Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Curtiss L. Florez
OLATHE - Curtiss Lee Florez, age 55, passed away Nov. 12, 2004, at his home in Olathe, Kan.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004, at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 900 Honeysuckle, Olathe, Kan.
Recitation of the rosary and visitation, Monday, Nov. 15, 6 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 14275 South Blackbob Rd. Olathe, Kan. Interment, St. John's cemetery, Lenexa.
The family suggests memorials to Olathe Medical Center Hospice.
Curtiss was born at Hutchinson, Kan., on Nov. 21, 1948, to Esther and Jerry Florez.
After graduating from Hutchinson High School, he served our country in the U.S. Air Force for a period of six years.
Curtiss enjoyed a career with Atmos Energy for the past 13 years as a service technician.
His friendships with those at Atmos will be treasured, and he will be sorely missed.
Curtiss is survived by his wife, Kelly, his father, G.G. "Jerry" Florez, his sister, Sharron Aguirre, and his niece, Michelle Casados.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Esther R. Florez, and his grandparents.
Robert G. King
SILVER SPRING, Md. - Robert G. King, 86, died peacefully, Nov. 16, 2004, at Silver Spring, Md.
Born Oct. 30, 1918, at Hutchinson, he attended Hutchinson schools and Kansas State University.
He belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.
During World War II, he served as an infantry officer in the South Pacific and later joined the Army Air Corp.
Upon his return from the war, he was Commander of the Hutchinson Chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars and established an honor guard to meet and present military funerals to the bodies of returning soldiers to Reno County.
Following WWII, he did advanced graduate studies in appraisal at Northwestern University and University of Colorado.
He established his own real estate business at Hutchinson, and served four years on the City Commission and as mayor.
In 1966, he moved his family to Silver Spring, Md., and became the right-of-way officer for the Department of Transportation and was a charter member of the Senior Executive Service.
After retiring in 1980, he moved to Hilton Head Island and worked as a ranger at the three Palmetto Dunes golf courses, where he was affectionately known as "Ranger Bob."
He was a member of Providence Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head, S.C.
He is survived by: his wife of 61 years, Darlene Lovan King; a son, Steven C. King, Lafayette, Calif., two daughters, Christine Davis, Silver Spring, Md., and Marcia Gudger, Asheville, N.C.; a brother, Richard C. King, Burr Ridge, Ill.; and eight grandchildren.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 10 in Arlington National cemetery.
Memorials may be sent, in his memory, to the local Hospice.
Emma Mast
Emma Mast, 96, died Dec. 5, 2004, at Hutchinson Hospital.
She was born Feb. 7, 1908, at Nappanee, Ind., the daughter of William and Barbara Borkholder Yoder.
A resident of rural Hutchinson since 1935, moving from Nappanee, Ind., she was a member of the Amish Church.
On Feb. 10, 1935, she married
John Mast. He survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Mary Mast and Wilma Mast and her husband, Edward, all of Hutchinson; and four grandchildren, Denise Miller and Arlene and Laverne Mast, all of Hutchinson, and Marie Bontrager, Haven.
She was preceded in death by an infant son; seven brothers; and seven sisters.
Funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Amish Community Building, 5917 W. Mills Ave., Hutchinson, with the Rev. Daniel Beachy presiding.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday and 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, all at the Amish Community Building.
Burial will be in Amish Church cemetery, rural Hutchinson.
Memorials may be sent to a charitable organization of the donor's choice, in care of Van Campen Funeral Home, Haven.
Robert H. Astle
HAVEN - Robert H. "Mick" Astle, 90, died Nov. 11, 2004, at Mount Hope Nursing Center.
He was born Aug. 15, 1914, at Haven, the son of John Wesley and Eva Caffrey Astle.
He graduated from Emporia State Teachers College in 1936.
A longtime Haven resident, he was a farmer, stockman and teacher, retiring from teaching in Hutchinson USD No. 308 in 1976 after 28 years.
He belonged to Congregational United Church of Christ, Haven; Moose Lodge No. 982 and Elks Lodge No. 453, both at Hutchinson; Masonic Lodge No. 238 AF and AM, Haven and Mount Hope, for 54 years.
On Sept. 29, 1934, he married
Edna R. Kennedy at Newkirk, Okla. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Mike, Topeka; a daughter, Carole Dyer, Haven; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Pierce, Tom and Guy and two sisters, Grace Giest and Helen Rawlings.
Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Congregational United Church of Christ, Haven, with the Rev. Christian Tirre presiding.
Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Van Campen Funeral Home, Haven.
Burial will be in Laurel cemetery, Haven.
Memorials may be sent to the church, Haven Senior Center or Hospice of Reno County, all in care of the funeral home.
Joan Holcomb
Joan Holcomb, 73, died Oct. 25, 2004, at Hutchinson Hospital.
She was born Dec. 15, 1930, at Wichita, the daughter of D.W. and Isla Laird Heidrick.
She was raised by Ray and Hilda Laird, Kansas City.
A 52-year resident of Hutchinson, she was co-owner of Hodisco Inc. and a homemaker.
She belonged to First Congregational Church, Hutchinson, and two sororities, Beta Sigma Phi and Preceptor Beta Upsilon.
On May 31, 1952, she married
Dean Holcomb at Kansas City.
He died Oct. 11, 1980.
Survivors include: three daughters, Leigh Rayl and her husband, Kent, McKinney, Texas, Debbi Hall and her husband, Greg, Hutchinson, and Suzi Weidman and her husband, John, Mesa, Ariz.; and six grandchildren, Jaime Snider, Josh Rayl, Kyle Weidman, Jenna Weidman, Jimmy Hall and Jeff Hall.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Penwell-Gabel's Memorial Park cemetery, with Pastor Matt Stafford presiding.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory.
Memorials may be sent to the Shriner's Plane of Mercy or the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center, both in care of the funeral home.
Gerald R. Salmon
Gerald R. Salmon, 80, died Oct. 26, 2004, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.
He was born Jan. 25, 1924, in rural Plevna, the son of Ralph I. and Mary Mangels Salmon.
He attended Hutchinson area schools.
A lifetime Reno County resident, he was a mailer for the Hutchinson News for 291/2 years.
He belonged to First Baptist Church.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
On Sept. 20, 1947, he married
Bernice Kaufman at Hutchinson. She survives.
Other survivors include: five daughters, Becky and Dan Rich, Hutchinson, Beverly Wright, Hutchinson, Marsha and Jim Maatta, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sherri and Dan Parrish, Flower Mound, Texas, and Donna Salmon, Hutchinson; two sisters, Donna Ritchie, Tulsa, Okla., and Vergene Zind, Springfield, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Hart, and a grandson, Timothy Maatta.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastors Jim Autrey and Dennis Ritchie presiding.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary.
Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park.
Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church or Hospice House, both in care of the mortuary.
