Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Donald Lee Dodson
El Dorado, Kan. - Donald Lee Dodson, 72, of El Dorado, died Tuesday evening, Feb. 10, 2009 at a local nursing home. The celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Burial will follow in Walnut Valley Memorial Park Cemetery.
Don was born Oct. 10, 1936 in El Dorado, the son of Roy and Kathryn (Lee) Dodson. He has lived in El Dorado all of his life. On March 26, 1958 he was united in marriage to Melveen Ullom in El Dorado. He served his country in the 82 Airborne of the United States Army.
He was employed as a pipefitter and welder for #441 union. He was a member of Park Avenue Baptist Church. He loved to travel, camp, hunt and fish. He also had his private pilots license.
Surviving family include: his wife, Melveen of the home; son, Steven and wife Tracy Dodson of El Dorado; daughter, Denise and husband John Martin of Wichita; brothers, Loren Dodson of Benton and Duane Dodson of Manford, Okla.; eight grandchildren; three step granddaughters; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Park Avenue Baptist Church.
Beverly Hess
El Dorado, Kan. - Beverly Hess, 59, of Madison, Wisc., and formerly of El Dorado, died Friday, May 9, 2008 in Madison. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home. Celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow the services in Walnut Valley Memorial Park.
Beverly was born May 30, 1948 in Hardtner, the daughter of Virgil and Ruby (Elkins) Rupe. She attended schools in El Dorado graduating with the class of 1966. She attended Cosmetolegy School. Beverly was united in Marriage to R.J. Hess, they moved to Madison in 1996. She worked at Walnut Valley State Bank for 18 years and also she was a licensed beauty operator. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Beverly loved to shop, spend time with her family and friends and her dogs.
Survivors include: her husband R.J. of the home; four daughters and their husbands, Wendi and Eric Britt of Atlanta, Kan., Staci and Brian Lewis of Leon, Lauri and Mitch Maly of Madison and Erika and Michael Wagner of Napeville, Ill.; sister, Barbara Cox of El Dorado; and eight grandchildren, Carri, Tyler, Kelsi, Karson, Brendan, Justin, Shawn and Brandon.
Memorials have been established with either the First United Methodist Church or the Kansas Humane Society. Contributions may be left at Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Thomas Dwight Klaassen
El Dorado, Kan. - Thomas Dwight Klaassen, 55, of Whitewater, died Thursday, May 8, 2008 at Newton Medical Center. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Federated Church in Whitewater, with Pastor David Griffis officiating. Burial will be at Brainerd Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater.
He was born Jan. 29, 1953 in Newton, the son of Theodore and Talma (Newton) Klaassen. He was a farmer and stockman. On Aug. 15, 1975, Thomas was married to Linda Kimble in Inman. He was a member of the Federated Church and a graduate of K-State, where he was in the AGR Fraternity.
Survivors include: his wife of Whitewater; sons, Kourt and Tracy Klaassen, Derek and Stacee Klaassen and Brent Klaassen, all of Whitewater; brothers, Michael Klaassen of Valley Center; his mother; and grandchildren, Dylan, Drew and Kole.
He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Matthew.
Memorials may be made to The Lord’s Diner in care of Lamb Funeral Home,
Dave Knierim
El Dorado, Kan. - Dave Knierim, 60, of Towanda, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2008.Rosary at 1:30 and Mass at 2 p.m. will be Wednesday at St. John's Catholic Church, El Dorado. Burial will be at Towanda Cemetery.
Dave was born in California, Mo., on Feb. 14, 1948, the son of Lyle and Eunice (Fulrich) Knierim. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and was a mechanic at Star Lumber and Supply. He is survived by his wife, Nancee (Mastel) Knierim, who he married On May 31, 1975 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Wichita; daughters, Andee Kant and husband Jason of Augusta and Tanya Molleker and husband Eric of Valley Center; mother, Eunice Knierim of Jamestown, Mo.; brother, Jeff Knierim of Hartsburg, Mo.; grandchildren, Shelbee Lorain Heim, David Gabriel Kant and John Michael Kant; nephews, Tyler and Travis Knierim; and niece, Kelly Knierim. Memorials to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. John’s Catholic Church, El Dorado. Headley Funeral Chapel has the arrangements.
