Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Lucille Pokorny
ROCKPORT, Texas -- Lucille Mary Pokorny, 87, Rockport, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, in Rockport.
She was born March 14, 1913, in Topeka, the daughter of John and Susan Berberick. She graduated from St. Joseph School and the Topeka School of Cosmetology. She and her husband farmed for a few years before moving to Topeka in 1946. She moved to Rockport in 1977.
Mrs. Pokorny was a gardener and fisherman.
She married Anthony "Tony" Pokorny on May 11, 1932, in Blencoe, Iowa. He preceded her in death June 13, 2000.
Survivors include two sons, Dwight Pokorny, Topeka, and Chris Pokorny, Las Vegas, Nev.; five daughters, Marcella Muller, San Antonio, Texas, Angelia Kerin, Montesano, Wash., Rosalie Negus, Topeka, Shirley Cohn, Corrales, N.M., and Frances Chupalio, Milford, Pa.; a sister, Anna McPhail, Rossville, Kan.; 17 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockport. Burial will be at the Aransas Memorial Park Cemetery in Rockport. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home Chapel in Rockport.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart School, 111 N. Church St., Rockport, Texas, 78382, or AIM Hospice, 703 E. Concho St., Rockport, Texas, 78382.
Eleanor Solomon
SAN ANGELO, Texas -- Eleanor Hannah Solomon, 88, San Angelo, died Dec. 9, 2000, at a San Angelo nursing home.
Mrs. Solomon had been a bookkeeper for an automobile dealership, an appliance store, an accounting firm and the Cheyenne Mountain Country Club in Colorado Springs, Colo.
She was born one of twin girls on Nov. 9, 1912, in Oskaloosa, Kan., the daughter of Joseph C. and Ethel Perry Hannah. She had lived in San Angelo since 1981.
She married Everett F. Solomon in 1941. He preceded her in death in 1991. A son, Air Force Capt.. Edward D. Solomon, preceded her in death in 1974.
Survivors include a son, Eugene J. Solomon, San Angelo; a sister, Rosemary Parton, El Cajon, Calif.; a brother, William Hannah Sr., Oskaloosa; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Oskaloosa Methodist Church in Oskaloosa. Burial will be in Buster Cemetery in rural Jefferson County, Kan.
Johnson's Funeral Home in San Angelo is in charge of arrangements.
Harold Wall
SEDAN -- Harold Haywood "Stony" Wall, 100, Sedan, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at a Sedan nursing home.
Mr. Wall was an automobile dealer in Sedan and past president of the Kansas Motor Car Association and the Sedan First National Bank. He also was chairman of the First National Bank board of directors.
He was born Dec. 25, 1900, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of Nathan Benjamin and Flora Inglefield Wall.
Mr. Wall was a member of the Sedan Epiphany Episcopal Church and Sedan Chamber of Commerce. He was a charter member of the Sedan Lions Club and a 75-year member of the Masonic Lodge.
Mr. Wall was preceded in death by four wives, Helen Taylor, Louise Dorn, Louise Floyd and Lucille Short.
Survivors include a stepson, John Floyd, Sedan; a daughter, Jan Meadows, Sedan; a brother, John Wall, Sedan; a stepdaughter, Kay High, Bakersfield, Calif.; one grandchild; four stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Sedan Epiphany Episcopal Church. Burial will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Sedan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sedan Area Foundation or Sedan Area Economic Development and sent in care of Graves-Baird Funeral Home in Sedan.
William Bivens
JUNCTION CITY -- William F. Bivens, 58 Junction City, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, at a Manhattan hospital.
He was born April 21, 1942, in Fort Riley, the son of William and Sally M. Carroll Bivens. He graduated from Junction City High School in 1960 and lived most his life in Junction City. He attended The University of Kansas, and he earned an associate's degree in applied science at Cloud County Community College.
Mr. Bivens was a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Xavier Catholic Church.
Survivors include his mother, Sally Dedmon, Junction City; a son, William F. Bivens III, Junction City; three daughters, Tracy Quinn, in California, Lynn Cain, Topeka, and Ashley Bivens Williams, Wichita; a brother, Jeffrey Bivens, Topeka; a sister, Victoria Ferison, Bossier City, La.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Xavier Catholic Church in Junction City. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Junction City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Buffalo Soldier Memorial and sent in care of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 1846, Junction City, 66441.
Mass-Hinitt Funeral Chapel in Junction City is in charge of arrangements.
William Denholm Jr.
