Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
David W. Wheeler
David Willis Wheeler, 65, longtime and prominent Marion attorney, died Jan. 4, 2001, at St. Luke Hospital.
Known as "D.W." to countless friends and business associates, he was born Nov. 30, 1935, at Newton, the son of David and Lola (Hildwein) Wheeler.
He graduated from Marion High School and the University of Kansas.
On June 20, 1964, he was married to Charla Hood at Lawrence.
Following graduating from law school, he entered practice with his father in Marion.
He was a member of Marion Christian Church, Kansas Bar Association, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, and Marion Kiwanis Club.
He was an elder at the church and had been a Sunday school teacher for 40 years.
A memorial service was held this afternoon, Wednesday, at the church with the Rev. John Yates officiating.
Music was by Dr. Richard Cantwell and Dr. Sheila Schmitt of Tabor College, Hillsboro.
Private burial was in Marion Cemetery, earlier.
A memorial fund has been established in his name at the church.
Survivors include his wife, Charla, of the home; their son, Michael Wheeler of Newton; mother, Lola Wheeler of Marion; sisters, Lenore Mitchell of Marion and Lou Esther Wheeler of Denver, Colo.; and one grandchild.
Luella N. Schultz
Luella N. Schultz, 84, Hillsboro, died Jan. 7, 2001.
Born July 22, 1916, at Boyd, Okla., she was the daughter of Isaac and Emma (Neufeld) Harms.
She was married to Robert Schultz on Feb. 4, 1950, in Denver, Colo. He died in 1973.
Survivors include sons, Wallis Schultz of Goessel and Lendell Schultz of Hillsboro; daughter, Sandra Schmidt of rural Goessel; brothers, Isaac Harms of Bella Vista, Ark., Alvin Harms of Ulysses, Johnny Harms of Mena, Ark., and Clarence Harms of New Wilmington, Pa.; sisters, Ruby Schmidt of Hutchinson and Berniece Givan of Denver, Colo.; and six grandchildren.
Services were held Tuesday afternoon at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church with Pastor Dave Plett officiating.
Burial was in the Hillsboro MB Cemetery.
When she was 11, the family moved to Ulysses.
During World War II she worked in a defense plant in California. She was married, Jan. 9, 1943, to Lt. Hubert Hampton, a pilot stationed at Long Beach Air Force Base. He died, June 5, 1943, in a crash near Pocatello, Idaho.
Following his death, she remained in California and was active in church work.
In 1948, tired of the fast pace in California, she moved to Denver, Colo., to be near her family. It was there that she met Robert Schultz, a farmer. They were married and farmed for 23 years.
In 1985 she moved to Bella Vista, Ark., and three years later moved to Hillsboro to be near her children.
John C. Reznicek
John C. Reznicek, 85, lifetime farmer in the Lost Springs community, died Jan. 5, 2001, at St. Luke Hospital in Marion.
He had suffered a stroke at his home, and was taken to the hospital.
Born Aug. 19, 1915, at Irving, he was the son of Thomas and Antonie (Pallas) Reznicek. The family moved to the Lost Springs area when he was a boy.
He attended local schools and graduated from Lost Spring High School in the class of 1933.
On Sept. 14, 1942, he was married to Irma Holub in St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, Pilsen. Father Emil J. Kapaun was the officiating priest.
The couple had 11 children.
He had served on the church board 20 years and was a charter member of Emil J. Kapaun Council, Knights of Columbus. He served in many capacities during his 50-plus years of membership
He also served on the board of directors of Lincolnville Cooperative Association and was a member of Kansas Farmers Union.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, three sisters, and two daughters: Marilyn in 1948 and Elaine Stika in 1997.
Survivors include his wife, Irma, of the home; six sons, John F. of Marion, Tom of Baldwin City, Ron of Farmington, B.C., Ed of Groff, Ken of Burlington, and Robert of Lost Springs; three daughters, Carol Makovec of Ramona, Mary Loewen of Hillsboro, and Lori Torline of Derby; two brothers, Cyril of Marion and Paul of Littleton, Colo.; two sisters, Anne Steiner of Marion and Rose Gleason of Wichita; 22 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.
The Rosary was recited Monday evening at the church. The Mass of Resurrection was offered Tuesday morning at the church in Pilsen with Father Paul Oborney, Father Steve Gronert, and Father Richard Stuchlik officiating.
