Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Nancy Lee Adamson (1939-2003)
GENESEO — Nancy Lee Adamson, 63, died Monday, March 3, 2003, at her residence in rural Geneseo. Mrs. Adamson was born March 11, 1939, at Wichita to George M. and Maxine Gregson Smith. She was a lifetime Geneseo resident and a graduate of Brown-Mackie Business College, Salina. She was retired as election and voter registration clerk for the Rice County Clerk’s Office in Lyons. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and Eastern Star and the former secretary/treasurer and member of the Geneseo Ladies Golf Association, all in Geneseo. She married Darrell “Skeet” Adamson May 9, 1958, in Geneseo. He survives. Other survivors include a son and wife, Randy and Allyson Adamson of Issaquah, Wash.; a daughter, Tammy Taylor of Lyons; a sister, Judy Norris of Hutchinson; five grandchildren, Timothy, Christopher and Adam, all of Lyons, and Kristin and Ryan Adamson, both of Issaquah. The funeral was March 6 at the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Lyndelle Shuey and Chaplin Reta Joy Campbell officiating. Burial was in the Geneseo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church or to the Harry Hynes Hospice in care of Sillin Funeral Home, Lyons.
Lillian Ruth Janssen (1907-2003)
McPHERSON — Lillian Ruth Janssen, 95, McPherson, died Wednesday, March 5, 2003. Mrs. Janssen was born May 30, 1907, at Geneseo. She was a homemaker and a former school teacher and retired as a farm manager. She was preceded in death by her husband, William H. “Bill” in 1979. Survivors include two sons, Kermit of Valley Forge, Pa., and William H. Jr. of Sebastopal, Calif.; a sister, Bertha Conner of Wichita; 10 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. The service was Wednesday at 11 a.m. in McPherson Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cedars Health Care Center, McPherson. Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, McPherson, was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth Stephens (1915-2003)
Ruth Stephens, 88, Ellsworth, died Saturday, March 8, 2003, at the Center for Longterm Care, Salina. Mrs. Stephens was born Jan. 21, 1915, at Hominy, Okla., to Claude T. Pore and the former Ruby Alice Williams. She was a homemaker and had worked as a telephone operator at Claflin. She married V.M. Stephens June 2, 1933, at Bristow, Okla. He died in 1991. Survivors include two daughters, Yvonne Allen and Vicki Hopkins, both of Ellsworth; six grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild. The funeral was Monday at Parsons Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church Television Ministry Fund, Ellsworth.
Berenice Stroede (1917-2003)
Berenice Stroede, 85, Ellsworth, died Thursday, March 6, 2003, at the Center for Long-term Care, Salina. Mrs. Stroede was born June 5, 1917, in Ellsworth County to William E. and Grace Belle Allen Sheridan. She lived in Ellsworth until 1969, when she moved to Panhandle, Texas. She returned to Ellsworth in 1981. She was a homemaker, a country school teacher and a teller at Citizens State Bank & Trust Co. She also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She married Loren E. Stroede March 16, 1941, at Ellsworth. He died in 1995. Survivors include a son, Don Stroede of Beloit; two daughters, Judy Hannebaum of Salina and Pam Bentley of Canyon, Texas; a brother, Robert E. Sheridan of Junction City; three sisters, Marion Kanak and Shirley Kepka, both of Ellsworth, and Eleanor Bach of Manhattan; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Donald Ray officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church or cystic fibrosis. Parsons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Thill (1905-2003)
CLAFLIN — Nicholas “Nick” Thill, 97, Claflin, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at the Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. Mr. Thill was born Sept. 21, 1905, at Dubuque to Frank Paul and Mary Susan Weber Thill. He was a lifetime Barton County resident and a retired farmer/stockman. He had been a Claflin resident since 1977, moving to the Ellinwood Hospital to reside in 1997. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army who served in the European Theatre during World War II. Memberships included the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellinwood. Survivors include two sisters, Mary Ann Brungardt of Ellinwood and Anna Lee Habiger of Bushton and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Frank, Paul and Leonard, and three sisters, Frances, Catherine and Eleanor. The funeral was Friday at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellinwood, Father David Flagor officiating. Burial was in the St. Catherine Cemetery, Dubuque. Memorials may be made to the Ellinwood Hospital Auxiliary or the Dubuque Catholic Cemetery Trust. Kimple Funeral Home, Ellinwood, was in charge of arrangements.
