Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Evelyn Townsley
Evelyn J. Ambler Townsley, 69, of Severy, mother of Cindy Watts of Park City, died June 4, 2003. She was co-owner of Jim’s Used Cars and Firewood. Service was June 9 at Severy United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include her husband, Jim; sons and daughters-in-law, Junior and Brandy Ramsey of Corning, Calif., James and Dala Ramsey of Augusta, Bill Townsley of Ft. Worth, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Clara and Ron Register, Elaine and Fred Wells, all of Augusta; sister, Mary Billups of Viola; aunts, Helen VanBuskirk, Joy Knight, both of Severy; 15 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Greenwood County Hospice. Zimmerman Funeral Home, Howard, had charge.
Donald Lacy Sr.
Donald Lee Lacy Sr., 66, of Valley Center, retired pastor, died June 4, 2003. Service was June 7 at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial was at Kechi cemetery, Kechi.
He was born June 10, 1936, in Roswell, N.M., the son of R.E. Lacy and Verna L. Walker. He graduated from Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas, in 1960. He married
Kathryn A. Bingham on Sept. 2, 1960, in Fort Worth, Texas. She survives of the home. He served 42 years in the ministry, including 35 consecutive years of pastoring at four churches--Kim, Colo.; Woodland Park, Colo.; Pittsburg; and Valley Center’s Calvary Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Helen Sledge; and three brothers, Paul Lacy, James Lacy and Ralph Lacy.
Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Donnie L. Jr. and Melinda M. Lacy of Olathe; daughters and son-in-law, Melinda K. Lacy of Olathe, Michelle and Joe Graham of Torrance, Calif; and five grandchildren, Emerson Lacy Graham, Jack Henry Graham, both of Torrance, Kaitlin Diane Lacy, Taylor Nicole Lacy, Dylan Lee Lacy, all of Olathe.
Memorials have been established with the church building fund and Victory in the Valley. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Alberta Loutzenhiser
Alberta L. Loutzenhiser, 81, of Wichita, aunt of Robert Dixon of Valley Center, died June 5, 2003. She was a retired office assistant for Beech Aircraft. Service was June 10 at Mission Chapel Mausoleum.
She was a past deacon of Bethany Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the 20th Century Club, Golden B’s Women’s Club, Epsilon Sigma Alpha and did various volunteer work for local organizations including Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital and Project Beauty.
Other survivors include her husband of 54 years, Vinton O. Loutzenhiser of Wichita; stepson, Ronald Loutzenhiser of California; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Memorials have been established with the American Cancer Society, Heartland Division, 400 N. Broadway, Wichita, 67202, and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, 67202-3805.
Squire Zane
Squire Boone Zane, 64, of Fall River, father of Ron Zane of Valley Center, died July 2, 2003. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and service is at 10 a.m. Saturday, both at Timmons Funeral Home. Burial will be at Whitehall cemetery.
He was born Jan. 24, 1939, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Squire Boone Zane Sr. and Aelzene Lawrence. He served in the U.S. Army. He retired in 2001 after 30 years as a heavy equipment operator for local union 101. He married
Bernadine Schlicher on Jan. 12, 1968, in Wichita. She survives.
Other survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel and Shelly Zane of Fall River; Clark and Cindy Wade of Crescent City, Calif., Larry and Susan Wade of Eureka; daughters and son-in-law, Jacquetta and Terry McMullen, Debbie Wade, all of Fall River; brothers, Kenneth Zane of Ardmore, Okla., Donnie Raine of Coyville, Gary Raine of Wichita, Doran Raine Jr. of Toronto; sister, Sharon Miller of Wichita; 16 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Cancer Society.
Allen Ulbrich
Allen R. Ulbrich, 91, of Girard, brother of John Ulbrich, Robert Ulbrich Jr. and Sarah Hawkins, all of Valley Center, died July 25, 2003. He was a farmer and dairyman. Service was July 29 at Smith Carson Wall Funeral Home, Girard, and burial was at Girard cemetery.
He was born Nov. 10, 1911, at rural Valley Center, the son of R.A. and Maud Ulbrich. He grew up on the family farm and attended Pleasant Ridge Grade School. He married
Wanda Johnson of Rose Hill and moved shortly afterward to the McCune and Girard area. He and his wife were active members of Girard Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers, Walter, Otto and Harley; and sisters, Leona Brannan, Ruth Bowlin and LuEtta Rich.
Other survivors include his son, Vernon; daughter, Rosemary of Girard; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.
Donna Maxwell
M. Steele Maxwell, 58, of Wichita, mother of Troy Grigsby of Park City, died July 22, 2003. She was a retired Raytheon employee. Service was July 25 at Cochran mortuary.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Marie Steele.
