Joseph "Chuck" Marion Vondra

J.M. Vondra Dies On Way to Hospital Here March 24

J. M. "Chuck" Vondra, 61, a long-time resident of northern Goshen County, died of a heart involvement enroute to a Lusk Hospital about 6:00 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. Vondra had suffered two attacks in the past two years but improved after each. He suffered a third early Thursday morning and after rallying he concurred in the family's opinion that he should be taken to the hospital.

Funeral services were held Monday at 1:00 p.m. in the Peet Chapel. Rev. Jacob Nein of the Congregational Church officiated. A mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Emerson Bonner, Mrs. A. F. DeCastro, Donley Unruh and Gerald D. Bardo sang "The Old Rugged Cross." Later Mrs. Bonner and Mrs. DeCastro sang "Whispering Hope." Mrs. J. P. Watson was the organist.

Pallbearers were: Willard Robinett, Joe Waggoner, W. S. Tyrrel, James Harris, James Shoults and Charles Canfield.

Interment was in the Jay Em cemetery with full grave-side military honors by the Ferdinand Brandstetter Post No. 1 of the American Legion. Bert Peterson of that post folded the flag, assisted by Charles Vaughan of Wieten-Dupes Post No. 4; and presented it to Mrs. Vondra. Keith Newman and Ed Baldwin were color bearers. Other representatives of that post present were: Andrew McMaster, Reuben Hahn, Darrell Benshoof, Harry Baldwin, Herbert Tadewald and Ed Redifer. The color guards were Kenneth Pavlosky and Glenn Parmley of the National Guard and the bugler was Gerald Pfeifer. The firing squad was furnished by the National Guard.

Joseph Marion Vondra was born March 17, 1894 in Brainard, Nebr., the son of Joseph and Valentine Vondra. He grew to manhood in Minnesota and Nebraska and from there he came to the Jay Em community where he homesteaded in 1913.

He served two years in the armed forces in France in World War I.

March 29, 1922 he married Hattie McCurdy and the couple had five children.

"Chuck", as he was known, was an active member of the Ferdinand-Brandstetter Post No. 1 of the American Legion at Van Tassell and was also a member of the Modern Woodsman Lodge of Jay Em. Many people have heard and enjoyed his singing and he took much interest in his children in sports and 4-H activities. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Prairie Center.

He is survived by his wife, Hattie; his father, Joseph Vondra of Casper; two sons, Joe of Tioga, N. D., and Verne of Lusk; three daughters: Mrs. Keith Coffee and Mrs. Dale Haskins of Torrington and Mrs. Bobby Sides of Lance Creek; three brothers: Ed of Casper, James of Torrington and Otto of Lusk; three sisters: Mrs. Floyd Detimore of Shelby, Nebr., Mrs. Helen Pierce and Mrs. Bud Fiddes of Casper. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.

The above relatives were all present at the funeral. Kenneth McCurdy of Omaha, a brother of Mrs. Vondra, was also present.

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