Michael D. Commins, 69 of rural Lexington passed away Saturday, September 21, 2019 at the Kearney Regional Health Center.
Mike was born June 20, 1950 in Lexington to Roy and Belva (Velte) Commins. Mike attended school at District 59 until the eighth grade and then attended Lexington Public Schools graduating with the class of 1968. While in school he was active in band, 4H, FFA and wrestling.
Mike was a member of the Buffalo Grove Presbyterian church in rural Lexington where he was active in the church choir.
Mike was united in marriage to Virginia Snider on August 8, 1972 in Lexington. To this union two children were born: David and Beth. The couple lived in the Lexington area where Mike farmed and raised cattle. Mike loved working the land, spending time with his family and watching old movies.
Mike is survived by his wife; Virginia of Lexington, son; David of Lexington and daughter; Beth Commins and companion Grant McComb of Lexington, two grandchildren: Levi and Adrian Commins also of Lexington.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Scott.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church in rural Lexington with Brent Block, Pastoral Associate, officiating.
There will be no visitation as it was Mike’s request to be cremated.
Memorials are suggested to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department or the the Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church.
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
Darrell G. Kopf, 69, of Buffalo, Nebraska passed away Sunday, May 12, 2019 at his home.
He was born November 10, 1949 in Lexington, Nebraska to Dalen Hilbert and LaVonne Harriet (Knaggs) Kopf. He was raised in Buffalo, on his parent’s farm. Darrell was a graduate from Lexington High School. He lived in Buffalo most of his life, and here is where he built a home for Linda Kardell, the love of his life, whom he married on May 22, 1971 in Omaha.
Darrell worked as a farmer, as a carpenter, and enjoyed woodworking. He built their house in 1981 when they moved back to Buffalo. After returning to the farm, he worked the rest of his life on the family farm at Buffalo.
Darrell loved deer hunting with special friends Bob, Tim and Gary Gleissner. He also loved spending time with his nieces and nephews.
Darrell is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda of Buffalo; his mother, LaVonne of Buffalo; his brothers, Jack (Marlea) of Lincoln, Fred of Overton and Phil (Jana) of Buffalo; as well as 9 nieces and nephews and 17 great-nieces and nephews.
Darrell was preceded by his paternal grandparents, Walter and Mary Neben Kopf; maternal grandparents, James and Leona Knispel Knaggs; his father, Dalen Hilbert Kopf and a brother, Robert Wayne Kopf.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church at Buffalo with Pastor Victor Rasmussen, officiating.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.
Interment will be in First Lutheran Church Cemetery at Buffalo.
Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to First Lutheran Church at Buffalo or RuralMED Hospice in Dawson County.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
Lawrence (Lonnie) R. Bliven 68 years old of Lexington died Thursday, February 7 at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln following his brave and courageous battle with cancer.
Lonnie was born August 3, 1950 at Lexington, Nebraska to Alfred (Mike) Bliven and Mary A (Stanford) Bliven.
Lonnie had a great love for the outdoors where he enjoyed many hobbies. He loved fishing, gardening, raising his many different species of farm animals. Lonnie always had a bounty of fish, home grown garden produce, and fresh, farm raised poultry and rabbits for family, friends and neighbors.
Lonnie’s love of family, being outdoors, carpentry and playing cards gave him much pleasure. He worked for many years in carpentry and remodeling with his brother’s Mick and Don. He hosted Christmas Eve every year at his home in Lexington after his parent’s passing, carrying on their tradition of welcoming limitless family and friends.
Lonnie is survived by 3 brothers: Ed (Denise) Bliven of Arizona, Tom Bliven of Overton, and Don Bliven of Lexington; 2 sisters Mary Bliven of Kansas, Pat (David) Pierce of Bertrand; a very special cousin Terry (Bonnie) Reddick of Colorado and their families, sister in law Lois Bliven of Overton; 16 nieces and nephews Matthew Bliven & family, Michael Bliven & family, Seri Bliven & family, Brian Robinson, Chris Peterson & family, Jeanne Lakey & family, Jason & Robin Neagle, Tara Bliven & family, Justin (Jessica) Bliven & family, Thomas Bliven, Chelle Young & family, Derek Pierce & family, Dustin (Faith) Pierce & family, Maggie (Ross) Winheim, Nathan Bliven & family, Eric Bliven & family; 32 great nieces and nephews, 3 great, great nephews and a host of loving family and friends.
Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents; Mary & Mike, two extra special women in his life: Grandmother Maggie Hughbanks and Aunt Jeanne Gibson, one brother: Mick Bliven and several friends and other family members.
The family is honoring Lonnie’s request to be cremated and his wishes to not have a funeral service or visitation. There will be a private family burial. Lonnie’s family will host a celebration of life fish fry in honor of Lonnie when the weather is warmer in the spring welcoming friends family and neighbors.
