Archive of Prayer Requests for 2008

Archive of Prayer Requests for 2007

We will post on this page notices we receive from members of the Creighton community about:

• the death of a Creighton employee or student,
• the death of an immediate family member,
• a request for prayer in a serious illness.

The Collaborative Ministry Office
280-3056
cmo@creighton.edu

Prayers are requested for the family of Dennis Pekula, husband of Joyce Pekula, who passed away today, November 12 after a brief illness. Joyce is the executive assistant for Dr. Robert P. Heaney, Vice-president for Research and John A. Creighton University Professor. Arrangements are pending and will be sent out when finalized. Arrangements are being handled by Heafey Heafey Hoffmann, Dworak, Cutler Funeral Chapels at 78th & Center.
Posted 11/13/09


Updated 11/10: Visitation begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 13 with a wake service at 7 p.m. at St. Cecilia's Church. Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the church.

Sharon Laughlin, Specialist in the Human Resources Department, died peacefully Sunday morning (November 8) after her 2-year battle with cancer.   She began her employment with Creighton in May 1998, working in the Benefits area.  Most recently, Sharon worked with the HRIS team processing transactions and working with the tuition remission program.  

Sharon is survived by husband, Steve and 3 sons, Dan, Michael and Matthew.  Dan attends Xavier University in Cincinnati; Michael is a senior and Matthew is a sophomore, both here at Creighton.
Posted 11/09/09

Prayers are requested for Dolora Sabelka, mother of Madonna Knudson (Health Sciences Library ) who has been moved into Hospice Care. Dolora has been ill for several months in her valiant fight with cancer. Please remember the family with
your prayers and support during this difficult time and in the days ahead.
Posted 11/10/09

Please remember as well Jordan Shoning whose father, Jim Shoning, 62, of Carlisle, IA died November 7 in Waterloo, Iowa from complications following a brain aneurysm. Jordan is a freshman in the School of Nursing and condolences can be mailed to Jordan there. Please remember the family in your prayers.
Posted 11/10/09

Bonnie Niemeier, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, wanted to let the Creighton community know that her father, Alvin White, passed away on Sunday, November 1 at home with his loving family surrounding him after his battle with cancer. Funeral services were held on November 3 in rural Canton, South Dakota. She writes, “I know that it was because of the prayers from our family and friends that held us up and kept us strong.”    Her family wishes to thank everyone for the many kindnesses they received. Condolences can be sent to Bonnie at CUMC Suite 2321.
Posted 11/10/09

Prayers are requested for Jenny Steinman (2008 Creighton Alumnae)and her family on behalf of the women of Gamma Phi Beta. Wednesday, November 4, Jenny lost a recurring battle with cancer.

Jenny (School of Nursing ’08) was, in one of her sorority member’s words, “a member who embodied sisterhood in a way unlike any other sister.” A lifelong supporter of cancer survivors and research, she was involved with the Relay for Life effort at Creighton, as well as the Creighton Students Union and her sorority.  Most recently, she was employed at the National Institutes of Health, where she researched pediatric oncology.  Jenny struggled with Ewing’s Sarcoma (a type of cancer that affects the bones and soft tissue) as a child.  She experienced a relapse in the winter of last year, and after her disease spread quickly to her lungs, went to hospice care earlier this week.  Again, she passed away early this morning.

If there are any inquiries about cards, flowers, or other condolences, please email Kristin Fitzgerald at kristinfitzgerald@creighton.edu. More information to follow about services.
Posted 11/05/09

Prayers are requested for the family of Michele Millard whose father-in-law, Ken Millard passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, October 20th.  Michele’s mother-in-law had passed away March 18th unexpectedly.  Michele is in the School of Medicine, Student Affairs Office as an Academic Success Counselor.
Visitation will be at Jaynes Street Community Church of God, 7534 Jaynes St. on Thursday (10/22), from 5-7 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 23rd at Jaynes Street Community Church of God, 7534 Jaynes St. Memorials are suggested to Jaynes Street Church.
Condolences may be sent to Michele at the School of Medicine, Student Affairs Office, Criss III - RM 470G.
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Prayers are requested for the family of Lora Freberg whose father-in-law, Eldon Freberg passed away on Sunday, October 18th.  Lora works in the School of Medicine, Student Affairs Office as the Program Coordinator.

Visitation will be at: ROEDER MORTUARY, 2727 North 108th St – Thursday (10/22) from 5-7pm with Prayer Service at 7pm at mortuary.  Funeral Services: Friday (10/23) 10am at St. Leo's Catholic Church, 1920 N. 102nd St.

Condolences may be sent to Lora at the School of Medicine, Student Affairs Office, Criss III – RM 470C.

