Funeral services for Connie Poitra of Chadron, Nebraska will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Reverend Peter Bertram officiating.  Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.  A visitation will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel.

 Mrs. Poitra passed away on December 25, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society in Alliance.

 Connie was born on January 29, 1938 in Rugby, North Dakota to Wesley and Hazel Moors.  She grew up on a farm in Rolette, North Dakota with her three brothers and one sister.  She attended high school at Rolette High School.  After graduating, she attended Wahpeton School of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota, where she earned her LPN degree.

 Connie married her husband Jim Poitra in North Platte, Nebraska fifty years ago.  They raised their family in Aurora, Nebraska.  Connie and Jim then moved to Chadron, Nebraska where they made their home for thirty-five years. 

Connie enjoyed painting was teaching art classes.  She was very actively involved in mentoring her fellow art students.  She loved taking and showing her paintings at the Crawford 4^th of July Western Art Show and Fort Robinson State Park.  She also took paintings to Oregon Trail Days and the Willow Tree Festival.  She took great joy in traveling by motorcycle across the United States and Canada.

 Connie belonged to numerous societies and organizations.  She was a member of the Bordeaux Art Society, the Box Butte Art Society, the Western Nebraska Arts of Scottsbluff, the Dakota Artist Guild of Rapid City, South Dakota and the International Brotherhood of Motorcycle Campers.

 Connie is survived by her husband Lawrence James Poitra of Chadron; Daughter, René Poitra-Riley of Berea, Kentucky; Son, Ladd Poitra of Rapid City, South Dakota; Sister, Carol Jobe of Rugby, North Dakota; Brother Dennis Moors of South Dakota; Grandson Nicoli Poitra of Chadron.

 A memorial has been established for the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home of Hay Springs or the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Alliance.  Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE, 69337.

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

 

Robert (Bob) E. Hammack, 85, of Morrill lost his battle to cancer and went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 23, 2012 at his home surrounded by his loving daughters.  A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 29, at the MorrillMethodistChurchwith Pastor Rick Reisig officiating.  Interment will follow at ForestLawnCemeteryin Morrill.  Visitation will be held from 1-7 p.m. Friday, December 28 at the Jones Mortuary in Mitchell with family members present from 6-7p.m.  Memorials may be made to the Morrill Fire Dept. or Festival of Hope.  Online condolences may be made by visiting www.jones-mortuary.com.  Many knew Bob as “The Chief.”

Bob was born on April 19, 1927 in Morrill to Amos and Margaret (Bleigh) Hammack and lived in the valley all of his life.  Bob married Bette L. Emerson in Morrill and from this union, had five daughters. After the loss of Bette in 1997, he remarried to Ruth Johnson in 2003.

In 1949, he started working for John R. Jirdon Industry, Inc. and later became Vice President of Transportation and Feed. When the company changed hands, he worked for Cargill and retired in 1991.

In 1951, Bob joined the Morrill Vol. Fire Dept.  He held many positions in the dept. and in 1965 became the Fire Chief and held this position until his death.  He took his membership very seriously and was a driving force in the ongoing effort to provide fire protection and quality emergency care to all the citizens and travelers.  The Chief strongly insisted all his firemen to improve their skills through training. Bob received numerous Firemen’s awards.  Many countless hours were given to better the dept. and encouraged others to become involved.  He enjoyed driving the vintage Fire Dept.’s 1931 Model A Ford Fire truck in area parades. 

Bob had many interests but his greatest love was his family and “his” Fireman.  Bob was an avid Husker fan.  He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his daughters and their husbands, Debbi (Tom) Gatti of Smithfield, Va., Linda Hammack of Scottsbluff, Barb Faulkner (fiancé’ Ted Ross) of Morrill, Becky (Dale) Nerud of Scottsbluff, and Suzie Hammack of Morrill; grandchildren, Jason (Stephanie) Gatti of Frederick, Md., Allison (Walter) Barlow of Smithfield, Va., Courtney (Derek) Pattinson of Scottsbluff, and Nathan Faulkner of Morrill; three great-grandchildren,  Andrew and Amanda Barlow of Smithfield, Va. and Madeline Gatti of Frederick, Md; and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bette of 47 years; brothers and sisters; and second wife, Ruth.

