Donald Leroy Sarnes, 89, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away on September 28, 2022, in his home surrounded by his loving family.
Donald was born on May 7, 1933, in Lexington, Nebraska to Lowell and Frances (Anderson) Sarnes. He graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1951 before going on to study for a year at the University of Nebraska. After spending some time in college, Donald was inducted into the Army in May of 1953 and was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. He was honorably discharged in April of 1955 after faithfully serving his country. Once back in the United States, Donald began working as a farmer and cattle feeder.
Donald was confirmed and served in the Lexington Methodist Church his entire life. On April 22, 1956, Donald was united in marriage to Mary Jewel Anderson. Four children were blessed to this union: Teri, Scott, Lori, and Steven.
Donald had many hobbies. He enjoyed golfing, gardening, hunting, fishing, and socializing with several coffee groups. He also loved spending time with his family and making them laugh by telling jokes. He loved flying and eventually earned a private pilot’s license, where he got great pleasure giving people rides. He said that when he was flying, he felt closest to God.
Besides his parents, Donald was preceded in death by his baby brother, Wayne, and sister, Delma Jean.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Mary; Daughters, Teri (John) Whittington and Lori (Mike) Burr; sons, Scott (Cathy) Sarnes and Steven Sarnes; eleven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
There will be no visitation, as the family is honoring Donald’s wish for cremation.
A memorial service will be held on October 8, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. at Parkview Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Thomas officiating. A private family inurnment with military honors will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the Heartland Military Museum.
Eldon Dean Wheeler, 88, of Lexington, Nebraska died peacefully Monday, May 24, 2021 at the home of Tim and Dianna Wheeler in Neligh, Nebraska with all three of his sons at his side.
Dean was born November 25, 1932 in Sumner, to Leroy & Elsie Wheeler. The family moved to Lexington in 1945. He attended the Lexington Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1951.
On May 2, 1952, Dean married the love of his life Shirley Cunningham. They were blessed with three boys, Steve, Michael, and Timothy. Together they loved to go camping, traveled to South Padre Island numerous times and enjoyed going to Colorado to visit relatives. They were members of the dance club and card club; having a circle of friends that would last a lifetime.
Dean and his wife Shirley owned and operated the Lexington Glass Co. for over 40 years.
Dean joined the Lexington Fire Dept. March 10, 1960 and was a dedicated servant to the city of Lexington for 60 years. He was instrumental in starting and serving on the rescue dive team, was nominated as fireman of the year twice, and held numerous offices within the department.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars having served from 4/9/53 to 4/1/55, and proudly served as a medic during the Korean war. Dean was also a long-time member of the Eagles Club.
After retirement Dean was chosen as one of the veterans to take the Honor Flight to Washington DC, which he was honored to be a part of.
Dean loved his boys and when the grandkids came along his heart got even bigger. His love for the grandkids and great grandchildren was as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon.
Survivors include his Sons, Steven Wheeler of Lexington; Michael (Terri) Wheeler of Lincoln, and their children, Sara (Matt) Conahan, and great-grandchildren, Chloe and Carter, Dr Austin (Madison) Wheeler, and great-grandchildren, Ellis and Molly; Tim (Dianna) Wheeler of Neligh, and their children, Christopher (Blake Gilmore) Wheeler, and Stephanie (Ben) Zegers, and great-grandchildren, Tyson (Whitney) Zegers, Chase and Skylar Thomas, and Coralie Zegers.
Also surviving are brother Don (Ilse) Wheeler of Parker CO, Sister Ina (Melvin) Buckley of Gothenburg, sister-in -law Cindy Wheeler of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law Larry Schade of Kearney, NE; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Duane and Diann Schmitz of Arvada CO, and Eugene and Cheryl Cunningham of North Glenn CO.
Dean was preceded in death by his wife Shirley; parents Leroy and Elsie Wheeler; brothers, Daryl, Eugene, and David Wheeler; and sisters-in-law, Carol Williams, and Jean Schade.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 28, 2021 from 7-9 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. The casket will be closed.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home with Pastor Rex Adams, officiating. The service will be live streamed on the Reynolds Love Face Book Page.
Interment with military honors will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, north of Lexington.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, are suggested to the 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 visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
- Maiden Name: Macke
Delores “Dee” Weber, 86 of Lexington passed away Sunday, December 22, 2019 at Avamere in Lexington.
Dee was born September 23, 1933 in Sutherland, Ne. to Leo and Ruby (McGuire) Macke. The family moved to Lexington in 1940. Dee graduated with the Lexington High School class of 1951,she had always enjoyed the ongoing friendships with her classmates. After graduation Dee attended Briar Cliff College.
