Funeral Mass April 11 at Resurrection Church with Fr. Thomas Vijumon Choorackal officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery at a later date. Survivors: daughters, Pamela Moore of Galveston, Texas, and Angela Walz of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sons, Greg Walz of Seward, and Dennis Walz of Grand Island; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.

Antoinette Kowalski, 53, of St. Paul, died April 5. Funeral Mass April 14 at St. Libory’s Church in St. Libory with Frs. Sidney Bruggeman, Vince Parsons and Alex Borzych officiating. Survivors: son, Michael Kowalski of Bellevue; siblings, Mark Kowalski of Central City, Scott Kowalski of St. Paul, Amy Dinsdale of Alamogordo, N.M., and Tony Kowalski of Omaha.

Lynette Larchick, 53, of Loup City, died April 5. Burial at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery in Paplin. Survivors: sons, Jonathan Larchick of Plano, Texas, Jakob Larchick of Kearney, Jared Larchick and Jayden Larchick, both of Loup City; two grandsons; mother, Sharon Jonak of Loup City; sisters, Kimberly Stelk of Grand Island, Rhonda Barker of Loup City, Vicky Bellows of Katy, Texas, and Stacie Dawkins of Williston, N.D.

Michael Nowak, 62, of Elba, died April 1. Funeral services April 7 at Jacobsen-Greenway-Dietz Funeral Home in St. Paul with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Elba. Survivors: sister, Patricia Nowak of Florida. 

LeRoy Arends, 80, of Grand Island, died March 30. Funeral Mass April 4 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island with Frs. Marty Egging and Alex Borzych officiating. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island. Survivors: wife, Catherine; sons, Kent Arends of San Antonio, Texas, and Todd Arends of Grand Island; daughters, Connie Johnson of Grand Island and Michelle Zurcher of Crofton, Md.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers, Dale Arends of St. Libory and James Arends of Grand Island; sister, Rita Wichmann of St. Libory.

Susan Siemers, 86, of North Platte, died April 15. Funeral Mass April 24, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Fr. Vidya Sagar Arikotla officiating. Survivors: daughters, Jennifer Smith of North Platte, Jacque Stadler of Minden, and Janette Margritz of Hershey; nine grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Bruns of Lodgepole. 

Rodney Karre, 82, of Westminster, Colo., died April 12. Survivors: wife, Mary Ann; daughters, Kimberly Siffring and Danielle Steiner; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brothers, Jack, Tom, Tim, Doug, Rich, and Fred Karre.

Donald Weskamp, 87, of North Platte, died April 10. Funeral Mass April 19, at St. Patrick’s Church with Fr. Jonathan Sorenson officiating. Burial at Fort McPherson Cemetery, near Maxwell. Survivors: daughter, Brenda Weskamp of Cave Creek, Ariz.; sons, Steve Weskamp of North Platte and Mark Weskamp of Cave Creek; sister, Mary Lou Harned of Tulsa, Okla.; his brother, Ted Weskamp of Canon City, Colo.  

Mary Hunt, 89, of North Platte died April 7. Funeral Mass April 13 at St. Patrick Church with Fr. Joseph Kadaprayil officiating. Burial at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, near Maxwell. Survivors: daughters, Mary White and Geni Karre, both of North Platte; sons, Bill Hunt of North Platte, Tom Hunt, Scott Hunt, and Alan Hunt, all of Lincoln, David Hunt and Chad Hunt, both of North Platte; 37 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren. 

Paul Alonzo, 82, of Kearney, died April 4. Funeral Mass April 12 at St. James Church in Kearney with Fr. Michael Pampara officiating. Burial at North Platte Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Margarita “Margie”; children, Denise Loeza of Tulsa, Okla., Diana Ortega of Rowlett, Texas, Dorothy Olvera of Cozad, Michael Alonzo of Clear Lake, Texas, and Consuelto “Lupe” Stevens of Kearney; 20 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

“Betty” Chloupek, 85, of Kearney, died April 23. Funeral Mass April 28 at St. Gabriel Church in Hazard with Fr. Frantisek Chloupek C.F.R. and Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at the Litchfield Cemetery. Survivors: sons, Kevin and Randy Chloupek; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brother, William Ripp; sister, Brenda Garrelts.

