Earl Dean Wolfe, 92, of Lincoln, formerly of Grand Island, passed away on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at the Tabitha Journey House in Lincoln, NE.
Memorial service and celebration of Dean’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 25th at Trinity United Methodist Church of Grand Island. Reverend Kelly Karges will officiate. Burial will be in Grand Island City Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Army and the Grand Island Veterans Honor Guard. All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Dean was born May 18, 1929, at North Platte, to Lester Earl and Laura Lucille (Hoadley) Wolfe. He was the eldest child of “the Wolfe Pack 10”. Dean graduated from Lexington High School and attended Hastings College. Dean then entered the Nebraska National Guard. As a young man he worked on the family farm in Lexington NE and enjoyed hunting and fishing. In 1947 through 1957, he was a boxer for Golden Gloves, and he raced NASCAR with his brothers. On June 10, 1962, he married Judy Ann Mathews of Cozad, NE.
They moved to Grand Island NE in 1963 for Dean to pursue a career in Real Estate. Dean had success in owning his own Real Estate firms, the latest being Century 21 Wolfe and Associates in Grand Island, NE. Together they raised four children in Grand Island, NE, Kelly, Kurt, Kimberly, and Ashley.
Dean earned his pilot’s license and loved to fly his small aircraft with his family. His grandchildren meant everything to him. He attended all of their activities and events that he possibly could.
Those who will always cherish his memory include his wife, Judy of Lincoln; children, Kelly (Julie) Wolfe of Lincoln, NE, Kimberly (Dave) Bell of Lincoln, NE, and Ashley (Mark) Neemann of Palmyra, NE; and 12 beloved grandchildren, Cody Wolfe, Kendra (Brian) Hickman, Cassidy Wolfe, Colorado Wolfe, Jared Wolfe, Patia Wolfe, Karsyn Bell, Peyton Bell, Kaden Wolfe, Trey Neemann, Kruz Neemann, Paisley Neemann; and four great-grandchildren Adilee Carstens, Hunter Carstens, Zackary Wolfe and Burkley Hickman.
He is also survived by brothers, Dave Wolfe and Del Wolfe; sisters, Dorothy Phillippi, Donna Myers, Dixie Roberts and Debra Suhr; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kurt Wolfe; brothers, Daniel Wolfe, Donald Wolfe and sister, Delores Ladder.
Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Online remembrances may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.
- Maiden Name: Hofferber
Georgia M. Speak, 91, of Kearney, Nebraska passed away Sunday, October 17, 2021 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
She was born November 24, 1929 in Lexington, Nebraska to George and Ida (Hatfield) Hofferber. She lived in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1947.
She was united in marriage to Bill J Speak on December 7, 1947 at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington, NE. They made their home in Lexington with their two children, Todd and Tobie (Johnson), until they moved to Kearney, Nebraska in 1957. While in Kearney, Georgia spent her time helping Bill run their Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge dealership, Speak Motor Company, until their retirement in 1983. Georgia was also an active member of the Kearney community. She was a past member of the Good Samaritan Hospital Board of Directors, past president of PEO Chapter FN and a member of the First United Methodist Church. After retiring, they moved to Bella Vista, AR in 1984 where she remained active in the community, PEO, and the First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista.
Georgia loved to travel, play tennis and golf, and was involved in several different bridge groups throughout her life. She was passionate about researching Speak family genealogy and was a founding member of the Speak Family Association. She was also an avid Husker fan.
Georgia is survived by her son, Todd (Ann) Speak of Debary, Florida, daughter, Tobie Johnson of Kearney. Brother, Bill Hofferber of Kearney, sister-in law, Jan Hofferber of Riverdale; grandchildren, Kirk Johnson (Justin Doran) of Rogers, Arkansas, Karlie (Dan) Hermsen of Papillion, Kevin (Andrea) Johnson of Wood River, Ben (Jessica) Speak of Castleberry, Florida, Stephanie (Shawn) Darr of Kingsport, Tennessee; great-grandchildren, Neleigh, Paige & Olivia Hermsen, Allie, Kaitlyn, Lauren & Kasey Johnson, Nicholas & Anna Speak, Kane, Everett, & Dani Darr, and Zac Doran; and many nieces & nephews.
Besides her parents, Georgia was preceded in death by her husband Bill; brothers, Donald & Gary Hofferber; two sisters-in-law, Betty and Fran Hofferber; and son-in-law John Johnson.
Memorial services will be on Friday, November 19th, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.
Inurnment will be in Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington, Nebraska.
Memorials are suggested to the family for designation at a later time.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefunerahome.com
Julia A. Hamilton-Simpson, Seminole, FL passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2019 in St. Petersburg, FL at Suncoast Hospice Bayfront. She was a dearly loved wife, mother, and grandmother. Julia was born October 5, 1929 in Lexington, NE. Graduated from Lexington High School in 1947.
After attending Hastings College in Nebraska she moved to New York City to study music and model. There she met her first husband, Jay. They made their home in Newburg, NY where she attended Mount Saint Mary College and raised her family.
From New York the family moved to St. Petersburg, FL where she attended University of South Florida in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Julia was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha—National Honor Society of Political Science. Julia taught American Government and Honors Government at St. Petersburg College for many years.
