Obituaries

Michael McFarlin of Elk Creek passed away on October 6, 2019. He was born on July 10, 1983. Survivors include Patty, his mother; Jim, his father; Grandma Gloria; siblings; aunts; uncles; and many cousins and friends. A private memorial service has taken place. Memorials may be given to the Catholic Church for Masses in his name.

Marie Margaret Gobl Dieckgrafe, 78, of Wichita, KS passed away on October 8, 2019 in Wichita, Kansas, surrounded by family.

She was born December 7, 1940 in Mulberry Kansas, the daughter of Ferdinand II and Adeline Pickler Gobl.

Marie graduated from Arma High school. Marie worked at Beech Aircraft for 37 years and was one of the first female supervisors. She married Roland Dieckgrafe on October 19, 1985

One of her favorite hobbies was gardening. She always had a wonderful garden in her backyard and was a Master Gardener with the Extension Office. She loved being with family and friends and she loved watching her grandchildren at their sporting events and enjoyed watching WSU and KU play basketball.

Passed away at his home on Friday, September 27, 2019 at the age of 70 years, 9 months and 14 days.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 3, 2019 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, with Rev. Hugh Giesbrecht officiating.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska.

Memorials may go to the family’s choice.

Interment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska, will military rites by the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team and Tecumseh American Legion Post #2 and VFW Post #8221.

Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

Morgan AnnElise Hallstrom, age 30, passed peacefully on September 22, 2019.

Morgan graduated from Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca High School in 2007: received her BA from University of Nebraska Lincoln and her Education Administration degree from Emporia State University.

Morgan taught at Emporia Public Schools from 2013-2018 and was instrumental in starting the “Circle of Friends” program to integrate special needs students into the general education population. She was currently employed at Blue Valley North Public Schools in Overland Park, KS where she was a special education teacher for severe/ profound students and was in charge of the LIFT program.

She is survived by her parents, Bob and LuRae (Speckmann) Hallstrom of Syracuse, NE, sisters Erin and Kendall, brother Grant, grandparents LaVerne and Norma Speckmann and Bob Hallstrom.

She was preceded in death by grandmothers Lila Speckmann and Ethel Hallstrom and aunt Barbara Lea Hallstrom.

Kenneth Herbert Gadeken, 88, of Sterling passed away surrounded by his family at Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams on Thursday, September 19, 2019. One of five children of Henry, Sr. and Lena (Kolsch) Gadeken, he was born February 18, 1931 in Talmage. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Talmage. He attended school in Talmage until he began farming with his dad and later joining the Marines. On November 27, 1955, Kenneth was united in marriage to Donna Beth Harms at St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling. They were blessed with five children, Joyce, Larry, Julie, Janet and Jeanne. They lived near Talmage until purchasing a Grade A dairy and moving to Sterling to raise their family. He was a custodian for many years, working at Sterling Public and Wilber Public Schools, and Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln. He was a long-time member of the St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling.

Violet D. (Rottman) Laun of Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on September 16, 2019 at the age of 93. She was born on August 20, 1926, on a farm near Elk Creek, Nebraska to Fred and Emma (Antholz) Rottman.

The family resided in Table Rock, Nebraska. Violet graduated from Table Rock High School and also worked for the telephone company. Violet was married to Robert Laun on June 24, 1945 at Salem United Church.

They began life on a farm close to Table Rock, and then bought a farm west of Pawnee City. Violet was a homemaker who always had a huge garden. She was also a gifted seamstress. As her children grew up she worked at Currey’s General Store in Burchard. Next she worked at Warnke’s Store in Pawnee City. She later managed the S and G Store in Pawnee City. She loved helping customers choose outfits and buy fabric. Education was very important to Violet. Her wish was that all three of her children would graduate from college. This wish was granted.

Marjorie E. “Marge” Bartels, 81, of Sterling died at Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams on September 17, 2019. She was born December 30, 1937 at rural Vesta.

She moved with her family to a farm near Sterling in 1942 and attended country school northwest of Sterling. She graduated from Sterling High School in 1955 and taught country school for three years.

Marge married William A. “Bill” Bartels on June 8, 1958 at St. John Lutheran Church of Sterling and they lived and farmed southwest of Sterling.

Marvin August Ebeler, one of nine children of Arthur and Elsie (Doeden) Ebeler, was born January 11, 1924 at Unadilla, Nebraska. He attended school in Syracuse, Nebraska, where he graduated from high school in 1942.

On October 11, 1945 Marv was inducted into the U. S. Army at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He was honorably discharged on January 7, 1946 and the next day enlisted in the U. S. Air Force at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. After three years with the Air Force Marv was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant and entered the Air Force Reserve. He went on active duty from August of 1950 to August of 1951, when he returned to Auburn, Nebraska.

Leslie Richard Dirksen of Auburn, Nebraska, was called to his heavenly home to be with his Lord on September 8, 2019 at the age of 83. Les died at home like he lived, surrounded by family and friends and the people he loved.

Les was the only son of Dick Louis and Pauline Daisy (Sugden) Dirksen of Tecumseh Nebraska. Les and his only sister Diane helped on the family farm while growing up. He graduated from Tecumseh high school in 1954 where he met wife Sylvia.

Les was baptized and confirmed at the St. John Lutheran Church in Tecumseh. As a longtime member, he was active as an usher and elder among other duties. In 2011 Les joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn where he and Sylvia were also active members.