Mary Louise Shanahan, 71, of North Platte, died May 25, 2018 at her home. Cremation was chosen. Services will be at a later date. Condolences can be sent to her home at 14092 W. State Farm Road, North Platte, NE 69101. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Author: Post Staff
Retha Mae Wycoff
Retha Mae Wycoff, 96, passed away June 2, 2018, at Linden Court in North Platte.
She was born March 31, 1922, to Alvin Silvester Edeal and Edna Mae (Cole) Edeal in the rural Fairhaven area northwest of Overton, and grew up on a family farm. She attended rural school at Fairhaven (Dawson County District No. 21) and after graduation from Lexington High School continued her education at the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture earning her bachelor’s degree in home economics in 1942. The following year, she taught home economics at Gothenburg.
On June 12, 1943, she married Keith Hamlin Wycoff in Seattle, Washington, where the newlyweds spent the summer before settling in Chicago. Retha was employed at Marshall Field’s in children’s wear sales before being promoted to the personnel office.
The next year, while her husband was at sea, she taught in Hay Springs. In 1945, Retha and Keith settled in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and started a family. They were active in the Northampton Methodist Church and made friendships which endured a lifetime.
From 1949 to 1963 the family lived near Overton. Retha was a homemaker and busy mother as her family eventually grew to three sons and two daughters. Retha designed her next house and personally did all the floorplan and elevation drawings. It was built in Lexington, and the family moved there in 1963 where she continued to live until age 89.
Retha loved dancing and was tap dancing by age 7 on the Fox Theater stage in North Platte. At her 80th birthday party she astonished her family by demonstrating the splits and straight-leg high kicks. She excelled academically in college with awards including a Danforth summer study scholarship for outstanding young women.
Her interests in later life included music, gardening and writing. She served many years as a Sunday school teacher and was a devoted member and past president of the Nebraska Conference of United Methodist Women. Retha had a keen interest in fostering international understanding and had many opportunities for travel. She sometimes accompanied her husband on international business trips. Together they visited mission or service organizations and former international exchange students. They served as delegates to international Methodist conferences. She took pride in five children with adult careers in the arts or in medicine and in their families. She was an example to all of generosity and kindness.
Retha was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Edna Edeal; brother, Dean Edeal; her husband, Keith H. Wycoff; sister-in-law, Ruby (Wycoff) Crandall; and niece Karen (Edeal) Kander.
Survivors include sons Delane (Dorothy) Wycoff, Kevin (Paige) Wycoff, Timothy (Susan West) Wycoff and daughters Janine Wycoff, Valerie (James Lovell-Smith) Wycoff; exchange daughter, Naoko (Takemoto) Okamoto; grandchildren Jason Wycoff, Kathryn Wycoff Gross, K. Tyler Wycoff, Reid Wycoff, Cole Wycoff, Isaac Wycoff, Olivia Wycoff, Timothy Lovell-Smith and Jasmine Lovell-Smith; plus great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Reynolds Love Funeral Home, Lexington, is coordinating arrangements with details pending.
Dorothy Long Meyer
Dorothy Long Meyer, 101, of Grant, passed away May 30, 2018, at Linden Court in North Platte.
Dorothy was born on Feb. 3, 1917, at Nebo, Illinois, to Otho and Olive (Harlow) Turnbaugh. She spent her childhood on the family farm, where she developed an early fondness for walking and sewing. Dorothy learned about her Lord at a very young age and strived to never falter in her love and service to Him from that time.
On June 23, 1935, Dorothy married Leo Long. The couple moved to Madrid, and their union was blessed with two children, Beverly and Dale. While in Madrid, Dorothy worked at both the school and Gaugers Market. Following Leo’s service in World War II, the couple partnered with Marion Long to purchase the hardware store in Madrid that was owned by Ward and Ruby Bullock.
In 1949, Leo died in an auto accident. Dorothy subsequently sold the hardware store and went to work for Security State Bank, later moving to Ogallala to work for First National Bank.
On Jan. 11, 1964, Dorothy married Bill Meyer. Dorothy and Bill relocated to Collinsville, Illinois, where they were very active at the First Christian Church. Dorothy served as secretary/treasurer for many years and had been honored with the Woman of the Year Award by the Collinsville Ministerial Association. In 1998, Dorothy and Bill moved to Grant, making their home at Westview. Just a year after their return to Nebraska, Bill passed away.
Since her childhood, Dorothy enjoyed taking long walks. She would typically walk at least one mile every day. One of the highlights of the year for Dorothy was taking part in the annual Firecracker Walk in Grant, which she did from the first event until last year at the age of 100. She was also a marvelous cook, with a family favorite being her deviled eggs. She also loved to crochet. Among other things, Dorothy would often crochet family names, have them framed and give them as gifts for special occasions. To Dorothy, those gifts were perhaps a reminder of the connectedness of family. She certainly lived up to the meaning of her name, “Gift from God.”
