Person Page 3,537

Obituary – Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon; Thursday, 24 JUN 2021, page A4 (Newspapers.com):

Clarence Salter

SALEM – February 1937 – June 2021

SP6 Army Specialist Clarence Salter, 84, passed away unexpectedly with his wife by his side at their home in Salem, OR on June 7th, 2021.

Clarence was a decorated veteran who served for 20 years and fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars. During Clarence’s time in the military, he met, fell in love with, and got married to Dorene Trefethen. After they reetired from the military, Clarence and Dorene settled in Jefferson, OR, where their family grew with their three children, Yolanda, Vickie, and Elwin. Wanting to continue his civil service, Clarence worked his way up in the fire department to eventually become the fire chief in Jefferson. He also worked for a short time as a patrol officer in the Jefferson Police Department. Clarence and Dorene later found themselves moving up to Washington and settled in the town of Vaughn where Clarence worked for Glory, a banking equipment maintenance company. During this time in Washington, Clarence and Dorene opened their doors and hearts to almost 50 foster children.

After Dorene’s passing in 2007, Clarence continued his passion for meeting new people and spending time with others. He helped with different church activities and served in food banks near his Vaughn home. Through internet correspondence, and many trips up and down I-5, he met and married his second wife, Joan Wilson, in September of 2009. After getting married, Clarence and Joan settled in Salem, OR, and spent the last 10 years enjoying each other’s company.

Clarence is survived by his daughter Yolanda and his son Elwin. He is also survived by Joan’s children, Marc, Michael, and Melinda. Clarence has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Clarence Salter held at Restlawn Funeral Home, on Thursday, June 24th at 1 PM. Family, friends, and flowers are welcome. Please contact the funeral home at 503-585-1373 with any questions about the Celebration of Life Service. Restlawn Funeral Home – 201 S. Oak Grove Rd. NW, Salem, OR 97304.

Obituary -- Findagrave.com Memorial #185448683:

Melvin G. Munsinger, 68, of Kearney died Thursday, November 23, 2017 at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 3:00 pm Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The Rev. Mother Stephanie Swinnea will officiate. Burial will take place at a later date. Services are entrusted to the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home.

Melvin Gene Munsinger was born in Albion on December 7, 1948, to Kenneth Carl and Zeta Eloise (Scarlett) Munsinger during the 1948 blizzard which prevented his Dad from seeing him until he was already two days old. He grew up in the communities of Petersburg, Albion, and St. Edward, Nebraska.

He attended Bogus District 11 Boone County rural country school and St. Edward Public Schools, graduating from high school I 1967. He then attended Kearney State College, Kearney, Nebraska, graduating in December, 1971, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and holding a K-12 General Teaching Certificate which allowed him to teach all grade levels. He also completed EFM School of Ministry at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Grand Island, Nebraska.

He was introduced to the love of his life with red hair (his dream), Cheryl Tripp of Albion, Nebraska, by his second cousin, Gloria Moody, in the summer of 1968. They were married at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Albion, Nebraska, on Saturday, November 21, 1970. To this union, four children were born, Anne, Elizabeth, Rachel, and John.

Melvin was a multi-talented, gentle spirited man. He was kind, loving, and thoughtful to his wife, children, family and friends. He was always employed, providing for his family. To pay for college, he worked summers and weekends for the Clarence Choat family around St. Edward/Albion area in Boone County, at their BV82 Anhydrous Ammonia Plant, babysitting the Choat children and grandchildren, moving irrigation pipe, stacking hay bales, and driving the tractor, as well as anything else the family needed done on the farm.

Upon graduation from college and awaiting a teaching position, as well as during the summer, he worked for ASC Irrigation in Grand Island, Nebraska, making aluminum irrigation pipe; then later for Diamond Plastics in Grand Island making PVC pipe. His first teaching position where he taught for three years was at Rural School District 84, Platte County, between Platte Center and Columbus, Nebraska, teaching all subjects for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, and PE. To increase his salary, the School Board added custodian of the school to his contract. So he and Cheryl would drive every Saturday from Grand Island, where she worked as a nurse, to the school to clean the classrooms, hall, and the gymnasium. His annual teaching contract was less than $7,000.00.

The next country school was Hall County School District 4, south of Grand Island, Nebraska, where for six years he taught 4th through 8th grades, PE and music, until the School Board contracted with PE and Music teachers, who also went to other country schools in the county. He then worked with the other schools and the teachers to start a track meet every year. During summers he worked as a groundskeeper for St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, where he maintained the lawn, flower beds, trees, and the underground sprinkler system.

