Raymond E. Wedergren, 87, of Hooper NE


Raymond E. Wedergren, 87 years, of Hooper, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Fremont Health Medical Center in Fremont, Nebraska.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services.

Patricia A. Metzler, 82, of Tekamah NE


Patricia A. Metzler, 82 years, of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Golden Living Center in Tekamah.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services.

Harold J. Thompson, 99, Formerly of Moline, Illinois


Harold J. Thompson, 99, formerly of Moline, Illinois, died Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Barthell Order of Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah, Iowa. A private family service was held at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

Harold was born May 4, 1916, to Mahlon and Anna Thompson in Lyons, Nebraska and was raised on the family farm. After graduating from Lyons High School, he obtained his bachelor’s degree at Wayne State Teacher’s College, and his MA from the University of Minnesota. Harold married Hazel Henry, on August 23, 1941 and they enjoyed 73 years together.

Harold enlisted in the Navy during WWII and served as a Chief Petty Officer. After the war he pursued his passion of teaching and coaching at Pierce High School, York High School, Norfolk Junior College, and Iowa Wesleyan College. He retired from coaching in 1974 and teaching in 1987 from Black Hawk College in Moline, IL.

Harold believed that staying active and fit was important. He also served his community by volunteering as a voting clerk and taught CPR and First Aid for the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. He was an avid gardener, a skilled handyman, and an active member of Riverside Methodist Church in Moline.

Harold was a quiet man who thought actions spoke louder than words. He was a man of integrity with a strong sense of social justice. He was active in his church and demonstrated his faith by living the golden rule. He was a role model for many and he will be deeply missed.

Survivors include children: Penny Thompson and Nancy (Rod) Smith of Moline, Illinois, and Joe (Rhonda) Thompson of Decorah, Iowa; grandchildren Lindsey (Matt) Auliff, Anna Smith, Quinn (Megan) Thompson, Collin Thompson, and Logan Thompson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel on March 17, 2015, his infant son, and two brothers.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: Monday, June 1, 2015, 11:00 am at the Lyons Cemetery, Lyons, Nebraska.

BURIAL WITH MILITARY HONORS: Lyons Cemetery with Military Honors by Robert Klase VFW Post No. 7998 and Harvey Lenig American Legion Post No. 83 of Lyons.

NO VISITATION

MEMORIALS: Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. Harold would approve.

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

Harold Thompson

Harold Thompson

Rose L. Bilava, 90, of Fremont NE


Rose L. Bilava, 90 years, of Fremont, NE died Monday, May 18, 2015 at Arbor Manor in Fremont. Rose was born June 25, 1924 in North Bend, NE to Otto and Amelia (Holtman) Schultz.

Rose grew up in Hooper, NE and was a graduate of Hooper High School. She moved to Fremont and worked for Rogers Tent and Awning. She then worked at the Nebraska Ordnance Plant at Mead, NE and later for the National Red Stamp redemption store. Rose had been a bookkeeper for Bell Typewriter in Fremont until her retirement. She enjoyed gardening, cooking and her grandchildren.

Rose married Gilbert J. Bilava on February 4, 1950 at Papillion, NE. Gilbert died September 7, 1988.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy Bilava of Fremont; brother, Harry and wife, Lorinda Schultz of White Salmon, WA; 2 grandchildren, Alane and husband, Steve Reuter of Fremont and daughters, Kylie and Kelsey Armagost and Shadoe Sukstorf of Lincoln, NE and son, Christian Morton; brother-in-law, Marlin Metschke of Norfolk, NE; and many nieces and nephews, including Gene Schultz of Fremont.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Ida Tank and Norma Metschke; and brothers, William, Abe, Earl, Clarence and Leroy Schultz.

There is no funeral service. A committal service will be held at Ridge Cemetery in Fremont at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave., Fremont, NE 68025 402-721-4490.

Rose Bilava

Rose Bilava

 

Elden E. Prazan, 76, of Columbus NE


Elden E. Prazan was born February 20, 1939, south of Clarkson, Nebraska, the son of Emil and Emma (Dostal) Prazan. He passed away Friday, May 15, 2015 at his home in Columbus, Nebraska.

Elden got his elementary education at District 38 Colfax County. He graduated from Clarkson High School in 1958.
He married Frances (Marco) Prazan on April 19, 1965, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Sibley, Iowa. They lived their married life in Columbus. Elden worked at Vishay Dale Electronics as a Mechanical Inspector for 47 years. He also held a second job at Lohr’s 66 for 33 years.

Elden enjoyed dancing and helping his parents on the farm, and he was always a hard worker. He loved his family very much, his greatest joy was in spending time with them, and he truly enjoyed his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant granddaughter, Jennifer Prazan; brother-in-law, Fred Thalken.

He is survived by wife of 50 years, Frances; daughter, Dianna (Jeff) Hansen of Norfolk, NE; son Dwayne (Amy) Prazan of Johnstown, CO; 4 grandchildren, Shania Hansen of Norfolk, Ryan, Garrett and Alex Prazan of Johnstown; sister, Emily (Homer) Hastings of Columbus.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, May 19, 2015, 10:30 am at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus, NE

VISITATION: Monday, 5-7 pm with family receiving friends at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. Visitation will also be held at the church one prior to service.

