Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
John R. Shoup
LARNED - John R. Shoup, 84, died Dec. 22, 2004, at Friendship Manor, Pratt.
He was born June 24, 1920, at Cimarron, the son of John R. and Elizabeth Jones Shoup. A Larned resident since 1946, moving from Boulder, Colo., he owned and operated Robinson Hardware.
He belonged to the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, 303rd Bomb Group Association. He was a decorated U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard.
On Dec. 22, 1938, he married
Maxine Hoffman at Holly, Colo. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Mark, Pratt; a daughter, Betsy Shoup, Lakewood, Colo.; a brother, Stanley, Larned; a sister, Martha Shoup, Maui, Hawaii; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Shoup Sanders.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, with the Dr. Tom Sutter presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary. Burial will be in Cimarron Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Larned Public Library or to the Pratt Public Library, both in care of the mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.
Albert W. Blythe
WHITE CITY - Albert Wilton Blythe, 81, died at his home in rural White City and was found on Dec. 21, 2004.
He was born Aug. 25, 1923, at White City, the son of George and Mary Garner Blythe. He attended grade school at Highland and White City High School. He had two years of College at Kansas State University before serving in the Korean War Conflict. After his military service he completed his education at Kansas State with a degree of Bachelor of Science in agriculture in 1950. He returned to the family farm where he was involved in agriculture and raising cattle. Because of his interest in agriculture and the farm economy, he recently wrote and published a book on the subject of farm parity.
Albert was a beloved and caring uncle to his many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by all of them and their families. He loved visiting with his friends and family. He always remembered those in the hospitals and retirement homes. He was generous to all who knew him.
He is survived by: a sister, Helen Blythe Kingsley and husband Russell, Hutchinson; and a brother, John Blythe and wife Della Wray, Manhattan. He also leaves his nieces and nephews: Larry and Betty Kingsley, Mary Kingsley, John and Gail Kingsley, Steve and Barb Blythe, Carolyn and Leon Nelson, Sarajane Blythe Doty, Ali and Denver Marlow, LuAnn and Tad Fuller, Holly and Mary Blythe, Jeri Bothwell, Jana and Marc Elkins. There are 17 great nieces and nephews and 10 great-great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ross; and a sister-in-law, Jane Blythe.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at White City United Methodist Church. Mr. Blythe will lie in state on Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m. and visitation will be that evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Council Grove Chapel, Council Grove. Burial will be in White City Cemetery
Memorials may be sent to White City United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home, 137 North Union Street, Council Grove, KS 66846.
Milton L. Mettscher
Milton L. "Mitch" Mettscher, 78, died Dec. 22, 2004, at his home, Hutchinson.
He was born Feb. 24, 1926, at Susank, the son of Fritz H. and Theresa A. Krentzel Mettscher. He graduated from Hutchinson Community College and McPherson College. A longtime resident of Hutchinson, he had a 28-year career in the U.S. Air Force. He retired in 1973 as a Chief Warrant Officer. Following his retirement, he worked for the Kansas SRS.
He belonged to Zion Lutheran Church, American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68, Veterans of Foreign Wars Bob Campbell Post No. 1361, Loyal Order of Moose No. 982, Retired Officers Association and Hutchinson Men's Bowling Association.
On Nov. 1, 1951, he married
Audra M. Gladstone at Weatherford, Texas. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Fritz, California; two daughters, Elizabeth L. Custer, Sioux City, Iowa, and Marsha Harden, Azel, Texas; a brother, Gerald, Estro, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Joseph and Michelle Greve.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Leonard; and a sister, Rose Barb.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Zion Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, with Pastor Robert L. Albin presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Penwell-Gabel's Memorial Park Cemetery, Hutchinson, with military graveside rites conducted by McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
Marion H. Ford
HESSTON - Marion Harold Ford, 85, died Dec. 22, 2004, at Schowalter Villa, Hesston.
He was born Oct. 14, 1919, at Aurora, Mo., the son of Thomas Morris and Mae Young Ford. A lifetime resident of Hesston, he owned and operated Ford Dry Cleaning, Hesston, and was retired from Hesston Corp.
He was a veteran of World War II.
On Feb. 10, 1940, he married
Barbara Jean Nickl at Aurora, Mo. She preceded him in death.
Survivors include: a son, Bob, Wichita; two daughters, Betty Fulton, Newton, and Barbara Friend, Phoenix, Ariz.; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned.
Memorials may be given to Hospice Care of Kansas, in care of Buhler Mortuary, 120 North Main Buhler.
Robert Burkholder
BUHLER - Robert Burkholder, 83, of Buhler, died Wednesday, December 22, 2004, at the Buhler Sunshine Nursing Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Buhler Mennonite Church. Graveside services will follow the church service at the McPherson CityCemeteryat 2 p.m. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Buhler Mortuary, with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m.
Robert Elmer Burkholder was born on Jan. 11, 1921, at Octavia, Neb. He was the oldest of five children born to Elmer and Susie Rothrock Burkholder. Bob married
Annona Baxter on June 10, 1951, at Topeka, Kan.
Bob was raised on the family farm near Octavia, attended the area Church of the Brethren, and graduated from Octavia High School in 1938. Bob's education at McPherson College was interrupted twice, to earn college funds and then to serve a four-year stint in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He spent two years with the Flying Tigers in overseas duty in the China-Burma-India arena. Following the completion of his military service, Bob returned to McPherson College and graduated with a B.A. degree in secondary education in 1947.
