“Dawn” Starlett Brooks
Starlett, who went by Dawn, was born in Omaha NE to William Jensen and Sharon (Schmidt) on October 8th, 1963. She was the eldest of four children which include brothers William (Billy), Jerry and James (Jimmy). Dawn and Family moved to Lincoln and started families of their own. Dawn was a light of her own. She could talk and laugh with anyone at anytime, anywhere she went. She loved to tell stories about her life and her children and grandchildren. She had a love for old movies, shows, music and when she went to garage sales on the weekend, you had to make sure to wear your seatbelt cause she would break and turn for the signs. She worked in Hospitality Hotels for over 25 years, met a lot of people and came back with lots of stories from her experiences. Dawn Married husband Raynard on May 2nd, 1997. She had four children and 12 grandchildren. She lived being loved by her family and friends. She passed December 15th, 2023 surrounded by family and loved ones at home in Lincoln, NE. Dawn was preceded in death by her parents, William Jensen and Sharon (Schmidt), and her brother Jerry Jensen. Dawn is survived by her husband Raynard Brooks, her children Jennifer Jones, Jerry Jones 3d, Wife Alicia, Jordin Isaacs, Husband Corey and Jarelle Brooks. Her grandchildren, Alicia McAfee, Noah McAfee, Ashlee Jones, Jackson Jones. Elan Villagomez, Emaleigh Foster, Elliot Foster, Elizabeth Foster, Tristen Isaacs, Lacey Isaacs, Masen Isaacs and Willa Quinn. Her service is being held at Lakeview United Methodist Church, Lincoln NE on December 22nd, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. by Pastor Hollis Patterson. 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.
Catherine (Cathie) Smetter
April 22, 1954 – December 15, 2023
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Lincoln Berean Church, 6400 S 70th St., Lincoln, NE.
Cathie Smetter, 69 years of age, of Lincoln, Nebraska died on Friday, December 15, 2023, at her home in Lincoln with family by her side. Cathie was born on April 22, 1954. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1972.
On June 30, 1972, Cathie was united in marriage to Edward (Ed) Smetter. They were married 45 years before he died in 2017. They were blessed with three children: Cheri, Doug, and Kenny.
She began a 45+ year career at Bryan Memorial Hospital in February 1972 and worked as a CNA, Physical Therapy Aide, and Occupational Therapy Tech. She loved helping patients and the people she worked with. She retired in November 2017.
Cathie was preceded in death by her husband Ed; her parents Mary (Charlie) Hendrix, Gerald Carlson, Glenn and Beth Smetter; brother, Jerry Carlson, brother-n-law Bob Donahoe, nephews Glenn Donahoe, Andy Donahoe, and Matthew Jackson.
Cathie leaves to celebrate her life, her three children: Cheri Anderson and husband Brett of Holdrege, Ne; Doug Smetter of Lincoln, Kenny Smetter and wife Alicia of Lincoln; six grandchildren; Josh Anderson and wife Rebecca of Holdrege, Ne, Nathan Anderson and fiancé Madaline of Holdrege, Ne; Chasity Corey and husband Alan of Lincoln, Caitlyn Smetter of Lincoln, Chloe Smetter of Lincoln, and Chance Smetter of Lincoln; one great-grandchild: Riggs of Holdrege, Ne; her sisters Cheri Truax and husband Tracy of Davey, Ne and Jeannette Carlson of Lincoln; sister-n-laws: Pat Carlson of Ithaca, Ne., Terri Jackson of Lincoln, Mary Donahoe and husband Ron of Sun City, Az.; brother-n-law: Steve Smetter of Omaha, Ne.; her companion Curt Michael of Lincoln and their dog Odie; along with a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.
There will be no visitation or viewing.
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.
