Lawrence Egging, father of Father Marty Egging, dies Oct. 26

Gurley native Lawrence Egging, father of Father Marty, dies Oct. 26

GURLEY—Lawrence Egging, 89, of Gurley, father of Father Marty Egging, pastor at Blessed Sacrament Church, died Oct. 26, 2022, at his home. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 3 at St. Patrick’s Church in Sidney with Bishop Joseph G. Hanefeldt officiating, and Fr. C.P. Varghese, Fr. Egging and priests of the diocese concelebrating. Burial was at the Greenwood Cemetery with military honors provided by United States Army Honor Guard, V.F.W. Post #610, DAV Chapter #40, and the American Legion Post #17. 

A memorial has been established to St. Patrick’s Church. Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh and Chappell is in charge of arrangements. 

Mr. Egging was born Jan. 16, 1933, to Gerhard and Nellie (Rieken) Egging, immigrants from the Netherlands. He attended St. Patrick's Academy and graduated in 1952. Following graduation, he joined the military on June 9, 1954. When his father died, he was honorably discharged to come home and run the family farm with his mother. 

He married Carolee Janicek of Kimball on May 14, 1960, and they had three children: Martin, Carmen, and Kent. He spent more than 40 years farming for the Goodwin family before retiring at 81. During this time, he invented the "Soft Hammer", a lead-filled hammer, and sold it to local farmers. He was a member of the Gurley School Board for 8 1/2 years and was part of the Gurley and Dalton consolidation in 1978. 

He enjoyed telling stories, dancing, farming, fishing, hunting, sketching and reading. He would take the family to Lake McConaughy every Sunday where they would catch their limit, then water ski.

Survivors include his children, Father Egging of Grand Island, Carmen (Mrs. Steve) Draper of Dalton and son, Kent Egging; and one granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolee, parents, 4 brothers, 5 sisters, and other family members.

In the Hope 11/22/22

 In the Hope 11/22/22

Pedro Vazquez Moreno, 64, of Grand Island, died Oct. 20. Funeral Mass Oct. 26, at St. Mary's Cathedral with Father Jorge Canela officiating. Burial in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

John Janulewicz, 72, of Loup City, died Oct. 13. Funeral Mass Oct. 29 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Survivors: wife, Cindy; children, Seann Julian of Grand Island, Devon Janulewicz of Cheyenne, Darnell Janulewicz of Loup City; five grandchildren; brother, Jerry Janulewicz of Grand Island.

Shirley Moraczewski, 87, of Loup City, died Oct. 22. Funeral Mass Oct. 27 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City with Fr. Richard L. Piontkowski officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City.  Survivors: daughter, Sharon Mostek of Ashton; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Emil Kowalewski, 93, of Kearney, died Oct. 21. Funeral Mass Oct. 26 at St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Survivors: wife, Delores; sons, Dennis Kowalewski of Mesquite, Nev., Jim Kowalewski of West Richland, Wash., Ron Kowalewski of Madison, and Gary Kowalewski of Gothenburg; daughter, Cami Watson of Lincoln; stepchildren, Gary West of Kearney and Lori Ade of Concordia, Kan.; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; sisters, Virginia Iwanski of Stockton, Kan., and Geraldine Fletcher of Grand Island.

Virginia Hickey, 80, of Alda, died Oct. 16. Funeral Mass Oct. 24  at Resurrection Church of Grand Island. Burial at St. Anselm's Cemetery at Anselmo. Survivors: sons, Michael Hickey of Comstock and Mitch Hickey of Scotia; daughter, Kelli Plihal of Shelton; brother, Ed Kinish of Brady; sisters, Barbara Dunn of Rushford, Minn., Angela Booton of Marshall, Mich., Lois Hickey of Cozad and Karen Joebgen of Rapid City, S.D.; four grandchildren; step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Robert Wiese, 76, of Grand Island, died Oct. 12. Funeral Mass Oct. 21 at the Resurrection Church with Fr. Thomas Vijumon and Fr. David Rywalder officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Joan; children, R. Todd Wiese of Grand Island, Steven Wiese of Adams, and Scott Wiese of Grand Island; seven grandchildren.

Galen “Gus” Meyer, 69, of Grand Island, died Oct. 9. Funeral Mass Oct. 13 at St. Leo’s Church with Fr. Donald Buhrman officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: children, Annaliese Leiser, Allison Bendt, Wade Meyer, and Grant Meyer, all of Grand Island; four grandchildren; parents, Gaylord and Joan Meyer of Kearney; siblings, brother, Kevin Meyer and sisters, Diane Bombeck of Shelton, Jan Spellman of Kearney and Linda Hansen of Lincoln. 

