Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Janell Rock
Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Janell Rock, 53, singer/songwriter/pianist, died July 8, 2008, at her home in San Diego, Calif., following a 13-year battle with breast cancer.
She was born April 17, 1955, in Hope, to Duane and Velma Rock. She graduated from Chapman High School and attended Bethany College in Lindsborg for two years.
After moving to Kansas City to start a professional jazz career, she moved to San Diego where she played in big name jazz nightclubs as the featured singer/pianist. She toured Sweden and Japan before moving to Seattle, Wash, to record her first album, “Quiet Thrill,” which was nominated for national music awards. She won “Best Cabaret Song” for the Just Plain Folks music awards in Los Angeles for her original song “Gertrude and Steins.”
In November 2006, she moved back to San Diego to finish work on a second album.
Survivors include her mother, Velma Rock of Wichita; her sister, Joleen Webb of Wichita; her brother, Marvyn Rock of Andover; and four nieces.
She was preceded in death by her father, Duane Rock and brother, Lane Rock.
A memorial gathering is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at the Hope United Methodist Church in Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name for breast cancer research within the American Cancer Association.
Eugene Hemmer
Tuesday, Sep 09, 2008
Eugene “Gene” Hemmer
LAKE MADISON, S.D. -- Eugene “Gene” Hemmer, 77, died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, Minn.
He was born Jan. 1, 1931, in Egan, S.D., the son of the late Clem and Mary (Carolan) Hemmer. He grew up on a farm near Egan and was a 1949 graduate of Egan High School.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea and after the war, returned to farm in Moody County.
He moved to Salina, Kan. in 1970 and started Solomon Corporation, which he grew to more than 425 employees.
He married Sharon Doblar in Salina on Aug. 7, 1982.
In 1992, he moved to Lake Madison, S.D. and started Geno’s Restaurant, which he sold in 2003.
He was a member of the board of directors at DSU Foundation, Heritage Senior Living, Colman Elevator, Moody County School Reorganization and was CEO and on the board of directors of Solomon Corporation. He was also a member of the Salina Elks and VFW.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon, Lake Madison; four sons, Matt Hemmer of Solomon, Phil, Joe and Tom Hemmer, all of Salina; three daughters, Katie Platten of Salina, Kelly Rook of Lincoln, Neb. and Michelle Knight Pipe of Chester, Penn; one brother, Bob Hemmer of Dell Rapids, S.D.; and 21 grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. Mon. Sept. 8, 2008, at St. Peter Catholic Church, Colman, S.D. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Terry Oleson
Terrance “Terry” Oleson, age 33, died at his residence in Madison on March 7, 2008. He was born February 4, 1975 at Madison to Ronald and Sheila (Tieszen) Oleson. He grew up in Madison graduating from Madison High School in 1993. After high school he in enlisted in the US Marines where he was honorably discharged in 1997. He lived in Minneapolis before moving back to Madison. He worked at Beverly Health Care, Knight and Carver Wind Blade Division in Howard and was recently employed at Persona in Madison. He is survived by his mother - Sheila of Madison. Two sisters - Angela Oleson of North Port, FL and Shawn Oleson of Madison. His grandfather - Lloyd Tieszen of Salem and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father . Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev Len Halvorson officiating. Inurnment with military honors will be in Graceland Cemetery. The family will be present at 7:30 pm on Monday at the Weiland Funeral Chapel which is in charge of the arrangements.
Bryan Gravatt
Tuesday, Sep 09, 2008
Bryan F. Gravatt
Bryan F. Gravatt, 60, of Solomon, Kansas, passed away at his home Saturday evening, Sept. 6, 2008, with his family at his side after a long illness with cancer.
He was born April 4, 1948, in Herington, Kansas, the son of Bryan H. and Anna (Forst)?Gravatt. He grew to manhood in the Hope area and attended the local schools graduating from Hope High School with the class of 1966. He was united in marriage on Oct. 7, 1967, with Norma Jean Weber in Hope, Kansas.
They moved from Salina, Kansas, to the Solomon area in 1987. Bryan was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Solomon, the Solomon City Masonic Lodge, Isis Shrine, former Solomon Lion, former volunteer fireman for Solomon and First Responder, I-70 Drug Task Force, Dickinson County Deputy Sheriff and K-9 officer, owned an operated Solomon Propane and had managed Skell Gas of Salina. He was the Dickinson County Road and Bridge Supervisor.
He is survived by his wife, Norma Jean of the home; two daughters, Michelle L. Walker and husband, Wade, and Carrie Herbel and husband, Scott, both of Solomon, three grandchildren, Tate Walker, Alex Bryan Herbel and Sara Jean Herbel. Also surviving are three sisters, Priscilla Riat of Arcadia, OK, Linda Struble of Salina, and Sonya Dakan of Lincoln, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, at at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with Fr. John Wolesky officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Mound Cemetery, Solomon. A parish rosary will be recited at the church Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. Friends may call at the Carlson-Becker Funeral Home until 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The family of Bryan Gravatt suggests memorial contributions in his name to the Dickinson County Hospice, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society or to the Diabetes Foundation. Memorials may be left at the funeral home.
Wilma Oard
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008
Wilma Ruth Oard, 78, died Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.
She was born March 31, 1930, in Manchester, the daughter of John and Daisy (Garten) Hamme. She grew to womanhood in the community of her birth, attended Beech Glen Grade School and graduated from Longford High School.
She worked at Memorial Hospital in Abilene and as a nurse’s aid at the Highland Care Home in Abilene, before moving to Topeka. She also was a nanny for several families while living in Topeka.
