Mike Kucera

Mike Kucera, 56, of Hazard died Nov. 1, 2009, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.

He was born Nov. 19, 1952, in Kearney to Buzz and JoAnne (Behrendt) Kucera.

On March 4, 1972, he married Jeanne Vian in Litchfield.

He was educated in Ravenna and graduated from Ravenna High School in 1971. He operated a road maintainer.

He and his wife made their home east of Hazard. He ranched, raised cattle and did custom hay and drilling. He loved the outdoors and nature.

He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and the NRA.

Survivors include his wife; his mother of Ravenna; sons, Jake (Tila) Kucera of Litchfield and Jess (Melody) Kucera of St. Paul; daughter, Michelle (Chad) Dixon of Pleasanton; grandchildren, Sydney and Madison Kucera, Westin and Tanner Dixon and Lainey and Adalyn Kucera; brother, Bill (JoAnn) Kucera of Ravenna; and sisters, Joan (John) Riel of Geneva and Jeannie (Ken) Sundermeier of Rockville.

He was preceded in death by his father.

LaDonna Marie Cook

LaDonna Marie Cook, 72, of Gandy, died Nov. 27, 2009, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.

She was born on Jan. 8, 1937, in Northwood, Iowa, to Carl and Clarice (Gordon) Olson. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1955.

On Nov. 25, 1973, she married Richard C. Cook in Stapleton. The couple made their home in Gandy, Ogallala, and in Venango.

She worked at Pizza Hut in North Platte and in Ogallala. She took great pride in her pizza delivery, receiving several awards for safety.

Survivors include her husband, Richard of Gandy; her daughter, Suzette (Willie) Buls of Lincoln; her son, Roger (Linda) Cook of Ogallala; sisters, Nellie (Jim) Catterson of North Platte, Carol (Jim) Eshleman of Hershey, and Helen (Gary) McConnell of Wallace; brothers, David Olson of North Platte, Raymond (special friend, Phyllis McEntee) Olson of Gandy; nine grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; brother and sister in-laws, David (Kathy) Cook of Lamar, Neb., Carleene (Kenny) Jividen of Gandy, Henrietta Jenkins of Gordon, Neb., and Glenda Cook of Ashland, Neb.; and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a baby daughter who died in 1976.

Walter Joseph Jochum

Walter Joseph Jochum, 90, of Sutherland, died Nov. 30, 2009, at the Sutherland Care Center in Sutherland.

He was born on Nov. 18, 1919, at Raeville, to John Theodore and Katherine Anne (Pelster) Jochum, where he grew up.

In 1926, the family moved eight miles south of Sutherland. He attended country school until the 8th grade, then graduated from Sutherland High School in 1939.

He worked for farmers for two years before enlisting in the U.S. Navy on May 15, 1940. He served 20 years in the Medical Department. During WWII, he served with the Second Marine Division and participated in the battles of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian Islands. He participated in the Korean War for a year and a half with the First Marine Division. In both wars, he was attached to the U.S. Marines as a medic corpsmen.

On Jan. 20, 1945, he married Myrl Faye Coates at Baltimore, MD, and they later made their home in Sutherland. They celebrated 64 years of marriage together before she passed away in March.

He worked for John Deere for two years and then as head custodian at the Sutherland Public School from 1962-1982. After his retirement from the public schools, he worked as a groundskeeper at the golf course.

He has been a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church since 1926, served on the church council for two years and was the oldest member of the church. He was also a member of the Sutherland Legion Post No. 208 for over 50 years, Commander, Adjutant and Sgt. at Arms of the Sutherland Legion, the VFW and a member of the Sutherland Lions Club where he was president for two years.

During his younger years, he played and coached softball for the Navy, then coached youth baseball for 10 years and played on a golf league for 10 years. He enjoyed gardening and yard work and was an avid Husker fan.

Survivors include his two daughters, Jeanette (Rex) Heckenlively of Imperial, Terrie (Sam) Haworth of Sutherland; two sons, Doug (Kristy) Jochum of Sutherland, and Don Jochum and friend Darryn Odbert of Overland Park, Kan.; seven grandchildren, Tim (Tracie) Heckenlively, Randy (Teri Jo) Heckenlively, Marc (Alyn) Taylor, Rick (Sarah) Heckenlively, Jeremy (Ashley) Miller, Justin Miller, and Renee Fisk; eight great-grandchildren, Brenden, Zayne, Jace, Jadyn, Tanner, Wyatt, Reagan, and Keaton; three step grandchildren, Tyne (Leo) Kreber, Jeremy Zona, and Nicole White; five step great-grandchildren, Gavin, Haiden, Cruz, Bailey, Cash; a brother, Harold “Hessie” (Colleen) Jochum of Sutherland; five sisters-in-law, Dora Ann (Lynn) McConnell of Washington, Iowa, Barbara (Elwin) Murray of Parker, Ariz., Arlene Jochum of Sutherland, Marie Jochum of Eugene, Ore., and Corinne Jochum of Kansas City, Kan.; his special friends, Father Tom Dillon, and Pastor Del Cunningham; and other family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrl Faye; a son, Kent Jochum; his parents; an infant sister, Bernadette; four brothers, Joseph, Lawrence “Bud”, Donald, John “Edward” Jochum; and a sister-in-law, Mary Jochum.

Richard L. Goehring

Richard L. Goehring, 83, of Thedford died Dec. 1, 2009, at the Pioneer Memorial Rest Home in Mullen.

He was born Oct. 11, 1926, south of Seneca to Bill and Ida (Madron) Goehring.

A life-long Sandhill rancher, he graduated from the Thedford High School in 1945.

He married Alice Mae Hemkin on March 1, 1946, in Thedford. They enjoyed ranching and the country life together along with helping their neighbors.

Survivors include his wife, Mae; daughters, Pat (Bob) Edis of Mullen and Peg (Randy) Andersen of Thedford; grandsons, Travis (Sheri) Andersen of North Platte and Wade (Jeri) Edis of Mullen; granddaughters, Shelly Andersen of Sutherland and Shelby Andersen of Thedford; great grandchildren, Derek and Tate Andersen, Jaci and Lane Edis, Sheyenne, Shelton, Shaydon, Skyler and Shantell Andersen; two sisters, Esteleen (Bob) Anderson of Broken Bow and Carolyn (Jack) Corbin of Sumner many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.