Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
George Wendell Amerine 1915-2001
George Wendell Amerine, 85, died March 2, at Meridian Nursing and Rehab Center in Wichita. He was born July 27, 1915, in Barton County, the son of G.P. and Minnie Woestman Amerine. He married
Mary Eleanor Robertson Nov. 26, 1940, in Great Bend. She died June 18, 1995. A lifetime resident of Barton County, he was a retired farmer. Amerine was a member of First Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his brother, Virgil Amerine, of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by a brother, Ernest Amerine. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bryant-Christians Chapel with the Rev. Tom Robson officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 3-9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Paul Schneider 1916-2001
Paul Schneider, 85, died March 2 at Central Kansas Medical Center St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 9, 1916, in Hoisington, the son of Peter and Lydia Bender Schneider. He married
Esther Boxberger Jan. 13, 1936, in Milburger. A lifetime Barton County resident, he was a retired farmer and carpenter. Schneider was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Cheyenne Sportsmans' Club, both in Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Gerald Schneider of Hoisington and Donald L. Schneider of Great Bend; one daughter, Sheryl White of Albert; two sisters, Katie Keenan and Martha Eichman, both of Russell; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Prayer service will be 7 tonight at Bryant-Christians Funeral Chapel. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Gary W. Teske officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at the funeral chapel and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church.
Maxine West 1930-2001
NEKOMA --Maxine West, 70, died March 2 at Rush County Memorial Hospital in LaCrosse. She was born Dec. 22, 1930, in McCracken, the daughter of Albert and Emma Koch Janke. She married
Willard West Dec. 2, 1952, at Bazine. A lifetime resident of Rush County, she was a homemaker. Mrs. West was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and Ladies Aide, of Rush Center; the Rush County Election Board, Town and Country Extension Home Unit, Walnut Valley Senior Citizen Center and Rush County coordinator of Reading is Fundamental. Survivors include her husband, of the home; one son, Dale West of Alexander; four daughters, Valerie Craig and Lisa Holloway, both of Olathe, Brenda Hagerman and Penny Reidel, both of Larned; one brother, Alvin Janke of McCracken; one sister, Corrine Brenner of Hays; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Maurice Schaus officiating. Burial will be at Nekoma cemetery in Nekoma. Friends may call until 9 tonight at Fitzgerald Funeral Home and until service time Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Walnut Valley Senior Citizens Center or Hope Lutheran Church Ladies Aide, both in care of the funeral home.
Rita Maxine Menges 1923-2001
PRATT --Rita Maxine Menges, 77, died March 1 at Friendship Manor in Pratt. She was born April 27, 1923, in Wichita, the daughter of Fred and Martha Watson Menges. A resident of Pratt for two years, coming from St. John and Hudson, she was a retired housekeeper for St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pratt. Survivors include one brother, Jerry Menges of Ellinwood; and two sisters, Joyce Schad of Hudson and Carol Henderson of Pratt. She was preceded in death by one brother, Fred Menges Jr. Vigil will be at 7:30 tonight at Larrison Mortuary in Pratt. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church in Pratt with the Rev. Jim Dieker officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Calvary cemetery in Wichita. Friends may call from 1-8 today at the mortuary in Pratt. Memorials are suggested to the church or South Wind Hospice, in care of the mortuary.
