Don Polak COLERIDGE ? Don Polak, 69, Coleridge, died Nov. 20, 2006, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D. Visitation, with a vigil service, was Nov. 23 at the St. Michael?s Catholic Church, Coleridge, and continued one hour prior to services at the church Friday morning. Wintz Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Mass of Christian Burial was Nov. 24 at St. Michael?s Catholic Church, with Rev. John Pietramale officiating. Inurnment was at St. Michael?s Cemetery, Coleridge, with Coleridge American Legion Post 114 providing military honors. Pallbearers were Keith Fiscus, Dan Fiscus, Mike Fiscus, Bruce Fiscus, Jeff Sperry, Jim Sperry and Bill Sperry. Don was born May 9, 1937, at Coleridge, to Raymond J. and Mabel M. (Elliott) Polak. He grew up in Coleridge and graduated from Coleridge High School in 1954. He worked on Gavins Point Dam for BOC Construction from 1954-1955. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957, and spent part of that time stationed in Panama. He married Rose Mary Litz Feb. 8, 1958, at Hartington. After their marriage, they lived in Hartington until moving to Vermillion, S.D., in 1960, where he was administrator for the Vermillion Unit of the South Dakota National Guard. In 1963, they moved to Yankton, S.D., and Don was the administrator for the Vermillion and Yankton Units of the National Guard. After his father?s death in 1965, they moved to Coleridge where Don farmed. In 1967, he went to auctioneering school and auctioned until 2004. In 1969, he began the Don Polak Construction Company, specializing in opening and closing graves in the area. He sold his business in 1979 and worked as a salesman for Moorman Feeds until 1993. He had also done garden tilling since 1978. He was a member of St. Michael?s Catholic Church, Coleridge; Coleridge American Legion Post 114; and the Nebraska State Auctioneering Association. He loved to take care of his ?critters,? and loved to fish, hunt, trap, visit with his friends and spend time with his grandson, Jeremiah. Survivors include his wife, Rose Mary, Coleridge; a daughter, Christy Orwig and Joel Emanuel, Aberdeen, S.D.; a son. Jon and Beckie Polak, Coleridge; a grandson, Jeremiah Polak; three sisters-in-law, Evie Litz, Dixon; Sherie Litz, Hartington; Rita and Jerry Sperry, Wayne; two brothers-in-law, Jerry and Agnes Litz, Hartington, and Dennis and Louise Litz, Aurora, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Joni Polak, March 5, 1978; an infant sister, Lavonne Polak; and two brothers-in-law, Norb and Don Litz.

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Kenneth R. Hanika SIOUX CITY, Iowa ? Kenneth R. Hanika, Sr., 61, Sioux City, Iowa, died Nov. 19, 2006, at his daughter's home in Sioux City. Visitation was held Nov. 22 at Meyers Brothers Morningside Chapel. No other services are planned. Kenneth was born Dec. 27, 1944, in Auburn, to Melvin and Leota (Roberts) Hanika. He grew up and attended school in the Auburn and Nebraska City areas. He drove truck for Brower Construction for 17 years. Kenneth moved to Laurel, in 1987, where he continued to drive truck for Brower Construction and Kevin Meyers Trucking. When his health began to fail, he worked as a mechanic at the Laurel Body Shop. Kenneth and Juli (Keil) Hudson married Nov. 18, 1989, at United Lutheran Church, Laurel. They later divorced. He was known as “Custer” on the CB and always had “Custer” on his trucks. He enjoyed watching NASCAR races on television, playing pool, spending time with his children and with his grandchildren. He enjoyed each day that God granted him. Survivors include his children, Jonathan Hanika, Laurel; Kenneth R. Hanika Jr., Sioux City, Iowa; Rea Hanika, Sioux City, Iowa; Tara “Susie” Taylor, Sioux City, Iowa; Tonya Hanika, Sioux City, Iowa; Julie Fitzgerald, California; stepchildren and spouses, Steven and Heidi Keil, Concord; Brandi and Allen Roeder, Laurel; Donnie Meeves, Sioux City, Iowa, and Gaylene Meeves, Sioux City, Iowa; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Edwin; an infant daughter, Cassandra; and a niece, Annette Roper.