“Gary” Nichelson, 68, of North Platte died Oct. 19. Funeral Mass Oct. 28 at St. Patrick Church with Fr. Jon Sorenson officiating. Burial at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Survivors: wife, ; sister, Linda, of North Platte; brother, Mark of North Platte; one grandson.

Paul Jochum, 64, of Sutherland, died Oct. 20. Funeral Mass Oct. 24 at Holy Spirit Church. Survivors: wife, Dixie; daughters, Candy Sailor of Maywood and Dawn Small of Sutherland; four grandchildren; brothers, William Jochum and Lawrence Jochum, both of Lincoln, and Robert Jochum of Sutherland.

Agnes  Farrell, 95, of North Platte, died Oct. 16. Funeral Mass Oct. 21 at Holy Spirit Church with Fr. Vidya Sagar Arikotla officiating. Burial at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, near Maxwell. Survivors: children, Michael Kevin of Robbinsdale, Minn., Dennis Farrell of Kansas City, Mo., Thomas Farrell of Papillion, Diane Lyngdal of Plymouth, Minn., Mary Pat Haywood of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Peggy Farrell of Hastings; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. 

Charles Steele, 73, of Grand Island, died Nov. 18. Funeral Mass Nov. 26, at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Fr. Jorge Canela officiating.

Marilyn Jonak, 84, of Loup City, formerly of Loup City, died Nov. 17.  Funeral Mass Nov. 23 at Resurrection Church in Grand Island with Frs. Vijumon Choorackal and Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: husband, Isy of Loup City; children, Tim Jonak of Rockville, Pam Treffer of Ravenna, Yvonne Palu of Loup City, and Jim Jonak of Grand Island; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a sister, Sharon Michalski of Grand Island.

Darlene Pfeifer, 93, of Spalding, died Nov. 9. Funeral Mass Nov. 19 at St. Michael’s Church in Spalding with Fr. Antony Thekkekara, officiating, assisted by Deacon Ron Glaser and Deacon Paul Nordhues. Burial at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Survivors: sons, Dan Pfeifer of Gretna and Ed Pfeifer of Spalding; daughter, Connie Elsenpeter of Dickinson, N.D.; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.

Stephen Grysiewicz, 52, of Grand Island, died Nov. 7. Funeral Mass Nov. 15 at St. Leo’s Church with Fr. Don Buhrman officiating.

Lawrence Miigerl, 82, of Ravenna, died Nov. 9. Funeral Mass Nov. 14 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ravenna with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at St. Mary’s Prairie Center Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Adarene; children, Mark Miigerl, Shelly White, Myron Miigerl, Mike Miigerl, Matthew Miigerl; Penny and Violet Miigerl; five grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn Stittle.

Josephine Scripture, 91, of Lincoln, formerly of Grand Island, died Oct. 30. Funeral Mass Nov. 7 at St. Leo’s Church with Frs. Donald Buhrman, Charles Torpey, Richard Piontkowski Jr., James Hunt, and Raymond Kosmicki, officiating. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors; children, Margi Ross of Sabetha, Kan., Maureen Schultz of Auburn, Jerry Scripture of Alberta, Canada, Patricia King of Ashland; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.

David Jakob, 70, of Grand Island, died Oct. 29. Funeral Mass Nov. 4 at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Fr. Joseph G. Broudou officiating. Burial at Grand Island City Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Dee; stepchildren, Terri Kopy of Lawrence, Kan., Jodi Hayward of Parkville, Mo., Emily Martinez and Josie Young of Grand Island, Sonny Hinojos of Yuma, Ariz., Kathy Servin of Round Rock Austin, Texas; brother, Dennis Jakob of Grand Island; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.

Francisco  Rosas, 87, of Grand Island, died Oct. 29. Funeral Mass Nov. 3 at St. Mary’s Cathedral with Frs. Jorge Canela officiating. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors: sons, Fidencio Rosas of Grand Island, Augustine Rosas of Hastings, Raymond Rosas of Aurora, Ricardo Rosas of Rushville, Simon Rosas of Grand Island; daughters, Dolores Harders of Grand Island, Susana Steele of Lincoln, Rosa Fletcher of Grand Island, Andrea Rosas of Grand Island; sister, Catalina Aldana of Grand Island; 27 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren, and 21 great-great-grandchildren.

June Zimmer, 94, of Kearney, formerly Pleasanton, died Oct. 29. Funeral Mass Nov. 2 at St. Mary’s Church in Pleasanton with Fr. Richard Piontkowski officiating. Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Pleasanton. Survivors: daughters, Sharon  Nickel of Meadowlakes, Texas, Margaret Tyler of Gilmer, Texas, and Linda Madsen of Litchfield; sister, Marilyn Bock of Pleasanton; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.

