Philip “Buzzard” Sawyer, II, 56, of North Platte passed away July 23, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
He was born October 23, 1955 to Philip and Carlotta (Fisher) Sawyer at Winterset, Iowa. He grew up in Colorado, graduated from Mapleton High School then went on to receive his associate’s degree in business. He was on the board of Advisory @ NPCC & business student of the month. Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Beta Lambda. He married his high school sweetheart, Loretta on August 24, 1973 in Colorado. He served in the U.S. Army and moved to North Platte in 1985. He worked for Rich Watson, BG&S Transmission, Murphy Tractor and Fairbanks International. He loved woodworking, Harley motorcycles, drowning worms and especially family and music. Avid Bronco & Husker fan and active member of the Red Cross. He was preceded in death by Kevin Shelton, his mother and father in law, Eli and Bernice Whitehead and his grandparents.
Philip is survived by his wife, Loretta of North Platte; his parents of Longmont, CO., a daughter, Apryl (Bill ) Lee, of North Platte; two sons, Dave Pearce of Hastings, NE. and Jesse (Tawnie Burke) Sawyer of Littleton, CO., three grandchildren, Dakotah Hansen, Madalynne Sawyer, Lydia Pearce; 2 sisters, Gail (Mark) Martich of Frederick, CO. and Patti (Chris) Overbeck of Seward, AK., special brother, Robert Campbell of North Platte, many other special children & their families, and his dog, Shadow.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2012 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Memorials in His Memory are suggested to the family.
Memorial services will be Friday, July 27, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, with inurnment at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com

Uland C. “Bud” Jackson went “home” on July 21, 2012 at the age of 93 years and 24 days in Grand Island, Nebraska. He was born June 27, 1919 on a farm near Cordova, Nebraska to Zeb H. and Anna M. (Herbst) Jackson. He grew up on farms in York County and later Lincoln County with his parents and two sisters Estella and Lorene.

He began his high school education in McCool Junction and graduated high school at Ingham, Nebraska in 1937. After completing a general business education at North Platte School of Commerce in 1940 he worked for Sound & Kiewit Construction Company in Washington State.

In June of 1941, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Bud reported to Fort Leavenworth Kansas the day after his 22nd birthday. His tour of duty in Europe from September 1943 through September 1945 took him to England, France, Belgium, and Germany. He was a member of the 3rd Armored Division of the 32nd Armored Regiment. Nicknamed SPEARHEAD because First Army orders so frequently read, “The Third Armored Division will spearhead the attack,” the Division spent 221 days in combat and is credited with the decisive destruction of 14 German Divisions. Spearhead took 76,720 prisoners (5 times it’s own total strength) and destroyed 6,751 pieces of enemy equipment, including 1794 tanks and 942 special purpose guns, while holding it’s own casualty figure to 10,371. From June 1944 through May 1945 the 3 Armored earned five Battle Stars; Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Bud returned to the United States September 28, 1945 and was discharged from the military service on October 9, 1945.

Following his service to his country he received on-the-job training with Frank M. Bowen Public Accounting Company in North Platte. For several years he worked in Gothenburg for Gothenburg Farm Equipment and Lepp & Osterloh Inc. In 1957 he moved to Denver and began a career with Massey Ferguson, Inc. as accountant and office supervisor.

On May 4, 1958, he was united in marriage to Dylores May Berg at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gothenburg. They established their home and were employed in Denver until their retirement. After several years of retirement in Denver with visits to friends and relatives in Arizona they made the move to Sun City, Arizona in 1994. During their retirement years they enjoyed entertaining family and friends, Willowbrooke United Methodist Church activities, traveling to the 3” Armored Reunions across the United States, playing cards, dining out, and maintaining an immaculate home and yard. Bud was a member and officer of the Lions Club, a member of Sun City Nebraska Club, a 50 year member of the Mason and a 50 year member of the VFW.

In November, 2009 Bud and Dee returned to Nebraska to reside in an Independent Living Apartment in Grand Island.

May 4-7th, 2012; Bud had the privilege of traveling to Washington, D.C. as a member of the Hall County Hero Flight for World War II Veterans. The highlight for him was visiting the World War II Memorial.

He is survived by his sister, Estella Tillotson, Gothenburg; a brother-in-law, Ted Whittingham, Denver; nephews, John L (Kay) Schurr and Jerry (Linda) Schurr both of Farnam; niece, Janet (John) Speck of St. Paul, Nebraska. Great-nephews Heath (Tiffany) Reinders & Adrianna, Jerud Schurr, Chase & Ryleigh, Ty Schurr, Marty (Shelly) Schurr, Adalyn & Gavon, and Ryan (Kari)Schurr & Luke and Great-niece, Paige (Jeff) Kreycik, Presley, Dawson & Jack, and numerous cousins and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife Dylores in 2011, a sister, Lorene Whittingham, Brothers-in-law, John J. Schurr and LeRoy Tillotson and a great nephew Wayne Schurr.

Bud will be greatly missed by many friends and relatives. He is remembered for his sharp wit, broad smile, honesty and integrity, sharing of stories and jokes and all the qualities of those of the “Great Generation”. As he heard so many times on his trip to Washington, D.C. “Thank you for your service to your country”. And thank you for being a true friend to so many and a treasured family member.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Sunday, July 29, 2012 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, July 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm with Dr. Jeff Thurman officiating.