William R. Clark
El Dorado, Kan. - William R. Clark, 80 of El Dorado, died Tuesday evening, July 22 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. Graveside services will be 10:00 AM Friday, July 25 at Virgil, Kansas Cemetery.
He was born June 2, 1928 in Drumwright, Okla., the son of William P. and Mary E. (Matlock) Clark. He served in Korea in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954.
Those he leaves are: a son, Richard Clark and his wife Glenda of El Dorado; a son, Ed his companion Rose Fore of El Dorado; a sister, Joann Bradbury of Eureka; a brother, James Clark of Montana; six grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Melba; a daughter and her spouse, Dorothy and Dean LaRue, Sr; and two grandsons, Bryan Clark and Dean LaRue, Jr.
Carlson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Dominick Michael Strecker
El Dorado, Kan. - Dominick Michael Strecker was born Feb. 4, 2008 and passed away Feb. 4. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lookout Point at El Dorado Lake.
Survivors are: his parents, Justin M. and Nichol P. Strecker of Augusta; sisters, Sandra Smith, Elexis Strecker and Kennedy Strecker; and grandparents, Paul and Michelle See and Bernard and Julie Strecker. He was preceded in death by grandmother Paula L. Hartwig.
Flowers may be sent to Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Jerry D. Farner
El Dorado, Kan. - Jerry D. Farner, 79, of Towanda, started his new life on July 17, 2008 surrounded by his family at his home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Towanda United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Towanda Cemetery.
He was born March 11, 1929 at Barnes, the son of Harmon and Nora Quincy Farner. Jerry graduated from Barnes High School and served in the United States Navy from January 1951 to November 1954. He was a retired refinery worker. Jerry was a member of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union, and loved to fish, motorcycle, racing, boxing and was a mechanic in his spare time.
On March 27, 1954, he was married to Rachael Waits in San Diego, Calif. She preceded him in death in 2002.
Those he leaves are his children and their spouses, Joe and Terri Farner of Sparks, Nevada, Jack and Becky Farner of El Dorado, Jim and Junilda Farner of El Dorado, Jon and Tammy Farner of Lyons, Jay and Linda Farner of Towanda, and Renee and Garrett Daharsh of Towanda; brother, Joe Farner of San Antonio; a sister, Elizabeth Mueller of Wichita; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Jerrie; and a grandson, Jake.
Memorials in his memory for Hospice Care of Kansas or the Humane Society may be left with Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado, which has charge of the arrangements.
Powell H. Heide
El Dorado, Kan. - Powell H. Heide, 91, of Augusta, passed away Friday, July 18, 2008. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Leon Senior Center. Military graveside Rites will be at 4 p.m. at Leon Cemetery.
Powell was born in Coldwater on June 15, 1917, the son of the late Harry Benjamin and Myrtle (Powell) Heide. He graduated from K.S.U and worked as a vo-ag teacher at Pretty Prairie and Clifton High Schools for 43 years. He served in the U.S. Army as a captain during WWII as well. On April 13, 1941 he was married to Mary Hart and she survives. He is also survived by: daughters, Terry Bauman of Overland Park and Mariann Affolter and husband Randy of Clifton; sons, Monte Heide of Augusta and Craig Heide of Chanute; sisters, Nadine Schmidt of Arlington, Texas, and Christine Edmunds of Salt Lake City, Utah; brother, Carroll Heide of Augusta; grandchildren, Jennifer Fontaine, Heather Williams, Kara Nobert and Christopher Affolter; two adopted grandchildren, Alan Heide and Jay Heide; and 12 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Cory, and a sister, Maxine Chadwick. Memorials to the K.S.U. Ag Department.
Carroll Lee Heide
El Dorado, Kan. - Carroll Lee Heide, 79, of Leon, passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009.
Viewing will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 7, and the funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, all at Headley Funeral Chapel, Augusta.
Burial will be at Leon Cemetery. Carroll was born in Wilmore, Kan., on June 19, 1929, the son of the late Harry Benjamin and Myrtle (Powell) Heide. He was a dairy farmer and raised crops and had served in the U.S. Air Force as well.
