Obituaries

Funeral services for Helen Hoffman were held at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sutton, NE, with Rev. Tim Stacy officiating.

Funeral services for Evelyn Greene were held at Page-Theus Funeral Home in the Chapel located in Leesburg, FL, on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Gregory, SD, with Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home of Gregory, SD, in charge of arrangements.

Memorial services for David Wonnenberg will be held at a later date. David John Wonnenberg was born May 31, 1944, the first of five sons of William and Alvina (nee Lindwurm) Wonnenberg in Burke, SD. At an early age, Dave aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps at their farm near Paxton, SD. He was quick to learn all he could about farming and livestock. When he was seven, the Rural Electric Association brought electricity to the farm, and that winter, twin calves were saved from winter’s cold by a heat lamp. During their first years at the one-room Sioux Valley School, Dave and Ken got up early to help their dad milk, then off they rode on a horse. Dave showed his brothers “the ropes” in showing cattle for 4-H Achievement Days. He liked to go fishing on Sunday afternoons with his brothers at neighbors' dams.

Mass of Christian burial for Jerry Goodman was held on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Fairfax, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating. Nancy Carda was lector, Garrett and Cassidy Koenig were servers, and Dan, Katie, Mya and Zoe Koenig presented the gifts. Music was provided by the Immaculate Conception and St. Anthony’s Church choirs, accompanied by Roberta Witt, organist. Tony and Mary Ann Koenig were in charge of registration. Casket bearers were Zachary Williams, Nathan Williams, Sheldon Herr, Cole Goodman, Gene Sarniak, and Randall Lihs. Honorary casket bearers were all of Jerry’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial for Abbie Rathbunwas held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at St.

Funeral services for Melody Jensen were held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD. Burial was in the Black Hills National Cemetery. Kirk Funeral Home of Rapid City, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Melody Ann Jensen, age 57, passed away on April 11, 2023, at Monument Health Hospice House, following a 7-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Melody approached this part of her life’s journey with steadfast perseverance and strength. Melody was born in 1966 , to Jerry and Linda (Blasius) Jensen in Chamberlain, SD, and was baptized in the Catholic Church with Carol and Darold Thomas, as her godparents. Melody grew up with her three siblings, Jerri Lynn, Sandy,and Shawn, and spent her summers riding horses, cruising her bike downtown, and frequenting the swimming pool. Later, she became a lifeguard and taught many children to swim.

A mass of Christian burial for James Sattler was held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Butte, NE, with Father Ross Berkhalter officiating. David and Carmen Schmitz were lector and Eucharistic minister. Music was provided by Pat Thiry, organist. Casket bearers were Heidi Melton, Ryon Vogt, Holly Drueke, Alexis Erbst, Dasirae Sieh, Mitchael Sieh, Broderick Sieh, Catlin Bartlett, Caley Cahoy, Carlie Cahoy, Samantha Sattler, Ethan Sattler, Cameron Sattler, Elizabeth Sattler, Thomas Sattler, and Amberlyn Sattler. Interment was in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Naper, NE. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A visitation for Dennis Matucha was held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Kotrba- Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Earl Michael Boxa officiating.

Imogene Shaffer Wittenhagen was born in her Grandma Emma’s house north of Lucas, SD, on April 24, 1934, to Vilas and Florence Shaffer. She lived in Lead, SD, for several years, and then her family moved to the farm north of Gregory, SD, in 1941.

Funeral services for Oma Marek, age 97, of Gregory, SD, were held on Monday, April 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Russ Grim officiating. Music was provided by Bob Wik, vocalist, accompanied by Bette Fogel, pianist. Casket bearers were Oma’s grandchildren. Interment was in the Czech National Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Oma Jean Lewis was born on November 26, 1925, to Guy and Anna Lewis at Paxton, SD. She was the youngest of five children. Oma attended country school through eighth grade, at which time she went to help on the family farm. On October 31, 1942, she married Joe Marek in Butte, NE. From this union, three daughters were born: Mary Ann, Joan, and Cindi. Together, they built a life in the Gregory area, farming until 1961, when they moved to town. Oma was a woman of many talents, working for Gregory High School as a lunch lady, and then as a clerk at Buche’s Grocery, while looking after her family and loved ones. In her later years, she worked with her son-in-law Jeff at Plains Printing. She had a talent for cooking and sewing, and poured her heart into every stitch of her crocheted blankets, which she gave as gifts. She and Joe celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with a family get-together in October 2002.