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husbands, Leo Long and Bill Meyer; son, Dale Long; granddaughter-in-law, Amy Haley Holzfaster; and infant great-granddaughter, Gretchen Holzfaster.
Survivors include her daughter, Bev (Ralph) Holzfaster of Paxton; daughters-in-law, Judy Long and DeeEta Long; grandchildren, Tim (Deb) Holzfaster of Paxton, Patrick Holzfaster of Denver, Colorado, Jon Holzfaster of Paxton, Mike Holzfaster of Ogallala, Amy Holzfaster-Schwartz of Denver, Michael (Kris) Long of Hailey, Idaho, Lisa (Brian) Wallace of Denver; great-grandchildren, Spencer (Rachel), Jordan and Taylor Holzfaster, Andy and Kelsey Wallace, Jackson, Will and Aidan Long and Leo Schwartz; along with many dear friends.
Memorials are suggested to Care Uganda. Online condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4, at the New Life Fellowship Church, Grant with Pastor John Goodell officiating. A private family burial at the Madrid Cemetery will take place prior to the service. Visitation will be on Sunday, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home, Grant, is in charge of arrangements.
Helen J. Walsh
Helen J. Walsh, 95, died June 1, 2018, at the Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
She was born on Nov. 9, 1922, in Cheyenne, the only child of Jennie (Stalker) and Fred Herman. Helen graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1941, then worked for several local doctors.
During World War II she worked at the Cheyenne Airport Modification Center.
Helen married Jack C. Walsh at the First Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne in 1947. They moved to the San Francisco Bay area soon after. She worked at a wire mill there but they soon returned home to Cheyenne.
She worked at the Wyoming State Land Office until she decided to start a family. Later Helen worked in the family business and then was employed by the Green Thumb program as a bookkeeper and payroll specialist. She and Jack divorced in 1980.
She was C. Harlan Coghill’s companion until his death, splitting time between Cheyenne and North Platte, for over two decades.
Helen was a deeply loving and caring person. She was a caregiver to several friends and neighbors throughout the years. She enjoyed her roses, reading, traveling the area and time with family.
She was preceded in death by her mother; father; ex-husband; companion and most of her contemporaries.
She is survived by a son, J. Rickie Walsh; daughter-in-law, Denise Kay Parrish, both of Cheyenne; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Helen Sutton; a son-in-law, Joshua Sutton; and a great-grandson, John Wayne Sutton, all of Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Davis Hospice Center or the American Cancer Society.
Services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at Lakeview Cemetery, Cheyenne, with Pastor Duane Ferchen officiating. Schrader Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Verlyn F. Stahl
Verlyn F. Stahl, 83, of Paxton, passed away peacefully June 2, 2018, at the Sutherland Care Center.
Verlyn was born on Oct. 30, 1934, in Paxton to Fred and Alvina (Hahn) Stahl. Verlyn grew up in Paxton and attended Paxton Public Schools, graduating in 1952. While in school Verlyn participated in football, basketball, track and baseball.
Verlyn served in the U.S. Army in Germany with the 69th Signal Company. While there, he received the National Defense Service designation, Sharp Shooter medal and Good Conduct Medal with an honorable discharge on Feb. 21, 1956.
On May 25, 1956, Verlyn was united in marriage to Donna Suhr at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Paxton. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Michael and Steven. On May 25, 2018, Verlyn and Donna celebrated 62 years of marriage.
Verlyn was employed by Nebraska Public Power District for 40 years. During weekends, he also served as part-time deputy marshall for Paxton, and he served 10 years as a part-time deputy in the Keith County Sheriff’s Department. In 1973, he was designated by Nebraska Governor, J. James Exon as a deputy state sheriff.
Verlyn and his wife, Donna were avid motorcycle enthusiasts. They traveled to many states during the summer months as well as belonging to an area group of other motorcycle riders that met at different locations in the area for dinner.
Verlyn is a lifetime member of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Paxton. He assisted in school activities, Special Olympics, served on the village board, was fire chief, served on the cemetery board and was a lifetime member of the American Legion. Verlyn was always involved in the Paxton community and was proud when he and Donna were chosen as the grand marshals of the Paxton Labor Day Parade.
Veryln was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Alvina Stahl; father and mother-in-law, Walt and Marie Suhr; and his two sons, Michael and Steve.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; sister, DeEtta Hartman of Cozad; nephew, Douglas (Sharon) Hartman of Columbus, Mitchell (Sandy) Hartman of Lincoln; sisters-in-law, Marlene (Leo) Griffiths, Doris (Darrell) Farnsworth, Bonnie (Bill) Wendland, all of Paxton; many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
A memorial has been established. Online condolences may also be shared at drauckerfuneralhome.com, where the service will be live streamed for those unable to attend.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paxton with JA Welch officiating. Burial will follow at the Paxton Cemetery with military honors. Draucker Funeral Home, Ogallala, is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley Ann Logan
Shirley Ann Logan, 73, of Warren, Ohio, formerly of the Gothenburg and Brady area, died May 28, 2018 in Warren.