Over the span of 40 years, during the 70's and in to the 2000's, she was a professional musician and music director for many theaters in the area. She was accompanist and directed the Showcase Singers. She was a board member of St. Petersburg Opera Association and member of the chorus in operatic productions at Bayfront Center. She was appointed by the St. Petersburg City Council to the St. Petersburg Commission on Aging and served two terms. Served on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters and was Chairman of the Public Relations Committee. At Garden Crest Presbyterian Church, she served as Moderator of the Board of Deacons and also served as Elder/Member of Session. Also worked with Garden Crest youth in musical productions and fund raising activities to enable the teenagers to travel to areas in the South to help up-grade standards of living of the people living there. Taught Sunday school—both adults and teenagers. Volunteered at Florida Health and Rehabilitative Services, Neighborly Senior Services, and Hospice.
She loved to play tennis, sail, play piano, sing, sew, and write.
Julia is survived by her dear husband of 28 years, Bill Simpson; daughters, Susan Orene Hamilton and Jennifer Gilkey (Roger); granddaughter, Samantha Hogge; stepdaughters, Gail O’Rear (Rick) and their daughter, Abby, Martha Corn (Bill) and their children, Elizabeth and J.J.
Memorial service to be held at Pasadena Community Church Goodwin Chapel on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to CASA, Suncoast Hospice Foundation or the American Lung Association.
- Maiden Name: VanDyke
Iris M. Glenn, 88, of Lexington, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at the Lexington Regional Health Center.
She was born July 18, 1930 in Lexington, Nebraska to Clarence and Pearl (Miller) VanDyke. Iris attended school in Lexington and graduated with the class of 1947.
Iris was united in marriage to Keith Glenn in Lexington. Four children were blessed to this union: Gareth, Jodee, Jeffery & Melanie. He preceded her in death in 1982.
The couple lived and raised their children in Lexington. Iris worked at the telephone ofiice, sold Minnesota Woolens Clothing and Sara Coventry Jewelry before spending twenty five years at Wal-Mart in the Jewelry Department which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Iris enjoyed working on puzzles, decorating, gardening and playing cards. She loved helping plan class reunions and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington.
Survivors include her children: Gareth of Scottsdale, Arizona, Jodee Haugh and Rick Lambertus of Gothenburg, Nebraska and Melanie (Gus) Wurtzer of Catonsville, Maryland; two grandchildren: Jeffery Haugh and Stephen Wurtzer; she is also survived by nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.
Iris was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Keith; son, Jeffery and three sisters: Portia Speak, Glenda VanDyke and Sharlyn Hunke.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 10, 2019 from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home.
Interment will be in the St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery at Lexington.
Memorials are suggested to Lexington Alumni Association Or Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
- Maiden Name: Dodge
Elleanor “Ellie” Welliver Kelly, 90, of Lexington NE passed away Friday, February 15, 2019 in Lexington.
Ellie was born October 25, 1928 in Lexington to Millard and Cloreada (Selk) Dodge. Ellie was the eldest of five children, brothers Keith and Jim and sisters Sherry and Arlyn. She grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1947. On April 23, 1947 she was united in marriage to Vernon “Doc” Welliver. Upon Doc’s discharge from the US Army, the couple moved to Scappoose, Oregon briefly before returning to Lexington where they made their permanent home. In 1950 they started a family with the arrival or Craig and four years later they completed their family with Cole.
Doc and Ellie enjoyed traveling and took many trips. Ellie was a member of a singing trio associated with the VFW, even performing at the height of glamor of the Pawnee Hotel in North Platte with several “Big Band” groups.
Ellie loved music, she always had it playing and later in life, if it wasn’t playing you could hear Fox News in the background.
If you knew Ellie, you knew that she was always impeccably dressed with immaculate hair and makeup…even right up until the end. She was beautiful outside, but a true beauty inside.
Ellie was a 70-year plus member of the First Presbyterian Church. Ellie loved to play cards. She was a member of a special card group that met every Monday for decades that she and her friends referred to as “therapy”. She was a member of several bridge groups as well. She loved to challenge many family members with hours long games of Spite and Malice.
Ellie loved to socialize, was a member of a dance club for many years, an avid golfer, member of a bowling league, and a huge Husker fan.
Ellie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband’s Doc and Bill, her brothers Keith and Jim, sister Sherry, and many other friends and family.
Ellie is survived by her sons: Craig (Phillyis) Welliver of Lead, SD; Cole Welliver of Lexington NE; Arlyn Bowman of Dewitt, IA; brother-in-law Von Hukil of Clovis NM; sister-in-law Lorna Dodge of Kearney NE; sister-in-law Ardeth Dodge of North Platte NE. Grandchildren; Samantha (Shad) Mann of Gothenburg NE and Travis (Crystal) Welliver of Valentine NE. Great-grandchildren Trevor Mann, Mariah Welliver and Andrew Philbrick as well as many family and friends.
Graveside services will be held Friday, March 22, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington with Reverend Eddie Mariel, officiating.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation and may be sent to Samantha Mann, 41305 Hwy 30, Gothenburg NE 69138.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
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