She married Clifford O. Oard on Sept. 25, 1948, in Longford. They lived and farmed in the Longford area until 1988 when they moved to Topeka to make their home.
Mrs. Oard was a member of the Longford United Methodist Church, Longford.
Survivors include one daughter, Dixie Moses of Olathe; two grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford, on Sept. 14, 2007; a daughter, Lori Oard, on Sept. 13, 1999; and a sister, Donna Sheekanoff.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 N.W. Third, Abilene. Pastor Eunice Brubaker will officiate. Burial will be in Keystone Cemetery, Manchester. Friends may call at the funeral home until time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Midland Hospice, Topeka, or the Longford United Methodist Church, Longford, and left at the funeral home.
Mary Kay Effland
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008
Mary Kay Effland, 84, lifetime resident of White City, Kansas, passed away Thursday, July 17, 2008, at Medicalodges of Herington.
Mary was born November 26, 1923, in Whitewater, Kansas, to William and Cornelia (Purdy) Jacobs. She graduated from Herington High School in 1941. She married Howard Effland on December 14, 1949 in Miami, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death on April 18, 2008.
She was member of the White City Christian Church. She was also a charter member of the Saturday Bible Study at the Medicalodges. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren play baseball, shopping and watching KU basketball. She loved Christmas and anytime she could spend time with her family.
Also preceding her in death were her parents, son; Steve Brown, brothers; Jack and Paul Jacobs, sisters; Beulah Sellers, Goldie Brown and Doris Czarnowsky.
Survivors include her children, Kevin Effland and wife Karla, of White City, Deborah Marts and husband Maynard, of Jonesborough, TN, Christine Stejskal and husband, Tony, of Abilene; grandchildren, Stacey and Jason Stinson, Angela and Nick Patterson, Melissa Marts and Eric Renshaw, Travis Marts, Korby and Mary Effland, Kelly Effland, Kaleb Effland, and Stephanie Brown; great-grandchildren, Madeline, Chloe and Annabelle Stinson, Elliana Patterson, Ian Effland and William Renshaw; and sister-in-law, Mary Evelyn Jacobs.
Services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at the White City Christian Church, with Pastor Shawn Baird officiating. Interment will follow at the White City Cemetery.
Mrs. Effland will lie in state on Monday, July 21, at the Penwell-Gabel Flint Hills Chapel from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the White City Christian Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to White City Baseball Association, and sent in care of Penwell-Gabel, 137 N. Union, Council Grove, KS, 66846.
Alma Bartlett
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2008
Alma E. Bartlett, 84, died Monday, July 21, 2008, at Memorial Hospital in Abilene.
She was born Aug. 26, 1923, the daughter of Herbert and Mary (Miller) Baldwin, south of Abilene in the Mt. Pleasant community. She attended grade school at Scotia and graduated from Abilene High School.
She married David Bartlett on Feb. 16, 1946. They moved to a farm west of Manchester in 1955 to make their home and farm before moving to Abilene in 2007.
Mrs. Bartlett was employed by United Telephone before her marriage and later as a cook for 20 years with the Chapman School District.
Survivors include her husband, David Bartlett of Abilene; two daughters, Sharon Sterling of Manhattan and Linda Stritmatter of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; one son, Kenneth Bartlett of Manchester; one brother, Carl Baldwin of Abilene; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at the Danner Funeral Home, 501 N. Buckeye, Abilene. The Rev. Larry Brock will officiate. Interment will be in the White Cloud Cemetery west of Manchester.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 22 at the Danner Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chapman School Rebuilding Fund and left at or sent in care of Danner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 758, Abilene, KS 67410,
Delores Davis
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008
COLUMBUS — Delores Kay Davis, 51, of Columbus, Kan., passed way at 3:39 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2008, at Maude Norton Memorial Hospital following a short illness.
Delores was born Jan. 23, 1957, in Abilene, Kan, the daughter of Lloyd and Zana (Lake) Anderson. She grew up in Abilene and attended area schools. She graduated from Chapman High School in 1975.
On Sept. 5, 1975, she married Mike Davis in Columbus. He survives at the home.
Delores worked as an office manager for her co-owned Davis Construction Business in Columbus.
Delores was of the Christian faith. She will be most remembered for her devoted love to her family and most of all to her grandkids.
Survivors include daughters, Michelle Inman of Columbus, and Crystal Welch and husband, Brian, of Columbus; a son, Bob Davis and wife, Sally, of Columbus; a sister, Helen Zeiger and husband, George, of Hope; brothers, Leon Anderson and wife, Marta, of Abilene, and Loren Anderson of Salina; grandchildren, Kandace Inman, Katelyn and Bryce Davis and Emily and Elizabeth Welch.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Graveside services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Edgmand Cemetery in Cherokee County, Kan., the Rev. Dennis Johnson officiated.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorials to the Grandchildren College Fund. Friends may mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 S.E. Avenue, Columbus, Kan., 66725.
Donna Schurle
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008
CLAY CENTER — Donna Jean Schurle, 79, died July 21, 2008, at her residence in Clay Center.
She was born Nov. 9, 1928, the daughter of Milo and Ruth (Easterberg) Riek in rural Green. She lived in the Clay Center area her entire life, attending country schools before graduating from Clay Center Community High School.
She taught school for two years before marrying Lawrence Schurle on June 12, 1948. They farmed in the Clay Center area.
Survivors include her husband, Lawrence, of the home; two daughters, Nancy Kay Salomon of Abilene and Peggy Houser of Abilene.
Burial services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2008, in the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center. The Rev. Gerald Martin will officiate.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until noon Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Meadowlark Hospice in care of Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home, 918 7th Street, Clay Center, KS 67432.
