Matthew Owen Soldatke
Matthew Owen Soldatke, 13, passed away on August 17, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was born on May 20th 2008, to Steve and Jill Soldatke of Lincoln, NE. Matthew had a gift to teach lessons without ever being able to speak a word. His smile lit up a room. He absolutely had the most gorgeous curly soft hair that was meant for running your fingers through. He endured so much, fought hard and battled for every day on this earth. He taught his parents to trust God, dig deep, love hard, persevere, fight for the important things and forget the small stuff. Grateful to have shared in his life his parents, his siblings Micah, Megan, Mason and Max Soldatke; his grandparents Bob and Sue Shumaker (Parker, SD) Cheryl Johnson (Sioux Falls, SD), Larry Soldatke (Sioux Falls, SD); Aunts and Uncles James and Kim Shumaker (Greenville TN) Curt and Elisa Shumaker (Sioux Falls SD) and Ryan Soldatke (Sioux Falls SD) cousins Oliver and Amelia Shumaker, Parker Shumaker and Lisa Soldatke and a host of extended family and friends. Matthew was blessed to be loved by many. A special thank- you his current private duty nurses: Rosa, Laura, Trevor, Tina, Tim, Susan and Annalisa who loved and cared for him, his Horisun hospice nurse Shannon who helped Matthew’s family navigate end-of-life care and also to his numerous doctors, therapists, educators and past care givers; including his 1st two special nurses- Jane and Serena. Every person that partook in Matthew’s care contributed to him being able to live his best life at home surrounded by his family. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Nancy Leah Jelinek
Nancy Eldred Jelinek, 70, of Lincoln, NE passed away at home on August 17. Nancy was born July 6, 1951 in Hastings, NE and was a graduate of Hastings High School in 1969. She graduated from Central Community College in Hastings and attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln. She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years of marriage Leo Jelinek of Lincoln and son, Erik (Brooke) Jelinek of Highlands Ranch, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Dorothy Eldred of Hastings, NE. Nancy is also survived by sisters Linda Kissler of Hastings, NE, Billie (Dan) Hazelwood of Lincoln, NE, and brother, Rod Eldred of Oro Valley, AZ and brothers-in-laws Ray (Cindy) Jelinek of Grand Island, NE and Wyn Jelinek of Hastings NE. Nancy was a member of the First Christian Church of Lincoln. Being an avid reader herself, she supplied many books for the church’s Children’s Library. She was a member of the Hand Bell Choir, Vocal Choirs, Bible Studies, Sunday School teacher, Stephen Ministry Coordinator, and Elder of the church. Some of her experience includes: working in Information Technology for Lincoln Welding, Creative Thinking a banking software company and formed her own company Steeltrack Inc., a bank reporting company. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials in her honor may be sent to The Cat House, LPS Harvest of Books, First Christian Church Music, or Christian Education Ministries. Thank you to the caring staff of HoriSun Hospice. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Frank Konrad Guzinski
Frank K. Guzinski, 63, of Lincoln, formerly of Grand Island, passed away Monday August 16, 2021 in Lincoln, following a lengthy illness. Frank was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina to Leonard and Kathryn Guzinski (Moody). He grew up an “ARMY BRAT” and lived in many states, most of his life in Grand Island and Lincoln. He attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School and Central Catholic High School in Grand Island. A skilled drywaller and framer he worked for various companies around the state. Frank loved spending time on his boat “The Pick 5” fishing. Early in life he enjoyed dirt bikes. In 1999 he married Jenifer Salzman. They had a wonderful country sunrise wedding. They made their home in Lincoln. He loved spending time with his relatives and his beloved dog Jack. He also helped coach YMCA boys baseball/softball. He played on many baseball/softball teams in the Lincoln area. He took his brother to a College World Series game in Omaha and they talked about it for years. After several surgeries he still liked to fish, saying “Someone has to do it!” “Keep your face to the sun and your back to the wind,” was also a saying he would use. He is survived by his wife Jenifer, brother in law Jay and Donna Salzman, sister in law Joleen and Robert Perry, mother in law Lou Salzman, all from the Lincoln area, brother and sister in law Leonard and Sharon Guzinski Jr. of Grand Island, nieces, nephews, and grandkids. He is preceded in death by his father Leonard Sr. and mother Katheryn, father in law Gary R Salzman, stepson Christopher Harvey, and grandson Zechariah Harvey Memorials to the family to promote outdoor sports for kids. A meal will be held in Lincoln at 6:00pm on Friday August 27 2021 with a small service to follow starting at 7:00 at ConnectioN Point Church; 1333 N 33rd St, Lincoln, NE 68503. An open house will be held August 28, 2021 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Apfel Funeral Home; 1123 West 2nd Street, Grand Island Nebraska 68801. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Twila Jean Christiansen