John F. Reznick was lector, Carol Makovec, Mary Loewen, and Lori Torline were gift bearers. Altar servers were Jeremy Loewen, Justin, Ryan, and Brandon Makovec.
Vocalists were Betty Stroda and Rosie Waner. Charlene Svitak was the organist.
Casketbearers were his six sons, Robert, Ken, Ed, Ron, Tom, and John.
Burial was in the cemetery at Pilsen.
A fund has been established in his name with the Father Emil J. Kapaun Memorial.
Joseph Ragole
Joseph A. Ragole, 73, one of Marion County's willing worker volunteers, died Dec. 27, 2000, at Via Christi-St. Joseph Medical Center in Wichita.
After suffering from heart problems, he was taken to St. Luke Hospital in Marion and then transferred by helicopter to the medical center in Wichita.
A former employee of Mobil Oil, he was well known not only in Marion but also in the expanded community often referred to as "the oil patch."
Not only was he well known, he also was admired by countless friends. Everyone agreed that "Joe Ragole is a nice guy."
He was a devoted worker in the church, helped friends and neighbors, and was a community volunteer.
Born Feb. 8, 1927, at Omaha, Neb., he was the son of Cyril and Emma Ragole. He grew up in Omaha and graduated from high school.
Following high school, he served in the U.S. Army.
On May 8, 1950, he was united in marriage with Phyllis Blackman at McPherson. The couple had a son, Joseph Alan, and a daughter, Janet.
He worked for many years, and retired from Mobil Oil Pipeline as a gauger. During that time, the family lived at Sioux City, Iowa; Ness City, Bouge, and Marion in Kansas. They moved to Marion in 1970 and he retired in 1984.
He was a member of Holy Family Parish Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion.
He enjoyed golf, took immaculate care of the lawn at their new home, and was devoted to his church.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis, of the home; son, Joseph Alan Ragole of Centreville, Va.; daughter, Janet Plunket of Salina; brother, Alfred Ragole of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and six grandchildren.
The rosary was recited Friday evening at the church and the Mass of the Resurrection was offered Saturday morning with Father Steve Gronert as celebrant.
Matt Newhouse was lector, music was by vocalist Jeff Bina and Charlene Svitak at the organ.
Casket bearers were Bob Kelly, Matthew Classen, Ken Vinduska, Ed Sandwell, Jack Beaston, and Carl Cyr.
Elsie Bezdek was the rosary leader
Burial was in the McPherson Cemetery with military honors provided by an honor guard squad from Fort Riley.
A memorial fund has been established in his name at the church.
Helen Graves
Former Florence merchant Helen Graves, 87, died Dec. 25, 2000, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center.
Born April 1, 1913, near McCune, she was the daughter of Henry and Pearle Estela (Peters) Buckle.
During her long lifetime, Helen Henrietta (Buckle) Graves had been a homemaker, a school teacher, operated a variety store in Florence, and sold Watkins products.
She was married to Presley Graves in October of 1929. He died in 1988.
She had lived at Florence since the time of their marriage, and was a member of the Florence Southern Baptist Church for 45 years until it closed. She had served the church as treasurer for many years.
Mrs. Graves also had been a member of Rebekah Lodge at Florence.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, grandson Steve Wendt, and nephew John Roy Buckle.
Survivors include daughters Valera Hamm of Durham and Ida Mae Wndt of Herington; several nieces and nephews; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held Thursday morning at Florence Christian Church with Pastor Harold Brown officiating. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established in her name at Hillsboro Community Medical Center.
Dan Suderman
Dan M. Suderman, 93, former Hillsboro farmer-stockman, died Dec. 14, 2000, at Parkside Homes, Hillsboro.
Born Aug. 22, 1907, at Hillsboro, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Helen (Stelting) Suderman.
His first wife, Edna (Harder) Suderman, died in 1976.
He was married to Viola (Larson) Baker on Nov. 27, 1981, at Hillsboro. She survives.
Other survivors include sons Art Suderman of Hillsboro, Dale Suderman of Chicago, Ill., and Ron Suderman of Hillsboro; daughter, Elva Suderman of Hillsboro; stepsons, Ray Baker of Morena Valley, Calif., Jim Baker of Hillsboro, and Curtis Baker of Lexington, N.C.; sister, Esther Hiebert of Hillsboro; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; seven step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild.
The funeral service was held Monday morning at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church with Pastor Bruce Porter officiating. Burial was in Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Cemetery, rural Hillsboro.
A memorial fund has been established in his name at Parkside Homes.
