Carl P. Djernes

Carl P. Djernes, age 82, of Phillips, Nebraska, died Tuesday, March 27, 2001, at his home after a lingering illness from prostate cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Aurora, with a 1:30 P.M. committal service at the Phillips Cemetery. Rev. Al Duminy will officiate. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M., Thursday at Higby Mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Messiah Lutheran Church, Tehama Shrine Transportation Fund at Hastings or Hospice in Grand Island. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: CARL P. DJERNES

Carl Peter Djernes, the son of Anton Christian and Karen Theresa (Hemmingsen) Djernes, was born in Marquette, Nebraska on October 16, 1918 and died in Phillips, Nebraska on March 27, 2001, at the age of 82 years.

Carl attended school in Marquette and graduated in 1936. After graduation he went to Omaha to find work and lived there until 1940, when he moved to California and went to work for Consolidated Aircraft. On December 6, 1941 he married Margaret Farmer, she passed away from cancer, they had no children.

On October 8, 1942 he joined the Army Air Corp for Officers Training to become a pilot. He graduated and was sent to England, where he flew 37 missions over Germany. He was awarded Air Medal with 6 clusters, 3 Bronze Service Stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievements. He was discharged with the rank of Captain on August 31, 1945.

He returned to Omaha where he entered the Engineering Program at the University of Nebraska under the G.I. Bill. After three semesters he received an appointment to the U.S. Post Office as a rural mail carrier and served until 1964 when he retired.

Carl moved to Central City and was in Cattle Feeding Operation, he served as President of Live Stock Feeders in 1969.

In December of 1972 he married Virginia Powers McKenzie in Reno, Nevada and moved to Grand Island where he worked for the Co-op. She passed away in 1991 from a heart attack.

On June 13, 1992, he was united in marriage to Doris Rathje and moved to the farm near Phillips. After his marriage he and Doris did extensive traveling to Europe, Asia, Panama, Hawaii and throughout the United States.

Carl was a member of the Phillips Masonic Lodge #62, the Tehama Temple Scottish Rite, Provost Corp, Legion of Honor in Hastings and while in Omaha he was commander of Shrine Horse Patrol. He was also a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, Eighth Air Force Historical Society, Leiderkranz, Platt-Duetsche Society and the Saddle Club.

He enjoyed working with his hands and did metal and wood working.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Louise Djernes and Agnes McHargue.

Survivors include his wife Doris of Phillips; one sister, Dora Hamilton of Seattle, Washington; two nieces, Marilyn McHargue Alexander of Norfolk and Sandra Hamilton Nelson of Livermore, California; three step-children, Ed Rathje of Phillips, Linda Strotman of Aurora and Jane Pavek of Minnetonka, Minnesota; 8 step-grandchildren; 4 grand nieces and nephews; 7 great-grand nieces and nephews and 3 step-great grandchildren.