Petronilo  “Pete” Luna, 95, of North Platte, died Nov. 2. Funeral Mass Nov. 9, at St. Patrick Church Fr. Jon Sorenson officiating. Burial at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, near Maxwell. Survivors: children, Erlinda Scovill of North Platte, Stephen Luna and Alfred Luna, both of Omaha and Gloria Hernandez and Phillip Luna of North Platte; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.

Randy Burbach, 71, of Omaha, died Oct. 29. Funeral Mass Nov. 3 at Holy Spirit Church with Fr. Vidya Sager officiating. Burial at Holy Spirit Columbarium. Survivors: wife, Denise; daughters, Kay Burbach of Lincoln, Ann Grunewaldt of Vermillion, S.D.; three grandchildren; father, Reiny Burbach; siblings, Bill Burbach, Rosemary Jones, Kevin Burbach and Karlene Hoedel.

Zachary Mooberry, 29, of Hastings died Oct. 25. Funeral Mass Nov. 18 at the St. Ann’s Church in Lexington with Fr. Jose Chavez, officiating. Burial at Grant Fairview Cemetery in Grant at a later date. Survivors: dad, Don Mooberry; sister, Caitlin Svoboda; and grandmother, Deloris Svoboda.

Leonard Mackley, 96, of Arnold, died on Oct. 30. Funeral Mass Nov. 3 at St. Agnes Church in Arnold. Burial at Arnold Cemetery. Survivors: children, Barbara Eshelman of Lemoyne, Karen Moran of Amherst, George Mackley of Hershey, Phyllis Mackley of North Platte, James Mackley of Portland, Ore., Dale Mackley and Gary Mackley both of Arnold, Elaine Anderson of North Platte, Eleanor Arens of Kearney; 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Arline Buchholz of Thornton, Colo.

Gail Perdue, 77, of Kearney died Oct. 27. Funeral services Nov. 4 at O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney with Fr. Joe Hannappel officiating. Burial at Kearney Cemetery. 

Donald Day, 90, of Kearney, died Oct. 27. Funeral Mass Nov. 1 at St. James Church in Kearney. Buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brookpark, Ohio. Survivors: children, Krista Zoladz of Chesterton, Ind., David Day of Niceville, Fla., Dan Day of Cleveland, and Damon Day of Kearney; eight grandchildren.

Emalu Gunther, 82, of Broken Bow died Oct. 25. Funeral Mass  Oct. 31 at the St. Joseph’s Church in Broken Bow with Fr. Jim Hunt officiating. Burial at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. Survivors: husband, Dwain; son, Randell of Chandler, Ariz., and Bradley of Lincoln; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sisters, Cleo  Jacobsen of Broken Bow and Karen Thompson of Atkinson.

Brandon Morse, 32, of Sargent died Oct. 16. Funeral Mass Oct. 20 at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Church in Sargent with Fr. Jim Hunt officiating. Survivors: wife, Nhung; daughter, Emily Morse of Sargent; his parents, Bruce and Kate Morse of Sargent; siblings, Laura Kipp and Ben Morse, both of Sargent, Suzie Timbers of Rochester, Minn., Anne Wilke of Loup City, Barry Morse of Ord, Shannon Morse of South Carolina; three brothers, Dam Than, Dam Bang, Dam Minh; and a sister, Dam Thin of Vietnam.

Susie Engel, 76, of Grand Island died Oct. 21. Funeral Mass 26 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island with Fr. Marty Egging officiating. Burial at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Survivors: husband, Charles; sons, Craig Engel, Alfred Engel, Rusty Engel, all of Grand Island; seven grandchildren. 

Salvador Huerta, Sr., 93, of Scottsbluff, died Nov. 14. Funeral Mass Nov. 21 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Scottsbluff with Fr. Joseph Thambi officiating. Burial at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Helen; daughters, Beatrice Reyes of Scottsbluff, Gloria Torres of Gillette, Wyo.; son, Salvador Huerta Jr. of Las Vegas; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Margaret McCabe, 92, of Dalton, died Nov. 3. Funeral Mass Nov. 9 at St. Mary’s Church in Dalton with Frs. Tim Stoner and Bryan Ernest officiating. Burial at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Dalton. 

Lorene Newton, 89, of Scottsbluff died Nov. 1. Funeral Mass Nov. 8 at Christ the King Church in Gering with Fr. Mike McDonald officiating. Burial at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Survivors: sons, Robert of Gering, and James of Chesapeake, Va; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Leo Maschmeier, 87, of Gering, died Nov. 1. Funeral Mass Nov. 7 at Gering Memorial Chapel with Fr. Mike McDonald officiating. Burial at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Survivors: wife, Frances “Cookie;” children, Pam Murbach of Gering, Toni Andreasen of Kearney, Mike Maschmeier of San Diego, and Jeff Maschmeier of Gering; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren. 

