OBITUARIES
Jan
07
2026
Ray L. Van Slyke • Grand Island, NE Resident, 99
Ray L. Van Slyke, of Grand Island, formerly of Scotia passed away Mon., Dec. 29, 2025 at Primrose Retirement Community in Grand Island, NE at the age of 99.
Ray Leland Van Slyke was born Jan. 7, 1926, in Valley County, Nebraska to Floyd L. and Elvina (Thomsen) Van Slyke. He was raised on the family farm in Valley County, near Ord where he received his early education and graduated from Ord High School in 1944.
As a young man, Ray worked on the family farm. Ray and Delores “Dody” Williams were united in marriage on Sept. 28, 1952, at North Loup, NE. The couple resided in Scotia and were blessed with two sons, Rod and Mitch. In their later years, Ray and Dody made their home in Grand Island.
In 1959, Ray and Vic Wegner went into partnership together and formed the John Deere Implement Dealership, “Wegner & Van Slyke Implement.” Ray retired in 1989.
During his retirement years, Ray enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an avid outdoorsman; loved to fish and collect toy tractors and marbles.
He was a member of the Scotia United Methodist Church and Ord Elks Lodge and served on the Scotia Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Dody of Grand Island; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rod and Raylene of Wahoo and Mitch and Susan of Pacific Junction, IA; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a sister, Laura Ann Merritt of Oregon City, OR.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Van Slyke's wishes were to be cremated. A Celebration of Life Service will be at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the Scotia Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department and the Scotia Service Club.
Condolences may be sent to Dody Van Slyke, 3990 West Capital Avenue, Apt #104, Grand Island, NE 68803.
Bonnie J. Allen • Burwell, NE Resident, 75
Bonnie Juanita Allen, of Burwell passed away on Dec. 30, 2025, at her home in Burwell at the age of 75.
Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Mon., Jan. 5, 2025, at the Calamus Trinity Methodist Church in Burwell. Pastor Stephen Williams officiated. Interment was held at 2 p.m. in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Cairo, NE. Memorials are suggested to the Family’s Choice. Still Waters Funeral Parlor assisted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at stillwatersfuneralparlor.com.
Bonnie Juanita was born on Jan. 16, 1950, at Burwell, NE to Clarence and Mary (Holecek) Conner. Her life was spent in Garfield and Valley counties. Juanita received her early education in country schools east of Burwell and graduated from Ord High School in 1968.
Following high school she attended Sar-Rob Beauty School in Grand Island and worked at her sister’s beauty shop in Ord; working with both sisters, Pat and Linda.
Juanita and Wayne R. Allen were united in marriage on June 24, 1973 in Ord, NE. They were blessed with two children, Casey and Mary. They spent 14 years in Ord until 1987, when they settled on a small ranch south of Burwell. Following Wayne’s passing on Aug. 14, 1997, Juanita moved into Burwell.
Juanita worked at the Community Memorial Health Center for 22 years and at the beauty shop in the nursing home for 25 years. She continued as a nurse for home health for a few years along with working at the Plaza Beauty Shop for 19 years. After becoming very ill, Juanita retired for a couple of years then returned to the Plaza Beauty Shop part time.
Juanita belonged to the Elk’s Does and American Legion Auxiliary.
Juanita enjoyed gardening, playing cards and Bingo, and going to casinos. Her grandchildren were a very special part of her life; as well as her many friends.
Survivors include her children, Casey and Kathy Allen of Burwell and Mary and Michael Reiser of O’Neill; five grandchildren, Ethan and Abby Kipp (Ethan) and Londyn, Dominic and Brynlee Reiser; sister and brother-in-law, Pat and Ronnie Watson; brother and sister-in-law, Elwin and Lucille Conner; sister-in-law, Lois Conner; and many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wayne; infant brother, LaVerne Conner; brothers and sisters-in-law, Sonny and Bernice Conner, Edward Conner and Bohumil “Bo” and Bonnie Conner; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Eddie Pesek, Freda and Gene Augustyn and Linda and Jack Anderson.
Alene D. (Collier) Evans • Holdrege, NE Resident, 93
A funeral service for Alene D. (Collier) Evans will be held on Fri., Jan. 9, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Holdrege Methodist Church at Holdrege, NE, with Pastor Sarah Fisher and Chaplain DeWane Dow officiating.
A Graveside Service will be held at 2 p.m. at the Arcadia Cemetery, Arcadia, NE.