Funeral services for Connie Poitra of Chadron, Nebraska will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 10:00 AM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Reverend Peter Bertram officiating.  Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.  A visitation will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel.

Mrs. Poitra passed away on December 25, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Society in Alliance.

Connie was born on January 29, 1938 in Rugby, North Dakota.

 She was 74.

 Her survivors include:

 Husband:  Jim Poitra

 Son:  Lad Poitra

 Daughter:  Rene Poitra

 A memorial has been established for the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home of Hay Springs or the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Alliance.  Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE, 69337.

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.

 

Carroll “Big Dad” Reeh, 83, died Saturday, December 22, 2012, at Box Butte General Hospital.

He was born October 6, 1929 at Sumner, Nebraska to Richard and Rosalina (Bunzendahl) Reeh. Carroll served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1953. Following his military service, he did several odd jobs before starting with the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1958. There, he worked as a conductor until his retirement in 1991.

He married Emma Hrebec on July 23, 1956 in Ord, Nebraska. He enjoyed working on various projects with his brother-in-law and nephews and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

He is survived by his wife, son and daughter-in-law , Doug and Lorie Reeh, daughters, Deb Reeh and Donna Reeh, granddaughters,  Kristina Pinedo, Leslie Reeh and Mikaela Hurley, grandsons, Jalen Hurley and Jaime Pinedo, great-grandsons, Peyton and Paxton Pinedo, former daughter-in-law,  Jayne Reeh, two sisters, Geneva Gillming and Frances Howard, a brother, Velmer Reeh, and dozens of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Gwen Reeh and brother, Wilbur Reeh.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, December 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Chapel. Cremation has taken place and his ashes will be interred at a later date at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance.

In lieu of flowers, the  family prefers memorials be given to the Veterans State Cemetery at Alliance Foundation, P.O. Box 902, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301.

Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.  Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Helen Edith Hood Strohbehn was born in Chadron on September 6^th, 1917, to Katie Richardson Stumpf Hood and Fred Hood, who came to Chadron from Chicago, married Katie Hood, and later became an insurance agent and justice of the peace. Helen had four brothers, Rod, John, Ted, and David, all now deceased. She attended the Municipal University of Omaha, now the University of Nebraska at Omaha. While studying nursing there, she met Earl Strohbehn, a student from Iowa and a talented athlete. She married Earl, and they adopted two children, Jon and Jan. Earl eventually became a Professor of Education at San Jose State. Helen earned a Master of Public Health degree and worked as a nurse and a teacher. She particularly enjoyed traveling and making music and art, especially painting, needlepoint, and quilting. After Earl passed away in 1989, Helen lived in San Jose, California and Mesa, Arizona.  She is survived by her son, Jon Strohbehn, her daughter, Jan Russell, and three grandchildren: Katherine Uhte-Strohbehn, Carl Uhte-Strohbehn, and Leo Iocono. Helen suffered a stroke on December 9^th, 2012 and passed away on Tuesday, December 18^th, 2012 at home in San Jose with her family around her.

 A memorial service will be held at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron at 10:00 AM Saturday, January 5, 2013 with Dr. Russ Seger officiating. Burial will be at the Whitney Community Cemetery.

 A memorial has been established.  Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE  69337

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Ila Buckley of Crawford, Nebraska, will be held Friday, December 28, 2012 at 1:00 pm at the Crawford Methodist Church with Reverend George Kilmer officiating.   She will be laid to rest at the Marsland Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 6:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel in Crawford. 