Maxine M. Wise (1922-2003)
PLAINVILLE — Maxine M. Wise, 80, Plainville, died Saturday, March 8, 2003. Mrs. Wise was born Maxine M. Gibson Dec. 1, 1922, at Palco. She was a homemaker, a house mother for a fraternity at Fort Hays State University and also worked for the Rooks County Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald E., in 1963; and a great-grandson. Survivors include three sons, Robert and Ron, both of Plainville, and Dennis of Ellsworth; a sister, Ilene Satterfield of Owasso, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The funeral was Tuesday at the Plainville Church of the Nazarene. Burial was in the Plainville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to House Calls Home Health & Hospice, Plainville, in care of Moore-Overlease Funeral Chapel.
Cecil R. Houser (1907-2003)
KANOPOLIS — Cecil R. Houser, 95, of Kanopolis, formerly of Independence, died Monday, March 31, 2003, at his home in Kanopolis. Mr. Houser was born May 12, 1907, in Warren, Ind., to Freeman I. and Maude Wintrow Houser. He retired from Cities Service as maintenance supervisor, working for the company between 1927 and 1967. He moved to Kanopolis in 2002. He married Emily Jo Martin in 1939 in Seminole, Okla., and they had a daughter, Elizabeth Jane, in 1940. He was preceded in death by his wife, who was killed in 1950 in a train wreck near Burrton. Daughter Elizabeth Jane died in 1995 and wasburiedin Kanopolis. Survivors include a brother, Bob Houser of Cherryvale; two sisters, Dorothy Collingsworth of Independence and Ina Mae Hook of Oklahoma City, Okla.; a sister-in-law, Mary Houser of Independence; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The graveside service is today (Thursday) in the Oak Hill Cemetery, the Rev. Terry Marta of the Elk City Nazarene Church officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation. Webb and Rodrick Funeral Home, Independence, was in charge of arrangements.
Clarence Panzer (1908-2003)
Clarence Panzer, 95, Ellsworth, died Saturday, April 19, 2003, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Mr. Panzer was born April 11, 1908, in Ellsworth County to Julius and Emma Schultz Panzer. He was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth, where he was a retired farmer, an employee of the Ellsworth Co-op and a custodian for the Citizens State Bank & Trust Drive-in. He was a resident of the Good Samaritan Retirement Village for the past year and a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church. He married Hilda Frohreich Jan. 11, 1933, at Ellsworth. She survives. Other survivors are a daughter, Laurita Munoz of Ellsworth; a sister, Ruth Root of Ellsworth; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters. The funeral was Monday at the Immanual Lutheran Church, Pastor Richard Andrus officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church or the Good Samaritan Retirement Village. Parsons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
LaVerne E. Votruba (1917-2003)
HUTCHINSON — LaVerne E. Votruba, 85, died Sunday, April 20, 2003, at her home in Hutchinson. Mrs. Votruba was born Oct. 21, 1917, at Ellsworth to Joseph H. and Evelyn M. Doubrava Lank. She was a 1934 graduate of Holyrood High School and a long-time resident of Hutchinson, where she was a homemaker, artist and wedding caterer. She was a member of both Holy Cross and St. Teresa’s Catholic Church and the Altar Society. She married William A. “Bill” Votruba June 6, 1938, at Wilson. He died in 2001. Survivors include two sons, Ronald C. and William J. “Bill”, both of Hutchinson; two daughters, JoAnn “Jody” Andino of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jean M. Ehler of Hutchinson; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. The funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at the St. Teresa Catholic Church, Father Richard F. Stuchlik officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Reno County or the American Cancer Society.