Interment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 80526, Lincoln, NE 68501, Farnam Senior Center, or First United Methodist Church, 1401 Lake Ave Gothenburg, NE 69138. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.

Kathy Hopping, 56, of Paxton, died July 22, 2012, in her home surrounded by her family and friends.
Katherine Lynn Hopping was born on Sept. 15, 1955, in Fort Collins, Colo., the daughter of Alvin “Curly” and Leora (Blake) Schieldt.
Kathy graduated from Poudre High School in Fort Collins, Colo., in 1974. While in high school she participated in musicals, band, orchestra, Impalaphonics Show Choir and All-State Chorus. She was also an accomplished oboe player who was awarded a music scholarship to attend the University of Northern Colorado. While there she became a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, an honorary music sorority and then received her degree in Music Education in 1978.
She moved to Lewellen to teach in 1979 and then on to Paxton in 1981. Her career as a music teacher spanned 27 years and also included time in Sutherland. The past five years Kathy was a legal assistant for McGinley, O’Donnell, Reynolds and Korth.
On Aug. 1, 1998, Kathy married Jim Hopping. Together they built a home where they loved to spend time.
Life was filled with music and the outdoors. Kathy loved being with family and friends especially at the lake and in the mountains. She played piano for the United Methodist Church in Paxton and accompanied students for competitions and performances. Kathy was also a member of the National Education Association.
Preceding her in death was her father, Alvin Schieldt; and her stepfather, Hal Klaus.
Survivors include her husband, Jim, of Paxton; her children, Kara (Zac) Brashears, and their daughter, Brooke, of Valentine, Gwen Stokey, of Omaha, and Nicholas Stokey, of Lincoln; her mother, Leora (Bill) Klaus-McBride, of Fort Collins, Colo.; two brothers, Wayne (Dawn) Schieldt, of Montrose, Colo., and Marvin (Alison) Schieldt, of Fishtail, Mont.; two stepsons, John McConnell, of Mexico, and Brennen Hopping, of Jacksonville, Wyo.; as well as nieces, nephews; and dear friends.
The family chose cremation. Services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, at the Ogallala New Hope Worship Center on East “O” St. Kathy’s brother, Pastor Marvin Schieldt will officiate. A luncheon will follow at noon at the United Methodist Church, 310 N. Oak St. in Paxton. Online Condolences may be sent to drauckerfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, PO Box 335, Paxton, NE 69155.
Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.

Eska Eugene ‘Gene’ Evans, age 83, passed away, Saturday, July 21, 2012 at Linden Court. He was born September 13, 1928 to Eska and Minnie Schmidt Evans in Freedom, NE.
Gene attended District 65 School, north of Bartley, NE. He graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in 1946. He worked on the family ranch for 10 years before joining the Union Pacific Railroad as an electrician. Gene retired from the Union Pacific after 26 years of service. He was a hard working man of many talents who could fix or build anything.
Gene was a 50 year member of the Calvary Baptist Church. He loved his family very much, and always longed for them to come home.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia of North Platte; 3 sons, Dennis (Brenda) Evans of Hockley, TX., Roger (Joyce) Evans of Lincoln, and Phillip (Debi) Evans of North Augusta, S.C.; ten grandchildren, Bryan (Dawnelle), Korinda, Tony, Michael, Stacy (Tim), Danielle (Jeff), Jenna (Geoff), Sarah (Cory), Bethany (Robert) and Travis; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Shirley Moore.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Raymond; and a sister-in-law, Glendola.
A memorial has been established to the Calvary Baptist Church or to the Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital and online condolences may be made at www.adamsswanson.com.
Funeral Service will be 11:00 AM, Friday, July 27, 2012 at Calvary Baptist Church in North Platte with the Reverend Gordon Rhodes officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Visitation will be Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Mary  Gene Lamb, 91, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died July 21, 2012 in Gothenburg, NE.

Mary Gene was born in St. Pauls, North Carolina, on June 9, 1921, to Julian Carr and Frances M. (McArthur) Lentz. Her family moved to Durham, North Carolina 1933. She graduated from Durham High School in 1939 and attended Duke University and Croft’s Business College. She then worked for several years as a dental assistant.

On November 18, 1949, she married Warren S. Lamb of Willow Island at Durham, North Carolina. She and Warren moved to Gothenburg and Mary Gene resided there until her death. She was a member of the United Methodist Church for over 75 years and throughout the years she was active in its organizations: Sunday school, choir and women’s groups. She was a member of Chapter AW PEO and participated in various civic activities: Girl Scouts, Library Board, United Way, Bloodmobile and Meals on Wheels. She also enjoyed her bridge club as well as her coffee groups and Hilltop Birthday Club.

Mary Gene was preceded in death by her husband Warren in 1995, her parents and older brothers.

Survivors include daughters: Stacie Lamb and husband John Christensen of Omaha and Sheri Lamb of Gretna, sisters-in-laws: Dean Lentz of Fayetteville, NC, Ruth White of Lexington and Barbara Stull of Gothenburg and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Tuesday, July 24, 2012 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm with the family present from 6-8 pm.

Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 9:30 am with Dr. Jeff Thurman officiating.

Interment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Memorials may be given to the Gothenburg United Methodist Church, 1401 Lake Ave., Gothenburg, NE  69138.

To sign the online guest book, go to