Mary Edna Vath, age 82, of Sutherland, NE, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Friday, March 11, 2016.

Mary was born August 21, 1933, to Cecil James and Ombolena German Horn at Thune, NE. Mary grew up in Arthur County and Ogallala, NE, where she attended Ogallala Public School for grade school and high school and Arthur County country school for her middle grades.

On August 21, 1951, Mary was united in marriage to Louis Roscoe Vath at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala. They lived on a farm northwest of Keystone, NE before moving to Sutherland in 1961 where they raised their nine children.

Mary was first and foremost a mother. It wasn’t until the children were grown that she did housecleaning for others in the Sutherland area and worked as a janitor at the clinic, library, Adams Bank & Trust, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Rectory, the Thomas Agency and worked as a Stanley Dealer for nearly 20 years. Mary also drove kids from Sutherland to Sarben for the special education class for a year.

Mary was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the Altar Society, National Council of Catholic Women, V.F.W. Auxiliary #3755, and when the girls were young she was a Girl Scout Leader. Mary enjoyed doing crafts and crocheting and had made many, many friends over the years. She especially loved her family and was a giving person who always put others first.

She leaves behind her loving husband of nearly 65 years, Louis, of Sutherland; their children, Robert (Janet) Vath and Peggy (Kent) Lenz, of Sutherland, Rita (Dennis) Boyer and Becky Vath, of Loveland, CO, Mary Lou (Berdell) Beisner, of Paxton, NE, and Nancy Vath (fiancé, Bill Ray), of Oberlin, KS; daughter-in-law, Connie Huehl, of Lincoln, NE; 20 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; her sister, Violet Anderson, of Hardy, AR; and several nieces, nephews and other family.

Mary is preceded in death by her children, Louis LeRoy and Michael Eugene ‘Heavy’ Vath and Phyllis Marie Brush; a grandson, Robert ‘Bobby’ Vath, Jr.; granddaughter, Rebecca Ann Vath; her parents, Cecil Horn and Ombolena Horn Vath; stepfather, Jesse Vath; brothers, Donald Horn and Walter Vath; brother-in-law, Ken Anderson; and her aunt, Carol Shafer.

Rosary Service will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Celebrant Father Jim Novakowski. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery, south of Sutherland.

Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore and prior to services at the church. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Sutherland Volunteer Fire and Rescue. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Pamela Kay Sweeney, 56, of North Platte passed away March 8, 2016 at her home.
Pam was born July 18, 1959, to Harold and Beverly (Herbek) Sweeney in Cozad, Nebraska. She attended elementary through high school in Cozad, graduating in 1977. She then attended University of Nebraska at Kearney before completing her Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Information Management at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha in 1981. Pam worked at hospitals in Mason City, Iowa and Norfolk, Nebraska before moving to Cheyenne, Wyoming where she worked as the Director of Health Information Management at DePaul Hospital and completed her Master’s Degree in Management from Lesley University’s (Cambridge, Mass.) distance learning program at Warren Air Force Base in 1986. During her career, Pam became certified as a Registered Health Information Administrator, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management.
Pam was active with many professional and volunteer organizations including American Health Information Management Association, Nebraska Hospital Association, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Community Connections and the American Red Cross.
In 1986, Pam moved to North Platte to work at Great Plains Health where she held several positions in management and administration. She most recently served as the Vice President of Safety and Medical Staff Services.
The greatest joy came in 2000 when Pam returned from Romania smothering two “sparkling” twin boys, Marshall Scott and Miles Bradley, thus completing her family.
Survivors include her mother, Beverly of Cozad; brother, Steven of Cozad; and two precious sons, Marshall and Miles of North Platte.
Pam was preceded in death by her father, Harold; grandparents, Anna (Lindeman) Herbek, Albert Herbek, Bradley Sweeney and Verna Vineyard; numerous aunts and uncles; and a cousin, Jim Sweeney.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to assist with expenses and college for the boys. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Douglas Delp officiating. Private family inurnment will be in the Cozad Cemetery. Cremation was chosen, those wishing to sign the register book may do so 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Jeremy Rex Stephen, 43, of Cozad, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Jeremy was born December 29, 1972 to Rhonda (Irish) and Lewis Stephen at Cozad, Nebraska. As a young child the family moved to Sterling, Colorado and he graduated Sterling High School with the Class of 1992.
Growing up Jeremy found his passion in playing football, baseball and loved weightlifting and excelled in these competitive sports.
On November 6, 1993 Jeremy was united in marriage to Lydia Saenz at Sterling. To this union three children were born, Chase, Chyler, and Keragin. Jeremy had several employers including Coca Cola, Nebraska By Products, Gibbon Pack, Sutherland Ethanol Plant and Tyson. The family moved to Cozad to be closer to family in early 2000.
After a divorce Jeremy began a relationship with Carrie Naylor and to this union two children were born, Carlyn, and Collin.
Jeremy will be remembered for his athletic skills in football.
Jeremy was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan not every wanting to miss a single game and loved watching the Denver Nuggets. His hobbies included attending his children’s and extended family’s sporting events, coaching his children, riding horse, training dogs, hunting, fishing, participating in softball leagues, 3 on 3 basketball tournaments and loved spending time with his extensive family.
Survivors include his children, Chase Stephen, Chyler (fiancé, Anthony Day), Keragin Stephen all of Cozad, Carlyn Stephen and Collin Stephen both of Bertrand; parents, Lewis Stephen of Hays, KS, and Rhonda Stephen of Cozad; brother, Stacey (Laura) Stephen of Gothenburg; grandchild, Maleyna Day; nephews, Keyan Anderson, Holden Stephen, and Trevin Stephen; and his Canine friends, Dee and Chippy; uncles Ed Irish, North Platte and Bob Irish, Cozad and Ben Irish of Greeley, CO; aunts, Judy Irish, Trudy Delgado, Sterling, CO, Cindy Irish, North Platte and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents Ben and Verna Irish, and Lewis and Glennys Stephen; uncles, Bennett, Patrick, Melvin, Steven, and cousin Nathaniel Solie-Irish.
Memorials may be made in his name to the family and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswasnson.com.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Matt Irish officiating. Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 12-6. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Juanita “Jennie” Luna, age 87 of North Platte passed away March 7, 2016 surrounded by her family.

