Corey McCullock’s First Omaha Snowfall

November 24, 2013 Leave a comment


Corey's first snowfall in Omaha. Photo Credit/Corey McCullock.

Corey’s first snowfall in Omaha. Photo Credit/Corey McCullock.

1419788_10202425885358748_1612510306_n 1473839_10202425885238745_1837140402_n 1473902_10202425885198744_270580870_n 1476776_10202425885318747_712414804_n 1481145_10202425885158743_2047048379_nSnow in the Big O!

Thursday night, I experienced my first snow while living in Omaha. I will say it did not meet me expectations, which are extremely high compared to Lyons. Yes, the snow may have looked neat as it blew in through the orange glow of all the city lights. It did not look neat the next morning when I went to class.

Unlike Lyons, there is constant traffic on every street. This means that the lovely fluffy white stuff turns into a black slush almost instantly. The good thing is that it melted away so that when the next snow comes, it will be a nice bright white again. One thing that did not surprise me was the driving ability of some people in Omaha during snowy conditions. I had heard from upper classmen that come from towns outside of Omaha that some, not all, are extremely dangerous to drive on the same road with. That came as no surprise to me, and was proven numerous times Thursday night when many people were driving down the middle of the road and slamming on their brakes and overall freaking out while they were driving.

Aside from the terrible drivers and not meeting my expectations, it was a good snow. And I base that off of the joy in my Brazilian roommates face when he saw the first flake fall. He saw snow on the ground in January but he had never seen it fall until last night. And this absolutely amazed him. He said he has always dreamed of a white Christmas and his dream was brought to life with the first snow of the year. Even though it was a month early, it gave him hope.

On a deeper note, that kind of made me realize how much we have here, even though it’s snow, that we may take for granted or find as a nuisance. The first snow also brought a scare to my dorm room when one of my other roommates totaled his car, so I was out till 1 in the morning picking parts up off the road, directing traffic, making the car drivable and assuring him that his parents were not going to kill him.

You could say that the first snow had many ups and downs, but I love snow so it worked out in the end.

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George Thomas Guill, 86, Of Oakland, NE

November 24, 2013 Leave a comment


GEORGE THOMAS GUILL was born June 23, 1927, at rural Decatur, Nebraska, to Thomas Clay Guill and Rose Henrietta (Ebert) Guill.  He passed away Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at Oakland Heights Nursing Home in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 86 years.

George grew up on the family farm southeast of Decatur along the Missouri River.  He was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Decatur.  He at

George Thomas Guill

George Thomas Guill

tended school and graduated from the Decatur Public School in 1945.

On September 9, 1948, George married Leona Faye Lewis of Decatur.  To this union five children were born, Cathy, Randy, Candy, Nona and John.  George lived and operated the farm where he grew up until 1964, when the family moved “off the bottom” to a hill farm located between Decatur and Lyons.  George and Leona moved from this farm in 1974 to an acreage located four miles south of Oakland, where he continued to raise hogs and cattle.  George was employed by Morrison and Quirk Alfalfa Dehy, serving as Farm Manager in the Lyons area for several years before transferring to the Oakland plant.  Later, George was employed by Hillside Alfalfa Dehy near Uehling where he was responsible for the field operations of farming, alfalfa planting and windrowing.  George was a person who always liked to be busy.  He enjoyed helping area farmers during harvest by hauling grain and doing fall tillage.  George continued working after the death of his wife in 2007 until 2010, when health conditions prevented him from continuing to operate the machines.

George loved to have his grandkids and great grandkids visit.  George moved to the nursing home in October 2012.  In February 2013, he was selected as king for the Valentine festivities.  He felt very special and was always good for a laugh or two and kept the nurses guessing on what his next shenanigans would be.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years,  Leona; his parents; daughter, Cathy Thiemann; grandson, Ryan Guill; two brothers, Elbert and Kenneth;  two sisters, Esther Hultquist and Helen Kohlmeier.

