Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Margaret J. King
NEWTON - Margaret Jane "Peg" King, 90, died Jan. 18, 2005, at her home, Newton.
She was born July 12, 1914, at Newton, the daughter of John R. and Edna L. Burgener Fugate. She worked for 15 years in the insurance department of the former Bethel Deaconess Hospital, Newton.
She belonged to Salem United Methodist Church, Newton, 20th Century Club and the Mother's Club.
On June 2, 1940, she married
John F. King at Newton. He survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Susan LaForge, San Jose, Calif., and Jackie Arnold, Destin, Fla.; a grandson; a nephew; and three nieces.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Anne Durham and Maurine Kliewer.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Salem United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Phil Fischer presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, with the family receiving friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, all at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Newton.
Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Lael G. Allen
LAVERNE, Calif. - Lael G. Allen, of Laverne, Calif., was born March 10, 1930, and journeyed home to the Lord on Jan. 14, 2005.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years Pat and two children, Kelly and Kenneth; two grandchildren, Patrick and Kaitlyn Burns; his sister, Patsy Jo Wiard, Clermont, Fla.; a son-in-law, John; and a daughter-in-law, Rhonda.
Lael was born in Penalosa, KS, to Lee and Frieda Allen where he spent his early years on the family wheat and cattle ranch.
Lael joined the Navy in 1951 to 1955, and the Air Force from 1955 to 1958. In 1959, he went to New Orleans, La., where he worked for Braniff Airlines. He lived portions of his life in Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Louisiana and California.
Memorial services will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, 1041 East Foothill Blvd., Glendora, CA 91741, on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association in his name.
Donald C. Willms
TULSA, Okla. - Donald C. Willms, 81, died Jan. 17, 2005, peacefully at his home in Tulsa, Okla.
He was born to Clarence "Cotton" and Rose Blades Willms on July 16, 1923, and reared on a farm near Geneseo, KS. He was baptized at the Frederick Baptist Church when he was 13. He was active in 4-H in his youth and graduated from Geneseo High School in 1941. Don was a World War II veteran serving his country in the Philippines and Japan.
He married
Vera M. Coleman on Feb. 14, 1948. They moved to California shortly after the wedding where Don worked on a ranch and showed cattle. He returned to Kansas to farm and rear livestock in Rice and Reno Counties for over 30 years. Don sold his farming assets in 1981 and moved to Tulsa, Okla., to attend Victory Bible Institute. In Tulsa, he worked as an independent contractor doing general repair work.
He served in several ministry activities including coordinator of the prayer line for Channel 47 TV Station and home-base coordinator for two missionaries. Throughout his life, Don was active as a Sunday school teacher, in various prison ministries, and other capacities in his local church. Professionally, Don served many farm organizations such as Rice County Extension Board, Farm Bureau, Reno Consumers Coop Board member, and the NFO.
Survivors include: his wife, Vera of the home; four children and their spouses, Russell and Sherryl Willms, Little River, Pamela and Samuel Herr, Valley Center, Clifton and Catherine Willms, Sioux City, Iowa, and Diedre Dianne and Roger Jones, Skiatook, Okla.; siblings, Betty Just, Salina, Mary Kathleen Ottiwell, Topeka, Robert and Delores Willms, Sacramento, Calif., and Joanne and Cloyd Ikenberry of Quinter; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Community Baptist Church, Tulsa, Okla. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Moore Southlawn Funeral Home, Tulsa, Okla.
David T. Renfrow
LARNED - David Thomas Renfrow, 58, died Jan. 19, 2005, at his Larned residence.
He was born March 29, 1946, at Pawhuska, Okla., the son of Oscar L. and Jewel L. Webster Renfrow. A Larned resident since 1975, moving from Willow Lake, S.D., he was a coach, school counselor, and elementary principal for the Pawnee Heights School District.
He belonged to First Christian Church, LaCrosse. He had previously been a member of First Christian Church, Larned, where he was Elder, Sunday School teacher, and Lay Preacher. He was also a member of the Jordaan Foundation Research Committee, Larned.
