Wayne E. Lichtenwalter, 82 of Lexington passed away Saturday, January 1, 2022 at the Elwood Care Center in Elwood.
Wayne was born on April 16, 1939 in Sterling, Colorado to Russell & Joyce (Koch) Lichtenwalter. Wayne graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1957. Wayne then attended Milford Community College in Milford, Nebraska, in the auto mechanics field, graduating in 1959. Wayne went to Florida to spend time with his uncle and ended up becoming part of the pit crew for Big Daddy Don Gartlits.
Wayne was united in marriage to Janice Wilcox on November 23, 1963 at the St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Lexington. This union was blessed with three sons; Mark, Michael and Matt.
In the late 1960’s Wayne bought an airplane and took up flying and the family went to many air shows.
Wayne helped his parents when they owned the City Bakery in Lexington and Cozad, being the local delivery boy. He worked at Darr Fertilizer for over thirty years. He owned/managed the I-80 Texaco in Lexington, which was the last remaining full service gas station in the area. While working for Darr Fertilizer he took over the family Koch farm south of Cozad and operated that until 1999.
Wayne retired from working so he could spend more time on his hobbies which was CARS!!! Wayne always had a infatuation with cars even as a small boy. He also did circle track racing in Lexington. He went drag racing in the 1960’s with Don Wheeler, which turned into a lifelong friendship, at Kearney, Great Bend, Kansas Julesburg, Colorado and numerous other dragstrips. In 1989, Wayne and family restored the dragster he built in 1964 to take to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. He named the dragster Flathead Fever and raced it there for two years. The next year, a 1939 Ford sedan called the Class of 39 made its debut at Bonneville, where it was raced for twenty-five years and set nineteen land speed records, something Wayne was very proud of.
When he wasn’t racing cars he restored numerous cars throughout his lifetime. Wayne shared his passion for cars with his three sons. When the family was younger, they would take many vacations to the mountains in Colorado in their 1947 Buick and 1935 Indian camper. Wayne enjoyed watching westerns, Nascar, Street Outlaws, Mecum Auto Auctions and various automotive and aeronautic shows.
Wayne is survived by his three sons; Mark (Tracy) Lichtenwalter of Elwood, Michael (Kim) Lichtenwalter of Murrieta, California and Matt (Kamie) Lichtenwalter of Minneapolis, Kansas. Grandchildren; Linda Lichtenwalter of Omaha, Casey Johnson (fiancé Julie) of Parachute, Colorado, Daniel (Blake) Thompson of Roswell, New Mexico, Harley (Brandon) Martin of Alto, Georgia, Faith (Shaun) Montoya of Ruidoso, New Mexico, Damion Keyes of Plainville, Kansas and Clair and Lance Lichtenwalter of Minneapolis, Kansas, step grandchildren; Serra (Joey) Sivula of Oceanside, California, Rylee Cronin of Temecula, California and Ronnie Cronin of Temecula, California, numerous great-grandchildren, one brother, Kent (Carolyn) Lichtenwalter of Grand Island, sister, Peggy (LaVon) Sumption of Lincoln as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Janice; granddaughter, Laura Lichtenwalter and a great-grand granddaughter, Cerenity Johnson.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 7, 2022 from 5-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the LexChristian Church in Lexington with Pastor David Leraaen, officiating.
Interment will be in the Cozad City Cemetery at Cozad.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
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
- Date Posted: 2021-10-02
- Maiden Name: Boggs
A Funeral Service for Linda C. Maaske will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Elwood, Nebraska with Pastor Dan Wiese officiating. A private family interment will be held prior to the service at the Robb Cemetery in rural Gosper County, Nebraska.
Linda Clair (Boggs) Maaske, 81, died on September 26, 2021, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, Nebraska. Linda was born on July 2, 1940 in Lexington, Nebraska, to Darrel and Clara (Jolliffe) Boggs, the third of four children. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1959 and worked at a dime store earning 50 cents an hour.
She married Wayne Maaske on December 7, 1963, at the Berean Fundamentalist Church in Lexington, Nebraska and they would go on to have two children, Matthew and Lisa. Linda had various jobs in her life, such as waitressing at the Bertrand Cafe, factory work at Plectron and serving coffee at Four Seasons Floral. She also attended classes at Kearney State College. Most of all, Linda shared in the livelihood of farming for over 50 years with Wayne.
Linda enjoyed socializing, drinking coffee and keeping up with the latest news amongst friends. She liked driving her newest Buick, enjoying her grand puppies, exercising with friends in Elwood, and watching Netflix and old westerns. She was known for celebrating her birthday for an entire week.
Linda helped teach Sunday School for many years. She was a member of the Awana’s club in Lexington.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents, older sister, Artie Smith of Lexington; and younger brother, Frank Boggs of Bertrand.
She is survived by her husband, Wayne of 58 years; her children: Matthew Maaske of Elwood; and Lisa Snider of Smithfield; her grandchildren: Liam Snider; Leyton Snider; and Joslyn Sayer; her sister, Darla Bye of Overton, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Our family would like to thank the medical staff and Pastors in Kearney, Omaha & Holdrege, who worked tirelessly providing her medical and spiritual care.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.
