Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Melvin A. Sherbert
CLAY CENTER -- Services were Saturday at Community Church in Albion, Wash., for Melvin Akin Sherbert, 84, Albion, formerly of Clay Center, who died Jan. 1, 2001, at a Pullman, Wash., nursing center. He suffered a massive stroke in February 1996 and had been ill since.
He was born Jan. 7, 1916, in Clay Center, to Akin and Essa Laretta Insley Sherbert. He spent his early life in the Broughton community southeast of Clay Center and attended Gatesville School. He worked at the Clay Center livestock sale barn before he moved to Wilder, Idaho, where he worked on a farm.
He moved to Othello, Wash., where he entered a plumbing business. He also worked at Broadway Lumber Co., and at a grain elevator in Othello before he retired. He lived in Battle Ground, Wash., before he moved to Albion, Wash., in 1995.
He was a charter member of United Methodist Church in Othello, Wash., and a past member of IOOF Lodge and Eagles Lodge. He was a member of Battle Ground Horseshoe Club.
He married Bernice Luthi on Aug. 20, 1939, in Clay Center. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Ronald Sherbert, Albion, Wash., and Bueford Sherbert, Tacoma, Wash.; a stepmother, Mary Sherbert, Clay Center; two sisters, Ethel Luthi, Wakefield, and Velma Hanley, Clay Center; two half-brothers, Bill Sherbert, Broughton, and Dwight Sherbert, Clay Center; six half-sisters, Ruth Morris, Oakley, Janet Waters and Ann Smith, both in Phoenix, Adela Furrer, Oak Hill, Susan Smith, Lubbock, Texas, and Kay Dreifels, Syracuse, Neb.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Burial was in Bess-Hampton Memorial Cemetery in Othello, Wash.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wakefield Museum in Wakefield, 67487; United Methodist Church in Othello, 99344; or Community Church in Albion, 99102. Kimball Funeral Home in Pullman, Wash., was in charge of arrangements.
Nellie E. Stiner
FRANKFORT -- Nellie E. Stiner, 93, Olathe, formerly of the Frankfort and Vermillion communities, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at an Olathe hospital.
She was born Nov. 20, 1907, at home in Marshall County. She moved from Vermillion to Olathe in 1983.
She was a member of United Methodist Church in Vermillion and the women's circle at the church.
She married Merl Stiner. They lived in the Frankfort and Vermillion communities in Marshall County from 1925 until 1970. He died in 1990. A son, Leonard Linnea Stiner, died in 1944. A grandson, Steven Merl Stiner, died in 1953.
Survivors include three sons, John A. Stiner, Vliets, Loren L. Stiner, San Antonio, and Ross Stiner, Olathe; a daughter, Marilyn M. Wolff, Olathe; 14 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Frankfort Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Public Library in Frankfort, 66427. Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Olathe is in charge of arrangements.
Hazel Helbach
HERINGTON -- Services will be at 2:30 p.m. today at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Herington for Hazel Clair Helbach, 89, Ramona, who died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at the Lutheran Home in Herington.
She was born April 4, 1911, in Talmage, to Leroy and Ada Ann Mittan Ayre, and attended schools in the Talmage community. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1928 and attended college. She taught in one-room schools for more than 13 years and in elementary schools in Woodbine and Hope for 12 years before she retired.
She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Herington.
She married Samuel Helbach on June 1, 1941, in Abilene. They lived in Ramona for many years. He died April 12, 1991. A granddaughter, Marcy Helbach, also died.
Survivors include a son, Hilton Ayre Helbach, Hope; three daughters, Margaret Mae Willcox, Tryon, Okla., Shirley Ann Lucas, Coral Springs, Fla., and Linda Kay Frey, Topeka; two brothers, Delmar Ayre, Salina, and Ronald Ayre, Overbrook; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Herington.
Carlson-Becker Funeral Home in Hope is in charge of arrangements.
James W. Harrison
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Davidson Funeral Home in Topeka for James W. Harrison, 70, a longtime Topekan, who died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at his home in Ozawkie.
He was born April 23, 1930, in Topeka, to Walter and Minnie Baker Harrison. He spent his early life in North Topeka and graduated from Topeka High School in 1949. He was a printer and worked for Turner Advertising and then Patterson Advertising. He worked in the composing room of The Topeka Capital-Journal from 1966 until he retired in 1992.
