Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Elmer E. Erb
BAZINE - Elmer E. Erb, 84, died Feb. 2, 2001, at his home in Bazine.
He was born Dec. 23, 1916, on the family farm south of Bazine, the son of Fred and Elizabeth Gross Erb. A lifetime resident of the Bazine area, he was a mechanic and repairman.
On July 8, 1943, he married Verna Reinhardt-Timken at Bazine. She died March 14, 1988.
Survivors include: four sons, Stan and Brad, both of Bazine, Rod, Ransom, and Jeff, Dighton; a daughter, Peggy Huxman, Arnold; four brothers, Leo R. and Earl P., both of Bazine, Fred L., Ness City, and Richard E., Marshfield, Mo.; nine sisters, Marjorie B. Schaben, Sterling, Leona K. Cheney, Hoisington, Grace M. Risley, Jeannice Posey and Evelyn Pitzer, all of Hutchinson, Jeannene Hamilton and Geral-dine Floyd, both of Marshfield, Shirley A. Erb, Mesa, Ariz., and Norma J. Jansen, San Diego; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Pearl E. Erb; and a stepson, Wendell A. Timken.
Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church, Bazine, with the Rev. Buzz Lambrecht presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Monday at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, and from 10 a.m. to service time Tuesday at the church. The family will be in attendance from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Bazine Cemetery, with military graveside rites conducted by Olin Cole American Legion Post No. 392, of Bazine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to United Methodist Church, the Golden Years Senior Citizens Club or the American Legion Post, all at Bazine, all in care of the funeral home.
Louis Vernon Holmes
GREAT BEND - Louis Vernon Holmes, 88, died Feb. 3, 2001, at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus, Great Bend.
He was born July 3, 1912, at Great Bend, the son of Oscar Pearl and Rosa Gruber Holmes. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he had retired July 31, 1977, as assistant fire chief of the Great Bend Fire Department.
He belonged to St. Mark Lutheran Church, the Elks Lodge and Masonic Blue Lodge, all at Great Bend.
On Aug. 16, 1954, he married Emelia "Millie" Wittman at Great Bend. She survives.
Other survivors include: several nephews and nieces.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Shannon Tiller presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home, and from 9:30 a.m. to service time Tuesday at the church. Interment will be in Great Bend Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to St. Mark Lutheran Church or the Great Bend Fire Depart-ment, both in care of the funeral home.
Marion W. 'Jack' Smith
CANTON - Marion W. "Jack" Smith, 84, died Feb. 3, 2001, at Hutchinson Hospital.
He was born Sept. 3, 1916, at Minneapolis, Kan., the son of William C. and Emma Linsenmeyer Smith. A longtime area resident, he had lived in Canton for the past eight months, moving from Galva. He was a retired McPherson County road and bridge construction employee.
He belonged to Galva Christian Church, was a past member of the Galva Amer-ican Legion and VFW and belonged to the National Rifle Association. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
On Nov. 11, 1967, he married Eleanor Macklin
Smith at McPherson. She survives.
Other survivors include: three sons, Stuart Smith, Lincoln, Neb., Keith Fasnacht, Clifton, Colo., and Glen Fasnacht, Hutchinson; five daughters, Donna Swallow, Erie, Colo., Cheryl Groover, Noblesville, Ind., Jan Goering, Flagler, Colo., Shirley Brumbaugh, Grand Junction, Colo., and Ann Bartholomew, Hutchinson; a brother, Keith Smith, Waseca, Minn.; two sisters, Violet Peters and Faye Jean Smith, both of Canton; 17 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Wanda and Frieda.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Canton Christian Church, with the Rev. Jack Smith presiding. Burial, with military rites by Canton American Legion Post No. 192, will be in Canton Township Cemetery.
Memorial may be sent to the church or to the World War II Veterans Memorial, both in care of Olson's Mortuary, Canton.
Lydia Elizabeth Eslick
MULLINVILLE - Lydia Elizabeth Eslick, 88, died Feb. 2, 2001, at Hilltop House, Bucklin.
She was born March 19, 1912, at Mullinville, the daughter of Charles David and Donna May Dye Zimmerman. Living most of her life in Mullinville, she had been a cook for the Mullinville schools and at the Gables Cafe.
On Dec. 22, 1941, she married Cye H. Eslick at Kinsley. He died Jan. 19, 1990.