 Ila Blanche Coil Rising Buckley was born September 18, 1925 in rural Dawes County near Marsland, Nebraska to Robert M. and Dora Ellen (Pexton) Coil.  She was the fourth of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Coil.  She attended grade schools in rural Dawes County and near Douglas Wyoming and graduated from Crawford High School in 1943.  Following graduation she received her teaching certificate from Chadron State College after attending for one summer.  She taught in grade schools around the Crawford area including Glen. 

 Ila met her husband-to-be John Lawrence Rising though mutual friends in the early 1940s and after refusing to date him he remained persistent and the two were married June 26, 1944 at the Chadron Lutheran Church.  After marrying the couple lived in the Crawford area while John served in the Army at Fort Robinson.  To this loving union five children were born: Darlene Sue, Robert Earl, Jimmy John, Dorothy Ercil and Sandra Jean.  John Rising passed April 16, 1967 at the age of 46.

 Ila served as the postmistress in Van Tassel, Wyoming through the 1960s and 70s and during that time she met Jewel (Buster) L. Buckley and the two were married in April 1972.  The couple moved to the Buckley ranch south of Harrison where they resided until Busters death in 1990.

 Ila had a fondness for gardening, flowers, raising strawberries, playing cards and crafts.  She belong to several groups included the United Methodist Womens, Eagles Club, Extension Club, and crafts clubs.  She loved volunteering and serving the community.  She was a foster Grandma at the Crawford elementary school, a volunteer at the Crawford historical society, Ponderosa Villa and with many other organizations throughout her life.  She loved having her family around and her door was always open to everyone.

 Ila went to be with the Lord December 22, 2012.  She was greeted in heaven by her parents, her brothers Walter and Lawrence Coil, her sister Mary Ellen Bradley, her husbands John Rising and Buster Buckley, her children Darlene, Jimmy John and Dorothy, son-in-laws Dick Hankins and Steven Lynn Reece, daughter-in-law Judy Kissell and many other family and friends. She will be missed dearly by many including her sister Francis Dyer, sister-in-law Doris Hamaker son Bob Rising, daughter Sandy Rudloff, twelve grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

 A memorial has been established for the United Methodist Church in Crawford or the Ponderosa Villa Nursing Home.  Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE  69337

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Crawford is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

 

Leola J. Moore of Whitney, Nebraska passed away on December 20, 2012 at the Chadron Community Hospital.  Leola was born on May 28, 1930 in Crawford, Nebraska to Walter and Katherine Fleishman.  In June of 1952, she married Buster W. Moore. She worked at the VA Medical Center in Hot Springs, SD and transferred to the USDA Forest Service in Chadron where she retired.

 Leola was preceded in death by her parents, a sister (Dora Liledahl), a brother (Eugene Fleishman) and a granddaughter (Heidi McClung). She is survived by her husband, Buster (Whiney, NE), children – Jim (Krista), Whitney, Ne; Tari (Bruce) McClung, Hot Springs, SD; Kelly Moore, Augusta, ME; 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.   Graveside services will be held at a later time.

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.

Rose was born October 2, 1919, in Bancroft, Nebraska to Fred and Huldina Leitow Lase. Rose Married Robert “Bud” Cressy on April 7, 1957 in Morrill, Nebraska. She and Bud enjoyed traveling in their motorhome before Bud’s death in 1987.

 Before moving to Morrill, Rose worked as a nanny in Omaha. She and Bud purchased the Quality Food Center in Morrill from her brother Herb and they operated the store for 40 years. Rose worked at the Morrill Manor, ran her own craft store–Kozy Korner, was a sales clerk at the Gering Clothing Store, and also in West Point, Nebraska. Rose Moved to Prairie Pines in Chadron 3 years ago.

 Rose is survived by her sons and their wives: Charles “Chuck” and Janice of Chadron; John and Ginger of Gering. Her grandchildren are Tiara Rosane of Chadron and Trent of Clive, IA. She had 4 great-grandchildren: Kaylee and Aaron Gaswick and Georgia and Amelia Cressy.

