Dolores I. Colson, 91 of Oakland, NE

Dolores I. Colson, age 91, a long-time Oakland resident, passed away at the Oakland Heights Nursing Home on November 4, 2013. Memorial services will be held Thursday, November 7, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with Rev. Mark Eldal officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery. Memorial Gathering will be on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, with the family receiving friends from 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. Memorials may be directed towards the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oakland Public Library and the Cardiac Department at the Oakland Mercy Hospital. Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland are in charge of arrangements.

Dolores was born at Bancroft, Nebraska, on March 4, 1922, the daughter of Gottlieb and Leona (Krueger) Buchholz. She was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Bancroft on April 9, 1922, and confirmed there on May 31, 1936. Dolores graduated from Bancroft High School in 1940. After graduation, Dolores lived in Omaha and worked as a private maid and a hospital kitchen supervisor. By 1944, she was working in Oakland at a grocery store.

On September 8, 1946, Dolores married Eugene E. Colson at First Lutheran Church in Oakland, Nebraska, and began married life on the Colson farm north of Oakland. During their 35 years on the farm Dolores and Gene raised three children. Dolores also worked for many years in Oakland at Al Backstrom’s grocery and at Al’s Super Saver. As a result, during those years she became well-known to many in the Oakland community. Dolores and Gene moved into Oakland in 1981.

Dolores was an active and faithful member of First Lutheran Church. She taught Sunday School and Bible School, participated in LCW and Dorcas, and volunteered for many other activities over the years and especially enjoyed helping assemble the monthly Spire newsletter. Dolores loved her church family, was a daily Bible reader, and lived out a Christian life.

Dolores was a member of the Oakland Hospital Auxiliary and served as the historian for several years. She was a long-time member of “The Busy Twelve” club and helped her children in 4-H Club activities. Dolores was an avid reader and loved to go to the Oakland Library where she participated in a book club.

Dolores was a loyal fan of Creighton Blue Jay basketball and at age 89 attended her first Blue Jay game at the Century Link Center in Omaha, an event that she described as “awesome”! She was a devoted fan of Nebraska women’s volleyball and enjoyed watching their games on TV. Dolores also attended sports activities of her son and grandchildren and attended many Oakland-Craig High School sports activities. She enjoyed fishing with her husband and upon her retirement learned to play golf.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years, Eugene, and a daughter, Cynthia.

She is survived by a brother, Gordon, of Columbus, NE; a daughter, Pam Kieckhafer and husband Marv of Council Bluffs, IA; son Tim Colson and wife Donna of West Point, NE; son-in-law Burdette Greeny II of Port Angeles, WA; four grandchildren: Chad Colson and wife Wendy of Palmyra, NE; James Colson of West Point NE; Burdette Greeny lll and wife Jennifer of Pullman, WA; Karena Owen and husband, Dustin, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; granddaughter-in-law, Erica Paus of West Point, NE.; seven great-grandchildren: Makena Colson, Kaiah Colson, Cooper Colson, Lauren Greeny.

Kelly Dale French, 74 of Lyons

KELLY DALE FRENCH, 74 years, of Lyons, Nebraska passed away Friday, November 1, 2013, at his home in Lyons.

Kelly Dale French was born May 20, 1939, on his parent’s farm in rural Decatur, Nebraska. He attended the Ball Country School in rural Decatur from 1st through 8th grades and then graduated from Decatur High School in 1956. He took classes at Wayne State College for two years before going to work for the Co-op in Tekamah, Nebraska.

Kelly met his “Special Angel” Bonnie Fritts in 1957 and they were married October 24, 1959. They lived in Tekamah and Craig, Nebraska, the first two years of their marriage and then moved to Lyons where they have resided for over fifty years.

Kelly was involved with sales most of his life which included the Lyons Creamery, the Logan Valley Fertilizer plant, Regional Manager for Na-Churs Fertilizer, and car salesman for Lubkers Ford and Paus Motors in West Point, Nebraska, until he retired in 2005. Upon retiring, Kelly enjoyed working for the Lyons-Decatur Public Schools as a bus driver. He often told his family that the kids he transported brought gre

Kelly French

at joy to his day and he was heartbroken that he had to stop due to his illness.

Kelly was active in his community by serving on the city council for several terms, owning and operating the Lyons Theatre for several years, and volunteering for various community and church projects including helping with the Bluegrass Festival held annually in Lyons. He was devoted to his church by serving on the Parish Council for several terms. He helped teach the religious education for junior and senior high students at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He also played the organ and sang in the church choir for over 45 years. Kelly was very committed to the Christian Encounter Christ movement for over 25 years. One of Kelly’s deepest passions was his involvement with the Knights of Columbus at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church reaching the level of 4th degree Knight. He served as Grand Knight for several years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford “Tuffy” and Myrtle (Ball) French of Walthill, NE; brother, Don French of South Sioux City, NE; nephew, Daryl French of Pender, NE.

Kelly is survived by his wife Bonnie French of Lyons; his 5 children: son, Joe French and his wife, Sandi, of Marysville, MI, son, Jim French and his wife, Lori, of Olathe, KS, daughter, Kristine Munderloh and her husband, Dwight, of Raymond, NE, son, Jerry French and his wife, Becky, of Lincoln, NE, daughter, Michelle Williams and her husband, Gary, of Lincoln; 20 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; numerous relatives and friends.

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Wednesday, November 6, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyons, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Tuesday, November 5, 2013, with the family receiving friends from 4 – 7 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. VIGIL SERVICE all at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Visitation Wednesday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery

MEMORIALS: To the Family

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com