Mavis A. Jensen, 81, of Oakland NE


Mavis A. Jensen, 81 years, of Oakland, Nebraska passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at Oakland Heights Nursing Home.

Memorial services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Oakland.

Wilma H. Neitzke, 103, of Oakland NE Formerly of Manistee MI


Wilma H. Neitzke, 103 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, formerly of Manistee, MI, passed away Friday, March 18, 2016 at Oakland Heights, in Oakland.

The Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, March 20th at 6:00 p.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland. Visitation will be held on hour prior to service at the church. Burial will be at a later date at Oak Grove Cemetery, Manistee MI.

Memorials suggested to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland.

Pelan Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

 

Helen Jean Nelson, 100, of Oakland NE


Jean (Helen Jean) Nelson was the firstborn of Edward N. and Henrietta (Johnson) Nelson January 29, 1916 on a farmstead south east of Oakland, NE. She ended her time here on earth as she slept during the early morning hours of March 9, 2016, at Oakland Heights Nursing Home, of old age.

She had just started attending country school when the family bought their own farm, and moved to where she would grow up, helping her mother to care for her eventual five siblings. She attended a new country school, and would graduate from Oakland High School at the age of 16, where she obtained her first teaching certificate. Later, she would attend Wayne State for a year to expand it.

She taught at Homer, Nebraska for a year before moving back to teach at a country school closer to home. During the summers, and even after her move to North Platte where she taught fourth grade, she took classes during the summers at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, and eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Once she was asked by her mother to care for her sister Evelyn, who had been mentally damaged by a fall as a child, the two of them moved to Duluth Minnesota for two years. From there it was on to Chicago, Illinois, where Jean taught for over 30 years, was a Sunday school teacher and ran a Girl Scout troop in addition to caring for her sister. Jean retired at 65 because of a rule of the times. Soon after, she returned to Nebraska and the farm to live with her brother Gordon while Evelyn chose to stay at a Home in Chicago. Jean attended the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland and for decades belonged to and enjoyed helping others, the goal of their many organizations, until she could no longer do so.

Jean, never wasteful of her time also used the summers to work. One summer during WWII, Jean became a “Rosie the Riveter,” another summer she took Evelyn to Washington and the Pentagon to work and while Evelyn ran an elevator Jean worked in an office. They both met General Charles de Gaulle there during his 1944 visit. During the later 50s through the 70s they made trips to Europe to visit their younger sister Ruth and her family and enjoyed discovering Europe for themselves. However, whether it was Christmas or summer break from school Jean made it a point to first go back to the farm to spend time with her folks before anything else.

She never married but always said she had had many, many children in the ones she taught and in her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four siblings; two nephews.

She is survived by her youngest sibling, Ruth Schmidtmayr of Vienna, Austria; two nieces; two nephews; sixteen great-nieces and nephews; eleven great-great nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

Pelan Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

Harold L. Baldwin, 77, of Oakland NE


Harold L. Baldwin was born April 16, 1938 to Okey Otto and Mary Olive (Atkins) Baldwin in Prenter, West Virginia. He passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa at the age of 77.

Harold was raised in Boone County, WV. He attended school at Nellis Grade School in Nellis, WV, and Scott High School in Madison, WV, graduating in 1956. Shortly after graduating he enlisted in the USAF. He was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NE, and the Scribner Air Force Base in Hooper, NE.

On November 27, 1959, he married Donna Peterson of Oakland, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland, NE.

After his discharge from the Airforce in 1960, Harold worked several years as a salesman, then for Jerry Wallerstedt Feeds in Oakland and for George Young’s Farm Structure Sales Co. In 1968, he started his own business Farmland Structures, continuing until his death. Over the years he developed strong relationships with his co-workers and customers.

Harold enjoyed collecting guns and coins. He had a love for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but he never forgot his West Virginia Mountaineer roots. Harold also enjoyed fishing when he had the time. There were no strangers to Harold. He would love to sit and visit with anyone. His Nebraska family always came first in his life, but he kept in contact with his family and friends back in West Virginia and all other areas in the US.

Harold was a member of the Fletcher Farley American Legion Post No. 191, the Nebraska York Rite of Freemasonry of Fremont, NE, Mt. Taber Commandery No. 9 Knights Templar of Fremont, Oakland Masonic Lodge No. 91 A.F. & A.M. of Oakland, the Order of the Eastern Star Herman Chapter No. 216, and the Shriners International. He was a member of the Nebraska Beef Club and the Power Club for Nebraska Football. He, also, served as a director and officer of the Don Nielsen Foundation.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Tory Baldwin (1985); sister, JoAnn Nelson; brother, Andrew “Bolo” Baldwin.

Survivors include his wife, Donna of Oakland; sons, Jeff and Rex Baldwin both of Oakland, and Rex’s special friend, Deb Nygren of Mead, NE; brother, Sam (Iris) Baldwin of Parkersburg, WV; sisters, Sue Adler of Cincinnati, OH, Sadi DePolo of Hawaii; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Sun., March 13th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland NE. Family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m.

The Memorial Service will be held Mon., March 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland NE.

Burial is in the Oakland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions suggested to the family for designation at a later time.

Harold Baldwin

Harold Baldwin

Helen J. Nelson, 100, of Oakland NE


Helen J. Nelson, 100 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at Oakland Heights Nursing Home.

Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

Pelan Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

Harold L. Baldwin, 77, of Oakland NE


Harold L. Baldwin, 77 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Sun., March 13th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland. Family will be receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Memorial Service will be held on Mon., March 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with Military Honors.