John Morrissey, 98, of Kearney, died April 15. Funeral Mass April 25 at St. James Church in Kearney with Fr. Joseph Hannappel officiating. Burial at Kearney Cemetery. Survivors: daughter Margie Paul; two grandsons; three great-grandchildren.

Jane Nelson, 68, of Kearney, died Feb. 24. Funeral Mass April 21 at St. James Church in Kearney. Survivors: husband, Dave; son Christopher; daughter, Andrea; two grandchildren; brother, Brian Falk of North Hollywood, Calif. 

Lupe Vega, 75, of Kearney, died April 9. Funeral Mass April 17 at St. James Church in Kearney with Fr. Paul Colling officiating. Burial at Kearney Cemetery. Survivors: sons, Andrew Vega and RJ Vega; daughters, Oliva Vega and Malena Vega-Seely; eight grandchildren; brothers, Raymond and Cruz Quintana; and sisters, Margie and Lillian Quintana.

Franklin Eurek, 78, of Kearney, died April 11. Funeral Mass April 18 at St. Josaphat Church in Loup City with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Survivors: wife, Maryann; daughter, Jennifer; son, Jeff; two grandchildren; brothers, Ernest Eurek of Lewisville, Texas, David Eurek of Howells.

Beverly Eickhoff, 88, of Kearney died April 6. Funeral Mass April 14 at St. James Church with Fr. Art Faesser officiating. Burial at Kearney Cemetery. Survivors: husband, Rollie; children, Mike Eickhoff, Kim Eickhoff, Kent Eickhoff, all of Kearney, Sherri Butters of Richmond, Texas, Connie Kenton of Gibbon, and Brad Eickhoff of Columbus; 19 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister, Janice Van Wyk. 

Michael Schwarz, 66, of Lexington died March 29. Funeral Mass April 6 at the St. Ann’s Church in Lexington with Fr. Jose Chavez, officiating. Burial at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Lexington. Survivors: wife, Susan; sons, Jason, Andrew and Michael; four grandchildren; father, Martin Schwarz; brothers, Dean Schwarz, Dennis Schwarz of Lexington.

Renee Lewandowski, 58, of Gering died April 23. Funeral Mass April 29 at Christ the King Church. Burial at Westlawn Cemetery in Gering. Survivors: husband, Rodney; daughter, Jamie Hutchison; daughter, Krissa Glaubius; three grandchildren; sister, Anita Grubbs.

In the Hope 3/26/23

Ronald Schwab, 63, of Grand Island, died March 21. Funeral Mass March 25 at St. Mary’s Church in Pleasanton with Fr.  Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at St. Mary's Cemetery in Pleasanton. Survivors: wife, Susie Schwab of Grand Island; sons, Mark Schwab of Doniphan and Mitch Schwab of Kearney; five grandchildren; siblings, Pat Schwab, Wendy Urbanek, and Jeri Urbom; and his parents.

Sandra Hostler, 86, of Grand Island, died March 16. Funeral Mass March 21 at St. Leo's Church with Fr. Donald Buhrman officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: children, Sharon Hostler of Omaha, Kenneth Hostler of Des Moines, Wash., Donna Murphy of Omaha, Debra Gatto of Grand Island and their children, Anthony Hostler of Omaha, Alex Hostler, and Cypress Hostler of Norfolk, NE, Kayla Champ, Lucas, and Tyler of Kansas, Andrew Gatto of Kearney, Aniston Gatto of Grand Island, and Angel (Emma) Gatto of Hastings, Duane (Alice) Hostler and their children: Nicholas, Lydia, Charlotte of Grand Island;

Joann Houser, 94, of Grand Island, died March 7. Funeral Mass March 18 at Resurrection Church with Frs. Vijumon Choorackal and Don Buhrman officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: children, Craig Houser of Grand Island, Lisa Dozler of Albion and Sheila Houser-Zealand of Omaha; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Gary Cartano and sister, Linda Decker.