Survivors include: two sons, David, Kingsdown, and Lyle, Mullinville; a daughter, Ruth Babcock, Dodge City; a brother, Kenneth Zimmer-man, Fowler; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by six brothers, Orlo, Leroy, Truman, Glenn, Raymon and Rollin Zimmerman; a sister, May Byrne; and a grandson.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Fleener Chapel, Greensburg, with the Rev. Willard Olinger presiding. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Mullinville.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Associa-tion, the American Diabetes Association or the Kiowa County Library, all in care of Fleener Funeral Home, Greensburg.
George M. Rentschler
SMITH CENTER - George M. Rentschler, 87, died Feb. 3, 2001, at Smith County Mem-orial Hospital, Long Term Care Unit.
He was the father of Ailene Phelps of Kingman.
Funeral service will be at
2 p.m. Tuesday at Enfield Funeral Home, Norton, with burial in Norton City Cemetery.
Ethel Mae Pennington
DODGE CITY - Ethel Mae Pennington, 66, died Feb. 2, 2001, at her home in Dodge City.
She was born Sept. 27, 1934, at Dodge City, the daughter of Paul M. and Vera Fern Wright Batt. A longtime resident of Dodge City, she had lived in Minneola for a number of years, returning to Dodge City in the 1940s. She was a homemaker.
She attended First Mission-ary Church, Dodge City.
On Aug. 14, 1966, she married Harold Pennington at Dodge City. He survives.
Other survivors include: her mother, Vera Fern Demoret, Dodge City; three sons, Alan Shaffer, Dodge City, Randy Shaffer, Little River, and Fred Wilson, Dodge City; three daughters, Marlene Bamber-ger, Dodge City, Mary Cruse, Hutchinson, and Diana Moline, Manteca, Calif.; two brothers, Howard Demoret, Mankato, Ill., and Jimmy Demoret, Quincy, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Mission-ary Church, Dodge City, with the Rev. James E. Hossler presiding. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, in care of the funeral home.
Eldon A. Peterson
LINDSBORG - Eldon A. Peterson, 90, died Feb. 2, 2001, at his home in Lindsborg.
He was born Sept. 3, 1910, at Dresden, the son of Albert and Anna Peterson. A longtime resident of Lindsborg, formerly of McPherson and Marquette, he was in the grocery business for 42 years in those three towns.
He belonged to Evangelical Covenant Church and the Lions Club, both at Marquette, and was a former member of the Marquette School Board, Lindsborg Kiwanis Club, Gideons International and the Marquette City Council.
On May 21, 1935, he married Maybelle Anderson at Marquette. She survives.
Other survivors include: three daughters, Jolene Reiswig, Marion, Bernita Sveiven, Fairfax, Va., and Coralee Murray, Budapest, Hungary; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Reynold; and a sister, Elna Elvin.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Evangelical Covenant Church, Lindsborg, with Ministers Jeff Waugh and Don Hawk presiding. Friends may call from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Olson's Funeral Home, Marquette. Burial will be in Marquette Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church or to Gideons International, both in care of the funeral home.
Shirley A. McCracken
Shirley A. McCracken, 86, died Feb. 3, 2001, at Hutchinson Hospital.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.
Robert H. Fuller
GARDEN CITY - Robert H. Fuller, 80, died Feb. 2, 2001, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.
He was born April 7, 1920, at Mitchell, the son of George and Lydia Rife Fuller. He attended Mitchell School, Rice County, was a graduate of Little River High School, and graduated with a major in botany and a minor in secondary education from Fort Hays State University. A Garden City resident since 1961, he worked in the soil conservation service offices at Ellsworth, Russell and Hugoton. He was the district soil conservationist at Garden City, and in 1980, he opened Fuller Real Estate Office.
He belonged to First Baptist Church, where he was head usher and deacon, and was a member of the Garden City Rotary Club, all at Garden City. He was program chairman of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, a member of Fort Hays State University Endowment Association, a 32nd Degree member of Little River Masonic Lodge, past president of the Kansas American Baptist Men's Association, and was on several committees of Camp Christy.
On June 9, 1946, he married Marjorie Spreier at Rozel. She survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Marsha Siefkas, Eads, Colo., and Rhonda Goodloe, Garden City; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Lorita R. Fuller; a brother, Ray Fuller; and a sister, Pauline Fuller.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Garden City, with Pastor Dick Odum presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Garnand Funeral Home, Garden City. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Camp Christy, in care of the funeral home.