He is survived by: sisters, Nadine Schmidt of Arlington, Texas, and Christine Edmunds of Salt Lake City, Utah; and several nephews and nieces and their families.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Powell, and a sister, Maxine Chadwick.
Gary G. Norton
El Dorado, Kan. - Gary G. Norton, 62, of El Dorado, died Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at Lakepoint Nursing Center in El Dorado. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado.
Interment will follow in Sunset Lawns Cemetery.
He was born Feb. 12, 1946 in El Dorado. He spent most of his life here and Rosalia and served in the U.S. Army. He was a stocker at Sam’s Club in Wichita for eight years, retiring in 1994. Gary was a member of the Elks Club.
On Feb. 14, 1991 he was married to Paula Joann Crumrine in El Dorado.
Those he leaves include: his wife of the home; four brothers, David Wolf, Dallas Rains and Mike Norton, all of Wichita, and Fred Norton of Austin, Texas; tTwo sisters, Eveda Norton and Brenda Rains, both of Wichita; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother and step-father.
Memorials in his memory for the American Heart Association, St. Jude’s or Hospice Care of Kansas may be left at Carlson Funeral Home where friends may call.
Harriet Cornwell Morgan
El Dorado, Kan. - Harriet Cornwell Morgan, 78, homemaker, passed away July 14, 2008. She was a member of P.E.O Chapter GN, Westwood Presbyterian Church and Meals on Wheels.
Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Westwood Presbyterian Church.
Survivors are husband, Dr. James I. of the home; sons, David J. of Wichita and Mark A. (Pam) of Overland Park; daughter, Kathy (Mike) Morgan-Ruppert of Clancy, Mont.; sister, Margery Cornwell of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and grandchildren. Lindsay and Max Ruppert, Miles and Gage Morgan, Andrea, Davis and Maddie Morgan. Memorials have been established with Meals on Wheels and P.E.O. Chapter GN. Resthaven Mortuary in Wichita has the arrangements.
Patricia ‘Patsy” B. Kirkland
El Dorado, Kan. - Patricia “Patsy” B. Kirkland, 83, of El Dorado died Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. Services will be scheduled at a later date.
Memorials have been established with either SBA Hospital Auxiliary or Partners in Education.
Kirby-Morris Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.
Forest L. Hayes
El Dorado, Kan. - Forest L. Hayes, 80, retired heavy equipment manager, passed away April 13, 2008. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hillside Funeral Home East.
Forest was preceded in death by his parents and children, Billy Wayne and Carolyn.
Survivors include wife, Doris of Wichita; sons, Mike (Brenda) Shepherd, of Alma Ark., Tommy Lee (Marla) Hayes, of Mesquite, Nev., Ralph “Allen” (Vickie) Hayes, of Newton; daughters, Susan Caprez, of Alma, Ark., Donna (Ralph Edward) Hughes, of Wichita; sisters, Wilma (Andy) McElhiney of El Dorado, Wanda (Don) Simon of Hutchinson, Judy (Jim) Moore of Mulvane; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Jean Ann Calaway
El Dorado, Kan. - Jean Ann Calaway, 65, of Arlington, passed away after a long battle with cancer Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in Fort Worth.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Arlington Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at 9 a.m. Monday at DFW National Cemetery, Lane "A." Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Arlington Funeral Home.
Survivors: husband, James R. Calaway; brothers, Glenn, Gail and Donald Dody; sisters, Doris Penner of El Dorado and Viola Bernhardt of Duncan, Okla.; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Arlington Funeral Home has the arrangements.
Dale Jordan Artz
El Dorado, Kan. - Dale Jordan Artz, 84, died April 25, 2008. He was born in Larned, on June 1, 1923. His family moved to Kingman, then Dodge City, where he met his wife Margaret “Peggy” Artz.
Dale served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1943-1946. Dale and Peggy were married in Dodge City on June 2, 1946, and soon after moved to Larned where they owned and operated Sandy's Grill and the Red Barn, a supper club.
