Obituaries

Gloria L ee P opham, a ge 9 4, o f I owa City, formerly of North English, Iowa, went to be with t he Lord F riday, J uly 4 , a t B riarwood Healthcare Center in Iowa City. Gloria w as born A pril 2 4, 1 931, i n Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Herbert and Hazel (Hulshizer) Sawyer. She grew up in Ainsworth and graduated from Ponca High School. On April 22, 1955, she married Lynn G. Popham in Ottumwa, Iowa. The couple lived and farmed in the North English a rea. S he w orked at A mana Refrigeration for four years and also cleaned houses in Iowa City for a number of years. Gloria was a long-time member of the Champion Hill United Methodist, where she served as the secretary of the UMW and was church treasurer. She had more recently become a member of Good News Bible Church in Iowa City. Gloria enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafting, c ooking, and b aking – a nd w as k nown f or h er a ngel f ood cakes made from scratch. Her love for family and friends was evident and she truly enjoyed visiting with and helping people. Survivors include two sons: Scott (Donilee) Popham of Coralville, Iowa, and Randy (Gin) Popham of Durant, Iowa; two grandchildren: Tim of Davenport, Iowa, and Kimberly of Rock Island, Ill.; eight great grandchildren; t wo b rothers: J im ( Jill) Sawyer a nd T om ( Sandy) Sawyer and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: Lynn; brother: Ric Sawyer and sister: Sandy Hall. Celebration of Life service was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at Good News Bible Church in Iowa City, with Pastor Richard Wootonn officiating. B urial w as a t C hampion H ill C emetery i n rural N orth English, Iowa. A memorial fund has been established for Good News Bible Church missions. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in North English, I owa, i s caring f or G loria a nd h er f amily. T ributes m ay b e made at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Memorial Graveside Services for Harry A. “Bill” Babcock, Jr., age 91, of B assett, w ill b e h eld on W ednesday, July 9 , a t 2 p .m. a t t he Grandview C emetery i n L ong Pine. M ilitary H onors a re t o b e conducted b y B assett A merican L egion P ost #123. B ill B abcock passed away February 2 3 a t t he R ock C ounty H ospital L ong Term Care in Bassett. Survivors i nclude: t hree c hildren, D eb F rank a nd h usband T om o f Bassett, L ori Runyon a nd h usband F rank o f Onamia, M inn., a nd William “ Bill” B abcock and w ife T eresa o f L ong Pine; s even grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; sister Lorene “Reenie” Mercier of Grant; sister-in-law Mary Babcock of Spokane, Wash.; along with nieces, nephews and other family members. Those attending services are asked to please wear casual attire. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the St. Jude’s Memorial Foundation or to the donor’s choice in Bill’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

'To a l ife s haped b y s plit s econds—each one defining a man of legacy, character, and love.” - with love from your family, your students, your brothers in arms, and all those who walked beside you. George William “Bill” Snyder, Jr., 79, of Long Pine, passed away on June 15, while on one last ride in his beloved hot rod. Born in Torrington, Wyo., on September 2, 1945, Bill embodied the character of his hometown, Brule, —humble, hardworking, and dependable—into every chapter of his life. A standout athlete in high school and a well-known town troublemaker, he was fortunate to marry his high school s weetheart, Carol L . (Shade) S nyder, o n J uly 1 0, 1 966. A “split-second decision,” as he’d say, that would define and bless the rest of his life. Bill served with distinction in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, as a member of the 9th Infantry Division’s Mobile Riverine Force ('River Rats'), Company D, 4th Battalion, 47th Infantry. He received numerous honors for his service, including two Purple Hearts, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. His reflections on the war—and the choices that shaped his life—were captured in his memoir Split 2nd, a testament to the fragility and resilience of the human spirit. Upon his r eturn home, B ill s tudied a t a nd g raduated f rom t he University of Nebraska–Lincoln. During this time, he found his professional calling in education. Over a 30+ year career as a teacher in Lincoln, he helped shape the minds and trajectories of countless students—offering not only knowledge, but kindness, respect, and a relentless belief in every underdog. A m an of m any h obbies, B ill was a n a vid fisherman a nd c lassic c ar enthusiast. He cherished the simple joys of trolling for walleye or perfecting a polished chrome detail. Bill's greatest pride was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of n early 5 9 y ears, C arol; t heir d aughter, E rica R ose Snyder-Wassinger, of Omaha; and his g randsons, C arroll Richard (9) and S nyder W illiam ( 7), w ho w ill g row u p c arrying h is s tories a nd strength forward. Though B ill w as a n only c hild, h e b ecame e xceptional at b uilding a chosen family. His lifelong friend and “brother from another mother,” John Frates, and the late Deb Frates of Brule, along with their children Niki, Anne, and Mike, were not just friends—they were simply known as family. He is also survived by extended family members Jack and Charlotte Shade of Eaton Rapids, Mich., FJ Shade of Omaha, and Gail Snyder of Torrington, Wyo., and a host of beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews who admired his steady presence and cherished humor. Bill and Carol made their home across the Midwest throughout their marriage—including Ogallala, South Sioux City, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Fountain Hills, Ariz.; and finally Lincoln, where they raised Erica and eventually retired to Long Pine in 2005. Memorial s ervices w ill b e h eld at a l ater d ate. I n l ieu o f f lowers, donations can be made in Bill’s honor to the Brown County Ambulance Association or the Long Pine Volunteer Fire Department.