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Also, please pray for the family of Hilary Pile, who was a freshman last year at Creighton and transferred to Wayne State College.  Hillary died in her dorm room at Wayne State on Saturday morning.  She was from Norfolk, NE
posted 10/21

Prayers are requested for Bill Orr, former employee in Client Support Services (Old Gym). Bill was in a serious motorcycle accident yesterday on his way home from work when a car pulled out in front of him.  He is in ICU at Creighton University Medical Center.  Bill is the father of twins and triplets all under the age of three.  Cards can be sent to Shirley Cameron, CUMC, Medicine Administration, Suite 5850 and she will get them to the family.
Posted 9/18/09

Please remember in your prayers the family of Bryant Anthony “Tony” High Horse who passed away from cancer on Wednesday, September 16th. He is the brother of Paul High Horse who is a current Magis teacher and also earned his BA from Creighton University. Paul writes “Tony was a son, a brother, a friend, and a comrade, just to name a few. Above all he was my big brother and my hero. He touched many lives and made many friends during his near thirty year journey on this earth. He will truly be missed, but will never be forgotten.”   Services will be held in Rapid City, SD. Condolences can be sent to Paul at his Magis placement address: 908 East E, North Platte, NE 69101 or at phighhorse@hotmail.com .

Posted 9/17/09

Please remember in your prayers the family of Father Thomas M. O’Neill who passed away Tuesday, September 1 in LaCrosse, WI.  Father Tom is the brother-in-law of Dr. Sally O’Neill, Associate Dean of the CME Division in the School of Medicine, and uncle of Connor O’Neill, a junior at Creighton, and Collin O’Neill, a freshman at Creighton.

Father Tom was Vice President of Mission and Ministry at Viterbo University in LaCrosse, WI.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 3 at 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the San Damiano Chapel at Viterbo University, LaCrosse, WI.  Christian Wake Service will be held at the San Damiano Chapel following the visitation at 7:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial is Friday, September 4 at 10:00 a.m. at the San Damiano Chapel.

On Monday, September 7, visitation will be held at the Cutler/O’Neill Funeral Home in Council Bluffs at 7:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial is Tuesday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Queen of Apostle Church, 3304 4th Ave, Council Bluffs. 
Posted 9/03/09

It is with great sadness that we request prayers for the family of Emily Johnson of Lincoln. Emily, sister of incoming freshman, Alex Johnson, was killed in a car accident on Saturday morning as Alex and his parents were moving into Kiewit Hall. She was a current junior at Southwest High School in Lincoln.

Emily is survived by her parents, Paul and Terri; her brother, Alex; her twin sister, Erica; grandmothers as well as numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 25 at 4 p.m. at First Plymouth UCC, (2000 D Street); no visitation. Memorials in care of the family for future designation. Condolences www.lincolnfh.com  Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

Condolences can be sent inter-campus to Alex Johnson c/o Kiewit Hall, Box 209.

Posted 8/24/09

Prayers are requested for Lucy Hruska (General Internal Medicine staff) whose mother, Rosemary Logsdon passed away on August 22nd. She was also grandmother to Joe Hruska, ’08 Creighton graduate.

A Wake service will be held on Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m. at the funeral home (John A. Gentleman Mortuaries, 72nd Street Chapel); mass of Christian Burial is Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, Sinisinawa, WI 53824 or to Roncalli Catholic High School.

Condolences can be sent to Lucy at 601 n 30th St. Suite 5800.
Posted 8/24/09

Prayers are also requested for two employees in the Cardiac Center who lost parents this week:

Marcella Anderson Heffner, mother of Merikay Anderson passed away on August 11. Merikay has been a registered nurse in the Cath Lab of the Cardiac Center since 2000. Please remember the family of Marcella Heffner in your prayers.

John T. “Jack” Knox passed away Monday, August 17 with his family at his side. Jack was the father of Kathleen Knox, a certified  coder with the Cardiac Center since 2006. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. today (Thursday) at the West Center Chapel (Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann). Funeral services will be on Friday, August 21 at 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church.

Condolences can be sent to Merikay and Kathy c/o the Cardiac Center.
Posted 8/20/09

Updated 8/20: We have received word that Fred Becker passed away on Thursday, August 20. Services will be held on Tuesday, August 25 in Sacremento, CA.

Prayers are requested for Fred Becker, father of Lisa Chipps.  He is ill and fighting liver cancer in California. Lisa is the Assistant Director, Academic Services in Athletics and her husband, Daniel Chipps is head coach for the Creighton Women's Rowing team.
Posted 8/06/09

Prayers are requested for Beverly Higgins whose father, Tommie Smoot, passed away August 18 in Detroit, Michigan  after a long battle with COPD.  Beverly works in Creighton Medical Lab as a phlebotomist in pathology. Funeral arrangements will be August 25th at 1 p.m. at James H. Mortuary, 2624 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI. Please keep the family in your prayers.
Posted 8/19/09

Please remember in your prayers the family of Jeanette Smith who passed away Tuesday, August 18 at the age of 90. Jeanette was the mother of Anne Anderson of the Registrar’s Office and Ellen Smith-Moland of the Department of Microbiology and grandmother of Sarah Yearsley, a sophomore at Creighton.