In 1962, they moved to Pratt to manage the Pratt Country Club, and then country clubs in El Dorado, Emporia and Dodge City. They retired and moved to Green Valley in 1988. Dale was a member of the Country Club of Green Valley and the GVR Men's Poker Club. He loved cards and golf!
Colleen Ellis
El Dorado, Kan. - Colleen Ellis, 82, of Lawrence and formerly of El Dorado, died Sunday, April 6, 2008 at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Visitation with family present will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday. Celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Sunset Lawns Cemetery.
Colleen was born Dec. 9, 1925 in Chanute, to Deyo and Marie (Davis) Rumble. She attended school in Chanute graduating from Chanute High School. Colleen was united in marriage to Morris Ellis on Oct. 16, 1944 in California. She was a member of the First Christian Church and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She loved to bowl, fish and make trips to Las Vegas.
Survivors include: her daughter, Morleen and husband Rick Van Buren of Lawrence; grandchildren, Kyle and Amanda; and cousins, Mary Lou and Peggy Conway of Chanute. She was preceded in death by husband Morris and a brother.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association. Contributions may be left at Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Wayne L. Bogart
El Dorado, Kan. - Wayne L. Bogart, 80, retired postal employee, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, July 23, 2008.
Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church-Wichita. He is preceded by his parents and seven siblings. He was born April 4, 1928 in Gypsum, son of Calvin and Laura Bogart.
He was the youngest of eight children. He was married to Hazel Isaacson on Sept. 3, 1950. She survives him along with their three children, Doug (Earlene), Dale (Yvonne) and Darla Abernathy; grandchildren, Jenni (Brad), Trina, Lee, Nathan, Shellby and Tyler; and great-grandchildren, Kelcie, Kylie and Hollie. A memorial has been established with Mount Vernon UMC, 5701 E. Mt. Vernon, Wichita, KS 67218. Services by Broadway Mortuary.
Mary E. (Spangler) Myers
El Dorado, Kan. - Mary E. (Spangler) Myers passed away Jan. 25, 2009.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Petersen Funeral Home Chapel.
Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, with the family present from 6 to 7:30.
Memorials may be made to the Mary Myers Funeral Fund in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
Floyd E. “Curly” Fulks
El Dorado, Kan. - Floyd E. “Curly” Fulks,84, Died Friday May 9, 2008 at Lakepoint in Augusta. No services will be held.
Floyd was born November 8, 1923 in Jenks, Oklahoma the son of Cecil and Ruth (Tabor) Fulks. He grew up in Kiefer, Oklahoma and attended school in Kiefer, graduating from Kiefer High School. He served his country during World War II as a tail gunner with the 388th Bombing Group, he flew 28 missions. Floyd was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was united in marriage to Wanda Risinger on August 24, 1944 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He worked for Skelly Oil.
Floyd and Wanda lived in El Dorado from 1955 to1984 when they moved to Arkansas, they moved back in 2005. Floyd loved to fish, hunt and play golf.
Survivors include his wife Wanda; son Jack Fulks of Augusta, Kansas; daughter Lewanna and husband Ed Sears of Aldrich, Missouri; his twin brother Lloyd Fulks of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a son Jim.
A Memorial has been established with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research. Contributions may be left with Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Bobby Ray Hale
El Dorado, Kan. - Bobby Ray Hale, 77, of Eureka, died Wednesday in El Dorado.
The celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Saturdayat the Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Eureka. Burial will follow the services in the Reece Cemetery.
Bobby was born Nov.18, 1931 in El Dorado, the son of Albert and Ruby (Langston) Hale.
He moved to Wichita and attended school there. It was there he met and married his childhood sweetheart Ginger. They celebrated their 57 years of marriage. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Bobby worked for the Flemming Food Company in Wichita for 31 years. He was a member of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church. He loved to hunt, fish, take care of his horses and be with family and friends.
Surviving family include: his wife, Ginger of the home; daughters, Pammy Anderson of El Dorado and Rebecca Tharp of Eureka; son, Bob Hale of El Dorado; and Marilyn Nelson of Eureka; 17 grandchildren; and 26 great grandchildren.
Kirby-Morris Funeral Home El Dorado has the arrangements.