MANHATTAN -- William D. "Bill" Denholm Jr., 76, Manhattan, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at a Manhattan hospital.
Mr. Denholm was a Manhattan realtor and residential developer. He established the Denholm Realty Co. and developed areas in Manhattan west of CICO Park, Rocky Ford, the former Stagg Hill Golf Course and an area along Silver Creek, west of Keats. He named many city streets in Manhattan.
He also sold securities for Waddell and Reed Financial Services, and he had owned and operated a children's clothing store. He worked for the Kansas Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. in 1950 and then in Huron, S.D., where he organized and managed the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. until 1957. He served in the Army Air Corps office of strategic services in Washington, D.C., during World War II.
He was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Lawrence, the son of William Davis Denholm Sr. and Irene Cox Denholm. He was raised in Tonganoxie and graduated from Tonganoxie High School in 1941. He earned a bachelor's degree in business at Kansas State Agricultural College in 1950.
Mr. Denholm was a member of First Congregational Church, Lafayette Lodge No. 16 AF&AM, Manhattan Shrine Club, Pearce-Keller Post No. 17 of the American Legion, Manhattan Country Club, York Rite Bodies, Isis Shrine of Salina, and Henri Lodge No. 190 AF&AM and Rinda Chapter No. 82 of the Order of Eastern Star, both in Tonganoxie. Mr. Denholm was potentate of the Isis Shrine in 1993.
He married Geneva A. Erickson on Nov. 18, 1951, in Manhattan. She survives.
Other survivors include two brothers, Harold T. Denholm, Tonganoxie, and Dr. Byron E. Denholm, Hemet, Calif.; two sisters, Wilma Gillespie, Leavenworth, and Barbara Sluiter, Bay City, Mich.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Congregational Church in Manhattan. Burial with Masonic committal services will be at Sunset Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Crippled Childrens Hospital, First Congregational Church or the charity of the donor's choice and sent in care of the funeral home.
Harvey Grimm
SABETHA -- Harvey E. Grimm, 77, Sabetha, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at a Sabetha hospital.
Mr. Grimm farmed in the Sabetha area his whole life.
He was born Aug. 7, 1923, in Lester, Iowa, the son of Samuel H. and Emma Nester Grimm. He moved to the Princeville, Ill., area at the age of 11, and then to the Sabetha area.
Mr. Grimm was a member and former minister of the Bern Apostolic Christian Church.
He married Marie B. Hartter on Nov. 19, 1944, in Sabetha. She survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Gordon Grimm and Gregory Grimm, both of Sabetha; two brothers, Samuel Grimm Jr., Morton, Ill., and Earl Grimm, Dunlap, Ill.; three sisters, Alvina Streitmatter, Princeville, Emma Dale Baer, Morton, Ill., and Mabel Hoerr, Peoria, Ill.; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bern Apostolic Christian Church. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha.
Memorial contributions may be made either to the Sabetha EMTs, the Bern Apostolic Christian Church or Apostolic Christian Home for the Handicapped in Morton, Ill., and sent in care of the funeral home.
Alvie McClasky
ATCHISON -- Alvie Manuel McClasky, 74, Atchison, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at a Kansas City, Mo., hospital.
Mr. McClasky was an insurance agent for Banker Life and Casualty, and he later was district manager for the agency in Wichita and Topeka. He later became branch manager in Kansas City, Mo. He also had worked for Reserve National Life as a regional manager. He later owned and operated the Alvie McClasky Insurance Agency in Atchison. Mr. McClasky also was an Avon representative and a member of the President's Club for Avon. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
He was born April 29, 1926, in Dearborne, Mo., the son of Manless M. and Eva Jane Wilson McClasky. He attended West Platte High School in Weston, Mo.
Mr. McClasky was a member of St. Joseph Church in Atchison where he served as an usher. He was a member of Fleming-Jackson-Seever Post No. 6 of the American Legion in Atchison where he served as treasurer. He also was a member of the Moose Lodge No. 555 in Topeka, the Eagles Lodge in Olathe and the Holiday Ramble R.V. Club. He and his wife took many trips in their travel trailer.
He married Lois Petesch on April 27, 1944, in Atchison. She survives.
Other survivors include a son, Donald C. McClasky, Olathe; a sister, Sarah Kindred, Platte City, Mo.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Mr. McClasky was preceded in death by a son, Steven R. McClasky.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Church in Atchison. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Atchison. A parish prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today at Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home in Atchison, where visitation will be until 8:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or the American Lung Association and sent in care of the funeral home.
