Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Eleanor Marie Bradford (1917-2005)
LYONS — Eleanor Marie Bradford, 87, Lyons, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2005, in Wichita. Mrs. Bradford was born Dec. 15, 1917, in Ellsworth County to Frank and Lena Korzuszkiewicz Zorn. She was a long-time resident of Lyons, where she was retired from American Salt. She had lived in Lyons for the past six years. She was a member of the St. Jude Catholic Church, Wichita, and the St. Paul Catholic Church, the Altar Society and VFW Auxiliary, all at Lyons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Glenn, in 1979; three brothers, August Zorn, Charles Zorn and Albert Zorn; and four sisters, Anna Nienke, Ardella Zorn, Pauline Nienke and Martena Mog. Survivors include a son, Vernon “Brad” Bradford of Ellsworth; a daughter, Linda Webb of Wichita; three sisters, Tillie Brown of Larned, Catherine Zorn of Ellsworth and Mary Mog of Ellinwood; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The funeral was Jan. 19 at the St. Paul Catholic Church, Lyons, Father Juan Garza officiating. Burial was in Lyons Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice of Wichita or the St. Paul Church in care of Sillin Funeral Home, Lyons.
Gertrude Cundiff (1914-2005)
HOLYROOD — Gertrude Cundiff, 90, Holyrood, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005, at the Wilson Nursing Center. Mrs. Cundiff was born June 14, 1914, in Holyrood to John and Anna Ehler Siemsen. She had lived in Holyrood since 1988, moving here from Orinda, Calif. She was a homemaker and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 420, the American Legion Auxiliary and the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, all at Holyrood. She married W.B. Jack Cundiff Oct. 8, 1947, at Reno, Calif. He died in 2004. She also was preceded in death by a brother, Herman Siemsen, and a sister, Dorothy Smith. Survivors include three sisters, Mildred Hanaberry and Margaret Mehl, both of Holyrood, and Lou Strong, Lakeview, Ark., and several nieces and nephews. The memorial service was Saturday at the St. Paul’s Church of Christ, the Rev. Deborah Rains officiating. Memorials may be made to the church or the Siemsen Scholarship Fund. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, was in charge of arrangements.
Christina Dorothy Princ (1904-2005)
RUSSELL — Christina Dorothy Princ, 100, Russell, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005. Mrs. Princ was born Christina Dorothy Paulson Feb. 5, 1904, in Flensburg, Germany. She was Russell County School superintendent and then became an educational book consultant and trainer for Houghton-Mifflin Publishing Co. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Andrew “Andy” Graf, in 1954, and her second husband, Charles Princ, in 1980. Survivors include a step-son, John Princ of Wilson; five stepgrandchildren; seven step-great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral was Tuesday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel. Burial was in Russell City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Russell Regional Hospital, in care of the mortuary.
Robert Lee Root (1916-2005)
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Robert Lee Root, 88, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2005, at the Village at Northrise, Las Cruces. Mr. Root was born April 23, 1916, in Ellsworth County, Kan., to Henry Harrison and Rachel Alice Wagner Root. He served as assistant county engineer in Ellsworth County before entering the U.S. Army, where he served in World War II. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy, Rolla, and a Master of Science degree from the University of Utah. He married Mabel Rosena Schroeder May 14, 1946, at Ellsworth. They lived in several states and spent three years in Australia. Mr. Root retired in 1981, and the couple moved to Las Cruces. His wife preceded him in death. Survivors include a brother, Lloyd D. Root of Elizabethtown, Ky., and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Ducks Unlimited. Graham’s Mortuary and Mesilla Valley Crematory, 555 W. Amador, Las Cruces, was in charge of arrangements.