Mark Bishop, 69, of Gering, died Oct. 29. Funeral Mass Nov. 3 at Christ the King Church. Survivors: daughter Nicole Hanke; six grandchildren; brother, John Bishop, and sister Karan Dillahay, 

Raymond Piña, 77 of Scottsbluff, died Oct. 27. Funeral Mass Nov. 5 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Fr. Joseph Thambi officiating. Burial at the Mitchell City Cemetery. Survivors: wife, Helen; son, Vincent Piña; daughter, Julie Lopez; stepson, Carlos Maldonado; brothers, Felix Piña of Redding, Calif., and Cipriano Piña of Hayward, Calif.; sister, Tommie Zamora of Boise, Idah,; seven grandchildren. 

Richard Hilzer, 71, of Scottsbluff, died Oct. 22. Funeral Mass Oct. 27 at St. Agnes with Frs. Dan Gilbert and Rayappa Konka officiating. Survivors: wife, Deb; daughters, Kimberlee Reitz and Amy Hilzer; sisters, Pam Schaneman and Joan Suhr; brother, Dick Lager; three grandchildren.

Mary Parlin nominated for award

  

 

Lighting the Way 

Newspaper editor nominated for prestigious award 

Facing some tough competition against the likes of the inspiration for the movie “Father Stu” and a 20-year director for a center for the deaf and hard of hearing, retired Catholic newspaper editor Mary Parlin was more than deserving of the 2022-23 Lumen Christi Award. 

The award — which is Latin for “Light of Christ”— is presented each year by Catholic Extension, a fundraising organization for American Catholics. The award is the highest honor given to anyone who shows the presence of Christ in communities where they serve. 

Parlin, former editor of the West Nebraska Register newspaper and later the West Nebraska Catholic magazine, was nominated for the award by Father Todd Philipsen, pastor at St. Patrick’s in Chadron, and earned $1,000 for the Diocese of Grand Island. She was nominated for her dedication and commitment to the diocese, using her stories to keep people in touch with the Catholic church. 

“Mary has worked diligently, with little fanfare for decades, adapting to the leadership of the diocese as it changed hands several times…” said Father Frank Curran, editor of the West Nebraska Register from 1986 to 1991. “Mary impressed me not only as being competent, but prayerful in regard to her work, viewing it as a trust and privilege … She was absolutely dependable, congenial, and collaborative and was fully committed to the work to which she dedicated her life.” 

He said Parlin’s dedication and commitment was “without a doubt” instrumental in keeping the people of the Grand Island diocese in touch with each other.  

“Her efforts have helped to create a sense of unity between the parish communities, and enabled them to stay connected to the larger, universal Church,” he said. 

Parlin, who is a parishioner at St. Mary’s in Wood River, began at the West Nebraska Register in 1980 part-time as a typesetter for Father Bernard Berger, editor at the time. Although neither had any experience with the new equipment, she remembered using what they called “the blue beast” to mix chemicals and print strips of stories, then cut and wax the strips, and “paste” up the pages onto newspaper-sized sheets of paper, long before digital means and pagination. 

“It was a trying time,” she said, “but also an exciting one.” 

She was eventually given more responsibilities and, in 1991, was named co-editor of the newspaper with Marilyn Zastrow, the first female editors in the history of the newspaper. They were also the first lay (non-ordained) editors of the paper. At the time, there were only 10 in the country. In 1998, she became chief female editor, the only female of the three Catholic newspapers in the state. She retired in July after a career spanning more than 42 years. 

She said during all the years working for the diocese and telling the Church’s story, she never thought it was just a job. 

“It became a ministry, a vocation,” she said. “I have been blessed beyond words.” 

Father Curran said her lengthy career with the diocese was “motivated by a love for the church, a concern for others and the belief that the good news of the gospel could be proclaimed in a variety of ways.” 

“For her, it was a means to enliven her own faith and that of others — the faith that she held so dear — sharing it with her own family, and with her fellow parishioners at St. Mary’s in Wood River,” he said. 

He added that she not only recognized her gift and her vocational call, but she was blessed with the gift of creativity. 

“She had an ability to not only present things in a clear and understandable way,” he said, “but because of her artistic inclination, in an attractive and inviting way.” 

Over the years, Parlin attended and photographed 22 priest ordinations and two bishop’s ordinations among hundreds of other events and stories from around the diocese. She said the best part of her work was seeing the strong, but humble, faith of the people.  

“I have met many wonderful people across the diocese,” she said. “For all who allowed me to fulfill my ministry, I thank you.” 

(Jean Fedigan, founder of a nonprofit in the Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., that serves homeless and trafficked women, was recently announced as the 2022-2023 recipient of Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award.)