2016 Memorials

Beverly L. Schnepel, age 85, of Treynor, Iowa passed away December 19, 2016, at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. 

She was born September 27, 1931, to the late Erwin and Iva (Enewold) Reinert. Beverly graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School with the class of 1949. She married Eldon Schnepel on June 24, 1953, and together they farmed and raised their four children, Douglas, Dannie, Karen and Sharon. Beverly was an active member of Zion Congregational Church in Treynor.  Beverly was also very involved in 4-H and Iowa Farm Bureau. In 2011, she was inducted into the Westfair Hall of Fame.  

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Eldon Schnepel; and her brother, Roger Reinert.  

Beverly is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas and JulieAnn Schnepel, Dannie and Carol Schnepel; daughters, Karen Schnepel and Sharon Wilson; sister-in-law, Wanda Reinert; 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends. Memorials are suggested to Zion Congregational Church or Jennie Edmundson Spirit of Courage.

Joan Marie Youngs, age 90, of Council Bluffs, passed away November 10, 2016 at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha. 

Joan was born in Waterloo, Iowa on December 26, 1925 to the late Everett and Hazel (Retz) Zwanziger. She graduated from Boone, Iowa High School. She entered the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing under the Cadet Nurse Corps, and graduated February of 1948.

Joan married Vernon Charles Youngs on February 12, 1949 at Saint John Lutheran Church. They were together 59 years before his passing in 2008. Joan worked as a registered nurse at Jennie Edmundson Hospital until her retirement in 1985. While at Jennie, she developed the hospital Employee Health & Infection Control programs, as well as being active on the American Red Cross, American Cancer and American Heart committees. She was past PTA, active in Saint John’s Lutheran Church teaching Sunday School and Bible School when her children were young. She served on the Altar Guild and was a member of the Women of the ECLA. Joan was a member of the JEMH Nurses Alumni. Because of her devotion to the JEMH, she enjoyed volunteering for the Auxiliary and was a life-time member of the WCA. She was also a member of the #25 Harmony Chapter (OES). 

Joan and Vernon were active as snowbirds in Destin, FL, their winter home for over 20 years. The past two years, she enjoyed living at Harmony Court. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vernon; and sister, Peggy Stafford.

Survivors include her children: daughter, Jo Kathryn; sons, Charles (Arthea) and Richard (Susan); grandchildren, Jolene Johnston Hernandez (Allan) of Pittsburgh, PA, Sarah Johnston Enochs (Tom) of Burgettstown, PA, Noah Youngs, Zeb Youngs (Shelly), Tony Bonacci (Melanie), Angie Kilton (Kraig), Tina Dice (Zach); 13 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Verne H Welch, Jr.Jennie Edmundson Foundation Board Chairman, Verne H. Welch Jr., 79, passed away Saturday, August 13, at his home in Council Bluffs. Verne contributed his extensive energy and leadership skills to our Board for over a decade.

He was a driving force behind starting the Spirit of Courage which funds charitable care for Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Cancer Center patients. This event has grown into one of the leading fundraising events in Council Bluffs and raised nearly $1.5 million since its inception in 2003.
We are most grateful to Verne for his contributions to our Foundation Board and to the Council Bluffs community. We appreciate the continued support of his family who have requested memorials to the Jennie Edmundson Foundation in lieu of flowers. Make Memorial Gift

Kenneth E. Thornton, age 84, of Council Bluffs passed away February 15, 2016 at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital. 

He was born in Billings, Montana on May 19, 1931 to the late Eric and Marie (Schonberg) Thornton. Kenneth graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School with the class of 1949 and then served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Omaha with a degree in education. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Lainson; step-father, Dale Herndon.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mianna Thornton; sons, Eric Thornton and his wife Krista, Kent Thornton; grandchildren, Sean Thornton, Kelsey Vincent and her husband Brian; great-grandchild, Knox Vincent; brother-in-law, Fred Lainson.

Visitation is 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday February 16, 2016 at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Memorial service is 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday February 17, 2016 at Saint John Lutheran Church – 633 Willow Avenue in Council Bluffs. Memorials are suggested to Saint John Lutheran Church or the Jennie Edmundson Foundation.

Wylle “Billie” Evelyn Knott, age 90, passed away on February 20,2016, at the VA Hospital in Omaha, Neb.
She was born in Linden, North Carolina to the late John and Mary Margaret (Porter) Wood on October 30, 1925. She was the youngest daughter in a family of eight girls and three boys and she was the last surviving member. Billie was proud of her southern upbringing as well as being able to serve her country. She volunteered as a hostess at the USO at Bort Bragg, N.C. , and cooked breakfast at the YMCA for those in the military prior to taking nurses training at Highsmith Hospital in Fayetteville. Billie worked at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Fayetteville as an Army Cadet Corps nurse while in Inactive Reserves, she was called to active duty during the Korean War and assigned to the hospital at Camp Atterbury in Indiana where soldiers injured in Korea were brought to receive medical care. Billie served as a lieutenant in the Army as a nurse when she met her husband, Dr. Norman Knott, at Port Knox, Kentucky where they were both stationed. Norman was serving as an Army Captain and a dentist. They were married in Kentucky in 1956. Once out of the service, the couple moved to Norman’s hometown of Council Bluffs. Norman practiced dentistry for 41 years in Council Bluffs until his retirement in 1998.