Helen Irene Soeken 1908-2001
ST. JOHN - Helen Irene Soeken, 92, died March 3 at Stafford District Hospital. She was born July 25, 1908, in rural St. John, the daughter of Herbert and Anna Metz. She married
Norman John Soeken May 27, 1937, in rural St. John. He died Sept. 18, 1998. A resident of St. John, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Soeken was a member of First United Methodist Church and Rebekah Lodge, both of St. John. Survivors include two daughters, Norma D. Manke of Ellinwood and Janett I. Burton of Williamsburg; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one step great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one sister, Mabel Abel. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church in St. John with the Rev. W. Harlan Rittgers officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Tuesday at Minnis Chapel in St. John. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
June Olive Carlynn Nelzen Johnson 1915-2001
June Olive Carlynn Nelzen Johnson, 85, died March 4 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. She was born June 30, 1915, in New Gottland Community in McPherson, the daughter of Carl J. and Edna Wilheminia Clark Nelzen. She attended Ashland Country School and graduated from Galva High School. She married
Wayne K. Johnson June 30, 1936, in Lindsborg. He died Oct. 15, 1973. A resident of Great Bend since 1990, coming from Galva, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Johnson was a member of First United Methodist Church of Great Bend, the Galva United Methodist Church in Galva and a former member of New Gottland Covenant Church in McPherson, United Methodist Women of Great Bend, Order of Eastern Star Oriental Chapter 58 of McPherson, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2715 Ladies Auxiliary of McPherson. Survivors include one son, Dwane K. Johnson of Sherman Oaks, Calif.; one daughter, Deanna C. Grant of Great Bend; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Dwight Nelzen and Gordon Nelzen; and three sisters, Violet Tillman, Beatrice Hallgarth and Eda Nelzen. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Glidden-Ediger Chapel in McPherson with the Rev. Kenneth R. Busse officiating. Burial will be at McPherson cemetery. Friends may call from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to New Gottland Covenant Church in McPherson, in care of the chapel.
Stuart Hazard Jr. 1932-2001
TOPEKA - Stuart Hazard Jr., 69, died Feb. 28 at his home in Topeka. He was born Feb. 10, 1932, in Topeka, the son of Stuart G. and Marguerite Hahn Hazard. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1950 and from the school of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University in 1956. He married
Lois Steadman June 10, 1956. A resident of Topeka, he maintained a small animal practice for 40 years. Hazard served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. Survivors include two sons, Todd Hazard and Stuart G. Hazard III, both of Wakarusa; one sister, Margaret H. Beers of Topeka; and two grandsons. Cremation is planned. Services will be private. Memorials are suggested to the Helping Hands Humane Society, in care of Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel.
Debra Jo Plank 1958-2001
WILLIAMSBURG - Debra Jo Plank, 42, died March 2 as a result of a car accident. She was born March 30, 1958, in Larned the daughter of Wencel Otto and Pat Shearrer Steiner. She graduated from Great Bend High School. She married
William Plank Jan. 2, 1983, in Manitou Springs, Colo. A resident of Williamsburg, she was a certified medical assistant for Golden Heights Nursing Home in Garnett and Baldwin Care Center in Baldwin. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Shannon R. Lewis of Vassar; one daughter, April M. Plank of the home; one brother, Terry Shearrer of Louisburg; two sisters, Linda Ruble and Kim Gorton, both of Hoisington; and two grandchildren. Parish rosary will be at 7:30 tonight at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence. Burial will be at Memorial Park cemetery in Lawrence. Friends may call until 9 tonight at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Multiple Sclerosis Society, in care of the mortuary.
Rosie Marie Oborny 1910-2001
LA CROSSE - Rosie Marie Oborny, 90, died March 5 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus im Great Bend. She was born Dec. 18, 1910, in Rush County, the daughter of Joseph and Louise Kriklan Jecha. She married
Jerry F. Oborny April 11, 1934. He preceded her in death. A lifelong resident of Rush County, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Oborny was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in La Crosse, St. Ann's Altar Society in Timken and was a 66-year member of the Catholic Workman. Survivors include many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by infant daughter, Mary Dolores Oborny; two brothers, Joseph E. Jecha and James Jecha; three sisters, Martha Phillips, Emma Murphy and Mary L. Pechanec. Wake service will be at 7:30 tonight with a Catholic Workman Rosary to follow at Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Timken with the Revs. Henry Baxa, Benjamin Martin and Ultan Murphy officiating. Burial will be at Holy Cross cemetery in Timken. Friends may call until 8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care, in care of the funeral home.
Mildred Pettit Kerby 1913-2001
SACREMENTO, Calif. - Mildred Pettit Kerby, 87, died Feb. 23 at Eskaton Manzanita Manor in Sacremento. She was born Nov. 16, 1913, in Barton County, the daughter of James F. and Emma Kerns Pettit. She married
Lee Kerby Aug. 12, 1934, in San Leandro, Calif. He died July 26, 1989. A 70-year resident of California, she was a retired state employee for the Board of Equalization. Mrs. Kerby was a member of St. Mark's First United Methodist Church in Sacremento. Survivors include several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Ervin Pettit and Kenneth Pettit; six sisters, Myrtle Koopman, Hazel Shaffer, Fern Weathers, Mabel Williams, Wilda Johnson and Opal Cothern. Burial was at Mount Vernon cemetery in Sacremento.