Edith Soukup (1922-2005)
Edith Soukup, 82, Ellsworth, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at Salina Regional Health Center. Mrs. Soukup was born Feb. 2, 1922, in Ellsworth County to George and Lillie Skibbe Bruning. She was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth, where she was a homemaker, farmer and stockwoman. She married Alfred Soukup in 1952 at Gove. He died in 1966. Survivors include four sons, James, Gary, Steven and Scott, all of Ellsworth; two daughters, Paula Soukup of Salina and Carla Schneider of Lindsborg; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral was Saturday at Parsons Funeral Home, Dr. Jim Morford officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the KSU Center for Basic Research.
Marie J. Vopat (1911-2005)
WILSON — Marie J. Vopat, 93, Wilson, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, at Salina Regional Health Center. Mrs. Vopat was born March 19, 1911, in Ellsworth County to Frank J. and Mary Jilka Janda. She was a lifetime resident of Wilson, where she was a homemaker and a member of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, the Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella. She married Frank G. Vopat May 15, 1941, at Wilson. He died in 1994. She also was preceded in death by three sisters, Frances Janda, Rose Schmitt and Blanche Kyler; and a granddaughter, Danette Gaitros. Survivors include two sons, Frank E. of Wichita and Jerry J. of Ellsworth; two daughters, Linda Weber of Wilson and Josephine A. Thomas of Terre Haute, Ind.; and 12 grandchildren. The funeral was Saturday at the St. Wenceslaus Church, Father David Metz officiating.
Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church organ fund or Mosaic of Ellsworth. Foster Mortuary, Wilson, was in charge of arrangements.
Dennis L. Wise (1953-2005)
Dennis L. Wise, 51, Ellsworth, died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, at the Rooks County Health Center, Plainville. Mr. Wise was born Aug. 24, 1953, at Hays to Donald and Maxine Gibson Wise. He moved from Plainville to Ellsworth in 1989, where he was a lieutenant in intelligence and investigation at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility and a member of the Ellsworth Volunteer Fire Department and the Evangelical Free Church. He married Tonya Brummer Nov. 5, 1977, at Plainville. She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Jessica and Tiffany Wise, both of Ellsworth; a granddaughter, Grace Betts of Ellsworth; and two brothers, Ronald and Robert, both of Plainville. He was preceded in death by his father in 1963 and his mother in 2003. The funeral was Tuesday at the Evangelical Free Church, Pastor Tom Richards officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church building fund. Parsons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Sylvia ‘Babe’ Svara (1952-2005)
CLEARFIELD, Utah – Sylvia “Babe” Svara, 52, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005. Miss Svara was born Aug. 21, 1952, at Ellsworth, Kan., to George and Virginia Bryan Svara. She worked at KFC for eight years and also volunteered at the Rocky Mountain Care Center, both in Clearfield. In 1995, she was recognized as the most accomplished handicapped person of the year, receiving the Golden Key Award from PARC of Utah. She was preceded in death by her father. Survivors include her mother, Virginia Bryan Svara-Ball of Layton, Utah; a sister, Doreen Aschenbach of Ogden, Utah; and a brother, Stan Svara of Louisiana. The funeral was Jan. 7 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Fruit Heights, Utah, where Miss Svara was a member. She donated her body to the University of Utah. Memorials may be made to the Westminster Memorial Fund.
Ruth Alice Sherlock (1923-2005)
Washington — Ruth Alice Sherlock, 81, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2005. Mrs. Sherlock was born June 18, 1923, in Wichita to Alva J. and Alice G. Murphy Dryden. She was a social worker for the state of Kansas and a member of Omega Sorority and the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington. She married Fred Sherlock July 18, 1945, at Ellsworth. He preceded her in death, along with three brothers, Jimmy, Billy and Bob Dryden. Survivors include three sons, Peter Sherlock of Washington, Steve Sherlock of Lamar, Colo., and Todd Sherlock of Leawood; a daughter, Susan Hill of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; a sister, Betty McCosh of Thousand Oaks; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The funeral was Monday at the St. Augustine Catholic Church, the Rev. James Hoover and Sister Marilyn Wall officiating. Ward Funeral Home, Washington, was in charge of arrangements.