George Harold Ellinger (1910-2003)
STERLING — George Harold Ellinger, 92, Sterling, died Monday, March 31, 2003, in Linden, Texas. Mr. Ellinger was born Sept. 2, 1910, in Reno County to Walter William and Emma Jean Rathbun Ellinger. He moved from Linden, Texas, to Sterling. He was an electrical engineer for AMOCO Corp., retiring in 1974 after 35 years of service. He was a member of the Sterling United Methodist Church, the Lion’s Club, both of Sterling and Hutchinson; and Gideon’s International. He married Adelaide Martin Aug. 27, 1939, at Hutchinson. She died in 1989. Survivors include a son, Paul Ellinger and wife, Mary Jane, of Linden; a daughter, Elaine Barrick and husband, Rob, of Seattle, Wash.; a sister, Opal Bradford of South Hutchinson; and five grandchildren. The graveside service was Saturday in the Abbyville Cemetery, Pastor Keith A. Dellenbach officiating. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Churches at Sterling or Linden. Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, was in charge of arrangements.
Evelyn J. Daugherty (1938-2003)
Evelyn Jaunita Daugherty, 64, Ellsworth, died Friday, April 4, 2003, at Salina Regional Health Center. Mrs. Daugherty was born July 14, 1938, at Emporia to Ralph Edward and Velma Rose Thomas Hudson. She had recently moved to Ellsworth from Pratt, where she was a home health care worker and she also had worked as a CMA at Siesta Home. She was a member of the Assembly of God Church, Pratt. She married Jack Daugherty May 18, 1956, at Pratt. He survives. Other survivors include a son, Jackie of Pratt; two daughters, Juanita Kepka and husband, Butch, of Ellsworth, and Jaynelle of Pratt; two brothers, Walter Hudson and wife, Thelma, of Odessa, Texas, and Wilbur Hudson of Emporia; two sisters, Lois McCullough and husband, Bill, of Gentry, Ark., and Rose Dryden of Riverside, Calif.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Richard, and a sister, Mildred. The funeral was Monday at Parsons Funeral Home, the Rev. Jim Newkirk officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Good Samaritan Retirement Village, Ellsworth.
Nadyne Locke (1931-2003)
NORTON — Nadyne Locke, 72, Norton, died Friday, April 4, 2003. Mrs. Locke was born Nadyne Ward March 16, 1931, in Norton. She was a restaurant cook and manager for many years. Her husband, Robert, died in 1977. Survivors include a daughter, Ann Bryie of Norton; two sons, Thomas of Albany, Ore., and James David of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, Jack Ward of Norton; four sisters, Beth Gebhardt of Escondito, Calif., Kathleen Hudson of Ellsworth, and Dorothy Colip and Patsy Lucas, both of Boulder, Colo., and five grandchildren. The funeral was Tuesday at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Norton. Burial will be in Norton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice Services of Norton County. Enfield Funeral home was in charge of arrangements.
Leonette Gier (1922-2003)
SYLVAN GROVE — Leonette Augusta Gier, 80, of Sylvan Grove died Friday, March 21, 2003, at the Lincoln County Hospital. Mrs. Gier was born April 13, 1922, to August and Amelia Otting Heine at Sylvan Grove. She attended Bethlehem Lutheran School and was graduated from Sylvan Grove High School in 1940. Mrs. Gier was 15 years old when her mother died, leaving her and her sisters to help their father on the family farm. After high school, she worked in Denver, Colo. and Seattle, Wash. She married Robert C. Gier, Jr., Nov. 9, 1947. He died in 1975. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Shoemaker. Mrs. Gier was a member of the Bethlehem Ladies Aid and the American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include her son, Robert A. of Sylvan Grove; three daughters, Janet Holway and husband Robert, of Beloit and Emilie Wacker and husband Sidney, and Dorene Dohe and husband Wayne of Lincoln; a sister, Doris Matscher and husband Clarence of Giddings, Texas; 13 grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and two step great-granddaughters. The funeral was March 24 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sylvan Grove, Pastor Clark Brown officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Dorothea Shannon (1920-2003)
LINCOLN — Dorothea Shannon, 82, Lincoln, died Friday, March 28, 2003. Mrs. Shannon was born Dorothea Siemsen April 1, 1920, at Geneseo. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford. Survivors include three daughters, Joan Cooke of Naperville, Ill., Jean Scherer of Frisco, Texas, and Joyce Haffey of Parkville, Mo.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The service was Tuesday in Geneseo City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Lincoln Evangelical Church. Hall Funeral Home, 111 E. Elm, Lincoln 67455 is handling arrangements.