Eula Witmore Frantz
13 January, 1930 – 14 December, 2023 (93 years young) Eula was born January 13, 1930, in Rich Hill, Missouri, and died peacefully on December 14, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her elementary years were spent as part of the Happy Hill, Missouri, community where her parents, Nora and Merle Witmore, farmed. She had an only sister, Ann (Witmore) Burger, who was five years her senior. Both sisters became well-versed in vocal and keyboard music. Most of Eula’s professional life was spent as a pianist, accompanist and organist. Eula met Byron Frantz at McPherson, Kansas where their respective families had moved in the mid-40s. They were subsequently married at the McPherson Church of the Brethren on December 21, 1949, the longest night of the year and the worst blizzard of that season. They spent the first five years of marriage managing a family dairy farm near Beatrice, Nebraska, where they also were immersed in the work of the Holmesville Church of the Brethren. They had five children over the ten years of the 1950s. In the decade of the 1960s Byron completed a Master in Industrial Arts from Colorado State College, and Eula completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from McPherson College in 1968. Eula and Byron lived in Windsor, Colorado, for 50 years prior to shorter stays in Fleming and Haxtun, Colorado, for a total of 61 years in their beloved adopted state (1956 to 2017). Eula spent the last six years of her life in Lincoln, Nebraska, but remained a member of the Haxtun Church of the Brethren, frequently participating online. Eula was widely known for her compassion toward animals; raising more baby and orphaned critters than one could count, including a dray of squirrels. She was always active in local schools, accompanying school and community choirs and theater productions as well as substitute teaching, particularly in the Windsor school district. Music and the church were synonymous for Eula, where she regularly played and sang, including playing one summer for the denomination’s annual national gathering. She could sight read effortlessly but complained that the pianos seemed to be getting taller as she got older, something she remedied by adding yet one more pillow to the piano bench. A casual gathering to commemorate her passing will be planned for the near future and will be sure to include much laughter and many stories that are best shared in the oral tradition. Eula was preceded in death by immediate family members: husband Byron, son David Frantz, grandson Christopher Barnes, and son-in-law Bob Barnes. She is survived by daughters Pam Barnes, Diane (Noel) Ditmars, and Kathryn (Chris) Whitacre, son Ken (Paula) Frantz, daughter-in-law Pat Frantz. Grandchildren include; Claire Barnes (Dan Howland), Elizabeth Barnes, Nora Ditmars (Steve Schrag), Hannah Ditmars (Eric Buckwalter), Jessica Frantz (John Ruelas), Jason Frantz (Mishka Borzova’), Thomas Reed, Andrea Reed, Nathan Frantz (Olivia Kurajian), Rachel Frantz (Luke Georges), Ruth Whitacre (Mike Shafer), Ira Whitacre and great-grandchildren; Ezra Buckwalter, Leilani Ruelas, Lily Reed, Dylan Reed, Devan Reed, Evelyn Kurajian-Donnelly. 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.
Charles Johnson
Charles Peter Johnson completed his remarkable odyssey on earth, falling peacefully to sleep at home surrounded by the things he loved on his 75th birthday, December 9, 2023. Johnson was an author, artist, humorist and collector from an early age. While obtaining a master’s degree in English at the University of Nebraska, with undergraduate emphasis in French and Mathematics, Charlie evolved to become a recognized authority in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He was interesting, unique, informed, well read and well loved by all who knew him. Johnson was celebrated as the founder and curator of Lincoln’s Museum of the Odd, his residence of artistic assemblage dazzled visitors with displays of meticulously organized kitsch from floor to ceiling in room after room. The museum was destination for artists, dignitaries, musicians, tourists, journalists and the curious and was documented in travel guides, television programs, and news features. His legacy of goodwill, kindness to animals and his legendary after- event gatherings associated with his love of music and The Zoo Bar will be recalled fondly. Charlie Johnson was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Anton and Estey Ripley Johnson of Omaha, Nebraska. Those left to grieve include his partner of over thirty years, Lisa Good of Lincoln, and most importantly, his cherished collection of many, many, many good friends. A celebration of Charlie Johnson’s life will be announced in the future. 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.
James “Jimmy” Newrones
Born on June 10, 1960. Passed away on December 6, 2023. No service information at this time. 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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