He served in the National Guard and then in the Army from 1952 to 1954 during the Korean War. He was a staff sergeant and was stationed in Fort Carson, Colo., as a medic.
He was a member of Bicentennial Post No. 225 of the American Legion in Ozawkie and a former member of North Post No. 400 of the American Legion in Topeka.
He married Wilma V. Hilty on June 1, 1952, in Topeka. She died July 23, 1998.
Survivors include a son, Jay Harrison, Ozawkie; three sisters, Mildred Prevosti, Omaha, Marjorie Benoit, Arlington, Texas, and Marian Bednasek, Topeka; and three grandchildren.
Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery. Mr. Harrison will lie in state from noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association.
Louise Hanni
BERN -- Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Bern for Louise Hanni, 92, Bern, who died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at a Sabetha hospital.
She was born Sept. 14, 1908, west of Woodlawn in Nemaha County, to Alexander and Jane Bessie Jonach Baumgartner, and attended a rural school.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Bern.
She married Albert Hanni on July 27, 1932, west of Woodlawn. He died June 22, 1988. They lived near St. Joseph, Mo., until 1933, when they moved to Danville, Ind. They returned to Nemaha County in 1934 and farmed east of Bern for many years. They retired in 1972 and moved to Seneca. They moved to Bern in 1977.
Survivors include two sons, Roger Hanni and J.R. Hanni, both in Bern; a daughter, Donna Kussman, St. Joseph, Mo.; a brother, Alex Baumgartner, Conroe, Texas; a sister, Eva Sherwood, El Cajon, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Bern Cemetery. Mrs. Hanni will lie in state after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church in Bern, 66408.
Jack Glanville Jr.
COTTONWOOD FALLS -- Jack Glanville Jr., 69, Cottonwood Falls, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at home.
He was born May 26, 1931, in Cottonwood Falls, to Jack B. and Janet Mailen Glanville. He graduated from Chase County Community High School in Cottonwood Falls and spent most of his life in Chase County. He was a farmer and stockman.
He had served in the Army.
He was a member of Chase County Pork Producers and Farm Bureau.
He married Bonnie Conrade on April 28, 1957, in Emporia. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Keith J. Glanville and Randy Glanville, both in Cottonwood Falls; two daughters, Deborah A. Kline, Cottonwood Falls, and Dixie J. Rees, Marshall, Mo.; and three grandchildren.
Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Cottonwood Falls. Private inurnment will be in Prairie Grove Cemetery in Cottonwood Falls. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Croy Funeral Home in Cottonwood Falls.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hand in Hand Hospice or American Heart Association.
Leland Dreyer
MADISON -- Leland E. Dreyer, 77, Madison, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at home.
He was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Gridley, to Roy and Lydia Strauch Dreyer. He graduated from Gridley High School in 1941. He lived in Gridley before he moved to Madison in 1961. He was a self-employed oil producer.
He was an Army veteran of World War II.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Ball-McColm Post No. 5 of American Legion, both in Emporia, and Eastern Kansas Oil and Gas Association.
He married Betty Sutton on June 1, 1944, in Emporia. She survives. A daughter, Ann Dreyer, also died.
Other survivors include a son, Kenneth Dreyer, Emporia; two brothers, Calvin Dreyer, Wichita, and Larry Dreyer, Perry, Okla.; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wilson Funeral Home in Madison. Burial will be in Gridley Cemetery. Relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Emporia, 66801.
Verna Chestnut
OSAGE CITY -- Services will be at 11:30 a.m. today at Baptist Temple in Osage City for Verna Pauline Chestnut, 81, Wichita, formerly of Osage City, who died Jan. 1, 2001, at a Wichita nursing home.
She was born Nov. 27, 1919, in Burlington, to Carl and Georgia Cox Craft. She was employed by Bible Supply and Sales in Wichita before she retired.
Her husband, Martin Chestnut, died in 1988.
Survivors include a stepdaughter, Joyce Huff, in California; two brothers, Marshall Craft, Wichita, and Everett Craft, Osage City; a sister, Velma Fleming, Topeka; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Osage City. Broadway Mortuary in Wichita is in charge of arrangements.
May Chamberlin
LAWRENCE -- Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Lawrence for May K. Chamberlin, 95, Lawrence, who died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at a Lawrence hospital.