Other survivors include her husband, Russell Maxwell; daughter, Catherine M. Lesher, stepdaughters, Carol Maxwell, Carmen Price; father, Jim Steele; brother, Mike Steele, all of Wichita; and four grandchildren.
Raymond “Ciglo” Dobnick
Raymond “Ciglo” Roy Dobnick III, 30, of Wichita, brother of Mary Carpenter of Valley Center, died July 11, 2003. Visitation is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday and service is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, both at Baker Funeral Home.
He was born Dec. 17, 1972, in Nhatrang, Vietnam, the son of Raymond R. Dobnick Jr. and Dung Kim Nguyen. He married
Angela L. Robinson on Sept. 22, 1995, in Wichita. She survives.
Other survivors include his sister, Thy Dark of Lenexa; father, Raymond Dobnick Jr. of Wichita; mother, Dung Dobnick of New Orleans, La.; grandmother, Mary Sommerville of Marble Hill, Mo.; niece and nephew, Madison and Ajay Carpenter.
A memorial has been established in memory of Raymond Dobnick, in care of Baker Funeral Home.
Thomas Smith
Thomas E. Smith, 74, of Wichita, father and father-in-law of Ron and Jane Smith of Valley Center, died July 25, 2003. He was a retired antiques dealer. Service was July 29 at Advantage Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Service and burial is Friday in Canon City, Colo.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Terry Smith.
Other survivors include his wife, Mary Lucretia Smith; sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Pat Smith of Wichita, Jim and Debbie Smith of Wichita; daughters and sons-in-law, Becky and Ken Taylor, Lisa and Pat Leeker, Pat and Al Hammer, all of Wichita, Juanita Porter of El Dorado; sister, Josephine Flummer of Carbondale, Ill.; 23 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.
Christopher Breitenstein
Christopher John Breitenstein, 54, of Wichita, brother of Mike Breitenstein of Valley Center, died Aug. 12, 2003. He was a civil engineer for the City of Wichita. Service is at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Riverlawn Christian Church. No visitation.
He was born Nov. 10, 1948, in Kansas City, the son of Clarence W. Breitenstein and Lois G. Wheeler. His mother preceded him in death.
Other survivors include his father, Clarence Breitenstein of Wichita; brother, Pat Breitenstein of Northglenn, Colo.
A memorial has been established with Riverlawn Christian Church, 4243 N. Meridian, Wichita 67204. Baker Funeral Home has charge.
James Geter
James C. Geter Jr., 63, of Park City, retired Wichita Greyhound Park greyhound trainer, died Aug. 6, 2003. Service was Aug. 11 at Hillside Funeral Home East Chapel, Wichita.
Survivors include his wife, Delphine, of the home; children and their families, Greg, Susan and grandson Dalton James Geter of Charleston, W. Va., Jerry and Danielle Geter of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Gene and granddaughter Taylor Jean Geter of Wichita, daughter, Terri Geter of Miami, Fla.; one brother and four sisters.
Memorials have been established with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Kenneth Smith
Kenneth Ralph Smith, 65, of Wichita, father and father-in-law of LeRoy and Kristi Smith and grandfather of Meagan, Savannah, Caitlin and Madison, all of Kechi, died Aug. 8, 2003. He was a retired dispatch supervisor for Kaneb Pipeline Services. Service was Aug. 13 at Baker Funeral Home, Valley Center, and at Kechi Township cemetery.
He was born July 16, 1938, at his home in Bijou Hills, S.D., the son of Ralph L. Smith and Hope Nina Gray Smith-Rhuberg. He served nearly 13 years, and during the Vietnam War, in the U.S. Air Force. He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis G. Snodgrass Smith, and by his father.
Other survivors include his daughter, Fonda Smith of Durango, Colo.; mother, Nina Rhuberg of Mitchell, S.D.; brother, Gary Smith of Mondamin, Iowa; and sisters, Deloris Spry, Gail Mueller, both of Mitchell, S.D., Karen Hanson of Winner, S.D.
Dale Tilley
Dale Lynn Tilley, 44, of Wichita, son of Ann Younger of Park City, died Nov. 12, 2003. He was an electronics tech. Service was Nov. 16 at Baker Funeral Home Chapel.
He was born Aug. 16, 1959, in Mountain View, Ark., the son of Kenneth Dale Tilley and Geneva Ann Younger. He was preceded in death by his father.
Other survivors include his daughter, Krysal Tilley of Wichita; brothers, Ken Tilley, Thomas Tilley, nephew, J. Cruther, all of Wichita; and many aunts, uncles and other relatives.