Memorials are suggested to Lonnie’s family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting:reynoldslovefh.com
- Date Posted: 2015-07-10
- Maiden Name: Knapple
JoAn Louise Ostergard, 64, of Gothenburg, Neb. left the confines of this earth on Jul. 10, 2015 at Gothenburg Memorial Hospital.
A funeral service took place Friday, Jul. 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the GothenburgMethodistChurch at 14th and Lake Street in Gothenburg with the Rev. Joel Plisek and the Rev. Karen Woo officiating. Viewing will take place on Thurs., Jul. 16, from 1:00-7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m..
She was born at Lexington, Neb., on Sept. 28, 1950, joining siblings John Neil and Jane Marie, all children of Neil Edward and Barbara Jane (Morgan) Knapple of Lexington.
JoAn graduated from Lexington High School in 1968 and from Hastings College in Hastings, Neb., with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education graduating 10th in her class in 1972. She then attended graduate school at New Mexico State College in Las Cruces, N.M..
In 1970, she married D. Clark Jensen of Hastings, Neb. After meeting at HastingsCollege, the couple married in Nebraska and then spent several years furthering their educations at New Mexico State College in Las Cruces, N.M. The couple later divorced while still in New Mexico.
While in New Mexico she met and later married, in 1976, Joe R. Reyes of Las Cruces, N.M. The couple later divorced and JoAn moved back to Lexington, Neb.
In 1982, she married Dennis A. Olson of Lexington, Neb., who later died as the result of a car accident in 1997, after 15 years of a strong, happy marriage at Lexington and Johnson Lake, Neb.
In 2003, after meeting on Match.com, she married Stephen J. Ostergard of Gothenburg, Neb., and moved to Gothenburg where the couple resided until her death. While living in New Mexico she was employed as an English teacher at Las CrucesNew MexicoHigh School. After moving back to Nebraska, she worked as a dental assistant in Lexington, Neb., as a bartender at Andy’s Supper Club at Johnson Lake and as a truck dispatcher with her family at Knapple Incorporated Trucking at rural Lexington, and she was later employed as the Executive Director of the non-profit domestic violence agency The Parent-Child Center in Lexington, and a staff writer at the Lexington Clipper Herald.
After moving to Gothenburg, Neb., in 2003, she worked as church secretary for the Gothenburg First United Methodist Church. After many years at the church, she was later employed as executive secretary for Robin Hirsch of Hirsch Financial Services also in Gothenburg.
During her lifetime JoAn enjoyed singing in school, church and 4-H choirs, participating in various other 4-H projects as well as activities on the computer. She was a past member of the Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church in rural Lexington and a current member of the Gothenburg First United Methodist Church, the church choir and the church Quilting Bible Study group. She was an avid bird watcher spending hours drinking coffee and watching birds out of the kitchen window with her husband Stephen in Gothenburg. She was also a strong Nebraska Cornhusker sports fan especially of Husker football.
In 2003 JoAn battled breast cancer and won, but in 2005 she was diagnosed with M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis) and again diagnosed again with cancer in 2014. She spent her final years fighting that cancer and raising funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Ostergard was preceded in death by her father Neil Edward Knapple, her husband Dennis Andrew Olson, her grandparents Edward Lewis and Hattie Belle Knapple, Joe and Stella Amanda Morgan and her parents-in-law Gage and Sara Jane Ostergard.
Survivors include her beloved husband Stephen Joseph Ostergard of Gothenburg, Neb., mother Barbara Jane (Morgan) Knapple, brother John Neil (Pam) Knapple all of Lexington, Neb., sister Jane Marie (Leonard) Mooney of Atlanta, Neb., and numerous other relatives and friends.
As per her wishes after her funeral, she chose cremation with a private inurnment at Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church Cemetery northwest of Lexington, Neb.
Memorials are suggested to the Gothenburg First United Methodist Church at 14th and Lake Ave., Gothenburg, Neb., and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the family.
- Date Posted: 2007-08-04
Wesley G. Liehs, 56, former Lexington Business-man, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007 at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington.
Funeral services will be held (today) Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor Michael Gruhn officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery at Lexington. Visitation was Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Vesta Liehs of Lexington; one son, Steven (Kristy) Liehs of Overton; one daughter, Tandy Liehs and fiance Geoff Barnes of Jacksonville, Fla.; one granddaughter, Darci Jean Liehs of Overton; one brother, Doug (Linda) Liehs of Fremont; two sisters, Wanda Liehs and Pam Nelsen both of Longmont, Colo.; nieces, Stephanie Nelsen of Seattle, Wash., Khristine Nelsen of Denver, Lori Liehs of Waverly, Iowa, and Megan Liehs of Fremont.
Wes was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Duane. He was born Oct. 15, 1950, at Lexington, to Richard and Lena (Woodside) Liehs.