She was born December 3, 1928 to Luis and Nicolasa (Garcia) Ponce in Clearwater, Kansas.  On November 27, 1948 in North Platte she married Petronilo “Pete” Luna.  Jennie was a Social Worker in Lincoln County for 20 years.

Jennie was a  life time member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, was a member of the Holy Family, Eucharistic Minister to the homebound, the elderly, and to nursing homes for 10 years.  Jennie coordinated the St. Patrick’s BBQ for 2 years, and assisted Fr. Bernard with cooking at the homeless shelter. She and Pete donated a Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe Statue and alter candles to the church.  She assisted with the renovation of the Tabernacle, promoted and started the Girl Scout Group at St. Pat’s, was active in the Knights of Columbus, assisting with dinners and other activities.  Jennie was also very active in the community.  She along with Bob Rogers and Project 93 promoted and started Meals on Wheels from Memorial Hospital for .25 per meal.  She was on a committee and was a board member that started the Housing Authority/Autumn Park and Low Income Housing which included helping design the homes.  Later, Mayor Bob Phares asked her to join the Planning Commission for Great Plains Regional Medical Center/Great Plains Health.  In her retirement years she was involved and active in the church, providing services for the drive for a new Parish Hall.

Survivors include her husband, Petronilo “Pete” Luna of North Platte; children, Erlinda (Jerry) Scovill of North Platte, Stephen (Angie) Luna and Alfred (Susan) Luna all of Omaha, Gloria (Michael) Hernandez, and Phillip (Marilyn) Luna all of North Platte; grandchildren, Chris (Brenda), Nick (Serena), Joseph (Angelica), Monica (Brian), Becky (Justin), Tony (Bonnie), Jenny (Charles), Pete (Nicole), Andrea (Ryan), Matt, Nicole, and Danielle; 22 great-grandchildren and one on the way; many nieces and nephews; sister, Mary Carreras; and brother, Joe Ponce both of North Platte.

Memorials may be made to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Jesse Ponce, Anita Carrizales, Raymond Ponce, Georgia Hernandez, and Lupe Ponce.

Christian Wake Services will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 11, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Deacon Stephen Luna and the Reverend James Golka as con-celebrants.  Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.

Visitation will be noon. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Steve Votaw, age 69 of Wellfleet passed away at his home on Thursday, March 3, 2016. He was born in North Platte, NE on January 22, 1947 to Francis and Verna (Sandstrom) Votaw, and was raised on the family farm near Wellfleet. He graduated from UNSA in Curtis in 1966 and was drafted into the army.
Steve was a very proud, patriotic veteran. He served two tours in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged. He was a 20 year member of the Nebraska National Guard of North Platte. He was a retired farmer and had just retired from working at Western Engineering in North Platte.
Steve loved coffees, celebrating birthdays and fishing with his friends Verlon VanNetta, Kurt Remus, Dan McCorkle and his best friend and mentor, Bernie Zwickl. He loved people and always greeted friends with a warm smile. He was a gentle, kind and generous soul and will be truly missed.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Verna; baby brother, Mark; and a baby nephew.

He is survived by his sister, Anne Fintel (Chuck) of Omaha; nieces, Brittany Fintel of San Diego, CA and Allison Fintel of Omaha; and great niece and nephew Kayleigh and Peyton Kragskow of Omaha; various cousins and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Cremation was chosen, Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday March 11, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home at 421 West 4th Street, North Platte with the Reverend Jacob Rahrig officiating. Inurnment will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery following the services. Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, and from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.