Karen Kay Greder was born on October 20, 1941, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth to Kenneth and Ruth (Stern) Greder. Karen passed away at the age of 83 years, at the Kearney Regional Hospital in Kearney on Monday, June 16, surrounded by her family. She was baptized in the Christian faith at the First Methodist Church of Ainsworth in April of 1945. She attended grade school through high school at Ainsworth Community Schools, graduating in 1959. During her high school years, Karen worked at Morrow’s Drive-In as a car hop on roller skates! After graduating, she worked for a short time at the Ainsworth Star-Journal. Karen met the love of her life, Brent Johnson, at a dance at the Long Pine Palace in Long Pine. They were married on August 21, 1960, in the Zion Lutheran Church in Ainsworth. To this union three children were born: Mark Edwin, Kathryn Kay, and Beth Ann. They made their home close to Johnstown, farming with Brent’s dad, Earl, and twin brother, Bruce. Getting the call to take lunches to the field, haul anhydrous tanks, irrigate, or help move from field to field made her feel needed and part of the farming operation. Karen was a member of the Johnstown United Methodist Church and was involved with many different boards and aspects of the church’s operation. She was a big part of the new Veteran’s Memorial Wall in Ainsworth, contributing many hours of research and planning. For many years Karen loved bringing craft projects and supplies for the residents of Cottonwood Villa to create. She was involved in several craft clubs and Bible study groups. She found great enjoyment in crafting, cross stitching, reading and mowing her yard. When Brent and Mark were coaching Legion baseball, she enjoyed making “baseball cookies” and giving them to the boys after the games. S he w ould also k eep a stash o f t hem i n t he f reezer f or a ll t o enjoy, especially the little people who stopped in to visit. At every opportunity she loved attending and watching all the activities of her “grands” and great-grands.” She was known for making and giving Christmas ornaments for her family, church family and friends, which she t horoughly enjoyed. F aith i n G od a nd h er f amily w ere t he m ost important things in her life. Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Brent Johnson of 61 years; father, Kenneth Greder; mother and step-father, Ruth and Arthur Atwood; brother, Gary and sister-in-law, Doris Greder; and brother, Gail Greder. She i s s urvived b y her s on, Mark J ohnson a nd w ife, C hris o f Ainsworth; grandson, Nathan and wife, Kristen Johnson, and their children, C arter a nd A lli; g randson, T yler a nd w ife, N icole Johnson, and their children, Leighton and Slate; grandson, Lane and wife, Shelby Johnson, and their children, Willa, Charlotte and Elizabeth; daughter, K athy J ochem a nd h usband, G reg o f A insworth; granddaughter, Brittany Shannon and husband, Nick, and their children, Addisyn and Kinsley; granddaughter, Katie Meyer and husband, Jeremiah, and their children, Luke and Emma; daughter, Beth Nichols a nd h usband, J im of L itchfield; g randdaughter, E ricka Goodner and husband, Dexter, and their children, Grey and Hayze; granddaughter, Kelsey Ruzicka and husband, Riley, and their children, Riggs and Cash; grandson, Caleb Unick and fiancée, Jordan Wilbur, granddaughter, McKenna Hunt and husband, Ramsey, granddaughter, Ashley N ichols a nd fiancé, J orden C omstock, a nd g randson, C layton Nichols. Karen is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Jeane Johnson of Ainsworth, and Sharon and husband, Jay Stombaugh of Lexington; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral service was held on Friday, June 20, at the United Methodist Church in Ainsworth officiated by Pastors Michael Eurit and David Randall. Music was provided by Kim Bejot with the CD Selections of “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me, “Remember When” by Alan Jackson, “Jealous of the Angels” by Donna Taggart, and “Heaven Got Another Angel” by Gordon Garner being played. Casketbearers were: Nathan Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Lane Johnson, Caleb Unick, Jeremiah Meyer, Dexter Goodner, Riley Ruzicka, Clayton Nichols, Nick Shannon and Ramsey Hunt. Honorary Casketbearers were all of Karen’s granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Memorials were suggested to the Ainsworth American Legion Post #79 or to the Johnstown United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Maxine L. Nickless was born on December 22, 1943, in Ainsworth to Glarice G. and Ethel L. (Herbaugh) Mizner, the first of nine children. She attended school in Thedford, staying with her grandparents until she graduated there with the class of 1965. She then moved to O’Neill, where she was employed as a nurse’s aide at the nursing home.

Funeral services for Roger Boyer, age 78, of

Memorial S

Karen Anne Messenger, age 81, of Lincoln, passed away on May 30, 2025. She was born on August 30, 1943, in Omaha to Vernon and Ruby Kreycik while her father was entering Navy Officers C andidate S chool d uring W WII. W hen he returned f rom t he w ar, s he g ot t o s pend 7 more years with him on her family ranch north of W ood L ake b efore h is u ntimely d eath i n a tractor accident.

Phyllis Elaine Skillman, beloved mother and grandmother, age 92, of Ainsworth, passed away peacefully on May 8, at Kearney Regional Medical Center in Kearney. She was born on September 4, 1932, i n J ohnstown, t o A lbert R . and Lillian A. (Hamaker) McDaniel. Phyllis was the second of eight children, with three sisters and four brothers.

Memorial Service for Russell L.