Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Leta F. Jones
Leta F. Jones, 84, of Parsons died at 8:54 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center. She had been in failing health for several months.
She was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Lamar, Mo., to Callie H. and Mary E. (Brown) Boyd. She attended schools in Lamar, Mo.
She married Elick W. Jones on March 24, 1942, in Carthage, Mo. They lived in several towns before moving to Parsons in 1958. He preceded her in death on April 18, 1997.
For 18 years she worked at the former Swift and Co., a poultry processing plant in Parsons.
Survivors include four sons, William B. "Bill" Jones, Thomas L. Jones and his wife, Susan, Larry W. Jones and his wife, Phyllis, and Pete Jones and his wife, Sharon, all of Parsons; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Reba Small of Jasper, Mo.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, five brothers and one sister.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Springhill Cemetery with the Rev. Rodney Howell officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Memorials to American Diabetes Association may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 405 Main, Parsons.
Foster L. Jones
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. - Foster Lyman Jones, 89, formerly of Walnut, died at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, 2004, at the Brunswick Inn in Grass Valley.
He was born Nov. 8, 1914, at Linneus, Mo., to George C. and Maude (Foster) Jones. He graduated from Walnut High School.
He served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II.
Mr. Jones worked as an elevator manager at Walnut for a number of years. He was also a delivery agent for Standard Oil Co., providing service to farms in Crawford, Neosho, Labette and Bourbon counties for 15 years. He was a rural mail carrier at Walnut before retiring to Girard in 1991.
He married Naomi Ruth Schoenig on May 26, 1940, in Walnut. He and his wife lived in Crawford County for most of their married lives before moving to Grass Valley in 2002. She died Jan. 30, 2004.
Mr. Jones enjoyed gardening, farming, fishing, woodworking, travel and camping.
Survivors include a daughter, Carol Ann Hurley-Jones, and her husband, Robert D. Hurley, Big Oak Valley, Calif.; a son, Keith Everett Jones and his wife, Janet, Kalamazoo, Mich.; four grandchildren, Stephanie Wong, Las Vegas, Ben Jones, Daniel Jones and Donna Hurley-Jones, all of Kalamazoo; and a great-granddaughter, Eleanor Elizabeth Neve-Jones, Kalamazoo.
He was preceded in death by a son, Roger Foster Jones, on June 18, 1990; and an infant daughter, Martha Ann Jones, on Feb. 15, 1943.
A memorial service for Jones and his wife will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with the Rev. Pauline Clugston officiating. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery at Walnut. The family will receive friends at Walnut United Methodist Church after the burial.
Memorials may be made to any hospice program or Walnut United Methodist Church and sent to the funeral home, 518 W. St. John, P.O. Box 258, Girard, 66743.
Eleanor M. Junken
Eleanor Marie Junken, 84, of Parsons Good Samaritan Center, formerly of Mound Valley, died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 6, 1919, at Mindenmines, Mo., to Frank and Nellie (Shoemaker) Aitken. The family later moved to rural Cherryvale. She graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont in 1937.
She married Frank David Junken on Feb. 3, 1951, in Oswego. He preceded her in death on June 9, 1978.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening and canning. She was a member of Mound Valley Christian Church and was active in various church activities.
Survivors include a son, David Junken of Mound Valley; a daughter, Sandra Brooks of Thayer; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Mound Valley Christian Church with David McCoy and Chuck Pickle officiating. Burial will be in Mound Valley Cemetery. Friends may call today at Bath Funeral Home, where family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the church in Mound Valley and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Ernestine (Godwin) Kaufman
REDLANDS, Calif. - Ernestine (Godwin) Kaufman, 85, died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at Braswell Convalescent Center in Redlands after a short illness.
She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Godwin of Parsons. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1936 and later moved with her parents to California.
No service was planned. Cremation took place.
Cucamonga Mortuary was in charge of cremation.
Rolland E. Keller
COFFEYVILLE - Rolland E. Keller, 79, of Coffeyville died at 5:41 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, at Windsor Place nursing home. He had been in failing health for several months.
The service is tentatively scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dearing United Methodist Church, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Burial will be at Robbins Cemetery at Dearing.
Mildred R. Kelley
Mildred R. Kelley, 86, former longtime Parsons resident, died at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 29, 2003, at the Beverly Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburg. She was the widow of Thomas R. Kelley, who preceded her in death April 7, 1989.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
Barbara J. Kettleman
INDEPENDENCE - Barbara Jo Kettleman, 61, of Independence died Friday morning, April 30, 2004, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
She was born Jan. 29, 1943, in Liberty to John and Mabel (Maxson) Muller. She attended Mound Valley and Joplin schools. For the past 18 years she worked for Standard Motors of Independence and was employed there at the time of her death.
She married Elroy Kettleman on April 10, 1971, in Independence. He survives of the home.
