Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Thomas Lyle Edwards 1922-2001
Thomas Lyle Edwards, 78, of Great Bend died April 21 at his residence. He was born Nov. 30, 1922, at El Dorado, the son of Thomas Orlando III and Euphamia Brace Edwards. He married
Betty Z. Smith Sept. 9, 1943, at Gainsville, Texas. A resident of Great Bend since 1987, coming from rural Albert, he was a retired engineer for the U.S. Forest Service. Edwards was a member of the Methodist Church and American Legion, both of Moline; and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in Russell. He was U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving in both the European and Pacific theatres. He was awarded the bronze star. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Lyle Jane Gould of Dodge City and Joy Elizabeth Cooper of Strasburg, Colo.; three brothers, Veryl Edwards of Coeur d¹Alene, Idaho, Bob Edwards and Frank Edwards, both of Littleton, Colo.; one sister, Nancy Balloun of Russell; three grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Geraldine Edwards. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Moline cemetery, Moline. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, in care of the Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend.
April Marie Boettcher 1980-2001
RUSSELL - April Marie Boettcher, 21, died April 19 near Grainfield due to a vehicle accident. She was born Jan. 27, 1980, in Casper, Wyo., the daughter of Jerry Patton Lyttle and Nona Kay Adams Wagner. A resident of Russell, she was a homemaker. Survivors include one son, Austin Boettcher of Russell; one daughter, JoHanna Boettcher of Russell; her mother of Russell; her father of Casper; one brother, Roosevelt Henderson of Russell; three sisters, Shantara Adams and Santia Henderson, both of Russell, and Jasmine Crosley of Casper; numerous grandparents; and numerous great grandparents. funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Pohlman¹s Memorial chapel in Russell with the Rev. Dick Ogle officiating. The body was cremated.
Ruth Esther Nelson 1912-2001
JETMORE - Ruth Esther Nelson, 88, died April 21 at Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore. She was born Oct. 11, 1912 in Ness County, the daughter of Hugh M. B. and Leah Burditt Frusher. She married
Lawrence Nelson June 3, 1945 in Ness City. He died Aug. 8, 1997. A lifetime resident of Jetmore, she was a teacher, local artist and homemaker. Mrs. Nelson was a member of United Methodist Church of Jetmore, Delta Kappa Gamma, Art Association of Kansas and the Home Demonstration Extension Unit. She is survived by one sister Melvi Lea Frusher of Jetmore. She was preceded in death by four brothers, William A. Frusher, Hugh L. Frusher, Robert G. Frusher and Edgar C. Frusher; and two sisters, Mary Frusher and Emily Jane Sayler. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church of Jetmore with the Rev. Mitch Reece officiating. Friends may call until 8 p.m. tonight at Beckwith Funeral Home in Jetmore. Burial will be at Fairmount cemetery in Jetmore. Memorials are suggested to Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center in care of the funeral home.
Jesse W. Deckert 1903-2001
LARNED - Jesse W. Deckert, 97, died April 21 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born July 30, 2903 in Stafford County, the son of John William and Ethel Mae Baldwin Deckert. He married
Faye Lillian Kerns June 10, 1924 in Lyons. She died April 10, 1963. He married
Thelma F. Carpenter Vanderree Nov. 7, 1967 in Clayton New Mexico. A resident of Larned, coming from Pawnee County and Lewis, he was a farmer. Deckert was a member of United Methodist Church of Lewis and former school board member of Unified School District 23. Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters, Lois Kennedy of Pratt, Glenna Mae Johnson of Larned and Shirley Brollier of Kinsley; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Leon Deckert; two brothers, Ivan Deckert and John Deckert; two sisters, Helen Dirks and Opal Nulf; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at United Methodist Church in Lewis with the Rev. Debra Hanes-Nelson officiating. Friends may call until 8 p.m. tonight and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, both at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Burial will be at Wayne cemetery in Lewis. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice in care of the mortuary.
Glenn E. Gilliland 1928-2001
Glenn E. Gilliland, 72, of Great Bend, died April 21 at his home. He was born Nov. 1, 1928 in Scott City, the son of Hugh A. and Bernice Petefish Gilliland. He married
Velda L. Steinert July 22, 1951 in Otis. A resident of Great Bend, he was a plant foreman for Halliburton and worked for Security State Bank. Gilliland was a member of Central Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Michael W. Gilliland of Lafayette, La.; one daughter, Charlotte L. "Shari" Perry of Soldier; two brothers, Robert H. Gilliland of Pueblo, Colo. and Charles L. Gilliland of Dolan Springs, Ariz.; four sisters, Mary L. Bright of Blanding, Utah, Leona J. Taylor of Peabody, Alice E. Curtis of Delta, Colo. and Jessie L. Myer of Moab, Utah; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, James A. Gilliland; and one grandson, Trenton Perry. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bryant Christians Funeral Home Chapel in Great Bend with the Revs. Dr. Gordon E. Rhodes and John Grummon officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call until 9 p.m. tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Home Health and Hospice, both in care of the funeral home.