Burial is in the Oakland Cemetery.

Harold Baldwin

Harold Baldwin

Greg Lee “Rosie” Rosenboom, 62, of Oakland NE


Greg Lee “Rosie” Rosenboom was born January 22, 1954 to Glen and Betty (Clark) Rosenboom in Oakland, Nebraska. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 27, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of 62.

Greg attended Palmquist District 33 country school, and then graduated from Oakland-Craig High School in 1972. On June 1, 1971, he married Phyllis Faye Wilburn and had Angela Rae. He later married Debbie Elske on October 24, 1981 at the First Baptist Church in Tekamah, Nebraska where they were members. They had 3 children; Molly Lynn, Kelsey Jo, and Zachary Glen.

At the age of eighteen, he started working for Farmland Construction as a contractor for Harold Baldwin. He continued employment with the company his entire life. Greg was multi-talented, he could do almost anything. He loved to cook, to build things, woodworking, John Wayne and most of all to spend time with his grandchildren; he wouldn’t miss a chance to spend time with them. Coffee time at Memories with the gang was one of his favorite times of the day (that’s where he would get the latest news in Oakland). Greg was a kind hearted, well-tempered man; John Wayne said it best “Take ‘er easy pilgrim”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Betty Rosenboom; mother-in-law, Waletta Elske; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marcia (Joe) Mitchell.

Survivors include his wife, Debbie of Oakland; daughter, Angela (Scott) Coe of Smyrna, TN, Molly (Joe) Keehn of Belgrade, NE, Kelsey (Eric) Robinette of Millard, NE, Zachary Rosenboom and fiancé Tori Spanel of Elkhorn, NE; two sisters, Linda (Dave) Kindschuh of West Point, NE, Cheryl (Dan) Ziska of Atkinson, NE; sisters and brothers-in-law Richard (Jane) Elske, Michelle (Matt) Hopkins, Michael Elske; 5 grandchildren, Charlie (12), Trevon (12), Brett (11), Carter (9), Braxton (4); numerous nieces, nephews , great nieces and nephews.

He also had grand-animals; Bruno, Rosie, Nova, Gaze, Oliver, Ralph, Precious, Sadie, Benjamin Franklin, Rastis Abdul, Precious, Pokey, Oscar, and Felix.

Visitation will be held Tues., March 1st from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services with the family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Funeral Service will be held Wed., March 2nd at 10:30 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Burial is in the Pioneer Cemetery, rural Oakland.

Greg Rosenboom

Greg Rosenboom

Greg “Rosie” Rosenboom, 62, of Oakland NE


Greg “Rosie” Rosenboom, 62 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away Saturday, February 27, 2016 at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Visitations will be Tues., March 1st from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland NE. Family will be receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Funeral Service is Wed., March 2nd at 10:30 a.m. at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland NE. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

Burial is in the Pioneer Cemetery in rural Oakland NE.

Greg Rosenboom

Greg Rosenboom

Michele Lynn (Spires) Woollen, 54, of Lincoln NE


Michele Lynn (Spires) Woollen, 54 years, of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away Friday, February 12, 2016 at her residence.

Funeral services are pending at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland.

Peter O. Schmidt, 81, of Oakland NE


Peter O. Schmidt. age 81, of Oakland, Nebraska passed away Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.  Funeral services will be  held Monday, February 1, 2016, at 11 a.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with Rev. Mark Eldal officiating.  Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery.  Visitation is on Sunday from 4-8 p.m., with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service at the church.  Memorials are suggested the  Golden Oaks Center in Oakland.  Arrangements by Pelan Funeral Services in Oakland.

Peter was born December 1, 1934 in Oakland, Nebraska to Peter Carl and Ruth Marie (Schlichting) Schmidt. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Lyons, Nebraska. He was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland. He attended country school at Bertha and District 43. He also attended Oakland High School.

On January 30, 1954, Pete married Lois Jean Sorensen at the First English Lutheran Church in Russell, Minnesota. They made their home on the Schmidt family farm in rural Oakland where Pete farmed and worked at the Phillips 66 Station in Oakland and served with the Army National Guard in Fremont, Nebraska. In 1966 they moved to town and he started a corn shelling, custom combining, and trucking business. He trucked locally and over the road until he retired to care for Lois. After Lois passed, he continued doing seasonal trucking until his passing.

Pete enjoyed spending time with his family. He enjoyed his grandchildren and took pride in their accomplishments no matter how big or small. He enjoyed playing cards, spending time at the Golden Oaks Senior Center, and attending community activities.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; father, Peter; mother and stepfather, Ruth and Joe Gunkel; grandson, Benjamin Schmidt.

Survivors include; sons, Randy (Mary) Schmidt of Cedar Falls, IA, Timothy (Rosa) Schmidt of Oakland; daughter Brenda (Kent) Andersen of Oakland; five grandchildren, Aleah Unwin of Omaha, Samuel Schmidt of Oakland, Kaleb (Luryn) Andersen of Oakland, Maxwell (Paige) Andersen of St. George KS, William Andersen of Oakland; three great grandchildren, Jacob Unwin, Olivia Unwin, Emersen Andersen all of Oakland; brothers, Klemens Schmidt of Austin TX, Paul (Alice) Schmidt of Cabot AR; sister, Joellen (John) Stoner of Marion IN; many nieces and nephews. He also held dear Mark and Jodi Peterson, and their children Lane, Johnna, and Kara.

Peter Schmidt

Peter Schmidt