Henry Ulmer
Henry Ulmer, 88, of Whitewater, retired farmer and stockman, died Nov. 11, 2003. Service was Nov. 15 at Furley United Methodist Church, Furley.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie Ulmer of Whitewater; daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Frank Duvanel of Benton; granddaughters and spouse, Tammy and Mark Unruh of Newton, Kelly Duvanel of Wichita; and great-grandsons, Hank and Clint Unruh of Newton.
Memorials have been established with the church and Gideons International. Bob Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater, had charge.
Lozelle Leck
Lozelle E. Leck, 75, of Valley Center, retired schoolteacher, died Nov. 14, 2003. Services were Nov. 17 at Glidden-Ediger Chapel, McPherson, with Rev. Shawn Replogle officiating, and Nov. 19 at Ward Funeral Home, Washington, with the Church of the Brethren pastor officiating. Burial was at Church of the Brethren cemetery, Washington.
She was born Jan. 4, 1928, in Linn, the daughter of Byron Wilfred Leck and Mary Ann “Mamie” Gauby. She was a McPherson resident from 1950 until 1996, when she moved to Valley Center. She graduated from Washington High School, Washington. She earned a bachelor’s in education at McPherson College, McPherson, and a master’s in education from Emporia State University, Emporia. She taught school in rural Washington County, rural McPherson County, Union Valley School in Hutchinson, and the Buhler schools. She was a member of Church of the Brethren in McPherson, and a former member of Kansas National Educators Association, National Educators Association and Mathematic Educators Assocation.
Survivors include her sister, Anabelle R. Claycamp of Valley Center.
Memorials have been established with the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association.
Patricia Vierthaler
Patricia A. Vierthaler, 65, of Zenda, mother of Larry Gadbury of Kechi, died Nov. 10, 2003. Service was Nov. 15 at Larrison Mortuary, Pratt.
Other survivors include her husband, Larry; son, Dennis Gadbury of Wichita; and brother, George Roberts of Haven.
Alex Fisher
Alexander Ruiz Fisher, 34, of Harrisonville, Mo., formerly of Valley Center, died Jan. 17, 2004. He was an assistant prosecuting attorney for Cass County, Mo., since May 2003. Service is at 10:30 a.m. today (Thursday) at First Baptist Church, Harrisonville, Mo., with Pastors Darren Widner, Bobby Massey and Joe Voss officiating. Casket bearers are Andre Fisher, Chris Fisher, Michael Ray Fisher, Kevin Bogle, Micah Schmidt and Ryan Schmidt. Burial will be at Peculiar, Mo., cemetery.
He was born June 30, 1969, in Torrance, Calif., the son of Andre Ruiz Austein and Ferris Marie Smith. After his father’s death, he was raised by his adoptive father, Michael J. Fisher. He accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior on Oct. 31, 1988. He married
Kimberly Ruth Schmidt on Dec. 29, 1990, in Valley Center. She survives of the home. He earned a bachelor’s from Wichita State University and a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri Kansas City. He was a member of Crossroads Assembly of God Church, Harrisonville, and the Hispanic Bar Association. He was a member and coach for the Harrisonville Soccer Association. He had lived in Carbondale, Ill., and Wichita before moving to Harrisonville in 1996.
Other survivors include his son, Gabriel, daughters, Alexis, Alyssa, Kara Joy, Kasey, Danielle, all of the home; parents, Mike and Ferris Fisher of Peculiar, Mo.; brothers, Andre Fisher of Stuttgart, Germany, Christopher Fisher of Wichita, Michael Fisher of Belton, Mo.; brothers-in-law Ryan Schmidt of Valley Center, Micah Schmidt of Manhattan; sister-in-law, Karla Schmidt of Kansas City; father- and mother-in-law, Greg and Terry Schmidt of Wichita; grandmothers, Marjory Combs of Riverside, Calif., Phyllis Fisher of Salisbury, Md.; and aunt, Maria DeAnda Ruiz of San Bernardino, Calif.
A memorial has been established with the Fisher Children’s Scholarship Fund, in care of Allen Bank and Trust Co., 100 E. Pearl, Harrisonville, Mo. 64701. Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, has charge.
Celia Penner
Celia B. Penner, 69, of Douglass, sister of Cecil Veryl “Bud” Widick and Leitta Gragg, both of Valley Center, died Jan. 14, 2004. She was a retired J.C. Penney associate. Service was Jan. 16 at Douglass United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include her husband, Roy; sons, Douglas of Sammamish, Wash., Martin of Bentonville, Ark.; sister, Luetta Haas of Benton; and four grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. Hilyard-Smith Funeral Home had charge.