His next country school where he taught for three years was Bunker Hill, Howard County, just south of St. Paul, Nebraska, teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

At each of his country schools, he taught Nebraska history, covering the pioneers, the Native American Indian tribes, the foods they grew, the preparation of meals, including “Rattlesnake” Stew made with beef back bones, decorating the Christmas tree the old fashioned way with popcorn and cranberries. He purchased the story books for the kids as Christmas gifts for the next literature classes including “The Lion, the Witch, and Wardrobe”, by C.S. Lewis, and other such classics.

While teaching he was active in the Nebraska State Teachers Association and the Reading Rainbow Program.

Other positions he held included teaching with Head Start, helping with the summer reading program and was the Bookmobile driver for Edith Abbott Memorial Library. He made stops at rural Hall County schools, small towns, and nursing homes, as well as a few rural mail boxes. He also tutored children and adults in his spare time. He was always sharing some knowledge he had learned in private conversations with friends, families, and acquaintances.

In 1997, the family moved to Sterling, Colorado, where Cheryl had taken a job. There, Melvin worked in many capacities in education. The Sterling Public Library, as a substitute teacher for Northeastern Junior College (NJC), and the Sterling Public Schools, in the High School’s Behavior Classroom, Spanish, Math, Science, History, and English classrooms, and even Home Economics. He later worked with the developmentally delayed adults in the group home setting at Sprocka, in Sterling, as well as, in Sidney, Nebraska, transitioning to the Sidney workshop.

In 1997 the family returned to Nebraska, moving back to Kearney, Nebraska, and began teaching in the Behavioral classrooms at Kearney High School and Sunrise Middle School. Eventually returning to work with the developmentally delayed adults in the group home setting, driving their bus, and finally the workshop. He loved working with these clients who he called God’s special children.

Having grown up with his mother’s sisters in the kitchen when he was smaller, while the men worked outside, he learned to cook, can fruits and vegetables, and make bread. He became quite a cook, making soups and stews, main meals, and homemade bread, making the best French bread ever! He canned fruits, vegetables, pickles, spaghetti and chili sauces, salsa, mostly all that he had grown, for his family and friends as gifts.

Throughout his time in each community in which he lived he was active in the Episcopal Church there, teaching Sunday school, Confirmation classes, and was a Chalice bearer, lector, and usher during Sunday Holy Eucharist.

Due to failing health, he semi-retired in 2008, but in November of that year he suffered a mild transient stroke which lead to him needing to have carotid surgery. From this he suffered a more major stroke while in the Recovery Room, but being a fighter he was able to walk his third daughter down the isle for her wedding the following August. Subsequent to this, he had intermittent episodes which left him weaker and unable to remain home. So in the fall of 2014 he entered Good Samaritan Society Ravenna Home, Ravenna, Nebraska, where he resided until his death. He was able to come home for visits, holidays, and other special occasions, one of which was this Thanksgiving Day, enjoying good home cooked food, company and conversation with his children, grandchildren, his Dad and Sally. He had been blessed to attend his 50th Class Reunion at St. Edward High School, St. Edward, Nebraska, and celebrated his 47th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, November 21st with Cheryl.

He loved his Dad and Sally, his wife, kids, and grandkids, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as God and Jesus Christ, his many students and clients.

He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by his wife, Cheryl. Daughters Anne Jones, Beth Munsinger, Rachel O’Connor (Sonny), and son John Munsinger all of Kearney. His Dad, K.C. and Sally (Ford) Munsinger, of Cairo; twins—his brother Dave (Shirley) Munsinger of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Donna (Marvin) Ruskamp of Bertrand, Nebraska. Grandchildren: Daniel Shaeffer, Lincoln, Nebraska; Hannah, Josiah (Joey), and Bennett Jones, Jadon, Liam, Nora, and Eamon O’Connor, Allia and Riley Munsinger all of Kearney. Many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

David L. Munsinger, 68, of Lincoln, NE, died Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at his home in Lincoln, NE.

Private family services will be at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE with Rev. Janet Burgel officiating. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5–7 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home. Social distancing and current Covid-19 DHM’s effective will be followed at both the visitation and funeral.

David Lynn Munsinger, the son of Kenneth Carl and Zeta (Scarlett) Munsinger, was born on June 6, 1952 at the Boone County Community Hospital in Albion, NE. David attended school and graduated from St. Edward High School with the class of 1970. David then attended college in Milford, NE where he graduated with an Associate’s degree in Electronic Engineering in 1971.