Erwin F. Schwerdtfeger (1924-2005)
Erwin F. Schwerdtfeger, 80, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005, at Salina Regional Health Center. Mr. Schwerdtfeger was born Sept. 1, 1924, in Ellsworth County to Frank and Bertha Grosnick Schwerdtfeger. He was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where he was a retired farmer-stockman and a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He married Melva Rose Munson Jan. 30, 1949, in north Ellsworth County. She survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Connie Newkirk of Emporia, and Virginia Hughes of Salina; five sisters, Elda Haase of Ellsworth, Diana Magana and Bertha Rojas, both of Kanopolis, Ruth Warttig of Springfield, Mo., and Viola Ferguson of Cheyenne, Wyo.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Lucina Egelston, and his parents. The funeral was Saturday at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Pastor Philip Hoppe officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church in lieu of flowers. Parsons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Rose Anna Schepmann (1925-2005)
HOLYROOD — Rose Anna Schepmann, 79, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2005, at her home in Holyrood. Mrs. Schepmann was born May 9, 1925, at Colorado Springs, Colo., to Hans J. and Julia Brandenburg Hagge. She was a resident of the Bushton-Holyrood area since 1947. She was a homemaker, a teller for the Lorraine State Bank and the Bank of Holyrood and a member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church, Holyrood, where she was church historian, LWML, American Legion Auxiliary and Kansas Pollettes. She married Elroy F. Schepmann July 10, 1946, in Colorado Springs, Colo. He died in 1992. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Nicholson, in 2002. Survivors include three sons, Vern of Salina, Ronald of Holyrood, and Paul of Olathe; a brother, Jerry Hagge of Denver, Colo.; a sister, Marjorie Bosma of Indianapolis, Ind.; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and numerous foster grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The funeral was Friday at the St. Peter Lutheran Church, Holyrood, Pastor John Sharp officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Hour or the Children’s Christian Concern Society. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Mae May (1937-2005)
Margaret Mae May, 67, Ellsworth, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2005, at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Inman. Mrs. May was born March 18, 1937, in Bogue to Glenn and Helen Schalansky McDowell. She retired in Ellsworth after living in Goodland and Phillipsburg, where she was paraprofessional for the school districts. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, both in Ellsworth. She married Mason May Aug. 16, 1959, at Smith Center. He survives. Other survivors include three daughters, Nancy Hoffman of Ellsworth, Stacy Soukup of Wilson and Amy Pitcher of Corona, Calif.; a son, Ron May of Goddard; six sisters, Joyce Nelssen of Lebanon, Loretta Saunders of Hutchinson, Pauline Mockerman of Salina, Carol Baetz of Kearney, Neb., Ellen Baetz of St. George, Utah, and Terry Shanley of San Antonio, Texas; three brothers, Everett McDowell of Cairo, Neb., John McDowell of Bellaire, and Sam McDowell of Lebanon; and nine grandchildren. The memorial service was Tuesday at Ellsworth’s United Methodist Church, Pastors Chad Young and Ron Lowry officiating. Private inurnment was in Ellsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church.
Betty R. Losik (1924-2005)
SALINA – Betty R. Losik, 80, Salina, died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005. Mrs. Losik was born Jan. 28, 1924, in Ellsworth to William E. and Ruth Long Ramsey. She was a homemaker. She married Mike Losik Jr. Jan. 27, 1944, in Enid, Okla. He survives. Other survivors include two sons, Mike III and Patrick, both of Salina; a daughter, Julie Repp of Olathe; a brother, Joe Ramsey of Salina; three sisters, Donna VanBunnen of Salina and Patsy Carnahan and Aneita Otter, both of Wichita; and four grandchildren. The funeral was Saturday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina, the Rev. Paul Robbins officiating. Memorials may be made to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center, Salina.
