Obituaries

August 19, 1929 - April 28, 2020

Lois Ann (Yost) Kreutz of Aurora passed away on April 28, 2020, at Westfield Quality Care in Aurora at the age of 90.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place at this time, private family interment was held at the Harvard Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials will be used to establish a scholarship in memory of her daughter, Patricia Ann Kreutz. Condolences may be emailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

Lois Ann was born Aug. 19, 1929, on a farm near Harvard to William J. and Anna Elizabeth (Brehm) Yost, the sixth of seven children.

Orrin Krous, 88, formerly of Harvard, died Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at the Westfield Quality Care in Aurora.

Burial of ashes will be at a later date in the Harvard Cemetery. All Faiths Funeral Home of Grand Island is entrusted with the arrangements.

Orrin was born on April 1, 1932, at Hazard, the son of Otto and Lennie (White) Krous. He was raised and received his education in Hazard.

Orrin enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in Korea. On June 2, 1953, he was united in marriage to Ima Jean Burson at Loup City. They lived in Ravenna, Odessa and in 1958 they made their home at Harvard.

Some of his enjoyments included fishing and gardening. His greatest pleasure was his grandkids. He was a member of the VFW.

LaVonne I. Gass, age 83 of Hartington, and formerly of Papillion, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2020, at Hartington Care Center in Hartington. Memorial services will be at a later date. The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & On-site Crematory, Yankton, SD, is assisting with the service details. On-line condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Gary E. Jones, 79, of Central City passed away April 13, 2020, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. A private family service will be held and due to the COVID-19 restrictions a formal service will be held for family and friends at the First Christian Church in Central City at a later date, along with military honors. Memorials are suggested to the family and condolences may be sent to www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.

Gary was born June 5, 1940, to Wilbur and Clover (Fowler) Jones on the family farm near Hordville. He attended Central City High School, graduating in 1958. In December that year he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

Ray Gene Hinz, oldest child of Eldred John Carl and Evaline Marie (Horst) Hinz, was born Feb. 18, 1949, in Nelson. He departed this life on Good Friday, April 10, 2020, in Clay Center, at the age of 71 years, 1 month, and 23 days.

Ray was baptized on March 27, 1949, at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Ruskin, and was confirmed there on May 17, 1964. He attended elementary school in Oak and graduated from Nelson High School in 1969. Ray served in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard. He received a degree in welding at Western Nebraska Technical College in Sidney. Throughout the years he worked as a welder for Western Land Roller in Hastings, National Crane in Waverly, and National Boiler in Lincoln. On April 24, 1987, he was united in marriage to Karen Kort at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings. They lived in the Edgar and Clay Center vicinities. Ray was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings.

Sutton resident Martin Nuss, 86, passed away Monday, April 20, 2020, at the Henderson Health Care Hospital in Henderson.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a private family funeral service will be conducted Thursday, April 23, 2020, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, with the Free German Reformed Salem Church Elders officiating. Services will be live-streamed from Sutton Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page beginning at 10 a.m. Private interment will follow at the Free German Reformed Salem Church Cemetery near Sutton. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 4–8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

On April 14, 2020, Karen Brown, loving wife and mother of two children, passed away at the age of 63 from a battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Karen was born on Feb. 9, 1957, in Valley City, ND to Leonard and Marilynn Everson. She graduated from Clay Center High School in 1975. On April 2, 1977, she married Ricky Lynn Brown and soon moved to Riverton, WY where they raised a daughter, Jessica Mintken and a son, Adam Brown. While in Riverton, she worked at Brunton Company, Bear Paw embroidery, and High Mountain Seasonings. Later, she moved to Torrington, WY to be closer to what gave her the greatest joy, her grandsons. While living there, she was a manager at City Slickers RV Park.

Sutton resident Aaron Griess, 89, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2020, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a private family funeral service will be conducted Friday, April 17, 2020, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, with the Free German Reformed Salem Church Elders officiating. Services will be live-streamed from Sutton Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page beginning at 10 a.m. Private interment will follow at the Free German Reformed Salem Church Cemetery near Sutton. Visitation will be Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com.

Sutton resident Joan M. Kessler, 83, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2020, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a private family funeral service will be conducted Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton with Rev. Mary Scott officiating. Services will be live-streamed from Sutton Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page beginning at 10:30 a.m. Private interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com.

Donna Jean (Jacobson) McNeal, 73, of Denver, CO passed away on March 18, 2020 in Denver, CO. Her burial was on March 25 in Hays, KS next to her son Scott and husband Roger. A memorial service will be held in Hays at a later date.

Donna was born July 2, 1946, to Max and Jessie (Dot) Jacobson. She was the oldest of eight children and became a mom to her many younger siblings at an early age. Donna began her schooling in kindergarten at the Verona Elementary School. She later attended Sutton High School and was a member of the United Methodist Church in rural Clay County near her home.