Barbara G. Spies (1906-2003)
COLLYER — Barbara G. Spies, 97, Collyer, died Sunday, March 30, 2003, at the Gove County Medical Center LTCU, Quinter. Mrs. Spies was born Jan. 12, 1906, at Victoria to Peter and Catherine Kreutzer Graf. She worked in the meat department of the Co-op IGA at Quinter for 29 years until her retirement in 1969. She was a member of the St. Michael Catholic Church, Collyer, and the Altar Society. She married John Michael Spies, who died Jan. 28, 1961. Survivors include a daughter, Dorothy Balluch of Ellsworth; two sons, Harold Spies of Yuba City, Calif., and John Spies of Wichita; 13 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. The funeral is today (Thursday) at 10 a.m. at the St. Michael Catholic Church, Father Donald F. Pfannenstiel officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter. Memorials may be made to masses or the Gove County Medical Center LTCU.
James L. Root (1941-2003)
BLACK WOLF — James L. Root, 62, Black Wolf, died Sunday, March 30, 2003. Mr. Root was born Feb. 18, 1941, at Ellsworth. He was a retired farmer. Survivors include a daughter, Lori Kroboth of Ellsworth; and four brothers, Robert of Frederick, Jean of Wilson, Robin of Russell; and a sister, Cheryl Ribordy of Salina. The funeral was Tuesday in Wilson City Cemetery. Foster Mortuary, 610 24th Street, Wilson, was in charge of arrangements.
Marceline Barta (1927-2003)
Marceline Barta, 76, died Friday, May 23, 2003, at her residence in Ellsworth. Mrs. Barta was born March 6, 1927, at LaCrosse to George A. and Ethel L. Warner Siebenlist. She was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where she was a homemaker and retired owner-operator of Wilson Abstract and Title. She was a past member of the Women’s Circle at the First Presbyterian Church, a past board member of the St. Francis Academy, American Legion Auxiliary and Fine Arts Club, a director of the KTLA-Memoirs Committee and a past member of the Ellsworth County Historical Society. She married George Barta March 31, 1945, in Ellsworth. He survives. Other survivors are two daughters, Marsha Ericson of Jewell and Millie Bickford of Ellsworth; two sons, Max Barta of Shawnee Mission and Mark Barta of Ellsworth; eight grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren. A memorial service was Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church, Pastor Mark Kayser officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church or Hospice of Ellsworth or Salina.
Michelle Lynn Lumpkins (1975-2003)
ABILENE — Michelle Lynn Lumpkins, 28, Abilene, died Saturday, May 24, 2003, at Abilene. Mrs. Lumpkins was born May 15, 1975, in Kansas City, Kan., to Albert and Jeanetta Whitmer Schendel. She grew up in Wilson, where she was a member of the United Methodist Church. She lived in Abilene for the past three years. She was a cosmetologist at the Cedars and the Hair Salon in Abilene. Survivors include a son, Gage Lumpkins of Abilene, and her parents. She was preceded in death by a sister, Valerie, in 1986. The funeral is today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. at the Wilson United Methodist Church, Pastor Elaine Lord officiating. Burial is in Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation was from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wilson’s Foster Mortuary and from 10 a.m. to service time at the church.