Billie enjoyed her years as a volunteer, serving at Jennie Edmundson Hospital for 38 years, the local Red Cross for over 20 years and the Union Pacific Museum in the old Carnegie Library. She founded the Ministry for Mentally Handicapped over 25 years ago. Norman and Billie were married for 52 years before Norman’s death on January 16, 2009.

Billie is survived by her children, Cindy Seaman, Mary Ann Knott and Norman Knott Jr., all of Council Bluffs; grandchildren, Andrew Seaman (Sarah, of Omaha, Lauren Seaman and fiancé Clint Weedle, of Indianapolis and Matthew Seaman; great grandchildren, Micah and Ezra Seaman.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m., on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral Service Thursday, February 25, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., also at the funeral home with a reception to follow the service. Interment, Cedar Lawn Cemetery, with military honors by American Legion Post #2.

Memorials are suggested to VODEC, EQ School of Hair design, union Pacific Museum, Jennie Edmundson Hospital, all of Council Bluffs and the VA Hospital of Omaha. Clifton D. "rink" Holly, age 72, passed away June 8, 2016 at his home surrounded by his family.

Robert M. "Bob" Williams, age 88 years, of Council Bluffs, formerly of rural Crescent, Iowa, passed away March 4, 2016.

He was born December 22, 1927, near Loveland, Iowa, to the late Vern and Ina (Carr) Williams. He attended a one-room school (Crescent Township #1) for eight years, and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1945. Bob married Lucille Jansen in 1948 and they had three sons, Roger, Randy and Ron. All of them have built homes on the family farm. Bob farmed in Crescent Township since 1948. In 1971, he got into real estate doing sales and appraisals, which he did for more than 30 years before retiring in 2001. Bob volunteered on many political campaigns from local to national. He served as President of the Iowa Farm and Land Brokers Association and served many years on the Chamber Ag. Committee. He served 10 years on the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, 17 years on the Crescent School Board and 7 years as Board President. He was a 4-H leader for many years, president of the Crescent Baseball Club, Council Bluffs High Noon Optimist Club, a member of the Tangier Shrine Motor A Patrol and also volunteered at Jennie Edmundson Hospital.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Donald. Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lucille; sons, Roger (Peggy), Randy (Johnny Lynn) and Ron (Vicki); grandchildren, Rachael Jones (Buddy), Beth Christensen (curt), Regan Williams (friend Derek), Matt Williams (Ayn) and Jason Wanning; 9 great grandchildren and many other family and friends.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to East Side Christian Church or the Center.

Clifton D. “Rink” Holly, age 72, passed away June 8, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family.
Clifton was born December 4, 1943, to the late Clifton and Madeline (Franz) Holly and graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School with the class of 1963. He was united in marriage to Susan K. Beddow on June 20, 1964, and together have spent the last 51 years together. They were blessed with son, James and daughter, Kimberly. Rink worked for Clark Brothers Trucking for 32 years and was a member of Salem United Methodist Church, and was the 2009 recipient of the Jennie Edmundson Spirit of Courage Award. He was also a longtime volunteer at the Henry Doorly Zoo, Meals on Wheels, and Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital.

Clifton is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joyce Brown and her husband John; and brother-in-law, Fred Seipold.

He leaves behind his wife, Susan; son, James C. Holly and wife Carla of Houston, TX; daughter, Kimberly Blair and husband Tom of Naperville, IL; grandchildren, Emily and Christopher Blair, Caeden, Ashlyn, Gage, and Harper Holly; sisters, Norma Seipold of Omaha, Kay Harvey and Phil of Glenwood, IA; brother, Eugene Holly and Pam; sister-in-law, Julie Smith and Dick Olsen, all of Council Bluffs; brother-in-law, Joel Beddow and Bonnie of Atkinson, NE; nieces and nephews.

Lucille Rose Brandriff, 95, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, died peacefully on July 28, 2016.

Lucille Rose Brandriff was born September 19, 1920 in Modale, Iowa to the late Gladys and Nicholas (Johnson) John. She was the oldest of 11 children. Lucille graduated from Modale High School in 1936. She was part of the “Rosie the Riveter” work force that helped the United States secure victory in World War II. Lucille worked at the B17 aircraft plant in Burbank, California during the war effort.

In 1945, Lucille married John “Jack” Brandriff, her high school sweetheart. Jack and Lucille were married for 60 years. After WWII, Lucille and Jack worked in the grocery store business for a short time. Ultimately, Lucille landed a job with People’s Natural Gas in Council Bluffs and stayed there for over 35 years. She served as a customer liaison, traveling Southwest Iowa educating the public on the joys of “cooking with gas”. Upon retirement, Lucille went on to volunteer at Iowa Western Community College and Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs for several years. Lucille lived a long and productive life and, in the words of Frank Sinatra, “she did it her way”.

Lucille is survived by several brothers and sisters; Harold “Hardy” John of Council Bluffs, Edward “Don” and Donnabell John of Harlan, IA, Phyllis Hardesty of Las Vegas, NV, Margaret (Leo) Hough of Des Moines, IA, and Marjorie (Charles) Adair of Mondamin, IA; several nieces, nephews and many beloved friends.

Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Brandriff; sisters, Helen House and Alice Earwood, as well as brothers, Lloyd ‘Shorty” John, Gerald “Tony” John and Robert “Bobby” John.