Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Kenneth L. Goertzen
HAVEN - Kenneth Leon Goertzen, 85, died Nov. 22, 2004, at The Dillon Living Center, Hutchinson.
He was born Nov. 21, 1919, at Hutchinson, the son of Jacob and Emma Cheever Goertzen. He lived at Haven for 18 years, previously living at Scott City. He graduated from Hutchinson High School, Kansas State University and earned his graduate degree at Poly Tech. He was a geneticist in wheat research and was a co-owner of Goertzen Consulting Inc.
He belonged to Congregational United Church of Christ and attended The Haven Church of Christ. He belonged to several Honorary Societies and received the Owins-Wimberly Award. He belonged to Wheat Couple in 1978, KSU Agricultural Award, Hutchinson High School Hall of Fame and the KSU Agriculture Alumni Association.
On Jan. 26, 1946, he married
Betty Lanning at Manhattan. She died March 4, 1996.
Survivors include: a son, Kenbe, Topeka; a daughter, Kayann Ausherman, Haven; and 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl, Albert and Floyd; and a sister, Violet.
Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at The Haven Church of Christ, with Buddy Aldridge presiding. Viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Van Campen Funeral Home Chapel, Haven.
Memorials may be sent to the Goertzen Research and Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Ruth I. Griffin
PRETTY PRAIRIE - Ruth I. Griffin, 94, died Nov. 21, 2004, at her home, Pretty Prairie.
She was born Sept. 8, 1910, at Hutchinson, the daughter of Bertrand and Chloie Coleman Eisiminger. A former Nickerson and Hutchinson resident, moving to Pretty Prairie in 2000, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to Fairview United Methodist Church, Nickerson.
On Aug. 18, 1934, she married
Orville L. Griffin at Hutchinson. He died Oct. 12, 1982.
Survivors include: a son, Jim Griffin and wife, Cheryl, Hutchinson; two daughters, Barbara Trostle and husband, Keith, Tucson, Ariz., and Donna Newman and husband, Wayne, Pretty Prairie; a brother, Jack Eisiminger, Hutchinson; two sisters, Virginia Perkins, Topeka, and Clo Ann Stiggins, Partridge; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Elmer, Kenneth and Eldon "Dutch" Eisiminger; and a sister, Helen Brooks.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Elliott Mortuary Chapel, Hutchinson, with Chaplain Frederick J. Obold presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel's Memorial Park cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Reno County, in care of the mortuary.
David K. Bernard
David Keith Bernard, 37, died Nov. 20, 2004, at his home, Hutchinson.
He was born Aug. 7, 1967, at Hutchinson, the son of James B. McCoy and Charlotte Ann Bernard. A Hutchinson resident, formerly of Springfield, Ill., he worked as a Journey Electrician Apprentice, and at Miejer's, Springfield.
He belonged to Second Missionary Baptist Church, Hutchinson.
Survivors include: his father, California; his mother and stepfather, William King, Springfield; a sister, Natosha Mack, Dallas, Texas; two stepbrothers, Billy and Terry King, both of Minneapolis, Minn.; four stepsisters, Joell Henry, Minneapolis, Eva Moore, Sherri Williams and Mildred Griffin, all of Springfield; grandparents, Kenneth and Lois Bernard, Hutchinson; two great-uncles, Sam Bernard, Hutchinson, and Charlie Bernard, Sacramento, Calif.; great-aunts, Lucille Bernard-Adams, Emma Bernard Castor, and Myrna Bernard; uncles, Howard M. Bernard, Hutchinson, Barry Green, DeSoto, Texas, Ronald and Melvin Johnson, both of Aurora, Colo.; four aunts, Maxine A. Johnson and Shelia Johnson, both of Aurora., Kim R. Bernard-Law, Lewis, and Kennita Green, DeSoto, Texas; and numerous other uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, with the Rev. William Green presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, all at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson.