Other survivors include six sons, Carl, Curtis, Jack, Mark, Michael and Doug, all of Independence; a daughter, Kathy Manderscheid of Independence; 14 grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a sister, Shirley Perry of Texas.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Liberty Cemetery with the Rev. Willie Jones, pastor of Grace-Memorial United Methodist Church of Independence, officiating. Friends may call until 5 p.m. today at Potts Chapel in Independence and from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, when the casket will be closed.
Arthur L. Kinsch
Arthur L. Kinsch, 76, of Parsons died at 12:38 p.m. Thursday, April 1, 2004, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He had been in failing health for several months.
His wife, Marie, survives of the home.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at East Bethany Cemetery with LaMont Cook officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the charity of donor's choice.
Arthur L. 'Art' Kinsch
Arthur L. "Art" Kinsch, 76, of Parsons died at 12:38 p.m. Thursday, April 1, 2004, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He had been in failing health for several months.
He was born Dec. 21, 1927, in Parsons to Henry A. and Nettie B. (Wilkerson) Kinsch. He grew up in the Orchard Park area and attended schools in Parsons. Following his schooling, he began working construction. In 1954, he joined the Army. After his discharge in 1956, he returned to Parsons and worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant for several years. He later was a self-employed carpenter for many years and had helped design and build several Piggly Wiggly grocery stores. He retired in 1979.
Mr. Kinsch was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was also a 45-year member of the Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M.
He enjoyed working with wood, whittling, fishing, gardening and camping. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and granddaughters. In earlier years, he enjoyed dancing.
He and Marie E. "Ernie" Durbin were married Aug. 6, 1950, at Erie. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include a son, Ernest Kinsch and his wife, Nancy, of Dennis; a daughter, Grace Nasr-Azadani and her husband, Mehdi, of Emporia; a stepson, J.C. of Wichita; three stepdaughters, Judy and Jeannie, both of Texas, and Julia of Colorado; five granddaughters, Maryam, Zahra and Ariana Nasr-Azadani and Tiffany and Mindy Kinsch; 15 stepgrandchildren; 16 stepgreat-grandchildren; a stepgreat-great-granddaughter; four brothers, Jerry Kinsch, Ike Kinsch and Danny Kinsch, all of Parsons, and David Kinsch of Topeka; and three sisters, Tori Wilson and Lonva Dutton, both of Parsons, and Janice Abbott of Topeka.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph and Henry "Hank" Kinsch; and a sister, Bonnie Kromke.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at East Bethany Cemetery with LaMont Cook officiating. Masonic rites will be given by the Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M., and military honors will be given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Michael J. Kinzie
CHANUTE - Michael J. "Boe" Kinzie, 52, of Chanute, a former Parsons resident, died at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at The Vine Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. He had been in failing health for two years.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons.
William D. Kirk
William Douglas "Bill" Kirk, 62, of Parsons, died at 7:10 p.m. Sunday, April 25, 2004, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. Death was unexpected.
He was born April 9, 1942, at Sherwin Junction to Dewey Douglas and Vera Eloise (Way) Kirk. He grew up in that area and graduated from Columbus High School in 1960. He came to Parsons shortly thereafter.
He had been employed by Parsons USD 503 for 37 years in maintenance and the audio visual area. He was a master electrician. He had planned to retire at the end of his school year.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and had participated in several volunteer in mission trips. He had coached Babe Ruth baseball for several years and was active in organizing the local program.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, canoeing and playing cards.
He married Karen Thompson. They were divorced.
He married Janet K. Moore on May 24, 1985, at Wesley United Methodist Church. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Kent and Laura Kirk of Parsons, Mark and Dawn Kirk of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Scott and Michelle Kirk of Oxford; one step-daughter and her husband, Nikki and Jeremy Storment of Olathe; 15 grandchildren; one brother, Terry Kirk of Parsons; and a sister-in-law, Lois Kirk of Webb City, Mo.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Dale Kirk.
The service will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Peggy Hillmon officiating. Burial will be in Edgmand Cemetery near Columbus. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials to Wesley United Methodist Church's audio visual fund may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Roberta Knoblauch
WICHITA - Roberta Knoblauch, 76, of Wichita died at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2003, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
She was born March 17, 1927, to Thomas and Marie Brown. She grew up in rural Pittsburg and attended school in Frontenac, McCune and St. Paul, graduating from high school in St. Paul.
She worked at Mercy Hospital in Parsons. She later moved to Wichita and worked for a hospital there.
She married John Knoblauch on Jan. 27, 1951. He survives of the home.
She was a homemaker.
Other survivors include a son, Gary Knoblauch of Topeka; two daughters, Nancy Nuss and Sandy Roman of Wichita; six grandchildren; two brothers, Buster Brown of Sturgis, Mich., and Dow Wort of Parsons; and five sisters, Lucy Pearce of Parsons, Fern Mendez of Springfield, Mo., Mildred Butts of Caney, Elsie Harris of St. Paul and Loretta Zuck of Omaha, Neb.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Ted Brown; and a sister, Thelma Wells.
The service was Monday in Wichita. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Wichita. Downing-Lahey Mortuary East, Wichita, was in charge of arrangements.