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Emma Elizabeth Haffner YANKTON, S.D. ? Emma Elizabeth Haffner, 95, Yankton, died Nov. 22, 2006, at the Avera Yankton Care Center, Yankton. Visitation, with a rosary and scripture service, was Nov. 26, at the Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton. Funeral services were Nov. 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Mark Lichter officiating. Burial was in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton. Emma was born to Joseph and Louise (Arens) Hochstein April 8, 1911, in Bow Valley. She grew up and attended schools in the Bow Valley area and was employed in Yankton for some years. Emma married Roland Haffner Jan. 13, 1937, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Yankton. They farmed and raised a family in the Walshtown area until 1973, when they retired and moved to Yankton. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, St. Elizabeth?s Circle of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Red Cross Grey Ladies, and volunteered at Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton Care Center, and Meals-on-Wheels. Survivors include a son, Dennis and his wife Sally (Beumeler) Haffner, Kennewick, Wash., and their children Russ, Brian and Billy Haffner, and Ann (Haffner) Lugton; a daughter, Mary and her husband, Larry Sampson, Livermore, Calif.; their children Mark, Dave and Matthew Sampson; 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland; her parents; a daughter, Judith; six brothers; two sisters; and two grandchildren, James and Catherine Sampson. The family requests memorial contributions be directed to the charity of your choice.

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Donald J. Brandl LINCOLN ? Donald J. Brandl, 56, Lincoln, formerly of Wasilla, Alaska, died Nov. 24, 2006, at the Monarch Hospice Center, Lincoln. A memorial service will be , Nov. 30, at 1 p.m., at the Berean Church, Lincoln, and at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Coleridge, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. Donald was born May 5, 1950, in Laurel, to Jack and MaryAnn (Lensing) Brandl. He attended Coleridge Community Schools and graduated in 1968. He loved sports and was the quarterback of the football team, played baseball and participated in track. He held the shot put record for many years. Don attended Wayne State College for a short time, where he also played football. In 1969, he joined the U.S. Marine Corp. He received his basic training in San Diego, Calif., and was then stationed in Vietnam and Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge in 1971. He attended Universal Heavy Construction School, Miami, Fla., returning to Coleridge where he worked in Sioux City, Iowa, as a heavy equipment operator. After leaving Coleridge, he went to Houston, Texas, to work. In 1975, he moved to Alaska where he worked for Steve Arduser, a classmate, and other heavy construction companies. He was also employed at Elmendorf Air Base in the winter months. In 1979, he married Frances Dickson in Palmer, Alaska. They had three children, Isaac, Mariko and Sachiko. Don returned to Nebraska in 2002 after his brother, Rodney, and his wife Kathy, Seward, were killed. Don was the guardian over their children, Jessica and Matt until 2005. During this time, he worked in Lincoln. Don returned to Wasilla, Alaska, and married Cindra Ens, Lincoln Feb. 24, 2006. He was a member of the V.F.W. and American Legion, Wasilla, Alaska. One of Don's favorite pastimes was returning to Coleridge for pheasant hunting season. He loved his grandchildren and nieces and nephews very much. He had a great love for family and enjoyed reading the Bible every day. Survivors include his wife, Cindra; son and wife, Isaac and Sarah Brandl, San Diego, Calif.; daughters and spouses, Mariko and Jake Rousculp, Wasilla, Alaska, and Sachiko Brandl, Wasilla, Alaska; and two grandchildren, Emma Brandl, San Diego, Calif. and Josiah Brandl, Wasilla, Alaska; brother and wife, Richard and Karen Brandl, Shawnee, Kan.; sister and husband, Julie and Lindsay McDiarmid, Tualatin, Ore.; step children, Kent Ens and Quentin and wife, Makaila Ens, Lincoln; step grandson, Adin Ens; parents, Jack and MaryAnn Brandl, Coleridge; father and mother-in-law, Richard and Edith Bunn, Lenox, Iowa; and sisters-in-law and spouses, Carolyn and Don Stanley, Grand Island, and Dixie and Ted Greenwald, Omaha. He was preceded in death by a brother, Rodney and wife, Kathy, Seward; grandparents Joseph and Helen Brandl and Herman and Anna Lensing; and uncles, aunts and cousins.

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