 Rose was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 4 brothers, 4 sisters and an infant grandson, Scott.

 A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 27 at 1 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Gering, Nebraska with Rev. Richard Neugebauer and Rev. Peter Bertram. Burial will follow in the Morrill Cemetery.

 Memorials may be given in her name to ALS Assn., Keith Worthington Chapter, 10730 Pacific Street, St. 228, Omaha, Nebraska 68114 or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Chadron, Nebraska.  Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE  69337.

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

Mary Colling, 93, died Thursday, December 20th at Heritage Estates in Gering.  She was born July 30, 1919, in Scottsbluff to Pete and Katherine (Wagner) Keller and had lived in the Scottsbluff/Gering Valley all of her life.  Mary was a devoted mother, wife and grandmother, strong in faith, and steadfast in the support of her family and friends.

Mary received her education in the Scottsbluff schools and worked until retirement in food service.  She will be remembered by many for her years at Alexander’s Grocery, Co-op, Gering Bakery and Golden Living (formerly Beverly) as head cook for the care facility.  She loved to cook and care for her flower garden!  Her work was often her hobby as she decorated many wedding and birthday cakes for area celebrations.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Sandee Wamboldt (Carl); three grandchildren, Sheri Mooney (Mike), Dawn McGee (Todd) and Mike Wamboldt (Alivia); six great-grandchildren, Ashley and Joseph Mooney, and Cullen, Michaela, Emily and Aidan McGee.  Mary is also survived by step-sons Don, Chris, David, Joe Colling and their families.

Mary was preceded in death by her husbands, Ben Britthouer (1976) and Don Colling (2004); two daughters, Florine and Barbara Jean; brothers, Pete, Henry, Dave, Jacob, Victor, Harry, Alex, Fred, Albert, and LeRoy Keller; sisters, Mollie Cook and Katie Wilhelm; and parents Pete and Katherine Keller.

Funeral mass will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 26, at St. Agnes Catholic Church with Father Vincent Parsons officiating.  Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Friends may visit from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, December 23, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff.  Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.  Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com

Funeral services will be Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 11:00 AM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Paris Fisher officiating.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.

 Joseph Leo Murer, 85, of Chadron, Nebraska died on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at the Ponderosa Villa in Crawford. 

 He was born on July 9, 1927, in Bassett, Nebraska to Joseph S. and Mae L. (Stockdale) Murer.  He lived in Bassett until second grade when his parents moved to Ainsworth, where he completed his schooling.  He worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads before joining the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in 1947.  He worked there for forty-two years until 1989, as a conductor and brakeman.

 On January 22, 1950, he married Geneva Hershiser.  They lived in their home at 547 Cedar Street for 57 years.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, wood working, car mechanics and bee keeping.  In the retirement years, he and Gen enjoyed traveling and visiting family all around the country.  They wintered in Quartzsite, Arizona for many years.

 His survivors include his wife, Geneva of Chadron; five children, Mickie Knowles of Westminster, Colorado, Roberta (Richard) Philby of Chadron, Nebraska, Jerry Lynn (Lymon) Williams of Henderson, Nebraska, Joseph Craig (Mishelle) Murer of Chadron, Nebraska, and Marilyn (Troy) Cradeur of Thornton, Colorado.  He also has twenty-two grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren.

 Pallbearers will be grandsons:  Joseph M. Knowles, Northglenn, Colorado; David A. Murer, Grand Island, Nebraska; Mike S. Cross of Aztec, New Mexico; Chris Preteen of Omaha, Nebraska; Joseph Q. Murer, Hutchison, Kansas; Patrick D. Murer, Winder, Georgia; E6AS1 Randall D. Lundy, US Navy, Pensacola, Florida; E5AO Houston A. Cradeur, US Navy, Tokyo; Japan, Daniel C. Cradeur of Del Rio, Texas. 

 A memorial has been established to the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department.  Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE  69337.  The family suggests memorials instead of flowers.

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.