Memorials may be sent to the American Epilepsy Foundation and the David Keith Bernard Memorial Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Robert White
CASPER, Wyo. - Robert Fredrick "Bud" White, 84, died Nov. 15, 2004, at his home, Casper, Wyo.
He was born Sept. 19, 1920, at Hutchinson. A resident of Casper, Wyo., since 1951, he owned and operated Bud's Auto Repair from 1951 until his retirement in 1985.
He served in the U.S. Army.
On Dec. 23, 1942, he married
Evelyn J. Rodgers at Hutchinson. She survives, Casper.
Other survivors include: two sons; a daughter; two sisters, Delpha Engelland and Donna Beals, both of Hutchinson; a brother, Larry White, Sterling; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial service was Nov. 18, at Bustard's Funeral Home and Crematory, Casper, Wyo., with Chaplain Leonard Robinson presiding.
Virgil W. Jones Sr.
Virgil W. Jones Sr., 72, died Dec. 1, 2004, at Buhler Sunshine Meadows Health Care Center, Buhler.
He was born June 18, 1932, at Hutchinson, the son of Ordie W. Jones Hanson and Minnie A. Blocker Jones Hanson. A lifetime Hutchinson resident, he retired from Hutchinson Waste Paper Co.
On Sept. 16, 1950, he married
Helen L. Mooney at Ellinwood. She survives.
Other survivors include: six sons, Dwane M., Virgil W. Jr., John W., Rickey L., all of Hutchinson, Carl L., Winnemucca, Nev., and Tommy L., Elko, Nev.; three daughters, Brenda S. McAfee, Hutchinson, Tina M. McCoy, Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Mary M. Gray, Lead Hill, Ark.; three sisters, Valva McLaren, Wichita, Viola Steen, Yukon, Okla., and Darlene Moore, Hutchinson; 28 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginnia M. Jones Carrol.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Heritage Funeral Home, Hutchinson, with Pastor Eldon Smith presiding. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m., at Heritage Chapel. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel's Memorial Park cemetery, Hutchinson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice Care of Kansas, in care of the funeral home.
Wilma Emery
Wilma Emery, 95, Hutchinson, died Dec. 2, 2004, at Natchitoches Parish Hospital Long Term Care Unit, Natchitoches, La.
She was born Jan. 16, 1909, at Stafford, the daughter of Willie Elmer and Eva May Littlefield Brown. A longtime Stafford resident, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to Eastwood Church of Christ, Hutchinson.
Survivors include: a son, Eddie Brock, Modesto, Calif.; a daughter, Betty Durham, Natchitoches; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Claude Ray Brock, her second husband George Farris Emery, a brother and a sister.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory Chapel, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Richard Foster and Wayne DeWendt presiding. Friends may call from noon to 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pleasant View cemetery, Hutchinson.
John D. Mendoza
John David Mendoza, 26, died Oct. 31, 2004, at Select Specialty Hospital, Wichita.
He was born April 19, 1978, at Hutchinson, the son of Guadalupe F. and Linda L. Gonzales Mendoza. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1998. A longtime Hutchinson resident, he worked in School Maintenance at Hutchinson High School.
He belonged to St. Teresa's Catholic Church.
Survivors include: his parents, Guadalupe F. and Linda L. Mendoza, Hutchinson; siblings, Andrea R. Mendoza, Hutchinson, Misty L. Mendoza, Hutchinson, Jason A. Mendoza, Wichita, Lillian Garza, Hutchinson, Laura Enriquez, Hutchinson, Deborah Vieyra, Hutchinson, Ann Gonzales, Hutchinson, and Daniel G. Rivera-Mendoza, Hutchinson; a niece, Mariah Sibley; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Fred Mendoza and Rafaila Perez and Frank and Esther Gonzales.
Rosary will be at 8 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary Chapel, Hutchinson. Funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Teresa's Catholic Church, with Father Stuart M. Smeltzer presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the mortuary. Burial will be in Eastside cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to John Mendoza Memorial Fund, in care of the mortuary.