A memorial has been established in Linda’s honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
David G. Gilbert of Cozad passed away January 20, 2020 at Madonna Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln at the age of 79. Dave was born October 16, 1940 in Lexington, Nebraska to Glenn and Marjorie (Fair) Gilbert. He attended Lexington High School and graduated with the class of 1959. Dave married Judy Dillon August 14, 1980. They had six children between them, Derek, Erin and Blake Gilbert and Rhonda, Kimberly and Michelle Dillon. He graduated from Kearney State College, worked for his Master’s Degree and became a Chemistry/Physics teacher. Dave taught at many schools during his career, the last school being Cozad High School. He bought McAdams Lumber Company, naming it Gilbert Lumber Company and built many homes in Cozad. Judy and Dave moved to Colorado where Dave managed condos for The Managers in Frisco, Colorado and also started his own cabinet shop. They decided to head back home to Cozad and opened a coffeehouse called Country Grounds Coffeehouse. This was Dave’s passion. He also roasted his own coffee. After that, Dave retired and enjoyed being with his family and grandchildren and always and forever cheering for the Huskers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Derek, and daughter, Rhonda. Survivors include his wife, Judy, his son Blake of Denver, CO and daughter Erin of Casper, WY, Kimberly and husband Brett Sassali of Cozad and Michelle and husband, Cory Spotanski of Elm Creek; a sister, Judy and her husband, Denny Anderson and 11 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
A private family graveside service will be held Friday, January 24, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery, Lexington, Nebraska with Pastor Jill Boyd officiating. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Cozad, also with Pastor Jill Boyd officiating. Visitation will be held 1 to 7 on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Berryman Funeral Home.
Rex D. Morris, 78, of Tecumseh, Nebraska, formerly of Lexington passed away on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 at Bryan Medical Center East Campus in Lincoln.
He was born November 16, 1940 in Peru, Nebraska to Woodrow Wilson and Sadie Marie (Rowe) Morris. The family moved from Tecumseh, Nebraska to Lexington in 1951 and Rex graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1959. Following High School, Rex worked for Monroe’s in Cozad, Nebraska.
Rex was united in marriage to Anita Haines on May 1, 1965 in Lexington. Two daughters were blessed to this union: Kayla and Marlo. They moved to Orleans, Nebraska in 1973 where he worked for the Omaha World Herald as the Area Distribution Manager. Rex and Anita would later divorce.
Rex worked for the Newspaper until the early 1990’s and then retired. He lived in Arapahoe, before moving to Tecumseh in 2014 and lived until his passing.
Rex always enjoyed going for long rides with his daughter. He had an extensive coin collection and always enjoyed using his metal detector to find treasures. He used to spend a lot of time fishing and listening to Elvis Presley.
Survivors include his daughters, Kayla Rose of Versailles, Kentucky and Marlo “Marty” Fannin of Omaha, Nebraska; two grandchildren, Teagan Dolan of Vergennes, Vermont and Tiarah Fannin of Omaha, Nebraska; four brothers, Leo Morris of Murdock, Kansas, Morris Lee Morris of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Galen (Joan) Morris of Lexington, Nebraska and Terry Morris of Elwood, Nebraska; also surviving are nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Oliver “Sonny” and Elden.
Funeral services will be Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington with Pastor Nathan Rhea, officiating.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 27, 2018 from 9-11 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
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
- Date Posted: 2018-06-28
- Maiden Name: Naprstek
Marcella M. “Sally” Esslinger, 77 of Lexington passed away Monday, June 26, 2018 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Lexington after a ten year battle with cancer.
Sally was born in Ord, Nebraska, near the Loup River, to Milford and Myrtle (Bartos) Naprstek. She moved with the family to the Lexington area when she was six months old.
Sally was united in marriage to Wesley Esslinger on August 30, 1959 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington. Sally and Wes have always been very active in church activities.
Sally worked at Lexington Community Hospital and later Monroes. She then was co-owner of the Sale Barn Cafe before being a waitress at several Lexington businesses including Little Paris, the Leprechaun and The Vet’s Club. She was a great people person, so these jobs fit her to a tee. She enjoyed traveling, especially her trips to Daytona in February for many years with Wes and Sandie. She spent many nights watching racing at local tracks. In later years she enjoyed watching the Food Network, when racing wasn’t on TV. Sally and Wes enjoyed dancing for many years and Sally enjoyed bowling in league. Sally also always enjoyed being with her large family.
Survivors include her husband, Wes of Lexington; children, Sandie and husband Bob Anderson of Lexington, Rick and wife Jill Esslinger of Cozad and Sherry and husband Shane Area of Overton; three brothers: Milton (Arla) Naprstek of Minden, Melvin Naprstek of Metter, Georgia and Milford (Loretta) Naprstek of Lexington; four sisters, Marilyn Fuqua of Kearney, Mary Ann Todd of Simi Valley, California, Martha Dory of Lexington and Marjorie (George) Trent of Columbus, Nebraska; ten grandchildren, Katie Rhodig, Lynn Forster, Korey Forster, Seth Area, Brett Area, Andrew Area, Amanda Area, Samantha Area, Steven Area and Mica Esslinger. Nine great-grandchildren, with baby girl Area on the way. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
The family would like to extend special gratitude to Vesta Liehs, Karen Latter, Diana Underwood, Trudy Svoboda and Char Barron & Elaine Peck, affectionately known as the Elves.
Sally was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Sharon Forster, two brothers, Marvin and Marion and two sisters, Maxine Rieker and Marsha Pearson, brothers-in-laws, sisters-in-laws and extended family.
Visitation will be held Sunday, July 1, 2018 from 3-5 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.
Funeral services will be Monday, July 2, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastors Rob Kuefner and Bill Ohlmann, officiating.
Interment will be in the Elwood Cemetery in Elwood, Nebraska.
Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church or the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. To share online condolences, please visit: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
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