Henry M. Mowinkel

Mowinkel - Henry M., age 60, died Tuesday at Gretna. Survived by wife, Mary; sons, Arthur and Elmer; daughter, Mrs. Marvin Plambeck, all of Gretna; 1 brother, 5 sisters, 4 grandchildren.

Funeral Thursday, 2 p.m., Gretna Lutheran church, Rev. E.H. Thomas officiating. Burial Mohr-Voss Cemetery, E.J. LaBorde service.

From the Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated July 26, 1939


Judge Faces Contempt Suit

Papillion Estate Case Takes New Turn

Papillion, Neb., June 17 - Joseph E. Strawn, Papillion attorney, has filed contempt proceedings in district court against County Judge Harvey A. Collins, as an outgrowth of the Henry Mowinkel estate case.

Mowinkel, a farmer who lived between Papillion and Gretna, died September 22, 1932, leaving a will which set up a five thousand-dollar trust fund. The interest from the fund was to go to his daughter, then Mrs. Lassetta Spreckles, during her lifetime, and at her death the principal was to be divided equally among all of Mowinkel’s living children or their "lawful issue."

Mrs. Spreckles, who had induced her mother and the other children to assign their interest in the estate to her, sought by legal action to terminate the trust, but was defeated. Her present husband, John Holling, was appointed trustee of the fund.

Recently Strawn, on behalf of Mrs. Holling, filed s new action in district court seeking to terminate the trust. Holling filed an answer practically agreeing to her petition. As a result, County Judge Collins summoned Holling to appear June 22 and show cause why he should not be removed as trustee.

Strawn replied with this week’s action asking district court to cite Judge Collins for contempt, and characterizing his order to Holling as "an unwarranted attempt at interference with the administration of justice."

W.R. Patrick of Omaha is attorney representing the trust fund.

From the Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, Douglas Co., Nebraska), dated June 17, 1937