Margaret Bates Hart (1910-2005)
PICO RIVERA, Calif. – Margaret Bates Hart, 94, died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005. Mrs. Hart was born July 12, 1910, to Lyndon and Florence Bates. She married Roy Hart Sept. 1, 1929. Survivors include two sons, Roy and Larry Hart, both of California; a sister, Nancy Thornburgh of Ellsworth; and several grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daugher, Donna. The body is to be cremated.
Michael Dean Sutton
WILLIAMSBURG, KY. — Michael Dean Sutton, 36, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004, at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D. He is survived by his father and step-mother, Robert and Dana Sutton of Seymour, Tenn.; his mother, Deanne Carr of Salina, Kan.; a sister, Maria Lemoine of Salina; a half-brother, Evan Robert Sutton of Seymour; and his grandmother, Carolyn Kasiska of Ellsworth, Kan. The funeral was Friday at Croley Funeral Chapel, Williamsburg, Ky., the Rev. Roy Sutton officiating. Burial was in Piney Grove Cemetery.
Brian E. Thielen (1942-2005)
STERLING – Brian E. Thielen, 62, Sterling, died Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005. Mr. Thielen was born June 5, 1942, in Hays. He was a retired music teacher of 34 years, mostly in Sterling. Survivors include his wife, Karen, of the home; a son, Tim of Hutchinson; a daughter, Lori Thielen of Sterling; three sisters, Marcine Howey of Salina, Elzana Rowe of Pacific, Wash., and Jeanine Eschbaugh of Wilson; and four grandchildren. The funeral was Jan. 6 at the St. Paul Catholic Church, Lyons. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Dorrance. Memorials may be made to the Fort Hays State University Music Department or the church in care of Sillin Funeral home, 203 N. Seventh, Sterling 67579.
Keith Lloyd ‘Woody’ Woodmansee (1924-2005)
Keith Lloyd “Woody” Woodmansee, 80, Ellsworth, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Mr. Woodmansee was born June 4, 1924, at Longmont, Colo., to Russell A. Sr. and Viola A. Barton Woodmansee. He lived most of his life in Ellsworth County, where he was a former owner/operator of a painting business and worked in residential construction. He also was a veteran of the U.S. Navy with service during World War II and a past commander of VFW Post 6485, Ellsworth. Survivors include two daughters, Leona LaPierre-Clanton and Angela Mooneyham, both of Wichita; a son, Kent Woodmansee of Greenville, Texas; three brothers, Lyell of Ellsworth, Harvey of Wilson and Phillip of Great Bend; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Keith Paul, in 1993; and two brothers, Russell Jr. and Glenn. The funeral was Friday at Parsons Funeral Home, Pastor Stephen Holmes officiating. Burial was in Buckeye Cemetery, rural Kanopolis, with military honors by VFW Post 6485. Memorials may be made to the family.
David Anschutz (1907-2004)
SALINA — David Anschutz, 97, died Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004, at the Smoky Hill Rehabilitation Center, Salina. Mr. Anschutz was born Aug. 5, 1907, in Niedermonshu, Russia to David and Elizabeth Funk Anschutz. He grew up in Russia, coming to America in 1924. Most of his life was spent in the Bunker Hill-Wilson area, where he was a section man for the Union Pacific Railroad. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wilson. He married Wilma Blehm Aug. 5, 1934, in Wilson. She died in 1977. He also was preceded in death by a sister, four brothers and two step-brothers. Survivors include a daughter, Vera McGee of Lompac, Calif.; two sons, Donald D. of Salina and Leland W. of Attica; and 10 grandchildren. The funeral was Monday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pastor James Wagner officiating. Burial was in Wilson City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church in lieu of flowers. Foster Mortuary, Wilson, was in charge of arrangements.