She was born July 14, 1905, in Maryville, Mo., to Edwin A. and Myrtle Henson Thompson, and moved to Kansas City, Mo., in 1910. She graduated from Westport High School in Kansas City, Mo., and attended Drury College in Springfield, Mo. She lived in Lawrence since 1954.
She was a member of First Christian Church in Lawrence where she was active in women's group and choir. She was a member of Parent-Teacher Association, Extension Homemakers Unit and Co-op Guild.
She married Ralph D. Chamberlin on Aug. 7, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo. He died Jan. 29, 1999.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen Braden, Lawrence, and Sandra Ball, Dallas; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. Relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church in Lawrence.
Anna L. Blow
OSKALOOSA -- Anna Lucille Blow, 73, Oskaloosa, formerly of Admire, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at a Nortonville care home.
She was born July 20, 1927, in Emporia, to Charles B. and Grace Reynolds Stair. She graduated from Emporia High School in 1944. She lived in Admire from 1978 until 1994 when she moved to Oskaloosa. She formerly was a clerk at Falley's Markets in Topeka for many years. She was a machine operator for Hallmark Cards in Osage City and Emporia before she retired in 1992.
She married Robert Wilson Blow on June 3, 1944, in Cottonwood Falls. He died Nov. 29, 1993.
Survivors include a son, Robert W. Blow Jr., Havensville; a daughter, Phyllis A. Blake, Oskaloosa; two brothers, Jack Stair, Claremore, Okla., and Joseph Stair, San Antonio; a sister, Dorothy "Dottie" Higgins, Turner; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a stepgreat-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Crable Funeral Chapel in Osage City. Burial will be in Reading Cemetery in Reading. Visitation will be after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the activity fund at Village Villa Care Center in Nortonville or to Diabetes Foundation of Kansas. Barnett Funeral Home is in charge of Oskaloosa arrangements.
Jessie Duncan
HUTCHINSON -- Jessie G. Duncan, 94, Hutchinson, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at a Hutchinson care center.
She was born April 15, 1906, in Platte, S.D., to Charles Nicholas and Nellie Marietta Doty Richards. She was an English teacher, secretary and librarian at high schools in Miller, Hamilton, Sublette and Overbrook. She lived in Hutchinson since 1973.
She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, United Methodist Women, Esther Group, Faith Quilters and Sunshine Circle, all at the church, where she volunteered at the church library.
She was a member of General Society of Mayflower Descendants and Daughters of the American Revolution and a past member of Delta Kappa Gamma teachers' sorority, Federation of Women's Clubs and Retired Teachers Association. She had served with Hutchinson Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
She married Ralph L. Duncan on Sept. 1, 1928, in Penalosa in Kingman County. He died Jan. 15, 1976.
Survivors include a son, Richard L. Duncan, Sublette; a daughter, Mary Beth Humphreys, Hutchinson; a brother, Earl Richards, Hayward, Wis.; a sister, Nellie Cliff, Burlington, Wis.; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Private burial will be in Lerado Cemetery in the Lerado community northwest of Kingman. Memorial services will follow at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Faith United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. Mrs. Duncan will lie in state from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson & Sons Funeral Home in Hutchinson where relatives and friends will meet from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith United Methodist Church in Hutchinson.
Beulah M. Wolfe
Beulah Mae Wolfe, 90, Topeka, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at a Topeka care center.
She was born Feb. 25, 1910, in Osborn, Mo., to Chester A. and Della Mae Masner Asbury, and lived in the Topeka area since 1951. She was an office manager for Royal Cleaners for many years.
She was a member of Northland Christian Church, Good Sams Camping Club and Santa Fe Women's Auxiliary.
She married Roland E. Wolfe on May 22, 1942, in Richmond, Mo. He died March 16, 1995.
Survivors include three sons, Joseph Donald Biggs, Rossville, Robert Arthur Biggs, Columbia, Mo., and Gary E. Wolfe, Topeka; two daughters, Lela Mae Cooper, Weslaco, Texas, and Barbara Blankenship, Plattsburg, Mo.; three sisters, Gladys Woods, Louisburg, Bonnie Wray, Hooks, Texas, and Pat Lamley, Excelsior Springs, Mo.; many grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and many great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Northland Christian Church. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Wolfe will lie in state after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Parker-Price Mortuary where relatives and friends will meet from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northland Christian Church, 3102 N. Topeka, 66617.
