Recalling impact of lives at year's end

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There are those who choose to organize their time with PDAs synced to their computers. No ceremonial tossing of dog-eared calendars for these folk.

Regardless, time flowed on; 2007 inevitably became 2008, on-screen and on paper. Once again we mark the occasion by pausing for a look back at lives that came to an end during the past 12 months.

When Helen Stetter of Valentine was born in 1893, there were no electronic versions of calendars — actually there were no electrical devices at all. Stetter was healthy her whole life, people said. She walked everywhere. When she died at age 113, she was the oldest Nebraskan and the fourth-oldest person in the world.

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Dr. David F. Demuth of York, 57, was named the 2008 Family Physician of the Year by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Suffering from chest pains, he walked into the York hospital emergency room. A heart attack knocked him to the floor. He died later that day in Lincoln when he was taken off life support.

John Furrer, 87, was on television for 33 years on NET’s popular “Backyard Farmer.” His co-workers said he was just as genial off the camera as he appeared to be when he was in front of it.

Ruth Rosekrans Hoffman, 81, of David City, lived for years on the East Coast, where she became known as that famous children’s illustrator from Nebraska thanks to her work in books such as “Alexandra the Rock Eater” and “Anna Banana.”

Julius Misle, 82, put thousands of people behind the wheels of new cars. He and other family members sold cars on O Street near 48th Street for almost 50 years before they sold the business in 2000.

Dorcas Cavett, 91, of Lincoln was a Marine who became a beloved teacher. Today there is a school named after her. “I can still hear her in my mind’s ear sometimes saying, ‘Why don’t you just do it? It’s not going to get done by just talking about it,’” recalled stepson Dick Cavett.

Harry A. Spencer, 103, earned wide respect for his firm and understated handling of the Charles Starkweather trial as a district judge. Spencer later spent 18 years on the Nebraska Supreme Court. Spencer refused to become part of later Hollywood productions on the Starkweather case. “To him, that was just his job,” said son Terry.

Ernie Kucera, 87, of Abie was the king of polka, playing all over Nebraska and regularly touring in other polka-loving parts of the country. In 1982, Kucera and his orchestra went behind the Iron Curtain to tour Czechoslovakia. Wherever they went, Kucera and his musicians reminded people, “In Heaven There Is No Beer.”

Barbara Hibner, 65, was named athletic director for women’s athletics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, becoming a role model for women who wanted to earn a living in athletics. “She made you think anything was possible,” said Husker softball coach Rhonda Revelle.

Terrance Moore, 58, a local music business icon, founded the local Dirt Cheap record store in 1970s, providing a support base for alternative lifestyles. As he slipped away, his family played a CD by Hawaiian Israel Kamakawiwo’ole singing: “Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there’s a land that I’ve heard of, once in a lullaby …”