Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Norman D. `Doc' Kennedy
DODGE CITY - Norman D. "Doc" Kennedy, 73, died Feb. 12, 2000, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.
He was born Feb. 5, 1927, at Dodge City, the son of Benoni and Virginia Anderson Kennedy. He graduated from Dodge City High School and attended Dodge City Community College. He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad and later for the U.S. Post Office for 30 years.
He belonged to First United Methodist Church, the Moose Lodge, Blue Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Shrine Club, Lions Club and was a 4-H leader, all at Dodge City, and was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
On Sept. 17, 1950, he married
Donna F. McGonigle at Dodge City. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Ben R., Dodge City, and N. Dale Jr., Great Bend; a daughter, Kim Feldt, Dodge City; a sister, Marilyn Crane, Dodge City; and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Kelly.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, Dodge City, with the Rev. Dick Robbins and Dr. Michael Gardner presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City, with military graveside rites performed by Veterans of Foreign Wars Howard Gotschall Post No. 1714.
Memorials may be sent to the Norman Kennedy Scholarship Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Julia E. Davis
McPHERSON - Julia E. Davis, 80, died Feb. 12, 2000, at Memorial Hospital, McPherson.
She was born Nov. 14, 1919, at Bonham, Texas, the daughter of Jesse and Katie Fletcher Herriage. A McPherson resident since 1950, moving from Great Bend, she was a clerk at the ASCS office, McPherson, for 22 years.
She belonged to First Baptist Church, McPherson.
On March 1, 1942, she married
Homer Davis at Clovis, N.M. He died Dec. 17, 1986.
Survivors include: a son, Homer Jr., Midlothian, Texas; a daughter, Faye Belt, McPherson; a sister, Juanita Gummelt, Amarillo, Texas; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, James Herriage; and a sister, Oleta Ford.
Memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, McPherson, with the Rev. Les Cantrell presiding. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, both at Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, McPherson. Private graveside service will precede the memorial service in Crestwood Memorial Park Cemetery, rural McPherson.
Memorials may be sent to the church in care of the funeral home.
Fern Elizabeth Claphan
GREAT BEND - Fern Elizabeth Claphan, 67, died Feb. 12, 2000, at Great Bend.
She was born Dec. 7, 1932, at Stockton, Mo., the daughter of William and Thula Spencer Hunt. She was an eighth-grade graduate of Bolivar, Mo., schools. A longtime Great Bend resident, she was a homemaker and worked at Kmart in Great Bend for eight years.
She was a former member of the Nazarene Church.
On Oct. 12, 1960, she married
Ronald L. Claphan at McPherson. He survives.
Other survivors include: five sons, James Ray Hamby and Bill Hamby, both of Aldrich, Mo., Ronnie Hamby, Carl Claphan and Tommy Claphan, all of Dundee; two daughters, Linda Steven, Bolivar, and Cathy McVey, Great Bend; two sisters, Beatrice Hunt, Independence, Mo., and Sella Neider, Butler, Mo.; 28 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Dale Hamby; five infant children; and a sister, Helen Vernon.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Fryberger Mortuary Chapel, Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to service time Tuesday at the mortuary. The family will receive friends at 7 p.m. today at the mortuary. Burial will be in Dundee Valley Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Fern Claphan Memorial Fund, in care of the mortuary.
Lillie Josephine Strobel
GREAT BEND - Lillie Josephine Strobel, 90, died Feb. 12, 2000, at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus, Great Bend.
She was born Jan. 4, 1910, at rural Great Bend, the daughter of William John Fredrick and Anna Mary Juttner Mull. A lifetime Great Bend resident, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Great Bend, and the Altar Society of the church.
On Jan. 30, 1935, she married
Leo Strobel at Great Bend. He died Dec. 26, 1984.
Survivors include: a son, Joseph, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; a daughter, Rita Romine, Great Bend; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Richard; three brothers, John, William and Elmer Mull; two sisters, Mary Barger and Grace Glazner; and two great-grandsons.
Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home Chapel, Great Bend. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father Warren Stecklein presiding. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to St. Patrick's School Endowment Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Lester Wilhelm
DODGE CITY - Lester Wilhelm, 86, died Feb. 12, 2000, at Western Plains Regional Hospital, Dodge City.
He was born Jan. 18, 1914, at Banner Township in Rush County, the son of Peter and Mary Erb Wilhelm. He graduated from Bison High School in 1932. A Dodge City resident since 1942, formerly of Offerle, he worked for Santa Fe Railway as a switchman and yard master until 1974, and had worked for Shell Oil Co. Core Drilling.
He belonged to First Presbyterian Church, Dodge City, was past master of St. Bernard Lodge No. 222 A.F. & A.M., was a 32nd-degree Mason, Knight Templar and belonged to the Dodge City Shrine Club. He managed the B.P. Elks Club until 1990.
On Dec. 25, 1937, he married
Louise D. Rittenhouse at Dodge City. She died Nov. 22, 1986.
Survivors include: a son, Dr. Charles L., Hays; a sister, Ruth Gullion, Shreveport, La.; a grandson; and a great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Bertha Lewis.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City, with the Rev. David S. Clipson presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dodge City.
Memorials may be sent to Kansas Masonic Foundation, P.O. Box 1217, Topeka, KS 66601.
Hyacinth J. `HY' Leiker
NESS CITY - Hyacinth J. "HY" Leiker, 95, died Feb.13, 2000, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita.
He was born May 13, 1904, at Munjor, the son of Joseph and Agatha Pfannenstiel Leiker. A longtime Ness City resident, moving to Wichita in 1994, he was the owner and operator of Leiker's IGA, Ness City, for many years.
He belonged to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus, both at Ness City.
On June 2, 1930, he married
Pauline Gabel at Ness City. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Gary, Wichita; four daughters, Delores Jean Beal, Overland Park, Jackie Clutter, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Roberta Feist, Wichita, and Sheila Keever, Lawrence; two sisters, Petronella Leiker and Caroline Rupp, both of Wichita; 19 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
Parish vigil will be at 7 p.m. today at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ness City, with Father Gregory LeBlanc presiding. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today and until service time Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church in care of the funeral home.