Dee was united in marriage to Lawrence Weber on June 3, 1961 in Lexington. Two children were born to this union: Sarah and Steve. Dee worked for the Lexington Credit Union and retired from the Dawson County Assessor’s Office where she had been employed for twenty-one years.
Dee was an avid reader, loved gardening and growing her roses, being in her home, playing Bridge, decorating for all the different seasons but most of all loved being a mother and grandmother.
Dee was a long time member of the St. Ann’s Catholic Church and was a strong supporter of the St. Ann’s High school.
Dee is survived by her son; Steve of North Platte, her daughter; Sarah and husband Dan Husted of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota and two granddaughters: Liz and Kenzie Husted both of Fargo, North Dakota. She is also survived by extended family and many friends.
Dee was preceded in death by her parents, husband Larry in 2006 and a brother Chuck Macke.
A memorial Mass will be held Thursday, December 26, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington with Father Matt Koperski, officiating.
A Rosary will be held prior to the Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Inurnment will be in the St. Ann’s Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Lexington Public Library or the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Fund.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visting:reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
- Maiden Name: O'Donnell
Kathleen O’Donnell Walton died Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, at the age of 86 years. She was a longtime resident of Bowie, Md.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, at the St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Bowie, Md., at 1:00 pm. A family graveside service will be held in Lexington at a later date.
Kathleen was born on Dec. 30, 1932, to James and Esther O’Donnell of Lexington. Kathleen received a BA and MA from University of Nebraska. She continued her education journey and later achieved her PhD from the University of Delaware.
Kathleen spent her years in the academic realm first teaching English for many years at Kearney State College and Bowie State University. She then was drafted to work in academic administrative positions serving as deans, advisors and interim vice president at Bowie State University, Jackson State University and California State University Dominguez Hills. After retirement she worked as an administrator at the Maryland Higher Education Commission for the state.
Kathleen was a devoted sports fan and loved her Capitals and Nats. She loved reading, music and the joy of singing; singing loud and unabashed. But most of all, she believed in the human spirit and the power of God and thus lived her life with an open door willing to help anyone at any time regardless of the sacrifice. She was a giver to those less fortunate or in need. She knew no other way. And though she was little, she was fierce . . . fierce in right and wrong . . . fierce in her beliefs . . . fierce in her faith in God and mankind.
A devoted mother, Kathleen leaves behind her sons, Jim, Sean and Rory, their wives Sarah, Kim and Jane and her eight amazing grandchildren. Sadly, she was predeceased by her daughter , Kerry Dallas and her brother Jim O’Donnell.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St Matthew’s.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements
- Date Posted: 2016-01-02
Glen David Alkire, 82, of Charlotte, N. C., peacefully departed this world on Jan. 2, 2016.
The family will celebrate Mr. Alkire privately and announce a larger celebration of his life at a later date.
Dave was born in Lexington, on July 12, 1933 to Helen and Leonard Alkire and was a member of the LHS class of 1951. He graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering, a BA in English and a minor in German from the University of Nebraska. Upon graduation, Dave attended Army Intelligence School and Army Language School with a concentration in Japanese and served in Okinawa,Japan. He took employment with Celanese Fibers in 1959 and continued to serve them for over 30 years. It was also at Celanese that he met his wife, June, an employee and fashion show model. They recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
A lifelong learner, Dave continued his professional education at Harvard Business School and Virginia Tech, and studied languages recreationally post-retirement at UNC Charlotte (Spanish and German), Middlebury College (Spanish) and UNC Chapel Hill where he spent two years in the Master’s Program for German Literature.
Additionally, he was a competitive tennis player, a Flying Scot skipper, and a committed volunteer for his church and community. He ran the Charlotte Observer Marathon at age 52, rode his bike across the state of Tennessee at age 54, took up windsurfing and hiking in his late 50s, and learned to swim in his 60s, ultimately winning at a regional level and competing at the national level of the Senior Games.
He was a member of the Buddy Kemp “Live Poets” Society, volunteered with refugees and immigrants in theCharlotte area, served as an interpreter, Spanish and ESL instructor, and helped to build a Habitat for Humanity house. He was respected for his wisdom and intellect, and enjoyed for his kind heart and bright sense of humor.
Mr. Alkire is survived by his wife, June; his daughter, Kristen Alkire Eshleman; son-in-law, Jonathan; and grandchildren, Ethan, Kelsey and Evan. He was adored by his family and friends and will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to Providence United Methodist Church Local Missions,2810 Providence Road,Charlotte,NC 28211.
Condolences may be offered at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.
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