Leila Bauer, 90, of Spalding, died March 11. Funeral Mass March 17 at St. Michael's Church in Spalding with Fr. Antony Thekkekara officiating. Burial at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery. Survivors: children, Jeannie Hitchler of Norfolk, Kathleen Otte of Winter Park, Fla., Dennis Bauer of Spalding, Patricia Jarboe of Allen, Texas, Janet Gierhan of Lincoln, Edward Bauer of Spalding; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.

Larry Baker, 81, of Grand Island, died March 6. Funeral Mass March 13 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island with Fr. Jorge Canela officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Glenda; sons, Curt Baker and Colin Baker, both of Lincoln; daughter, Cassie Davis of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren; three great-grandsons; brother, Rick Baker of Anna, Texas.

Lila Mae Mertens, 84, of Grand Island, died March 7. Funeral Mass March 13 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island with Fr. Marty Egging officiating. Burial at the Nelson Cemetery. Survivors: children, Maria Pitfield-Perry of Morgan, Minn., Betty Holen of Grand Island, and Mary Albro of Ridgecrest, Calif; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Joseph Seefeld of Omaha.

Rita Venhaus, 93, of Grand Island, died March 3. Funeral Mass March 10 at St. Mary's Cathedral with Frs. David Rykwalder, Jorge Canela and Paul Colling officiating. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors: children, Don Venhaus of Sunnyvale, Calif., Marian Boehl of Ypsilanti, Mich., Barbara Beck of Grand Island, William Venhaus of Van Meter, Iowa, and Thomas Venhaus of Willow Springs, Ill.; 20 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

David Barnes, 83, of Ogallala, died March 2. Funeral Mass March 6 at St. Luke’s Church in Ogallala with Fr. Bryan Ernest officiating. Burial in Ogallala Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Mary; his children, Deborah Wieser of Big Springs, Denise Hoffman of Ogallala, Randy Barnes of Big Springs, Sharon Hatch of Lewellen, Michael Barnes of Ogallala; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.

Vona Koch, 72, of North Platte, died March 4. Funeral Mass March 7 at St. Patrick's Church with Fr. Jonathon Sorenson officiating. Survivors: husband, Kim of North Platte; daughter, Wendy Dodson of North Platte; three grandchildren; step-siblings, Carolynn Shimmin of Livingston, Montana, Elaine Cox of Gilbert, Iowa, Marcia Mittwede of Austin, Texas, and Bruce Crosby of McCook.

Daniel Speirs, 69, of Kearney, died March 20. Funeral Mass March 24 at Prince of Peace Church with Fr. Paul Colling officiating. Burial at a later date. Survivors: wife, Julie; sister, Valerie Worth of Parker, Colo., three grandchildren; brothers, Tim of Chappell, Mike of Howells. 

Ronald Smith, 91, of Elm Creek died March 10. Funeral Mass March 15 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elm Creek. Burial at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Elm Creek. Survivors: wife, Eileen; children, Barbara McClure of Kellogg, Iowa, Martin Smith of Lexington, Lynda Burman of Sumner, Virginia Klingelhoefer of Amherst, Susan Priest, Lincoln, Alan Smith of Eddyville, Jacquelyn Smith of Lincoln, Laura Martin of Elm Creek; 21 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren.

Bernard Loeffelholz, 87, of Kearney, died March 6. Funeral Mass March 10 at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney with Fr. Jose Chavez officiating. Burial at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Prairie Center. Survivors: wife, Alice; sons, Ronald Loeffelholz, Dan Loeffelholz and Larry Loeffelholz, all of Kearney; daughters, Rita Wyman of Papillion and Carol Weber of Kearney; sisters, Lorrine Hervert and Liz Lockhorn, both of Ravenna; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ruth Conner, 91, of Julesburg, Colo., and formerly of Arnold, died March 16. Funeral Mass March 25 at St. Agnes Church in Arnold. Burial at Arnold Cemetery. Survivors: husband, LV; daughter, Marcia Hill of Julesburg; son, Brad Conner of Clay Center, Kan.; three granddaughters.

Patrick Vostades Jr., 64, of Gering. Funeral Mass March 24 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Fr. Joseph thambi officiating. Burial at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date. Survivors: brothers, Phil, Tim, and Paul; sisters, Pamela Altamirano and Patricia.