Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
William Schill
William "Bill" Schill, 71, retired quarry employee, died Aug. 6, 2000, at Marion Manor.
Born April 7, 1929, at Aulne, he was the son of Anna Schill and Bink Kelluns.
He grew up in the community and for more than 35 years was employed by Riddle and later by Hallett Quarries. At the time of his retirement a party was held in his honor.
He was a lifetime resident of the Marion community and was well known among a wide circle of friends.
A kind-hearted and honest person, he enjoyed helping others and was especially helpful to other residents while living at Marion Manor.
Survivors include cousins Barbara Cheever, Delores Cook, Betty Sue Loney, and Cheryl Linn; and an uncle, Henry Schill of Marion.
Services were held Tuesday morning at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion with Father Steve Gronert officiating. Burial was in the Spring Branch Cemetery southwest of Marion.
Music was by Charlene Svitak, organist, and Madonna Schafers, vocalist.
Casket bearers were Harley Creamer, Willie Creamer, Wayne Cook, Frank Werner, Gerald Kline, and John Kline. Honorary bearers were Chris Loney and Otho Heath Browning.
A memorial fund has been established in his name at Marion Manor and with the American Heart Association.
Larry Waner
Larry D. Waner, 57, who grew up in the Marion community, died Aug. 4, 2000, at his home in Canton.
The son of John and Irma Mae (Allen) Waner, he was born Aug. 31, 1942, at Marion.
He was employed as a fab machine operator at Hay and Forage Industries, Hesston.
On Aug. 28, 1965, he was married to Alice M. Schwabauer in Marion. They lived in Canton since moving from Lawrence in July 1966.
He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, McPherson, and the Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his wife, Alice, of the home; parents, John and Irma Waner of Marion; brothers, John I. Waner, Alba, Texas, and Eugene H. Waner, Marion; godson Jerald Waner of Marion; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held Tuesday afternoon at Holy Family Catholic Church, Marion, with Father Paul Oborny and Father Stephen Gronert officiation.
Burial was in Canton Township Cemetery.
Memorial funds have been established with Central Homecare and Hospice, Halstead Med X, American Cancer Society, and the Canton Ambulance Service.
Ida Ruth Wohlford
Funeral services for Ida Ruth Wohlford, 93, were held Tuesday at Geneseo United Methodist Church with burial in Lyons Municipal Cemetery.
The Rev. Janet Weathersbee and the Rev. Robert Stefen officiated at the services.
She died Aug. 4, 2000, at her home in Ellsworth.
Daughter of the late Edward and Elizabeth Ann (Kreutziger) Skibbe, she was born April 19, 1907, at Marion.
She was married to Cecil D. Wohlford July 14, 1940, at Little River. They lived on a farm northeast of Geneseo until moving to Ellsworth in 1997. He died Jan. 8, 1998.
A homemaker, she also had taught school at Finch in Marion County and in Dodge City, Hutchinson, and Geneseo.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, 55 Plus Club, Ladies Thanksgiving Club, Trivola EHU, Historical Society, and Order of Eastern Star, all at Geneseo.
Preceded in death by three brothers, Harry, Adolph and Ira Skibbe; and four sisters, Alice Mehlinger, Lena Kreutziger, Anna Siebert, and Emma Siebert; she is survived by son Bill Wohlford, Wichita; three daughters, Kathryn Pollard, Fort Worth, Texas, Mary Murphy, Natoma, and Jean Stefek, Ellsworth; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial funds have been established with the church and Hospice of Salina.
Doyle Thompson
Franklin Doyle Thompson, 64, Valley Center, died June 28, 1999.
He was a concrete truck driver for Dolese Brothers, but had previously lived in the Cedar Point community for 53 years and was in the cattle feeding business.
Born Aug. 3, 1934, at Walsh, Colo., he was the son of Lowell Wilbur and Wanda Owena (Kesler) Thompson.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte (Ellis) Thompson, of the home; sons, Michael and Buckley, Wichita, Sheldon of Whitewater, Craig of Leavenworth, and Randell of Emporia; daughters, Julie Parsons, Olathe, and Tamera Cibolski, Salina; sister, Bertha Hess, Valley Center; and 18 grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Downing and Lahey Mortuary East, Wichita, with burial in Walnut Valley Memorial Park, El Dorado.
A memorial fund has been established in his name with the American Cancer Society.
Ottilie Strecker
Ottilie Strecker, 94, died Aug. 14, 2000, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, following burial at 10:30 a.m.
Pastor John Ryding will officiate at the funeral in Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, with burial in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hillsboro Memorial Chapel.
She was born Feb. 27, 1906, at Hillsboro, the daughter of Albert and Julianna (Schultz) Matz. On Dec. 19, 1936, she was married to Sigmund Strecker. He is deceased.
