Finding a specific name in the Lincoln Journal Star obituaries for today shouldn’t feel like a chore, but honestly, the digital transition of local newspapers has made it kinda tricky. You used to just snap open the paper over coffee. Now? You’re navigating paywalls, Legacy.com redirects, and "sponsored" results that might not even be from Nebraska.
Whether you’re looking for service times for a friend or trying to track down a distant relative's passing, the process in 2026 is a bit more layered than it used to be. The good news is that the information is all there. You just have to know where the Star hides it.
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What’s in the Lincoln Journal Star Obituaries for Today?
Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the listings reflect a community that is deeply connected. If you’re checking the digital edition or the physical print, you’ll see several prominent names from the Lincoln area and surrounding towns like Seward, Beatrice, and Humboldt.
For instance, the community is currently remembering Stephen John Gage, a man whose life reads like a history book of American achievement. Born in Palisade and a standout at UNL, Stephen went from a farm in Nebraska to the White House Staff and later the EPA, where he worked on massive projects like the Three Mile Island cleanup. His service is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. today at Roper & Sons South Lincoln Chapel.
Then there’s Anna Ruth Drake, who lived to be 101. Think about that for a second. Born in 1924, she saw a century of change and spent 60 years in prison ministry at the State Penitentiary. Her funeral is also today, January 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Temple Church.
These aren't just names; they are the fabric of Lincoln. Seeing these notices isn't just about checking a box—it’s about acknowledging lives that built the parks we walk in and the schools our kids attend.
Where to Look When the Website Gets Confusing
Most people start by Googling the name, which usually leads to a Legacy.com page. This is basically the "official" backend for the Lincoln Journal Star.
If you want the most direct route, skip the generic search and go straight to the Journal Star’s dedicated obituary portal. It’s updated in real-time. If a notice was finalized at 11:00 p.m. last night, it’ll be there this morning.
Sometimes, though, the "today" part is a misnomer. A death might have occurred three days ago, but the family waited to publish until the service details were locked in. That’s why it’s smart to check the "Last 7 Days" filter.
- Pro Tip: If you can’t find someone on the Journal Star site, check the local funeral home websites directly.
- Butherus, Maser & Love, Roper & Sons, and Wyuka often post the full text on their own sites before the newspaper print cycle even hits.
- Check the Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home listings too; they handle a huge volume of local services and sometimes have more photos than the newspaper version.
How to Place a Notice (And What It Costs in 2026)
Losing someone is expensive. It's just the truth. And unfortunately, local news obituaries aren't free.
If you’re the one tasked with putting a notice in the Lincoln Journal Star, you’re looking at a few different price points. A basic "Death Notice"—which is basically just the person’s name, age, and service time—usually runs around $55. It’s short, strictly five lines or so, and gets the job done.
But if you want the full story—the "Obituary" with the photo and the long-form text about where they went to school and how many grandkids they had—the price starts at $90 and goes up based on length. It's basically like buying real estate on a page. Adding a photo or a veteran's emblem will tack on more to the final bill.
Wait, there's a deadline. If you want a notice to appear in tomorrow's Sunday paper, you generally have to have it submitted and paid for by early afternoon the day before. Because of the Martin Luther King holiday this coming Monday, January 19, those deadlines might be even tighter. If you're working with a funeral director, they usually handle this part, but it’s good to know so you aren't surprised by the "Early Deadline" warnings on the website.
Why Local Obituaries Still Matter in a Digital World
You might think Facebook has replaced the newspaper for this stuff. Sorta, but not really.
An obituary in the Lincoln Journal Star is a permanent record. It gets archived. A hundred years from now, a kid doing genealogy research through GenealogyBank or Ancestry.com is going to find that record. They won't find a deleted Facebook post from 2026.
These notices also serve a functional purpose for the community. When someone like Barbara Williams (who passed recently at 99) or Benjamin Allen Detweiler (who was only 52) is listed, it alerts the various circles they moved in—alumni from UNL, former coworkers at the City of Lincoln, or neighbors from the old 27th Street neighborhood.
Actionable Steps for Your Search
- Use Specific Keywords: When searching the archive, use the full legal name. If they used a nickname, like "Dick" for Richard or "Bobby" for Barbara, try both.
- Filter by Date Range: Don't just look at "today." Many services happen 5 to 10 days after a passing. Set your search to the last two weeks to catch everything.
- Check the Guestbook: On the digital version of the Lincoln Journal Star obituaries for today, there is almost always a "Guestbook" link. This is where you can see messages from people who grew up with the deceased, which often provides more "color" than the formal obituary itself.
- Print for Archives: If you find a notice for a loved one, use the "Print" or "Save as PDF" option on the Legacy page. These links can sometimes break after a few years if the newspaper changes providers.
Checking the Lincoln Journal Star obituaries for today is about more than just news. It's a way to stay connected to the heartbeat of Lincoln, Nebraska, acknowledging the transitions of the people who make this city home. If you're heading to a service today, like the one for Stephen Gage or Anna Ruth Drake, remember that these notices are the community's way of saying that every life here left a mark.