Visitation will be on Thursday, August 20 from 4-8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Bethany Funeral Home (82nd & Harrison); Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Gerald Catholic Church (96th & Q St).
Posted 8/19/09

Please remember in your prayers Dr. Linsheng Li, former Creighton employee and husband of Dr. Wanyun Zeng  (Pharmacology) Dr. Li passed away unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, August 13. Dr. Li had worked as a researcher in the Department of Pharmacology in the School of Medicine. Please remember also his wife, Dr. Wanyun Zeng, who is currently a researcher in the Department of Pharmacology, and their daughter, Ming, son-in-law, Jasper, and son, Bing.    Jasper and Ming are graduates of Creighton University.  Condolences may be sent to Dr. Zeng care of the Department of Pharmacology. No arrangements are known at this time.
Posted 8/14/09

Please remember the family of Roberta Biery in your prayers. Roberta, sister of Kathy Dare (Public Relations) died this morning (August 10th).  She was also the mother-in-law of Sheila Cherney (Creighton Medical Associates) and grandmother of Katelyn Cherney, CU class of 2008 and winner of the Mary Lucretia Award in 2008. 

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12 at Brewer Korisko Mortuary (51st and F Street). A memorial servce will be at St. Luke's Lutheran Church (24th & I Street) on Thursday at 11 a.m. Donations to the family.
Posted 8/10/09

Jane Neneman’s father, Robert Tatten passed away on Tuesday, August 4th.  Jane is the Supervisor of Patient Services in the Adult Clinic.

VISITATION Sunday, 4pm, St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church with VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Monday, 10am, St. Robert Bellarmine Church.

Memorials are suggested to: St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church/Msgr. E.H. Kerwin Endowment Fund; Marian High School; or Creighton Prep.

Condolences can be sent to Jane at the School of Dentistry.
Posted 8/06/09

Prayers are requested for the family of Letha Armstrong, mother of Dr. Linda Lazure, who passed away, Tuesday, August 4, 2009.   Other family members employed at Creighton include Dr. Anne Schoening (granddaughter), and Lori Rusch (granddaughter) all  in the School of Nursing.

Family visitation is from 6-7:00 p.m. and 8-9:00 p.m. tomorrow (August 6); Rosary and memory sharing is from 7-8:00 p.m. at the Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa.  Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. on Friday (August 7), at St. Peter & Paul Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Please remember the Lazure family in your prayers as Linda’s father recently passed away on June 6 and her husband, Leroy, lost both of his parents during this year as well.

Memorials can be given to Creighton University, School of Nursing  for the Letha and Lyle Armstrong Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Posted 8/06/09

Prayers are requested for the repose of the soul and the family of James Selk, a younger brother of Dr. Eugene E. Selk, Associate Professor of Philosophy,  who died on Sunday, August 2,  in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.   A memorial service will take place in Canada at a later date.  Condolences can be sent to Gene at Humanities Center 107 or at eeselk@creighton.edu
Posted 8/04/09

Bob Whipple, Professor and Chair of the English Department, would appreciate prayers for his mother, Patsy Whipple, who is recovering from surgery in Lubbock, Texas.
Posted 8/04/09

Prayers are requested for Roberta Biery, sister of Kathy Dare (Public Relations) who has been moved into Hospice Care. Roberta has been ill for several months in her valiant fight with cancer. Please remember the family with your prayers and support during this difficult time and in the days ahead.
Posted 8/04/09

Updated 8/04: We have been notified of the following arrangements for Bob Berry (DoIT) who passed away on Friday, July 31st.

A Wake will be held at Thomas Funeral Home (3920 N 24th Street) on Friday, August 7 at 7:00 p.m. with visitation starting at 6:00 p.m. The funeral services will be held at Morning Star Baptist Church (2019 Burdette St.) on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m.

Condolences to the Berry family can be sent in care of DoIT.

Updated 7/31: I pass on the news we have received from Brian Young that Bob Berry, from the Department of Information Technology has died.
Please remember Bob, his family and his colleagues who morn his passing in your prayer.

The family of Bob Berry requests prayers from the Creighton community. Bob is ill and in the intensive care unit at Clarkson hospital. Bob is a programmer/analyst in DoIT and the father of Tanya Berry, a 1992 Creighton alum, and Aarice Berry a current Creighton student.  Cards and notes may be sent to Bob in care of DoIT.
Posted 7/28/09