He is survived by his sons, Randall Guill of Norfolk, NE, John Guill of Oakland; daughters, Candy Brink of Parker, CO, Nona Van Damme of Wichita, KS; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; and many friends.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, Nov 25, 2013, 10:30 a.m. at Frist Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland

BURIAL: At a later date

VISITATION: Sunday 4 – 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6 – 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. Visitation Monday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

MEMORIALS: Donor’s Choice

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

Filed under Obituaries

Ramona E. (Konicek) Barry, 90, of Bancroft, NE

November 24, 2013 Leave a comment


Ramona E. (Konicek) Barry, 90, of Bancroft, Nebraska died on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at Legacy Garden and Rehabilitation Center in Pender. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Bancroft; with Father Paul Ortmeier officiating. The visitation with family present will be held at the church on Monday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Buri

Ramona Barry

Ramona Barry

al will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Wisner. Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation. Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Bancroft is in charge of the arrangements.

Ramona was born on April 13, 1923 to John and Helen (Rutledge) Konicek at Dr. Picotte Memorial Hospital in Walthill, Nebraska. She was baptized at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Walthill on May 13, 1923. Ramona attended Martin Roth Elementary School north of Beemer and graduated from Notre Dame Academy at Omaha, Nebraska in 1940. She attended Briar Cliff College, and then graduated in 1944 from St. Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa as a Registered Nurse. Ramona married Robert Barry of Danbury, Iowa in 1947 at Sioux City. The later divorced.

Besides nursing, Ramona chose to lead a very adventurous life, including politics and campaigning for Presidents such as John F. Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. She later managed a ballroom in Carter Lake, Iowa until it was destroyed by fire. A great achievement of hers was solo piloting a Cessna 150 in Wichita, Kansas in 1965.

After managing the ballroom, she decided to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she sold real estate. She later moved to Laughlin, Nevada and sold real estate as the town started to build. She did this until her mid 70’s, when her health started to fail. While in Laughlin, Ramona played a large part in getting St. John the Baptist Catholic Church built so all masses did not have to be in a casino. She was strong in her faith, and this was shown in her huge collection of Madonna’s. In 2004, Ramona moved back to St. Joseph’s Retirement Community in West Point, and then Legacy Garden in 2008. Even though Ramona was never able to have children, she took great pride in her nieces and nephews and their children. Ramona made many friends no matter where she lived, and she especially treasured her friendship with “Pudgy”, a life-time friend she met in nursing school.

Ramona is survived by her brother Donald (Janice) Konicek of Bancroft, NE and their children, Jeff (Sherry) Konicek of Wisner, NE, Brad Konicek of Wisner, NE, Kellee (Len) Hermelbracht of Bancroft, NE, and Barrey (Melissa) Konicek of Ord, NE, great nieces and great nephews: Stephanie and Kinsey Chandler of Norfolk, NE, Jason, Jill and Tyson Konicek of Norfolk, NE, Anna, Ryan and Peyton Petersen of Bancroft, NE, Kai Konicek of Omaha, NE, Callie Konicek of Kearney, NE, Britney Konicek of Bancroft, NE, Clay Konicek of Norfolk, NE, Sara and Niall Hansen of Lincoln, NE, Travis Hermelbracht of Bancroft, NE, and Sage and Devin Konicek of Ord, NE

Ramona is preceded in death by her parents.

 

 

 

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Where Were You?