Twila Jean (Folts) Christiansen, age 80 of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on August 14, 2021. Twila was born on September 30, 1940 in York, Nebraska to George and Evelyn Folts. She grew up on a farm near Bradshaw, only 2 miles away from her future husband, Lynn. Their little country school and church were halfway between their homes, where they first met when Lynn was in the 5th grade and she was in 1st grade. It was a very good rural life. Twila later went to Bradshaw High School and Nebraska Business Institute of Lincoln, and married Lynn at Harmony Church in August of 1962. They’ve lived in San Diego, Beatrice, York and Lincoln, where Twila worked at various secretarial jobs, had a home-based cake business, and was a wonderful homemaker. She and Lynn were married 59 years. Twila was always active in the United Methodist Church, serving with multiple women’s groups, doing bible studies, teaching Sunday and bible school, organizing events like Festival of Tables and Tasting Teas, playing in handbell choirs, and she enjoyed being a greeter and serving as usher. She volunteered her time and talents with local fund drives and benefits, worked on city elections, enjoyed ushering at Lied Center and helping at Holmes Lake Manor with Bingo. Twila enjoyed doing crafts, cooking and baking, and was talented with her cake decorating over the years. She spent hours in her many flower gardens. She also loved vacations and traveling all over the country, especially Sandals resorts and places like Branson, Estes Park, Nashville, the Black Hills, and Hawaii. More than anything else, Twila loved people. She was very friendly, sociable, and loved to visit with anybody and everybody, anyplace and anywhere, whether she knew them or not! She especially loved her Red Hat ladies and their adventures, her Bunco buddies, coffee groups, card groups, and neighbors. Even after moving to Lincoln and making new friends, she continued to drive to York to be with her old ones. Twila loved living in the Legacy Retirement Community the last 5 years and enjoyed all of their activities and entertainment while making even more friends until the last few months when her weary body couldn’t keep up with her busy social life, and her Alzheimer’s seemed to progress and her health declined. Of course, Twila was the center of activity with her close-knit family. She loved being involved in all the kids’ and grandkids’ lives, absolutely enjoyed all of the family birthday and holiday dinners, celebrations, game playing, and get-togethers. She was a good wife, dedicated mother, welcoming mother-in-law, wonderful “Grammy” and was thrilled that she would soon be called great-grandma. She will be greatly missed by all, and forever loved. Twila is survived by her husband, Lynn Christiansen, and their two daughters, Deb Curatola of Leavenworth, KS and Vicki (James) Fairchild of Lincoln; her four grandchildren, Jenny (Jake) Curatola-Wozniak, Katie (Gary) Curatola Burruss, Bailey (Jesse) Schulz and Jackson Fairchild; her soon-to-be great grandson, “Baby Boy Burruss”; her brother, Robert (Loa) Folts of Waverly; along with many cherished nieces, nephews, family and friends. Twila was preceded in death by her parents, George and Evelyn Folts, as well as her brother, Duane. A “Celebration of Life” will be held on Friday, August 27, at 10:00 AM at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd, Lincoln NE. Memorials can be made to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Cremation arrangements have been made with a private burial at a later date. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
Katherine Ann Wild
Katherine Ann Wild, 33, of Lincoln, died August 13, 2021 surrounded by her family. The daughter of John Wild and Diana Wild, she was born February 18, 1988, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Katherine’s strength, wit and intellect will be remembered by everyone who knew and loved her. Katherine endured life-long side effects and multiple surgeries, hospitalizations and medical issues stemming from her diagnosis of Wegener’s granulomatosis at age 12. From that time forward, she spent many days and weeks as a hospital patient at the Mayo Clinic. She received a kidney transplant from her father at age 15. Nevertheless, she persisted. Despite missing many school days, including most of her eighth-grade year, she graduated with her Lincoln East classmates in 2006. Her teachers marveled at her ability to keep up through prolonged absences and respected her hard work, determination and optimism. Those traits continued into adulthood. Katherine was a voracious reader, movie trivia aficionado and Harry Potter fan girl. She was quick and often quirky with a sharp sense of humor. Her interests were deep and wide, from knitting and collecting nail polish to playing Xbox and Arkham Horror the Card Game. Her childhood interests in dancing, piano and violin sparked an enduring love of music, including her parents’ old-time rock and roll. Katherine held fond memories of her family’s Make-a-Wish trip to Broadway, a Disney vacation sponsored by her church family, a sisters and friends trip to California and two visits to Harry Potter World at Universal Studios with her dad. Throughout her life and through it all, she remained resilient, hopeful and endlessly persistent. Katherine was loved and loved deeply. Her young nephews and their parents were lights in her life, as were her grandparents, aunts and uncles. She was blessed with childhood friendships that stood the test of time and distance. Katherine’s Cairn Terrier Libby and, more recently, her cat Sophie were never far from her side. She is survived by her parents, sister Elizabeth Wild Thiele (Jeff) and nephews Audie, Cary and Bram Thiele, all of Lincoln, and maternal grandparents Philip and Georgia Harsch, Stanton, NE, along with many extended family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Arden and Lodema Wild. A memorial service for Katherine is planned for 1 p.m., October 23, 2021 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, where she was confirmed in the faith in 2003 shortly before her transplant. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Aspen Cremation Service; 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln NE 68504. Memorials to the family will be shared with Katherine’s favorite charities. To leave a condolence please use the form below.
Funeral Home assisting is Aspen Mortuary, 4822 Cleveland Avenue, Lincoln, NE 68504. To view an on-line obituary or email condolences please visit Aspen Mortuary’s website at www.aspenaftercare.com.
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