Obituaries

Darlene J. Bevard, 79

Darlene J. Bevard, 79 of Kearney passed away Sunday, June 12, 2022 at her home surrounded by her family. Memorial Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 25, 2022 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Area Animal Shelter. Condolences may be shared online at www. osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Darlene was born November 19, 1942 in Lexington, NE to Joe and Margaret (Sansom) Perkins. She was raised in Lexington and received her education from Lexington High School. Following her graduation, she worked for the FBI as a stenographer. Darlene continued her education at Kearney State College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in education and later her master’s degree in counseling. On September 11, 1964, Darlene was united in marriage to Bobbie Bevard In Lexington, NE. To this union two children were blessed. She worked at Richard Young Hospital for over 20 years. Darlene also was a LPN and worked as a traveling nurse and did home health for many years. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Michelle Bevard of Kearney; son, Scott Bevard and girlfriend, Jacqui Moore and her daughter, Vivi Beck of Kearney; grandson, Devyn Silvrants; brother, Larry Perkins and wife Marilyn of Ft. Wayne, IN; sister-in-law, Judy Whited and husband, Orville of Bayard, NE; nieces, Holly Zeir and husband Mike of Bayard, Laurie Thompson and husband Jeff of Evansville, Ind.,

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Gary L. “Jobby” Jobman, 79

Gary L. “Jobby” Jobman, 79 of Lexington passed away Monday, June 13, 2022 at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

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John C. Johnson, 100

John C. Johnson, 100, of Lexington, Nebraska passed away on Monday, June 6, 2022, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, Nebraska.

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Cozad Resident: Barney McNulty, Jr, 88

Barney McNulty, Jr, 88, of Cozad, Nebraska, died May 29, 2022, in Cozad, Nebraska, at Emerald Care.

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Gothenburg Resident: Carol A. Sappingfield, 92

Carol A. Sappingfield, 92, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, passed away Friday, June 3, 2022, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg.

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Kearney Resident: Father Donald J. O’Brien, 86

Father Donald J. O’Brien, 86 of Kearney passed away Saturday, June 4, 2022 at his home surrounded by family. A Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 13, 2022 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Kearney. Interment will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 13, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery near Wood River, NE. Visitation will be 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2022 at the church followed by a 6:00 p.m. Vigil/Prayer Service.Donald J. O’Brien was born September 4, 1935, in Minden, NE, to Donald M. and Lillian C. (Quinn) O’Brien. He attended St. Patrick’s School in North Platte, graduating in 1953 and remained close to his classmates his entire life. He began his studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, CO, the same year.Father O’Brien was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island in 1961. His first assignment as a priest was at St. Mary’s Hospital in North Platte. His following parish assignments were in Sidney, Amherst and Eddyville, St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island, Shelton, Ainsworth, Scottsbluff, Blessed Sacrament in Grand Island, and 26 years in Cozad and Gothenburg. He taught and administered at multiple Catholic schools during these assignments. He served as the Catholic chaplain of the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Grand Island, where he became involved in the alcohol treatment program, celebrating 45 years of sobriety at the time of his death.After his retirement in 2015, Father O’Brien moved to Kearney, NE, where he served at Prince of Peace and St. James Catholic churches, Good Samaritan Hospital and Mount Carmel Home. He celebrated 61 years as a priest on May 23, 2022. He touched many lives as a priest and was the patriarch of the O’Brien family.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Dr. John Kingsley O’Brien; sister-in-law, Mary Lou O’Brien; and his brother-in-law, Dr. Louis Corwin. He is survived by his sister, Shirley O’Brien Corwin of Columbia, MO, 13 nieces and nephews: Margaret “Peggy” (Brian) Connell, Columbia, MO; Donald (Sherry) Corwin, Columbia, MO; Maureen (Jim) Dippold, Stamford, CT; Nancy (Bill) Rath, St. Louis, MO; James (Deb) Corwin, Cincinnati, OH; Mary (Steve) White, Kansas City, KS; Thomas (Sandy) Corwin, Augusta, GA; Paul Corwin, Columbia, MO; Kathleen (Lou) Cipriano, Dallas, TX; Patrick (Rhonda “Ronnie”) O’Brien, Shelton, NE; Tim O’Brien, Philippines; Dennis O’Brien, North Platte, NE; Mary Bridget O’Brien, Lincoln, NE, 18 great nieces and nephews and five great-great nieces and nephews.Memorials are suggested to North Platte Catholic Schools, Grand Island Central Catholic Elementary School or to Kearney Catholic High School. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.

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Dr. Gerald Patrick (Jerry) Wetovick, 86

Dr. Gerald Patrick (Jerry) Wetovick of Cozad passed away Wednesday May 25, 2022 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE. He was 86 years old. Jerry was born November 23, 1935 in Fullerton, NE to Edward and Josephine (Mahony) Wetovick. He graduated from Kearney High School in 1953. He attended Kearney State Teachers college from 1954-58. He then went on to graduate from University of Nebraska Dental College in 1962. He married Patricia Jarosz on August 19, 1961. They moved to Cozad in 1962 and had five children. He practiced Dentistry in Cozad from 1962-2006. Jerry had a passion for his community and his work. He was an active member in several organizations including the school board, American Cancer Society, Chamber of Commerce, Northwest District Dental Society (President, VP, secretary /treasurer), coaching boys’ baseball and girls’ softball. He was active at Christ the King Parish: Legion of Mary (President), a church trustee, a Leader in Cursillo, CCD teacher for 20 years, member of Knights of Columbus, Lector and Eucharistic minister. He enjoyed Husker Football, golfing, hunting, motorcycling, boating, fishing, and spending time at their Johnson Lake cabin with family. After his wife’s death in 2007, he felt a STRONG calling from GOD and entered the seminary in Hales Corners, WI. He was ordained into the Priesthood on June 4, 2010 in Grand Island, NE. He was an Associate Pastor of Holy Spirit in North Platte and Sacred Heart Parish in Sutherland, NE. He greatly enjoyed his time as a Priest until his retirement from the active ministry in 2013. From there, he moved into Meadowlark Pointe assisted living facility in Cozad, where he remained until his death.

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Elwyn Dwight Carlson, 79

Elwyn Dwight Carlson of Cozad passed away Monday, May 16th, 2022 at Gothenburg Memorial Hospital at the age of 79. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Cozad Fire & Rescue or Cozad Police Department. A memorial service will be held Monday, June 6, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Dan Johnston officiating. Berryman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.