OBITUARIES
JAN
22
2025
Joyce I. Fafeita • Torrance, CA Resident, 95
Joyce Ilene (Grabowski) Fafeita, of Torrance, CA passed away Jan. 6, 2025 at the age of 95.
Joyce was born Feb. 15, 1929 in Ord, NE to Charles and Hattie (Kasal) Grabowski. The family lived on a farm northwest of Ord and Joyce attended rural school, District #30. From 1942 to 1944, Joyce attended Ord High School then moved to North Loup, NE and graduated in 1946 from North Loup High School.
Joyce continued her education at Commercial College in Omaha, NE. In 1948, she began working for Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company in Lincoln, NE in the business office.
On July 4, 1955, Joyce was united in marriage to R. James (Jim) Fafeita in Ord. The couple resided in Cicero, IL where they both worked for Western Electric Company until 1957.
In May of 1957, they moved to Los Angeles, CA. Joyce worked at Sunshine Bar Supplies as a bookkeeper until 1960. Joyce and Jim began their own business, “Seasons Service,” selling party favors and decorations to hotels and restaurants. Their business expanded into selling to military clubs in the United States and Japan.
In August of 2011, Joyce moved to Villa Sorrento Assisted Living in Torrance.
Joyce’s memberships included VFW Auxiliary of Ord and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Ord and Inglewood and Redondo Beach, CA; and the ZCBJ Lodge (Bohemian Hall).
She enjoyed reading mysteries and playing poker with friends.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen “Kami” Priest and Coleen Fafeita Dumenjich and her husband, Tom Dumenjich; and a grandson, Louis Mogavero.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Jim who passed away on March 27, 1993.
Graveside Christian Burial Rites will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thurs., Jan. 23, 2025 at the Ord Catholic Cemetery in Ord. Father Scott Harter will preside. Ord Memorial Chapel is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at ordmemorialchapel.com.
Charlie (Ron) Kriewald • Former Ord, NE Resident, 78
With love, we remember Charlie (Ron) Kriewald, 78 years old, of Pequot Lakes, MN who passed away Fri., Dec. 27 of complications from pneumonia and infection. He and his wife, Kathy recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.
Ron was born in Ord, NE and graduated from Ord High School in 1964, later graduating from Kearney State College in 1975. While living in Ord, he worked for Kriewald Construction building homes and other projects in and around Ord.
He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and working outdoors as a builder, then for 30 years as a construction inspector on large water/irrigation projects in the Western United States.
Ron was a man of faith. His favorite verse was Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." He took great comfort in that verse during his illness.
He loved his family and is survived by his wife, Kathy; sister, Pat; daughters, Robyn (Tony) and Roxanne (Jeff), and son, Ryan (Cari); granddaughters, Dakota and Shyann; and grandsons, Connor and Sage. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Lena Kriewald, and two infant grandchildren.
JAN
08
2025
Raymond D. Dowse • Hollister, MO Resident, 82
Raymond Duane Dowse, 82, of Hollister, MO passed away Dec. 28, 2024. He entered this life on July 2, 1942, in Comstock, NE, the son of Phillip and Elenor Dowse.
A big part of Raymond’s life was spent on the farm where he grew up. His hobbies were hunting and showing cattle and horses. He grew up attending and serving in the Wescott Baptist Church in Comstock. In his early years, Raymond helped his father run the Riverview Vacation Ranch where they kept hunters in the winter and vacationers in the summer. In 1972 he moved his family to Kilgore, NE in the Sandhills to work on a cattle ranch. Later he moved to Arkansas, where he worked all over the United States and Canada in store planning for Walmart. He eventually retired from Walmart and went back to farming. Raymond will be greatly missed and forever loved.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Elenor Dowse; brother, Darral Dowse; brother, Dale Dowse; and sister, Diane Horst.
Raymond is survived by his brothers, Ronnie Dowse and Doyal Dowse of Comstock; son, Brian (Berlinda) Dowse of Los Fresnos, TX; daughter, Brenda (Mike) Krupp of Forsyth, MO; son, Bradlee (Cateena) Dowse of Bentonville, AR; son, Brant (Marissa) Dowse of Fayetteville, AR; stepdaughter, Sera Poyarz of Fayetteville; stepdaughter, Suzan Poyarz of Siloam Springs, AR; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Comstock. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks. To leave an online condolence or memory, please visit cremationsoftheozarks.com.
JAN
01
2025
Dean Ash • United States Air Force Veteran • Former Arcadia, NE Resident, 94
Dean Ash, age 94, formerly of Arcadia, died Dec. 26, 2024, at the Rose Lane Nursing Home in Loup City.
Funeral services were Tues., Dec. 31, 2024 at the Arcadia Methodist Church. Burial was in the Somerford Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Arcadia Fire Department. Govier Brothers Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at govierbrothers.com.
Raymond Dean Ash was born on Oct. 25, 1930 to Raymond and Mabel (Dye) Ash at Gates, NE. He attended school at Somerford and graduated from Sargent High School in 1948. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.
On March 18, 1951, Dean married Marjorie Minnette Buckbee in Sargent. While Dean was in the service, the couple lived in Illinois and Cheyenne, WY. Three children were born to this union: Sandra Renee, Richard Bruce and Melissa Sue. After Dean's time in the service, the couple moved to Sargent. They also lived in Mason City before settling in Arcadia in 1972. Dean farmed, ranched and raised quarter horses.
Dean was a member of the American Legion and Arcadia Methodist Church. Throughout the years, he served on the Mason City School Board, was a Valley County Supervisor, served on the Arcadia Rural Fire Board and the Mid States Co-op Board. Dean enjoyed his grandchildren’s activities, golfing and square dancing.
Dean is survived by his children, Sandra Ash of Kearney and Bruce (Cindy) Ash of Arcadia; five grandchildren, Kylie (Brian) Cheetsos, Kelsey (Matt) Dorsey, Chalee (Shane) Fernau, Aaron (Bethany) Drake and Betsy Drake; 11 great-grandchildren, Ashtyn, Teagan and Mason Cheetsos, Neelie, Laiken and Kellen Dorsey, Cole, Kinley and Berklee Fernau, and Cooper and Dylan Drake. He is also survived by a brother, Jim Ash of Burwell, and a sister, Bev (Dwain) Johnson of Kearney.
He was preceded by his parents; wife, Marjorie; daughter, Melissa Sue Ash; and siblings, Duane Ash, Don Ash and Opal Kuh.
​
​
​