Obituaries

Velma J. Chapman, 96, died Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, at The Heritage at College View in Hastings.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center, with Rev. Kevin Whitmore officiating. Interment followed at the Clay Center Cemetery. Visitation was one hour prior to the service on Monday.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com

Mrs. Chapman was born July 3, 1922, to Daniel and Frances (Burghart) Godtel near Clay Center. She attended Hedge Valley rural school near Clay Center, graduating from Clay Center High School. She worked various jobs, including a salesperson for a jewelry store. She married Donald R. Chapman on Dec. 27, 1940, and lived in Elwood. They divorced in 2006.

Services for Winell A. Suckstorf, 89, Pierce, were at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Feb. 25, at Zion Lutheran Church in Pierce. The Rev. Gordon Bruce and Joshua Mork officiated. Burial was at the Lambrecht Cemetery in rural Pierce.

Visitation was 4-7 p.m., Sunday at the church.

She died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at Heritage of Bel Air Nursing Home in Norfolk.

Stonacek Memorial Chapel in Pierce is in charge of the arrangements.

Winell Audrey (Buss) Suckstorf was born west of Pierce on April 27, 1929, to Albert and Louise (Kuhl) Buss. She was baptized on May 26, 1929, and confirmed March 29, 1942, by the Rev. M.F. Scheips. She attended school districts 40 and 8 and Zion Parochial School at Pierce and graduated from Pierce High School in 1946.

She and Clarence Suckstorf were married on Feb. 26, 1950, by the Rev. Steging at Zion Lutheran Church in Pierce. They farmed west of Pierce. They were blessed by three children, Marlene, Douglas and Gary.

Fairfield resident James “Jim” D Hoyt, the son of Melvin and Millie (Drabek) Hoyt, was born Aug. 26, 1942, in Clay Center, and departed this life on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019.

Celebration of life will be March 1, 2019, from 1-4 p.m., at the American Legion in Fairfield.

Jim graduated from Edgar High School and the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Jim taught and coached in Diller, NE, for several years before returning to Fairfield to run the family farm.

Jim was united in marriage to Carol Lee Bohaty on Aug. 15, 1965. To this union they were blessed with three children; Jonathan, Andrea and Curtis.

Jim was an avid sports fan. He was State of Nebraska Horseshoe Pitching Champion in 1985 and played in the Nation Horseshoe Pitching tournament the following year. Jim was also an excellent bowler and bowled on many leagues and tournaments. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and sons Jonathan and Curtis.

Mary Ratzlaff, age 93, of Stockham, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, at her home.

Funeral services were 10:30 a.m., Monday, Feb. 18, at the Higby-McQuiston Chapel. Rev. Paul Nauman officiated. Interment was in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation was from 5–7 p.m., Sunday evening at the mortuary. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

Mary Ratzlaff, the daughter of Monico and Eloisa (Rodriquez) Montoya, was born in Jensen, CO, joining her nine siblings on March 3, 1925 and passed away in Stockham on Feb. 13, 2019, at the age of 93.

Mary graduated high school and attended business school before working at the unemployment office in Omaha, where she met the man she was to marry.

Deweese resident Kenneth Robert Volz, 40, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, unexpectedly on the farm in Deweese. Memorial services were 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Fairfield Community Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, with Pastors Joyce and Ivan Dean officiating. The family requests casual attire be worn to service, overalls are welcome. Private family burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be given to the family.

There will be no viewing or visitation. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutler.com. Merten-Butler Mortuary is serving the family. Kenneth was born Jan. 22, 1979, in Hastings, to Kenneth L. and Dorothy Lea (Babcock) Volz. He graduated from Sandy Creek High School in 1998 and North Central Kansas Technical College receiving his degree in plumbing and heating/air conditioning.

On Feb. 6, 2019, Alice Leichleiter Brandt passed away in her home in Harvard.

Alice was born on Oct. 18, 1939 to Ernest and Sarah Adams. She grew up and attended school in Harvard. In 1955, she fell in love with Matthew Leichleiter and married him. She gave birth to seven children, three of which only lived a few days. In 1972, her beloved husband passed away and she went on to raise her four sons as a single mother. In 1987, she married Delmar Brandt.

After Matthew passed away, Alice took over his garbage route for many years. She also mowed and raked many lawns in Harvard until the last year of her life. Alice understood and modeled the value of hard work and she worked harder than anyone around her.

Harvard resident Blanche Lola (Urwiller) Koehler, 97, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at the Harvard Rest Haven in Harvard.

Funeral services were conducted 1:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at the United Church of Christ in Harvard, with Pastor Dave Johnson officiating. Interment followed at the Harvard Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday, from 1–8 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 5–8 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral

Chapel in Clay Center.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the United Church of Christ in Harvard, Tabitha Hospice in Grand Island or the Harvard Rest Haven.

Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com.

Blanche was born Oct. 26, 1921, in Sodtown, NE, to Henry and May (Lange) Urwiller on a farm in Buffalo County. She was part of a family of nine children, and their lives revolved around family, neighbors and church at the Zion Evangelical St. Michael Church.

Jerry Lee Shuck of Edgar, departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, at the age of 79.

Sutton resident Leota Griess, 60, went to be with the Lord Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, at her home in Sutton, where she no longer has pain or suffering.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019, at Hope Reformed Church in Sutton, with Pastor Scott Henry officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, from 1–8 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 5–7 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Hope Reformed Church or the Sutton Community Home Foundation.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Wilma graduated from Sutton High School in May 1940. She retired from Federal Aviation Administration in 1984 after 29 years as a federal employee. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church. She was an active volunteer serving in many capacities. Her lifelong interests included: music, sewing, flying, gardening, reading and writing.

Preceded in death by parents, Andrew and Elsa Ackermann; six sisters and one brother.

Survived by brother, Benjamin (Geraldine) Ackermann, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to the family for later designation.

Visitation was Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019, from 4-6 p.m., at the Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln. Celebration of Life was Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17th Street, Lincoln.

Condolences:lincolnfh.com.