David was united in marriage to Shirley Ruff on June 24, 1989 at the Benson Presbyterian Church in Omaha, NE. The couple made their home in the Lincoln area.

David worked at Ampex Corporation from 1979-1983; Tandem Computers, Inc from 1983-1991; and ABC Electric as an electrician from 1995 until his retirement in 2015.

David was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 265.

In his free time, David enjoyed gardening, playing cards with family, and being a handyman. David loved reading books; everything from dictionaries and encyclopedias, machines, and war history. One of David’s favorite hobbies was to go deer hunting with friends and family. He especially loved going hunting with his daughter Emily for 10 years.

David is survived by his wife: Shirley Munsinger of Lincoln, NE; daughter: Emily (Steven) Klein of Lincoln, NE; sister: Donna (Marvin) Ruskamp of Bertrand, NE; sisters-in-law: Mary Beth Munsinger of Omaha, NE and Cheryl Munsinger of Kearney, NE; step-mother: Sally Munsinger of Cairo, NE; his two cats: Lucifer and Misu; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Kenny Munsinger and Melvin Munsinger; many aunts and uncles; and six cats: Betty, Bobby, Lexi, Scooter, Siber and Dusty.

; Marriage announcement with date and place in the 8 JUN 1972 edition of the South Idaho Press, page 7 (Newspapers.com). Marriage date shown in the Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2016, online (Ancestry.com). Two undated public records show Adelle Messley living at Whitten, Iowa, but no further record of Adelle were found. She is not mentioned in the Findagrave memorial for Arthur. DLB 2022.

Lowell Eugene Kilmer passed away on December 20, 2016 following a long battle with cancer.

Lowell was born March 30, 1927 in Farnhamville, Iowa to William Lee and Florence Ruth Kilmer.

In March 1945, at the age of seventeen, Lowell enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served on Guam and in China, preparing for what everyone believed would be the inevitable occupation of Japan. Lowell received his Honorable Discharge on March 20, 1949 and left the Marine Corps as a sergeant. He was thrilled to be on one of the last Iowa Honor Flights to Washington D.C. in October 2009.

Lowell married Doris Munsinger in Stanhope, Iowa on December 9, 1951.

After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drake University on August 27, 1954, Lowell took a job with Swift Premium. While working for Swift Premium, he and Doris lived in Chicago and St. Louis.

In March 1958, they returned to Stanhope, where Doris was born, and lived there for 58 years.

Lowell worked in the construction industry and in 1963, built a home in Stanhope where he and Doris raised their family. Lowell worked for Iowa PreCast Concrete and retired in 1984.

Due to how he lived his life, Lowell leaves family and many friends who were touched by his kindness and sense of humor. His family recalls the industry, imagination, talent and enthusiasm for getting things done, learning new skills and applying them in such artistic ways. He was a member of the Masons for over 50 years. He was interested in genealogy, spending many hours searching the history of the Kilmer side of the family. His true passion was painting, especially rosemaling, a traditional Norwegian form of decorative folk art painting and woodworking. For many years, he was a member of the Ames Woodworkers Club. In 1999, he was honored to have one of his Christmas ornaments selected to hang on the Governor’s tree at the state capitol. He created furniture, wooden clocks, toys, Christmas decorations to display and sell, but his true joy was making pieces to give to family, friends and his church.

Lowell is survived by Doris, his wife of 65 years, son Jim (Dee) Kilmer of Ames, daughter Cheryl (Brett) Mendenhall of Des Moines, son Brian (Janet) Kilmer of Ames, daughter-in-law Lisa Kilmer, son-in-law Damon Ott, his beloved grandchildren Andy and Aly Ott, Jennifer and Steve Zweibel, Kevin Ott, Brooke Mogensen, Lisa Kilmer, Hannah and Joel Reeves, Addison Kilmer, Bailey Kilmer and two great-grandchildren, Winifred Zweibel and Kayser Kilmer.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Helen Jorgensen, Lois Kail and Etta Mae Peterson and two of his children, Bill Kilmer and Janice Ott.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 28 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm and funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 29 at 10:30 a.m. at the Stanhope Parish, 495 Grace Street, Stanhope, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lowell’s name to the Stanhope Parish Building Fund.

The Cremation Society of Iowa assisted the family with a simple cremation.