Chester A. Brotherson 1907-2001
LINDSBORG - Chester A. Brotherson, 94, died April 22 at Lindsborg Community Hospital. He was born Feb. 25, 1907 in Lindsborg, the son of Andrew C. and Adeline M. Amoid Brotherson. A lifetime resident of Lindsborg, he was a farmer and plumber for Lundstrom Brothers Plumbing. Brotherson was a member of the Methodist Church. Survivors include one sister, Viola Larson of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Hays-Christians Funeral Home Chapel in Lindsborg with the Rev. Don Hawk officiating. Burial will be at Elmwood cemetery in Lindsborg. Memorials are suggested to Bethany Home in care of the funeral home.
Charleen Taylor Moser 1920-2001
WICHITA - Charleen Taylor Moser, 81, died April 21 at her home in Wichita. She was born March 11, 1920 in Butler, the daughter of William and Edith Boucher Taylor. She married
Robert E. Moser. A resident of Wichita, she was a homemaker and cosmetologist. Survivors include her husband of the home; three daughters, Marcene Amend of Ft. Collins, Colo., Marilyn Hagemeister of Wichita and JoAnne Fleska of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and eight grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Jan Davis. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Lakeview Funeral Home Chapel in Wichita with the Revs. Preston Barrett and Oral Newberry officiating. Burial will be at Lakeview Mausoleum in Wichita. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Augusta Historical Museum in care of the funeral home.
Freda Clarke 1909-2001
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Freda Clarke, 92, died April 22 at Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City. She was born April 5, 1909 in Rush County, the daughter of Philip and Mary Catherine George Schwartzkopf. She was a 1928 graduate of Alexander High School and attended Trinity Lutheran Nursing School in Kansas City, Mo. She married
Joe B. Clarke October 1935 in Olathe. He died. A resident of Kansas City, Mo., coming from Rush County, she was a registered nurse. Mrs. Clarke was a member of Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village. Survivors include two brothers, William "Bill" A. Schwartzkopf of Larned and Carl E. Schwartzkopf of Wichita; and one sister, Clara Wallace of Kansas City, Mo. She was preceded in death by one brother, Herman Schwartzkopf. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Alexander cemetery in Alexander with the Rev. Maurice Schaus officiating. Burial will be at Alexander cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse. Memorials are suggested to Oaks Indian Center, Oaks, Okla., in care of the funeral home.
Raymond L. Vopat 1926-2001
WILSON - Raymond L. Vopat, 75, died April 20 at his home in Wilson. He was born Feb. 8, 1926, in Lincoln County, the son of John M. and Ruth Eshe Vopat. He married
Frances Friebus may 26, 1957, in Wilson. A lifetime area resident, he was a grocery manager at Klema's IGA in Wilson, worked at Novak's IGA in Ellsworth and was an insurance salesman. Vopat was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wilson, was the Voice of the Wilson Dragons for 37 years and emceed the Wilson's Czech festival parade for 39 years. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Leslie Vopat of Wilson; two daughters, Tamara Garrett of Hutchinson and Dawn Obermeyer of Wichita; one brother, Harold Vopat of Wichita; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant sister and an infant grandson. funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Jim Wagner officiating. Burial will be at Wilson City cemetery, with military rites by John F. McManus American Legion Post 263 in Wilson. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Foster Mortuary in Wilson, and from 8 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the church. memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the mortuary.
Thelma Marie Smith 1908-2001
Thelma Marie Smith, 93, of Great Bend, died April 19. She was born Jan. 22, 1908 in Pittsburg, the daughter of Charlie and Anna Belle Ward Stringer. She married
Walter Guy Smith. He died March 11, 1968. A resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Smith was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Great Bend. Survivors include two nephews, Francis Carpenter and William Carpenter, both of Independence, Mo.; and one niece, Jean Crane of Holiday, Fla. She was preceded in death by three brothers, William Carpenter, Lloyd Carpenter and Jess Carpenter; and two sisters, Helen Wright and Leonna Peterson. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Great Bend cemetery with the Rev. Diana Coberly officiating. Friends may call from 9-10 a.m. Tuesday at Fryberger Mortuary in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the mortuary.
