David E. Vaughan

David E. Vaughan, 88, of Loup City, died Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church in Loup City. The Rev. Marty L. Egging will officiate. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City, with graveside military honors by American Legion Post No. 48 of Loup City. Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service and Knights of Columbus rosary. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Vaughan was born on Jan. 16, 1923, on a farm near Sutherland, the son of Theophilus A. and Marie K. (Weir) Vaughan. He was united in marriage to Ruth E. Winter on June 1, 1946, at Sutherland. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; and three sons, Russell, Patrick and Michael Vaughan; and one daughter, Cherie Vaughan. He is survived by one son, Thomas Vaughan of Tucson, AZ; and one daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and Scott Sakala of Greeley, CO. He is also survived by five grand children and two great-grandchildren. David attended country schools and then Sutherland High School. His senior year he moved to Douglas, Wyoming, where he graduated from Douglas High School in 1941. He then attended the University of Wyoming for one year, where he played football. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, from Jan. 1943 to Feb. 1946, having served in France, England and Guam. After his marriage to Ruth, the couple lived in Thermopolis and Shoshoni, WY and later Paxton, NE, where David worked in dam construction. In 1951, they moved north of Loup City, where they farmed and ranched until retiring into Loup City in 1981. After retirement, David went back to work to help construct the Calamus Dam and was also a caretaker at St. Josaphat's Catholic Church for a number of years. After Ruth's death in 1997, he continued to live in his home until July 2005, when he moved to the Grand Island Veterans Home, where he lived the rest of his life. David was a member of St. Josaphat's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council No. 5455, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly No. 1712, and American Legion Post No. 48, all of Loup City. David's greatest love was ranching and raising his livestock. In addition to his wife and children, he was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald Vaughan. Memorials are suggested to St. Josaphat's or the family's choice.