Alene Doris (Collier) Evans, 93 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thur., Jan. 1, 2026, at Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege. Alene was born in Custer County, NE, west of Arcadia, near Westerville, NE, on Feb. 18, 1932, the youngest of four children born to Alfred D. and Pearl Emma (Hallman) Collier. She received her education from Arcadia Public Schools, graduating from Arcadia High School with the class of 1950.
Alene was united in marriage to Claude “Felix” Evans, and together they farmed southwest of Arcadia, until moving to a farm near Holdrege in 1961. Several years later, the couple moved to their family farm south of Loomis. Alene began working for Becton Dickensen and retired in 1993. Several years later, they moved to Holdrege.
She loved the outdoors, going for walks around the section after work and at North Park. She enjoyed family gatherings, cooking, baking, dancing, and was an avid Bingo player. Alene loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending every event that she possibly could. She will be remembered as a loving, caring, kind, and giving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Alene was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary; a Life-Time Permanent Membership of Unit No. 338 located at Loomis, NE. She was a member of Holdrege Methodist Church for 65 years.
Alene was preceded in death by her loving husband, Claude (Felix) Evans; her parents; her in-laws, two sisters, Arlene McCall (Dick), Alfreda Rounds (Downing), and one brother, Allan (Doris) Collier.
Left to cherish her memory are sons: Larry Evans and his wife, Nancy of Minden, NE and Randy Evans and his wife, Janet of Loveland, CO; five grandchildren: Melissa Klabunde and her husband, Mark of Minden; Ryan Evans and wife, Amy of Fairbury, NE; Michael Evans of Los Angles, CA; Lindsay Fickenscher and her husband, Levi of Loveland, CO; and Brittany Sall and her husband, Brett of Loveland; 12 great-grandchildren: Addison and Zach Klabunde of Minden; Brielle-Hamel-Evans of Broken Bow, NE; AJ, Holden, and Nickalin Evans of Fairbury, NE; Asher, Tytus, and Benaiah Fickenscher of Loveland; and Phoebe, Ruthie, and Marigold Sall of Loveland; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
There will not be a visitation.
Memorials are kindly suggested to Holdrege Methodist Church; Arcadia Methodist Church; Christian Homes Care Community; or Brookstone Home Health and Hospice.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at nelsonbauerfh.com.
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
Heather J. Koehlmoos • Ord, NE Resident, 51
Heather Jo Koehlmoos, of Ord, NE, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Jan. 1, 2026, at the age of 51.
Born on Feb. 6, 1974, in Ord, NE, the daughter of William Joe and Peggy Ann (Hansen) Klanecky. Heather grew up in Ord, where she graduated from Ord High School in 1992 and furthered her education at Wayne State College.
On Oct. 23, 1993, Heather was united in marriage to Loren M. Koehlmoos in Ord, and together they built a life filled with love and family. The couple initially resided in Grand Island, where Heather worked at Mid Nebraska Individual Services. In 1996, they returned to their hometown of Ord, where they were blessed with two children, Colin and Kendyl.
Heather was a dedicated worker, learning the trade of meat processing from Larry Freouf at Ord Locker and at A.J. Cetak’s. For the past decade, she proudly worked at Speed’s Apple Market, mastering her own recipes for homemade hot dogs, brats, sticks, and specialty meats.
Heather enjoyed golfing, bowling, and connecting with friends and family on Facebook. Her passion for cooking was shared with many and she described her recipes as “ancient Chinese secrets”. Heather cherished girls’ days out, enjoying shopping and sushi with her mother, daughter, and nieces.
Heather is survived by her loving parents, Bill and Peg Klanecky of Ord; her devoted husband of 32 years, Loren; her son, Colin of Ord; her daughter, Kendyl and fiancé Treyton Cassell of Kearney; her brothers and sister-in-law, Troy Klanecky (Holly Schultz) of Grand Island, and Shane and Krystal Klanecky of Ord; parents-in-law, Butch and Linda Koehlmoos of Ord; brothers-in-law, Lance and Sarah Koehlmoos of Lincoln, and Lonny and Megan Koehlmoos of Des Moines, Iowa; nine cherished nieces and nephews; and a host of relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Leon and Mary Klanecky, Rollie Hansen, and Shirley Ketchmark.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thur., Jan. 8, 2026, at the First United Methodist Church in Ord. Reverend Spenser Johnson will officiate. Interment will be in the Ord City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the church from 5-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Family’s Choice. Ord Memorial Chapel is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at ordmemorialchapel.com.
237 South 15th St., Ord, NE 68862
Ph: 308-728-3261
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