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


Today is the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. What were you doing when you heard the news?
Brandy K. McElroy: It was my daddys bday and he was sitting in history class i believe!
Helen Taylor Murray: I was out by the gas pump on the farm. I think my Dad told me. At the time I didn’t understand a lot of what that meant, just knew it was important and tragic.
Lauri Bundy Canarsky:  I was in study hall when our principal, Mr Mc Cue came in the library & made the announcement. Most of us had Mr McCue in government class & knew his feelings about President Kennedy & thought he was making a joke. It took him a couple of min to convince us he was serious. I will never forget the look on his face when he told us.
Peggy Jensen: I was home sick from school, watching tv.
Joan Lindstrom Wolf: I was at school at Gleason School north of Oakland. The phone rang and Mrs. Martha Neis answered it. The phone hardly ever rang so I knew something was pretty important. She told all of us that the sad news.
Helen Taylor Murray: I asked my Mom and actually we were in school, Dist #52. My Dad came to school and told Mr Jungers. Not sure where the gas pump memory comes in. Maybe I didn’t understand and my Dad explained what happened later.
Teresa Tobin: Well since I wasn’t even a yr old! I’m sure I was just being a 10 mo old. 

Filed under Opinion

Kats’ Korner: Editorial on President Kennedy

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


50 years ago today, a tragic event changed the course of The United States of America, possibly forever.

The assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy may forever be a mystery. There are those that still believe the assassination was carried out by the mob, CIA, FBI or President Lyndon Johnson.

There has never been proof of any such theories.

The truth of the matter is, Lee Harvey Oswald was determined to be the assassin. Whether he really did so or not, only he knows.

The fact is, the nation was shook beyond belief that day. To imagine that the youngest man ever elected President of the United States, who held so much promise for this country, was the victim of an assassin’s bullet was incomprehensible.

There is no doubt history, good or bad, was made that day. 50 years later, many Americans are enthralled in memories of JFK.

President Kennedy and the First Lady were to many, Camelot. For a brief moment, it seemed as if our country had royalty.

In the blink of an eye, all was irrevocably changed forever.

God Bless President Kennedy.

Filed under Opinion

Robert C. “Bob” Busby, 87, of Wakefield, NE

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


Robert C. “Bob” Busby, 87, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on June 7, 2013 in Denver, Colorado.

A family graveside service was held on Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Wakefield Cemetery. Bob was born on March 23, 1926 in Wakefield, NE, the son of Clifford and Kathryn busby. He graduated from Wakefield High School in 1944 and married Dorothy Sundell in 1948. He had two sons: Michael and Kirk.

Bob served in the U.S. Air Corp in WW II as a belly gunner on a B-24. After his discharge in 1944, he attended the University of Nebraska, where he received a BS and Master’s Degree in geology. He began his career as a petroleum geologist in 1951 with Conoco and retired as an Independent Geologist. His lifelong love of geology never faded.

He married Angela Kline in 1990, who had three children: Richard, Kim and Jonathan. In retirement, Bob and Annie returned to Wakefield.

Bob enjoyed community participation, fishing, golf, skiing, sporting events and travel. He shared the same fun-loving gleam in his eye as his father and brother. Bob lived his life fully.

He is survived by his children Michael Busby and wife Emmalu of Chicken, AK; Kirk Busby and wife LaJuan of Pines, CO; Richard Kline of Omaha; Kim Kline and wife Deb of Papillion; Jonathan Kline and wife Joni of Omaha, NE and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Annie; and his brother, Jack.

 

 

 

Filed under Obituaries

Oh What a Night! Ladies Night Out

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


Models from L&M. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

Models from L&M. Photo Credit/Denise Gilliland, Editor and Chief, Kat Country Hub.

DSC03044 DSC03046 DSC03051 DSC03053 DSC03054

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Goldie Voss, 83, of Waterbury, NE

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


Goldie Voss, 83, of Waterbury, Nebraska died at her home near Waterbury on Thursday, November 21, 2013.

Funeral services for Goldie are pending at this time with Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Emerson.

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Remembering President Kennedy

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


“Once you say you’re going to settle for second, that’s what happens to you in life,” President Kennedy.

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Remembering President Kennedy

November 22, 2013 Leave a comment


“A man may die. Nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” [President John F. Kennedy]. 50 years later, a solemn anniversary that reminds us all that asking what each of us can do for our country is still a brilliant idea.

President Kennedy.

President Kennedy.

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