Mike Lumpkins (1974-2003)
ABILENE — Mike Lumpkins, 28, Abilene, died Saturday, May 24, 2003. Mr. Lumpkins was born Aug. 6, 1974, at Great Bend to Loren and Ann Hannaberry Lumpkins. He was graduated from Quivira Heights High School, Bushton. In 1999, he moved from Salina to Abilene, where he was sales manager of Green Ford. Survivors include two daughters, Kristen and Kandyce, both of Wichita; a son, Kanyon of Abilene; a brother, Tom of Wichita; a step-brother, Kristopher Thompson, who is serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq; a step-sister, Brooke Thompson of Ellsworth; two halfbrothers, Dalton Lumpkins and Brady Lumpkins, both of Scott City; his mother and step-father, Ann and Jim Thompson of Holyrood; his father, Loren Lumpkins of El Campo, Texas; the maternal grandmother, Mildred Hannaberry of Holyrood; the paternal grandparents, Delwin and Ramona Lumpkins of Liberty, Texas; and the step-grandparents, Lex and Florence Thompson of Russell. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Tom Hannaberry. The funeral is today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. at the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Holyrood, Pastor Mary Lou Klein officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Mike Lumpkins Athletic Fund at Quivira Heights High School.
Lottie Buehler (1911-2003)
CLAFLIN — Lottie Buehler, 102, died Sunday, April 27, 2003, at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center, Hoisington. Mrs. Buehler was born Oct. 14, 1911, at Holyrood to John and Mary Mikulecky Rezac. A lifetime resident of Ellsworth and Barton counties. She was a clerk at the Claflin Drug Store for 35 years and a member of the United Methodist Church, UMW, Martha Circle and Eastern Star, where she was recognized for her years of membership. She married Walter William Buehler March 24, 1931, at Dorrance. He died in 1976. She also was preceded in death by three brothers, Emil, Ernest and George. Survivors include a daughter, Geraldine Ann Hauser of Manhattan, Mont.; a son, Ronald Keith Buehler of Anchorage, Alaska; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. The funeral was April 30 at the United Methodist Church, Claflin, the Rev. Janet Myers officiating. Burial was in Claflin Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Claflin Ambulance Service or the American Cancer Society in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.
Loretta Suzanne Doubrava (1916-2003)
WILSON — Loretta Suzanne Doubrava, 86, died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at the Wilson Nursing Center. Mrs. Doubrava was born Nov. 21, 1916, at Dorrance to Joseph H. and Mary Thielen Hirt. She was a lifetime resident of the Wilson-Dorrance area, where she was a homemaker. She married Victor Doubrava in 1940 at Russell. She was a member of the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dorrance. He died in 2000. Survivors include a sister, Isabelle Fritschen of Wilson and 12 nieces and nephews. The funeral was May 8 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Father Jerome Morgan officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph’s Cemetery Fund. Foster Funeral Home, Wilson, was in charge of arrangements.
Wyvona Mae Galliart (1936-2003)
HALSTEAD — Wyvona Mae Galliart, 66, died Saturday, May 10, 2003, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, in Wichita. Mrs. Galliart was born May 31, 1936, at Lyons, to Warren and Viola Osborne Cody. She was former co-owner of L&W Sundries and baker for Halstead Hospital, both of Halstead. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was former cub master of Pack 125, both of Halstead, and the International Order of Rainbows for Girls. She married Leo George Galliart Aug. 31, 1959, at Huntington Park, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, and an infant grandson, Peter Stuchlik, and an infant brother, Everett Lee Cody. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Mark of Valley Center, and Nicholas of Wichita; a daughter, Nancy Stuchlik of Newton; a brother, Charles Cody of Ardmore, Okla.; a sister, Marion Hoefgen of Valley Center; and two grandchildren. Services were to be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the First United Methodist Church of Halstead, with the Rev. James Bush officiating. Burial was to be in Halstead Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Halstead Boy Scout Camping Fund, or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Kaufman Funeral Home of Halstead was in charge of arrangements.