Alice Wandling of Hillsboro is the sole survivor.
Rosemary Thiessen
Funeral services for Rosemary Thiessen, R.N., 52, were held Monday afternoon at Parkview Mennonite Church, Hillsboro.
The daughter of Jake and Mary (Warkentin) Thiessen, she was born Nov. 6, 1947, at Hillsboro.
She died Aug. 11, 2000, at Peabody Living Center.
Survivors include her mother, Mary Thiessen, Hillsboro; daughter, Bridget Thiessen, Hillsboro; brothers, Jim Thiessen and his wife Joyce and Linden Thiessen and his wife Dorene, all of rural Hillsboro; sisters, Enid Cady and her husband Jerry of Marion.
Pastor Roy Keller was the officiating clergyman. Burial was in Gnadenau Cemtery, near Hillsboro.
A memorial fund has been established as a scholarship fund to benefit Bridget Thiessen.
Carl B. Bass
Carl B. Bass, 85, well known retired farmer-stockman, died Sept. 15, 1998, at Marion.
Born Dec. 3, 1912, at Antelope, he was the son of Robert H. and Minerva Belle (Jackson) Bass. He was raised in the community and attended local schools.
He was married to Bessie Ruth Conyers on Sept. 11, 1937. The couple had four children, to who they were devoted.
They raised their family on the farm three miles south of Marion and eventually retired to their home in Marion in 1977.
He enjoyed trap shooting, baseball, bowling, golf, hunting, and fishing. He also enjoyed politics, and was a keen observer of the political scene.
But, most of all, he enjoyed his family.
He was a member of Eastmoor United Methodist Church. For decades he was active in Centre Masonic Lodge in Marion and was a past master. He also was a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory at Wichita.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Annabell who died Sept. 30, 1972; four brothers, Weir, Waco, Adolph, and Lloyd; and one sister, Verla Hollon.
Survivors include his wife, Bessie, of their home in Marion; sons, Robert H. and his wife, Laura, of Broomfield, Colo., and Douglas D. of Troy, Mich.; daughter, Carlita K. and her husband John Price of Superior, Neb.; six grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and one sister, Verna Loveless of Marion.
Services were held Friday afternoon at the church with Pastor Marilyn Cox officiating.
Ruth Jo Penner was the organist.
Casket bearers were his grandchildren Amee Bass, Carl Bass, Joe Price, Sara Bass, Andy Schwarz, and John Price Jr.
Burial was in Claney Cemetery, south of Marion.
A memorial fund has been established in his name at the church.
Joyce Lee Craft
Joyce Lee Craft, 62, mother of Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Robert Kraft, died Sept. 16, 1998, at Wichita.
Born Aug. 16, 1936, near Latham, she was the daughter of C.B. and Velva Ruth (Bolte) Price.
She was raised in the Latham community and attended local schools, graduating from Latham High School.
On June 27, 1954, she was united in marriage with Norman Craft at Latham. The couple had two sons. Steve and Robert.
While living in Clay Center she served as deputy clerk of the district court.
She enjoyed sewing and needlework as hobbies.
She had been a resident of rural Marion since 1991 and was a member of Marion Christian Church.
She died at Wichita Specialty Hospital, following a lengthy illness.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Velva Price.
Survivors include her husband, Norman, of Marion; sons, Steve of Mukwonago, Wis., and Rob of Marion; a brother, Larry Price, Latham; sister, Connie Brown, Augusta; her father, C.B. Price of LaFeria, Texas; and five grandsons.
Services were held Monday afternoon at Marion Christian Church with the Rev. John Yates officiating.
Greg Carlson was the vocal soloist and Donna Hayen the organist.
Casket bearers were Steve Craft, Robert Craft, Shaun Craft, Aaron Craft, Adam Craft, Andrew Craft, and Anthony Craft.
Burial was in the Latham Cemetery.
Vic Heidebrecht
Vic Heidebrecht, 75, died Sept. 21, 1998, at Lincoln, Neb.
Born Feb. 12, 1923, at Inman, he was owner and operator of Heidebrecht Photography at Moundridge for 25 years.
He was division manager of the Waddell and Reed office in Lincoln for five years.
He was a veteran of Coast Guard service.
Survivors include his wife, Neva, of Lincoln; daughters and sons-in-law Sue and Stan Dyck of Denver, Colo., and Ann and Jon Newcomer, Lincoln, Neb.; son and daughter-in-law Mark and Deb Heidebrecht, Towanda; and five grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Indian Hills Community Church in Lincoln.
Memorial funds have been established in his name with Stonecroft Ministries, Kansas City, Mo.; Back To The Bible broadcast and Indian Hills Community Church, both of Lincoln, Neb.
Ben Benda
V.G. "Ben" Benda, 84, died Oct. 29, 2000, at his home in Madera, Calif.