BURIAL: Tuesday 1:15 pm, Clarkson National Cemetery, Clarkson, NE

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

Elden Prazan

Elden Prazan

Elden E. Prazan, 76, of Columbus NE


Elden E. Prazan, 76 years, of Columbus, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2015 at his home in Columbus.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services.

Marlice J. Sebade, 78, of Fremont NE Formerly of Oakland NE


Marlice J. Sebade, of Fremont, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Fremont, after a courageous fight with cancer at the age of 78 years.

Marlice was born November 2, 1936, in rural Waterbury, Nebraska, to Hugo and Edna (Kuhl) Zastrow, and was their only child.  She graduated from Emerson High School in 1954 and attended Wayne State College.

On October 28, 1956, Marlice married high school classmate, Tom G. Sebade, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Emerson, a 51 year marriage that would end with his death in 2008.

Marlice spent her life in various employments in Sioux City, Iowa, Denver, Colorado, and Albion, Nebraska.  She became an Executive Director to the Oakland Housing Authority in 1975 and remained thus for ten years.  In 1985, Marlice became the Fremont Housing Authority Executive Director, and continued this position (16 years), until her retirement in 2001.  She was always known for the special holiday dinners she prepared for the tenants.  Marlice never met a stranger, her interest was in always helping people in any way she could, and she devoted her life to doing so.  Marlice served on the Fremont Senior Citizens Board and was Past-President of Ambassador Downs Tenant Organization in Mesa, Arizona.  She was very active in her church and her Popovers bible study.  Marlice loved to entertain, cook, garden, and play cards and games. She painted and recreated beauty from old things.  She canned vegetables from her garden, made salsa and decorated cakes for her family and friends.  She loved to paint, wrote poetry and she loved to dance.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Renae & Alan Johnson of Oakland; sons and daughters-in-law, Kevin and Marilyn of Lindsay, TX, Todd & Jessica of Columbus, NE;  five grandchildren,  Aaron & Girlfriend, Beth Nelsen of Blair, WI, Nathan & Fiancé Daisy Wheelhouse of Parker, SD, Natalie & Fiancé Mitch Anderson of Baltic, SD, Matthew & Lucas Sebade of Lindsay, TX; special friend, Bill Smith of Mt. Morris, MI.
FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, May 15, 2015, 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military St., Fremont, Nebraska.
VISITATION: Thursday, 4 – 7 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. PRAYER SERVICE at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Second Street & Hwy 77, Oakland, Nebraska
BURIAL: at a later date. Oakland Cemetery, Oakland, NE
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

Marlice Sebade

Marlice Sebade

 

Patricia Raun Samuelson, 89, of Pender NE


Patricia Raun Samuelson, 89, died Monday, May 11, 2015 at her home in Pender, NE. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2015 at the United Church of Pender, in Pender, NE; with Pastor Steven Breazier officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Walthill, NE. Memorials are suggested to Bread for the World and the United Church of Pender. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender, NE

Pat was born to Alfred D. Raun and Marie (Philpot) Raun on November 29th, 1925. She spent the early years of her life in Walthill, where she was active in Girl Scouts, Job’s Daughters, and Girls State, graduating from Walthill High School in 1943 as Valedictorian. She attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where she was in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, graduating in 1947 with a degree in Fine Arts. She worked as a commercial artist for the Miller and Paine department store for five years, during which time she married Ronald Kent Samuelson, who was then attending the University of Nebraska Law School. In 1952, the couple moved to Walthill, where Ron went into law practice with his father-in-law, Alfred Dreyfus Raun, and later moved to Pender in 1955, where she remained until her death.

Pat and Ron raised two sons, Drey and Matt, who couldn’t have been more loved. She started teaching art out of her home in 1971, and touched the lives of many area children and adults. She was a very warm, caring, empathic person, someone who would do anything for anyone she saw in need. She loved traveling with Ron, art, Cornhusker football, game shows, crossword puzzles, and gardening.

She is survived by her son, Matt, who lives in Pender; her son and daughter-in-law, Drey and Lisa, who live in Washington, D.C.; her step-grandchildren, Sarah, of Philadelphia, and Nick, of New York City; her sister, Luanne Smith, and brother-in-law, Ronald, of Denver; her nieces Shelley Smith of San Pedro, California, and Zoanne, of Denver; and her nephew, Bob Samuelson, of Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Marlice J. Sebade, 78, of Fremont NE Formerly of Oakland NE


MARLICE J. SEBADE, 78 years of Fremont, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at her home in Fremont.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, May 15, 2015, 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 3200 E. Military St., Fremont, Nebraska.

VISITATION: Thursday, 4 – 7 p.m.with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service at the First Ev. Lutheran Church, Second Street & Hwy 77, Oakland, Nebraska

BURIAL: at a later date. Oakland Cemetery, Oakland, NE

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

 

Marlice J. Sebade, 78, of Fremont NE Formerly of Oakland NE


MARLICE J. SEBADE, 78 years of Fremont, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at her home in Fremont.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Oakland.