Larry H. Blaesi, age 70, of Omaha, formerly of North Platte, died January 12, 2017, at Lakeside Hospital at Omaha.

He was born March 10, 1946 to Donald Wilson and Clara Harriet (Clouthier) Blaesi, Sr. at North Platte.  Larry graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1964.  Larry served in the United States Army until his honorable discharge in 1969.  He was united in marriage June 7, 1970 to Cindy McEntee at the First Christian Church in North Platte.   They moved to Denver, and he worked at Chevron Oil in several gas stations.  In 1971, he was promoted to a sales representative. They lived in Lincoln, NE, San Diego, CA, and Littleton, CO before returning to North Platte, and in 1989 moved to Omaha, where they were currently living.  He was a board member of North Platte Petroleum Association, Nebraska Master Mason, North Platte Softball Board, past president of Tehema Timple of the Shrine and Tiberon Home Owners Association.  He initiated the first Bandit High School Softball Team.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy of Omaha; a son, Scott Blaesi of North Platte; a daughter, Michelle Blaesi-Nelson of Gretna; grandchildren, Joshua, Kaitlyn, Evelyn, Zarah, Jacob, Jesse, Janie and Mike; great grandchildren, Brayden, Emmitt and Linley; and many other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Doanld Wilson Blaesi, Jr., and sister, Marilyn (Bob) Sherman.

Services will be 10:00 am Thursday at the First Christian Church in North Platte. Honorary bearers will be Larry’s grandchildren and great grandchildren.   Burial will be at Ft McPherson National Cemetery with military honors by the North Platte Veterans Organizations.  Visitation will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Jean Marie Follis, 73, of Ogallala, passed away Jan. 14, 2017 at the University of CO at Aurora.

She was born Nov. 13, 1943, to Eugene and Marie (Miller) Scollin at North Platte.  She graduated from Paxton High School with the class of “62”.  Jean was united in marriage to LeRoy J. Follis on August 19, 1968 in Ogallala, NE.  She worked at Gerald Gentleman Station at Sutherland and American Shizuki in Ogallala.  Jean was passionate about arrowhead hunting and fishing.

She is survived by her son, Ken Witt of Wauneta; her daughter, Shelly Witt of Ogallala; her brother, Jim (Diane) Scollin; four grandchildren, Kaelyn (Cody) Armstrong, Cody Bown, Lance (Kristina) Witt and Jay (Shanae) Witt; seven great grandchildren, Keely Armstrong, Jace Witt, Elijah Armstrong, Isaiah Witt, Ane Waldron, Madi Witt and Evan Witt; and best friend Becky Anderson and many special friends in the archeology community.

Cremation was chosen.  Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.  Those wishing to sign her memorial book may do so from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.  Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Arturo LeRoy “Arthur” Soto, age 60, of North Platte, NE, died on Saturday, January 14, 2017, at Great Plains Health.

Arthur was born July 24, 1956, to Jesse Leon, Sr. and Erma Garcia Soto at North Platte where he grew up and attended school. Arthur later met Vickie Joanna Francis at the local bowling alley. They eventually moved to Tacoma, WA, and were united in marriage on July 21, 1978. After living in Washington for eight years they returned to North Platte.

Arthur had worked as a custodian for the North Platte Public Schools before going to work for the City of North Platte Parks and Recreation Department. He later cooked at the Airport Inn until he retired due to a disability.

Arthur loved his family, especially his grandkids.

He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Everhart, three grandkids, Leland, Isaac and Gabriel, sister, Georgia (Mike) Wortham, and brothers, Bobby (Penny) Soto and Jesse, Jr. (Margaret) Soto, all of North Platte; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

Arthur was preceded in death by his wife, Vickie, and infant son, Jackielee Arthur Soto; his parents, Jesse, Sr. and Erma Soto; brothers, Jimmy Soto and Richard Soto, Sr.; and sisters, Virginia Meyers and Mary Ann Soto.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, January 19, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Jack Atteberry officiating. Inurnment will be in Big Springs Cemetery, Big Springs, NE. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Carl J. Waak, 92, of North Platte, passed away January 11, 2017, at Great Plains Health. Carl was born on April 22, 1924, in Polk, Nebraska to Carl F. and Freida (Stach) Waak. He graduated from Polk High School in 1942. He was united in marriage to Marlys Crewdson on April 29, 1945. He was a salesman for Briggs Pump Company for over 30 years. He was a faithful member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and was an avid golfer, especially at Lake Maloney Golf Course.