He was united in marriage to Vesta Haney on Nov. 11, 1972 at Elwood. Two children were blessed to this union; Steven and Tandy.
Wes graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1968. He then went on to further his education at Hastings Technical College, graduating in 1970. He served in the Nebraska Army Reserves.
In 1972, Wes and his father, Richard, purchased the Water Well Drilling Land and Leveling business from Walt and Cleo Dunlap. Wes ran the business until 2005, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Wes was very active in the Water Well Industry. He served as district director, vice president and president of the Nebraska Well Driller's Association. He served eight years on the Water Well Contractor Board (a position appointed by the governor). He received the Wayne Madsen Award in 2005, for his contribution to the Well Drilling Industry. He was a member of the Lexington area Chamber of Commerce, and received the AgriService Award in 2006. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was baptized and confirmed.
He was an avid hunter and sportsman. He belonged to Duck's Unlimited, Pheasant's Forever, Rocky Mountain Elk Association, Safari Club International, NRA and the North American Hunting Club. Wes shared the love of hunting with his children and was able to take his family to South Africa on a hunting safari in 2006.
Memorials are suggested to the family for a designated scholarship in Wes's memory.
- Date Posted: 2013-03-31
David Paul Anderson, 63, of rural Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2013, following a brave fight with cancer, at the Anderson Home place.
He was born January 12, 1950, in Lexington, Nebraska to James B. and Kathleen E. (Norris) Anderson.
David attended rural school at District #59 through the 8th grade. He then went onto graduate from Lexington High School with the class of 1968. While in high school David trained horses for Wayne Smith, thus began his lifelong love of horses. He worked in agriculture and sold cars in Kearney prior to going into the United States Navy. He served his country from September of 1975, until being honorably discharged in November of 1977.
After his time in the service he moved to New Mexico where he worked as a Line Maintenance Supervisor for the railroad. After his father died he eventually moved back to the home place and cared for his mother until she moved to assisted living at Park Avenue Estates.
David enjoyed gardening, hunting and horses. He loved his life-long friend and was so very appreciative of Rob Heins and Rob's wife Brenda for the care given to him during his illness. David had a special way about him with his gentle sense of humor and good natured teasing that put everyone at ease. After his diagnosis of cancer his perspective on life took on a whole new meaning and he would be forever grateful to his caretakers and friends.
David is survived by his mother of Lexington, Nebraska; two sisters; Connie Wolfe of Lincoln, Nebraska and Jennifer Andersen of Lincoln, Nebraska; two nephews and their families; David (Kristi) Harrington of Mineola, Iowa, and Corey (Tory) Harrington of Lincoln, Nebraska; niece, Kristi Nichols and her family of Lincoln, Nebraska; Aunt; Virgene (Dale) (Fagot) Forest of Roanoke, Texas; as well as many friends, extended family and caregivers.
David was preceded in death by his grandparents; father, James; and, aunts and uncles.
It was David's wishes that his body be cremated with no formal service. His wishes will be carried through.
Memorials are suggested to Dawson County Horse 4-H Clubs, c/o Reynolds-Love Funeral Home, 106 W. 8th St. Lexington, Nebraska 68850.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. To remember David with Online condolences please go to: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
- Date Posted: 2013-08-08
Michael Joseph Taft, 63, of Johnson Lake, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Lexington Regional Health Center.
Mike was born January 28, 1950, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to Joseph L. and Phyllis J. (Geistlinger) Taft. The family moved to Lexington when Mike was a boy, where he graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1968. He then went onto further his education at McCook Community College. Following college he worked as a meat cutter in McCook.
Mike was united in marriage to Kathleen Henton on June 16, 1970, in McCook. Two children were blessed to this marriage; Kimberly and Chris. While living in Lexington he worked for Orthman Manufacturing and Mr. T's Clothing. He was also a member of the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department for 13 years and the Lexington Jaycees.
He moved to Lubbock, Texas in the early 1980's, where he spent 20 years selling and installing swimming pools. He returned to Nebraska where he lived in Kearney and worked for Nelson Furniture as the Floor Covering supervisor. He held this position until his health forced him to retire. He has spent the past year at Johnson Lake with his folks.
Mike enjoyed fishing, camping, telling stories, playing cribbage, watercolor paintings, and being with family. He also loved spending time with his faithful four-legged companion, Peanut.
Mike is survived by his parents of Johnson Lake, Nebraska; son, Chris Taft of Wellfleet, Nebraska; daughter, Kimberly (Clinton) Jones of Pacifica, California; two brothers, Tim (LouAnn) Taft of Lincoln, Nebraska and Dale (Cheryl) Taft of Elwood, Nebraska; two grandchildren, Lucca & Reuben Jones of Pacifica, California.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents and an infant sister, Rebecca Joy. Mr. Taft's body has been cremated. Inurnment will be held later in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington. A Memorial Reception will be held Saturday, August 10, 2013, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