Immediately following graduation, Robert began teaching and coaching at Windom Rural High School. In 1950, he accepted the position as the school's principal and continued to teach full-time for the next 12 years. During this time, he helped bring eight-man football to Kansas in 1957 and completed his master's degree in secondary administration from Colorado State College in Greeley, Colo., in 1952.
Mr. Burkholder began a 23-year association with the Buhler schools in 1962, first serving as the Buhler Rural High School Principal for three years. He was appointed the first Superintendent of Buhler USD 313 and led efforts to unify seven rural schools. During his 20-year tenure as superintendent, the Buhler district grew in size and reputation.
Bob served as president of many organizations, including the McPherson County League and Mid Kansas League, McPherson County Teachers' Association, Kansas Association of School Administrators, Phi Delta Kappa Chapter, McPherson College Alumni Association, ESSDACK Service Center, and AARP. Among his many honors were the McPherson College Distinguished Service Award and induction into the Kansas Teacher Hall of Fame.
Service included the McPherson College Board of Trustees, AARP, Windom Lions Club, and Buhler Kiwanis Club. Bob was a member of the Buhler Mennonite Church.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife Annona of Buhler; five children, Susan and Don Cameron of Hutchinson, Dr. Stephen and Tina Burkholder of Grand Island, Neb., Kevin Burkholder of Esko, Minn., Karen and Bruce Lewallen of Bisbee, N.D., and Kathy Burkholder and Mark Appel of Manhattan, Kan.; 14 grandchildren; and one sister and three brothers, Helen Dale of Auburn, Wash., Dr. John Burkholder of McPherson, Dr. Don Burkholder of Champaign, Ill., and Dr. Wendell Burkholder of Madison, Wis.
Bob was preceded in death by: his mother, Susie; father, Elmer, and granddaughter, Kristin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Buhler USD 313 education foundation for a scholarship to Buhler High School students planning to become educators, in care of Buhler Mortuary, 120 N. Main Buhler Ks 67522.
Alma Croley
WaKEENEY - Alma Croley, 87, died Dec. 30, 2004, at Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney.
She was born Feb. 8, 1917, on a farm in rural Marion County, the daughter of David and Lydia Schneider Meier. A resident of WaKeeney, formerly of Hutchinson, she was a housewife and homemaker.
On Sept. 19, 1936, she married
Harlan W. Croley at Perry Okla. He died Nov. 11, 1973.
She also was preceded in death by three brothers and eight sisters.
Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Monday in Fairlawn Burial Park and Memorial Mausoleum, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Cynthia Lippert presiding.
Memorials may be sent to Unity of Unity Village, Missouri, in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Leila L. Callender
NEWTON - Leila Lamar Callender, 87, died Dec. 29, 2004, at Kansas Christian Home, Newton.
She was born Jan. 13, 1917, at Locust Grove, Ga., the daughter of John Holly and Lamar Robinson Callender. She graduated from Georgia State Women's College (Valdosta State University), received her master's degree from the University of Georgia and attended Yale Divinity and the University of Michigan. She had a year of intense Spanish language training in Columbia, South America. She was a lifelong missionary, spending 30 years in Mexico.
She belonged to First Christian Church and the American Association of University Women.
Survivors include a brother, Julian L. Wilson, Gainesville, Ga.
Services are pending with Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton. There will be no visitation.
Memorials may be sent to Kansas Christian Home or to the American Cancer Society, both in care of the funeral home.
Gertrude J. Davis
WICHITA - Gertrude J. "Trudy" Frischenmeyer Davis, 45, died Dec. 30, 204.
She was the sister of Carl Frischenmeyer, Hutchinson.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Webb-Shinkle Mortuary, Clearwater.
Edwin C. Suit
WICHITA - Edwin C. Suit, 89, died Dec. 29, 2004, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
He was born March 19, 1915, at Manford, Okla., the son of Charley W. and Estella Kennit Suit. A McPherson resident for 29 years, moving to Wichita in 1994, he was a truck driver for Farmland Industry, McPherson.
On Jan. 5, 1942, he married
Margaret Brown at Great Bend. She died in 1972. On Nov. 21, 1973, he married
Mildred Jones. She died in 1984. On Jan. 1, 1985, he married
Mary Leigler. She died in 1988.
Survivors include: a stepson, Earl Jones, McPherson; and a stepdaughter, Thelma Willis, Moundridge.
Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Church, Moundridge, with Pastor Jeanine Rishel presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. Burial will be in Canton Township Cemetery.
Moundridge Funeral Home, is in charge of arrangements.
Augusta Kleiber
HILLSBORO - Augusta "Gussie" Kleiber, 93, died Dec. 30, 2004, at Hillsboro.
She was born Oct. 27, 1911, at Council Grove, the daughter of Fred M. and Marie Becker Riffel. She was a homemaker.
She belonged to Zion Lutheran Church.
On May 21, 1929, she married
Donald V. Duke at McCracken. He died in 1957. On Jan. 11, 1960, she married
Vernon Kleiber at Topeka. He died in 1982.
Survivors include: two sons, Dean Duke, Marion, and Gene Duke, Durham; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, with the Rev. Clark M. Davis presiding. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Jost Funeral Home, Hillsboro. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hillsboro.
Memorials may be sent to Zion Lutheran Church or to Salem Nursing Home, both in care of the funeral home.