Carl was preceded in death by his wife, Marlys; and parents.  He is survived by a son, Terry (Ellen) Waak of Lincoln; a daughter, Lynn (Don) Feldman of Charleston, South Carolina; a brother,  LeMoyne (Vera)  Waak of Michigan; four grandchildren, Keri (Danny) Chambers, Joel Waak, Greg (Heather) Feldman and Jessica (Josh) Blackstone; four great grandchildren, Haley and Grace Chambers, Dylan and Julia Feldman.

Memorials are suggested to the Our Redeemer Building Fund or Our Redeemer School.  Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. Services will be 10:30 a.m.  Monday, January 16, 2017 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with the Reverend Robert Wiest officiating.  Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Gary Ray Warnick, 62, of North Platte passed away December 30, 2016 at the North Platte Care Center.

Gary was born August 7, 1954 in Stromsburg, NE to Elmer and Eunice (Siming) Warnick.  He grew up in Polk, NE, and moved to Oklahoma where he worked as a security guard.  Gary moved to North Platte in 2003 to be closer to his sister.  He worked at Walmart in the maintenance department, retiring in August 2016.  He enjoyed collecting glass birds and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his sisters, Janet (Mitchell) Murphy, and Paula Beck all of North Platte; brothers, Gerald Siming of Minnesota, and Steve Warnick of Tulsa, OK; numerous nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Nancy Leatherwood.

Memorials may be made in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Cremation was chosen and private family services will be held at a later date.  Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

 

Lynnette Renee (Phiffer) Lanksbury, 56, of Ash Grove, Missouri, formerly of North Platte, went home to be with the Lord Jan. 4, 2017, at her home.

Lynnette Renee Phiffer was born in North Platte on Dec. 31, 1960. She was a 1979 graduate of North Platte High School.

Lynnette was loved by her family and friends. She was a member and very involved in her church, the First Baptist Church of Ash Grove, Missouri. She loved collecting pictures of sunsets and Huskers memorabilia, and she loved animals.

Lynnette was preceded in death by her husband, Derek, in June 2015; and her father, Robert O. Phiffer.

Survivors include her mother, Phyllis Phiffer; sister, Vicki (Mark) Gorley; two nephews, Dylan (Nicole) Gorley and Tyler (Lindsey) Gorley; and a great-niece, Ellie Gorley, all of Springfield, Missouri; her mother-in-law, Linda (Doyne Hough) Lanksbury; and many other family and friends.

Online condolences may be shared at greenlawnfuneralhome.com.

Services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the First Baptist Church of Ash Grove. Cremation was chosen. There will be no visitation. Greenland Funeral Home North, 3506 N. National, Springfield, Missouri, is in charge of arrangements.

 

Lois Margaret McHarness Cohn, 94, of Hays, Kansas, passed away Dec. 1, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society, Hays.

She was born April 13, 1922, in Leon, Iowa, to Clarence and Sylvia (Knox) McHarness. She was a graduate of North Platte High School and also went to beauty school in North Platte. She married Theodore “Ted” Cohn on July 15, 1940. He preceded her in death in 2007.

Lois worked as a beautician for many years, as well as at selling Avon and being a homemaker. She loved gardening, cooking, reading, playing cards, Bible study and Chinese checkers. She was a member of the North Platte First Christian Church, where she was baptized. She lived most of her life in North Platte until 2005, when she moved with Ted to Colby, Kansas, due to Ted’s health to be near their daughter, Joyce. In 2010, she moved to Hays when Joyce and Cal moved there.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her daughter, Joyce (Cal) Mahin of Hays, Kansas, and their daughters and their families, Joslyn Brungardt, Liesel (Jim) Keller and Chandis (Craig) Borger all of Hays; a son, Marvin E. (Jilene) Cohn of Denver and children and their families, Todd (Gloria) Cohn, Brian (Shawn) Cohn all of Denver, and Lanette (James) Prince of Mountain Home, Idaho; seven great-grandchildren, six step-great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Lee (Laurel) Cohn of Grand Island; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean we’ll miss you until we meet again.

Online condolences may be shared at keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

A celebration of life will be at a later date in Nebraska. Cremation was chosen. Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601, is in charge of arrangements.