Murvel 'Jack' Gray 1918-2001
GARFIELD - Murvel "Jack" Gray, 82, died March 4 at Lea Regional Medical Center in Hobbs, N. M. He was born May 23, 1918, in Klondike, Ill., the son of Guy and Ethel Gray. He married
Geneva Eddy Sept. 19, 1946, in Kansas City. He was a resident of Hobbs, formerly of Garfield. Gray was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and the Moose Lodge 2084; a member of Masonic Lodge 331 of Hoisington, Lea County Shrine Club and AKDAR Temple of Tulsa, Okla. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. He received 16 battle stars and a purple heart. Survivors include two sons, David A. Gray of Arlington, Texas, and Phillip G. Gray of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one sister, Trilla Skinner of Evansville, Ind.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Daniel Gray. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Garfield cemetery with military honors. The Rev. Dan Lundgren will be officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Memorials are suggested to Jack Gray Memorial Fund or Highland Christian Church in Hobbs, in care of the mortuary.
Esther Elizabeth Schlessiger 1912-2001
CLAFLIN - Esther Elizabeth Schlessiger, 88, died March 7 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born Sept. 12, 1912, in Hoisington, the daughter of Philip Jr. and Elizabeth Margaret Ochs. She married
Frederick J. Schlessiger Dec. 31, 1933, in Hoisington. He died March 17, 2000. A lifetime resident of Claflin and Ellinwood, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Schlessiger was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Ladies Aide and Logan H.D.U., all of Claflin. Survivors include one son, Jack F. Schlessiger of Claflin; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six brothers, Joe Ochs, Paul Ochs, Sigmund Ochs, Calvin Ochs, Ted Ochs and Daniel Ochs; and one sister, Bertha Ochs. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church in Claflin with the Rev. Arlo Lehmann officiating. Burial will be at Claflin cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight. from 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, both at Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 12:30 p.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Family will receive friends from 7-9 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Clara Barton Foundation, both in care of the funeral home.
Bernard Stephan Woydziak 1930-2001
HOISINGTON - Bernard Stephan Woydziak, 70, died March 8 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born Dec. 11, 1930, in Barton County, the son of Arsenius and Mathilda Hoffman Woydziak. He married
Elizabeth Wondra Aug. 16, 1949, in Hoisington. A lifetime resident of the Hoisington area, he was a farmer and worked in the oil fields for Allen Drilling and Al Tipton. Woydziak was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, both of Hoisington, past president of Kansas Farm Bureau and a member of the Union Township Board and the Susank School Board. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Stephen Woydziak of Lyons and David Woydziak of Hoisington; four daughters, Joyce Hanzlick of Hill City, Judy McDonald of Mayetta, Connie Geiger of Olsburg and Jeannie Komarek of Hays; one brother, James Woydziak of Hoisington; one sister, Juanita Brower of Pampa, Texas; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchildren. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary, both at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. John cemetery in Hoisington. Friends may call from 6-9 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association, in care of the funeral home.
Robert L. 'Bob' Weigel 1930-2001
Robert L. "Bob" Weigel, 71, died March 9 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 31, 1930, in Victoria, the son of Joseph C. and Catherine Paul Weigel. He married
Flora Braun July 17, 1954, in Walker. A resident of Great Bend, he worked for Bovaird Supply for 40 years. Weigel was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Great Bend, and a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Russell. He was an U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Robert N. "Bob" Weigel of Great Bend and Brian J. Weigel of Salina; two daughters, Pam Hitz and Michelle Weigel, both of Great Bend; two brothers, Donald Weigel of Blue Springs, Mo., and Anthony "Tony" Weigel of Overland Park; five sisters, Velma Giebler of Hays, Leona Kuhn of Great Bend, Mary Jane Miller, Shirley Weigel and Doris Weigel, all of Victoria; three grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph Weigel and Michael Weigel; and one sister, Louise Weigel. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend, followed by Knights of Columbus rosary. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Angel Dy officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Anne's cemetery in Walker with military honors. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Baseball, in care of the funeral home.