He was born Dec. 28, 1915, at Marion. He was engaged in farming with his father in Kansas and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Later he joined Ford Motor Company Tractor Division, experimental department at Dearborn, Mich.
After moving to California, he joined Petrucci's Farm Machinery & Heavy Equipment. After retirement he owned a sewing and appliance business.
He lived at Madera, Calif., for 37 years and was a member of the Catholic church.
He is survived by his wife, Ida of the home; one son, Scott of Eagle, Idaho; one daughter, Gwendolyn Craig, Madera, Calif.; four sisters, Gerada Shramek of Hutchinson, Constance Maranville of Northglenn, Colo., Marcella Biehler of Sheridan, Ore., and Joan Black of Victoria, Texas; and three grandchlidren.
Funeral Mass was held Thursday morning at Madera, Calif. A graveside service was held Saturday morning at Holy Family Parish, Pilsen, with Father Steve Gronert as celebrant.
Burial was in Pilsen Cemetery.
Memorials have been established in his name with the American Heart Association or St. Joachim's Church School, Madera, Calif.
Floy Legg
Floy Esther Lee Legg died Nov. 4, 2000, at Hillsboro.
Born Floy Esther Brown March 7, 1907, at Paragould, Ark., she was married to James Drury Legg on Dec. 25, 1927.
She was preceded in death by hger husband.
Survivors include 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Services were held Monday at Baker Funeral Home, Peabody, with Pastor Jacob Baker officiating. Burial was in Prairie Lawn Cemetery.
A memorial fund has been established in her name with the American Heart Association.
Frances Matz
Frances Matz, 69, died Nov. 5, 2000, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center, Hillsboro.
Born Oct. 15, 1931, at Denver, Colo., she was the daughter of Van F. and Eileen (Wilson) Carroll.
She married Marlin Kinning Sr., March 13, 1952. She was a homemaker and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Survivors include her ex-husband, Marlin Kinning Sr., Roundrock, Texas; three sons, Marlin Kinning Jr., Indianapolis, Ind., Daniel Kinning, Hillsboro, and Ronald Kinning, Loveland, Colo.; two daughters, Deborah Matz, Marion, and Laura Hanan, Austin, Texas; three brothers, Donald Carroll, Casper, Wyo., John Carroll, Taylorsville, Utah, and James Carroll, Thornton, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services were held at 10 a.m. Nov. 8 at Hillsboro United Methodist Church with Bishop Jack Brunner officiating.
Burial was in Gnadenau Cemetery, Hillsboro.
A memorial fund has been established with the American Cancer Society.
Mary Gray Shull
Mary Gray Shull, 89, widow of former Marion School District superintendent Adrien Shull, died Nov. 1, 2000, at Wichita.
After moving from Marion to Wichita, she became an elementary school teacher.
A memorial service was held Friday at Woodland United Methodist Church, Wichita, with graveside services at Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.
Survivors include a son, Dr. John Shull of Ellsworth; daughter, Karen Laham, Wichita; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Pascal Roniger
Pascal Allen Roniger, 84, retired Burdick area farmer and former state representative, died Nov. 8, 1999, at a hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Born Nov. 10, 1914, on the family homestead on Diamond Creek in Chase County, he was the son of Charles and Anne Honor (Allen) Roniger.
He graduated from Elmdale High School in the class of 1932 and from the University of Kansas in 1939. He also completed two years of post graduate study in bacteriology.
On July 10, 1941, he was married to Martha Sharer of Garden City.
He was employed by the New Mexico State Board of Health as a serologist and spent seven years at Manhattan as sanitarian for the city as well as Riley County milk inspector.
From 1944 through 1946 he served as a lieutenant in the Navy, as communications and gunnery officer on an LSM in the South Pacific.
After the war, he returned to Manhattan and in 1951 they moved to the family farm where he had been born.
His life was devoted to his family and to public service. He was active in the Chase County Soil Conservation District, serving as supervisor for several years and as chairman of the Diamond Creek Watershed for 20 years. He received numerous conservation awards.
He also served as treasurer of the Kansas Watershed Association, was a director of the Flint Hills RECA board for 15 years, was on the board of education of Elmdale Rural High School, was a member of the Burdick American Legion, and was an active member of the Elmdale Christian Church.
In 1967 he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Kansas Legislature, representing Chase and Marion counties. He served five terms. At the close of the 1978 session he retired from the legislature and from farming.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Martha, of the home; daughter, Ann and her husband Bill Hussong of Oklahoma City, Okla.; son, John Roniger and wife Mary of rural Burdick; sister, Elizabeth Rogler, Emporia; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Wilsey Christian Church with Pastor Kevin Ingram and Pastor Steve Hanson officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Burnley Memorial Library, Cottonwood Falls.