Pearl Neis
EUDORA -- Pearl C. Neis, 87, Eudora, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at a Eudora nursing home.
She was born Jan. 21, 1913, in Eudora, the daughter of William and Anna Schumacker Knake. She was a lifelong Eudora resident.
Mrs. Neis was a member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Eudora, the Women's Fellowship at the church and the church choir.
She married Clarence Neis on Feb. 17, 1937, in Eudora. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughter, Bernice Stouse, Shawnee; a son, Keith Neis, Eudora; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's United Church of Christ. Burial will be at the Eudora City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Jack Platt Sr.
MANHATTAN -- Jack Joe Platt Sr., 59, Manhattan, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at a Manhattan hospital.
Mr. Platt was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service from 1963 to 1992. He served in the Navy aboard the USS Preble during the Vietnam War.
He was born July 17, 1941, in Manhattan, the son of Charles I. and Neva Elizabeth Gaden Platt. He was a lifelong Manhattan resident.
Mr. Platt was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Association of Letter Carriers Local No. 1018. He bowled for the Tuesday Independent League in Manhattan for more than 30 years. He also was a self-taught musician and a fisherman.
He married Marion Kay Falder on Aug. 12, 1968, in Falls City, Neb. She survives.
Other survivors include four daughters, Kathy Johnston, Manhattan, Debbie Elliott, Wahiawa, Hawaii, Sandy Clark, Black Hawk, S.D., and Lisa Ruthstrom, Leonardville; three sons, Jesse Platt and Jack Platt Jr., both of Manhattan, and Jim Platt, Liberty, Mo.; a sister, Lois Isenhour, Chatham, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel in Manhattan. Inurnment with full military honors will be at Valley View Memorial Gardens Cemetery east of Manhattan. Visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Epilepsy Foundation and sent in care of the funeral home.
Elmer Potts
WATERVILLE -- Elmer H. Potts, 86, formerly of Waterville, died Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001, at a Salina hospital.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Waterville. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Waterville. Mr. Potts will lie in state from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association and sent in care of Terry Chapel and Funeral Home in Waterville.
Wayne Steely
HERINGTON -- Wayne L. Steely, 91, Burdick, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at a Herington hospital.
Mr. Steely was a farmer and stockman in the Burdick area until he retired in 1978. He was a master gardener and hosted an annual open yard in his garden. He won numerous blue ribbons in juried competition at the Kansas State Fair.
He was born July 1, 1909, on a farm near Lincolnville, the son of John P. and Ella May Gilbert Steely. He graduated from Diamond Valley High School in Burdick in 1927 and attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. He earned his master gardener certificate at Kansas State University.
Mr. Steely was a member of the Burdick United Methodist Church. He had served on the board of directors for the church and school, and on the Tri-County Arts Council in Herington.
He married Goldie I. Hansen on April 12, 1941, in Wichita. She survives.
Other survivors include a son Conrad Steely, Sherman Oaks, Calif.; a brother, Glenn Steely, McPherson; and two granddaughters.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Burdick. Burial will be in Burdick Methodist Cemetery. Mr. Steely will lie in state from 2 to 7 p.m. today at Donahue Funeral Home in Herington and after 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. A prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Burdick United Methodist Church Building Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.
Esther Welch
EMPORIA -- Esther Greer Welch, 102, Emporia, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at an Emporia nursing home.
Mrs. Welch taught school in Hutchinson in 1921 and 1922 and at Mary Herbert Elementary School in Emporia from 1956 to 1968.
She was born March 12, 1898, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of John B. Greer and Alice Wheeler. She earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State Teacher's College in 1921. She moved to Emporia in 1923.
Mrs. Welch was a member of First Congregational Church in Emporia, Mayflowers, Colonial Dames of America, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Newman Hospital Auxiliary, the Retired Teachers Association and the Research Study Club. She was a former member of the Emporia State University Foundation Board, and she was most recently trustee emeritus of the board. She was an Emporia Gazette "Woman of the Week."
She married Francis George "Fran" Welch on June 2, 1923, at Marion. He preceded her in death June 19, 1970. Mrs. Welch also was preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Welch Chandler.
Survivors include a son, Dr. John G. Welch, Brooklyn, N.Y.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the First Congregational Church in Emporia. Burial at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia. Relatives and friends will meet at the church following the services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church, the Good Samaritan Fund at Emporia Presbyterian Manor or the Fran and Esther Welch Scholarship Fund at Emporia State University and sent in care of Carlson Funeral Home in Emporia.