Christopher E. Carter (1968-2004)
HOUSTON, TEXAS — Christopher E. Carter, 36, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004. Mr. Carter was born Nov. 18, 1968, in Salina. He was an SPC in the D Company, 187th Medical Batallion, United States Army, working in radiology. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Warren Carter, and a step–grandfather, Eddie Warren. Survivors include his fiance, Angie Poling, Kalamazoo, Mich.; one son, Daniel Kinderknecht, Colby; his parents, Charles Carter and wife Dianne, Salina; Joyce Eggers and husband, Richard, Ellsworth; two brothers, Charles Cline Carter, Jr., Overland Park and Chad Carter, Atlanta, Ga.; two sisters, Brenda Carter, Wichita; and Becky Carter, Salina; six step–brothers and sisters, Darin and Dana Urban, Overland Park, Dustin Urban, Kansas City, Lory and Lane Allison, Roeland Park, Julie Eggers, Leavenworth; and Holly Eggers, Concordia; his grandparents, Alfred and Jewell Priddy, Lindsborg and Roberta Jo Warren, Flatwoods, Ky. The funeral was Tuesday at the First Southern Baptist Church, Salina, Rev. Glenn Davis and Fr. Frank Coady officiating. Interment was in Gypsum Hills Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Christopher Carter Memorial Fund in lieu of flowers. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Louise Lukens Hodler (1914-2004)
BELOIT – Helen Louise Lukens Hodler, 90, Beloit, died Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004. Mrs. Hodler was born Helen Louise Vickburg May 14, 1914, in Westmoreland. She was an English teacher, retiring in 1979, and author and newspaper columnist. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Wagner Lukens, in 1975; and her second husband, Rexford D. Hodler, in 2001. Survivors include a daughter, Marjorie J. Van Buren of Topeka; two sons, James Lukens of Fayetteville, Ark., and Loren D. Lukens of Seattle; four step-children, Mary Ann Galliart of Dorrance, Jean Jensby of Bellleville, John Hodler of Lake Elmo, Minn., and Barbara Corman of Rochester, N.Y.; three grandchildren; and 10
stepgrandchildren. The funeral was Monday at McDonald Funeral Home, Beloit. Burial was in Elmwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Port Library or the First Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund.
Kathryn M. Bircher (1923-2005)
Kathryn M. Bircher, 81, Ellsworth, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Mrs. Bircher was born Dec. 18, 1923, at Ellsworth to William N. and Edith Manverse Preisker. She was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where she was a homemaker, co-owner of Birchers Dairy and clerk of the Selective Service Board. She also was a member of OES Chapter 44, the American Legion Auxiliary and the First Presbyterian Church. She married Walter Rolland Bircher Aug. 22, 1943, in Ellsworth. He died in 2000. She also was preceded in death by a son, Rolland Jr., in 1965. Survivors include two sons, David of Ellsworth and Richard of Topeka; and five grandchildren. The funeral was Tuesday at Parsons Funeral Home, the Rev. Leonard Goering officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery with OES rites. Memorials may be made to the Ellsworth County Health Care Foundation.
George Eschbaugh (1918-2005)
WILSON — George Eschbaugh, 86, Wilson, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2005, at Ellsworth. Mr. Eschbaugh was born Nov. 19, 1918, at Wilson to Otis Herman and Georgina Eslinger Eschbaugh. He was founder and operator of Eschbaugh Advertising. He also supported many organizations and projects in Ellsworth County. Survivors include his wife, Vi of Wilson; a son, Steve of Wilson; a daughter, Gretchen Thompson of Hays; a step-son, Bill Dowling of Hays; a step-daughter, Diane Arling of Dallas, Texas; a sister, Julia Beedon of Moorpark, Calif.; and three grandsons. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Frances Sutton, in 1965, and his second wife, Marcia Norria Dowling, in 1989. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Wilson City Cemetery. Visitation is from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (Thursday) at Foster Mortuary and from 8 a.m. until service time at the church. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or the Wilson Senior Center.