Gerald F. Tauscher 1931-2001
HOISINGTON - Gerald F. Tauscher, 69, died April 21 at his home as a result of the Hoisington tornado. He was born Sept. 28, 1931, in Schoenchen, the son of John A. and Rosella Wasinger Tauscher. He married
Joyce Neill April 4, 1959, in Hoisington. A longtime resident of Hoisington, he was a retired owner of Hoisington Auto Body Repair. Tauscher was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hoisington. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Anthony Tauscher of Suffolk, Va.; two daughters, Janet Tauscher of Lenexa and Patti Motes of Thornton, Colo.; five brothers, Eldon Tauscher of Larned, Ernie Tauscher and Kenneth Tauscher, both of Arkansas City, Harold Tauscher of Chicago, Ill., and Ronald Tauscher of Hoisington; one sister, Henrietta Farmer of Hoisington; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur Lee Tauscher; and one sister, Bernice Reidl. Vigil service will be at 7 tonight at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. John cemetery in Hoisington. Visitation will be until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. until service time, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice, in care of the funeral home.
Roy Neil Delp Jr. 1931-2001
BURDETT - Roy Neil Delp Jr., 69, died April 22 at his home. He was born June 25, 1931, the son of Roy Neil and Ivah Ellen Paris Delp. He married
Colleen Collins March 12, 1950, in Sun City. A lifetime resident of Burdett, he was a farmer. Delp was a member of Burdett Lumber Company Bowling Team, Lions Club and past city councilman, all of Burdett. He was also a member of the Republican Party. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Bryan Delp of Wichita; one daughter, Charisse Beadles of Wellington; one sister, Maxine Gheen of Nixa. Mo.; five grandchildren; and one great grandchild. He was preceded in death by one sister, Jeanine Carrell. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned with the family officiating. Burial will be at Browns Grove cemetery in Burdett. Friends may call until service time today at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Burdett Emergency Medical Service, in care of the mortuary.
Regina M. Birzer 1918-2001
ELLINWOOD - Regina M. Birzer, 82, died April 23 at Ellinwood District Hospital. She was born Oct. 8, 1918, in Claflin, the daughter of Frank and Anna Hoffman Tinkel. She married
Leo M. Birzer Oct. 21, 1947, in Dubuque. He died May 4, 1993. A lifetime Barton County resident, she was a high school cook, gardener and homemaker. Mrs. Birzer was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella and Altar Society, both of Ellinwood. Survivors include two sons, Matthew Leo Birzer of Bonner Springs and Aaron Birzer of Ellinwood; two daughters, Linda Sherman of Ellinwood and Karen Brough of Junction City; one brother, Albert Tinkel of Claflin; four sisters, Mary Redetzke and Elizabeth Zorn, both of Claflin, Ann Urban of Hoisington and Bernice Zorn of Smith Center; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Frank Tinkel and Tony Tinkel. Altar Society Rosary will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. David Flagor officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph's School Endowment Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Brandon Lee Phelps 1984-2001
PRATT - Brandon Lee Phelps, 16, died April 24 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born July 25, 1984, in Hoisington, the son of Bill and Sharon MaGee of Pratt and Ricky and Kathye Phelps of Great Bend. He attended Pratt High School and was a former student of Berean Christian School in Great Bend and Central Christian School in Hutchinson. A resident of Pratt, coming from Hutchinson, he was a student. Phelps attended Faith Chapel and First Baptist Church Youth Group, both in Pratt. Survivors include his parents; grandparents, James Phelps of Texas, Eunice Lane of Hoisington, Larry Schmidt of Sylvia, Connie McKinzie of Pratt, Charles McGee and Marie McGee, both of Independence, Ray Howland and Neva Howland, both of Beloit; great-grandparents, Edna Parr of Pratt, Emery Schmidt and Virginia Schmidt, both of McPherson, and Loventrice Sutter of Hutchinson; one sister, Amanda Kay Phelps of the home; and two stepbrothers, Devin Ramsey and Keylin Phelps, both of Great Bend. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Pratt with the Rev. Dr. Calvin Moore officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn cemetery in Pratt. Friends may call until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, all at Ayres-Calbeck Mortuary in Pratt. Memorials are suggested to Pratt County Emergency Medical Service or the American Lung Association, both in care of the mortuary.