She was born on April 26, 1945, in Grand Island, daughter of Lois (Vickers) and Frank E. Jenkins. Shirley graduated from Gothenburg High School with the class of 1963.
She later received her LPN. Shirley worked hard all of her life as nurse and mother.
She lived in the Gothenburg and Brady area, with the exception of when she lived in Boise, Idaho, from 1968 to 1979, and her last few years in Warren.
She was a member of the Red Hats. She was also a member of the Gothenburg and Braceville United Methodist churches, where she was involved with ladies Bible studies. She liked to play Pinochle at the senior center and go to casinos. She enjoyed traveling and watching the leaves change color. She took joy in watching the birds in the yard and feeding squirrels. She liked to spend time baking. Shirley was a people person who liked to spend time watching people and talking to them. She was fond of time spent with her great-grandchildren, and especially loved it when her great-grandchild, Nicolas, would use her cane as a microphone and sing into it.
Shirley was preceded in death by her grandparents, Steward and Gladys Vickers; her parents, Lois Alberts and Frank Jenkins; brother, Michael Jenkins; sister, Karen Mann; and daughter, Tiffany Logan.
Survivors include her son, Travis (Tanya) Logan of Warren; grandchildren, Karen (Josh) of Manor, Pennsylvania, Abbey (Lauren) of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Taya (Geo) and Michael, both of Warren; three great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Remington and Arabella; her sister, Janet Jenkins of Gothenburg; along with extended family and friends.
Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, 1401 Lake Ave., Gothenburg, NE 69138; American Cancer Society Heartland Division, 9850 Nicholas, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114; or Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com.
Services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at First United Methodist Church, Gothenburg, with Pastor Jamie Norwich McLennan officiating. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery, Gothenburg. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m., with the family present from 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, which is in charge of arrangements.
John T. Zimbelman
John T. Zimbelman, 70, died June 1, 2018, in Gooding, Idaho.
John Towers Zimbelman was born on Jan. 4, 1948, in North Platte, to C.H. “John” and Phyllis Zimbelman. He grew up in North Platte, attending public schools there, graduating from North Platte High School in 1966. Later he studied at and received degrees from Kearney State College, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Idaho in the field of education.
John taught the blind and visually impaired for 37 years in Wisconsin, Alaska, New Zealand and Idaho. He spent the last 24 years of his career at the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind in Gooding. He enjoyed teaching immensely and was particularly involved in the field of educating the blind.
He loved traveling, often in his pickup camper with dogs in tow, and visited the bulk of national parks in the West. As a young man he backpacked extensively in the mountains of Wyoming, Alaska and Idaho. He spent a summer hitchhiking throughout Australia and New Zealand, and he later lived and taught in Wellington, New Zealand, for five years.
His hobbies included crafting stained glass pieces. Upon retirement, he had a shop built for his glass work and spent countless hours turning out works for his home and friends. He was also an avid fly fisherman and enjoyed float tubing many of Idaho’s lakes and streams.
His dad, C.H. Zimbelman, and sister, Deb Zimbelman, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his mother, Phyllis Christensen of North Platte; brothers, Mike (Sara) Zimbelman of Lincoln and Charles Towers of Thermopolis, Wyoming; nephews, Zac Zimbelman, Zane Zimbelman, Jordan Coleman; niece, Melissa Smith; and special friend, Jeanne-Marie Kopecky of Gooding, Idaho.
When my life has ended
And my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones
I’ll leave there’s no doubt
But one thing’s for certain
When it comes my time
I’ll leave this old world
With a satisfied mind
— Johnny Cash
Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family at demarayfuneralservice.com.
John requested no funeral services and his ashes to be scattered on the Salmon River in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. Cremation arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service, Gooding Chapel.
Bartley “Bart” Smith Death Notice
Bartley “Bart” Smith, 57, of North Platte, died June 3, 2018, at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 9, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, with Pastor John Sexson officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the donors choice. Online condolences may be shared at blasestrauser.com. Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Douglas Eugene Seevers Death Notice
Douglas Eugene Seevers, 51, of North Platte, died June 3, 2018, in Lincoln. Services will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 23, at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens with Pastor Gary Smith officiating. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 22, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in his name and online condolences may be shared at adamsswanson.com. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Ricky Dale Douglas Death Notice
Ricky Dale Douglas, 62, of Lincoln, formerly of North Platte, died June 3, 2018, at Bryan East, Lincoln. Cremation was chosen. Services will be at a later date. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with services.