On Aug. 27, 1967, he married
Rita J. Kingsbury at Fredonia. She survives.
Other survivors include: his parents, Pawhuska, Okla.; two daughters, Rebecca Ann (Mrs. Lance) Weeks, Lawrence, and Rhonda Jean (Mrs. David) Stephen, Independence; two brothers, Dean (wife Anne) Hulbert, Okla., Duane (wife Kathy) LaCrosse; two sisters, Ruth Ann (Mrs. Larry) Woodruff, Wichita, and Rosemary (Mrs. Don) Webb, Bartlesville, Okla.; and two grandchildren, Judson King and Ashton Weeks, both of Lawrence.
Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Pawnee Heights School Auditorium, Rozel, with the Rev. Ron Keith and the Rev. Troy Schroeder presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, Larned.
Memorials may be sent to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, or to the donor's choice, both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Inc., P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550.
Ralph E. Opie
GREAT BEND - Ralph E. Opie, 90, died Jan. 19, 2005, at his home.
He was born May 7, 1914, at Olmitz, the son of Alfred and Bertha Harper Opie. A lifetime resident of the Great Bend area, he was a farmer.
He was a lifetime member of First United Methodist Church and belonged to all orders of Masonic Lodge and Shrine, and Elks Lodge.
On Jan. 30, 1938, he married
Ruth Essmiller at her home in rural Barton County. She survives.
Other survivors include: two daughters, Roberta Bartlett, Great Bend, and Rae Jean Hunt, Manhattan; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two grandchildren.
Graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Great Bend Cemetery, with the Rev. Gary Brooks presiding. Interment will be in Great BendCemeterywith Masonic graveside rites. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend.
Memorials may be sent to the Sunflower Shrine Travel Fund or the First United Methodist Church Choir Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Austen S. Dunnan
LARNED - Austen S. Dunnan, 53, died Jan. 1, 2005, at Garfield.
He was born Oct. 19, 1951, at Dodge City, the son of Darwin D. and Daisy F. Ely Dunnan. A resident of Larned, he was a roof repairman.
He was of the Christian faith.
Survivors include: a son; a brother; and two sisters.
Cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be in Dodge City Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Sunrise Inc., in care of Morell Funeral Home, P.O. Box 124, Larned, 67550-0124.
Ronald D. Koerner
HAYS - Ronald Dean Koerner, 66, died Jan. 6, 2005, at his home, Centennial Towers, Hays.
He was born Jan. 25, 1938, at Hays, the son of Alfred and Albina Weigel Koerner Sr. A resident of Hays since 1985, he was a meat manager for 25 years at Dillons.
He belonged to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays.
Survivors include: two sons, Don, Hays and Mitch, Wichita; his mother, Hays; two brothers, Alfred "Fritz" Jr., Hays and Steve, Lawrence; three sisters, Patty Hashenberger, Karen Welsh and Daisy Ginther, all of Russell; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his father; and a brother Gary.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Vigil service will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Cline's Mortuary, Hays. Visitation will be 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging, in care of the funeral home.
Deloris M. Guhr
DODGE CITY - Deloris "Dee" M. Guhr, 71, died Jan. 7, 2005, at Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City.
She was born Jan. 1, 1934, at Ness City, the daughter of Harry and Sabina Burdett Hawkins. A resident of Dodge City since 1956, moving from Buena Vista, Colo., she was a homemaker until 1975. She was a cook at Dodge City High School and Head Start. She also was a graduate of the Dodge City Community College nursing program, working as a licensed practical nurse for Trinity Manor Nursing Home until retiring in 2002.
She belonged to Christ the King Lutheran Church, Senior Friends, and volunteered at Manna House, all at Dodge City.
In 1955, she married
Donald Guhr, at Louisiana.
Survivors include: a son Ben, Dodge City; three daughters, Kathy Bolmer, Dodge City, Vinetta Guhr, Midwest City, Okla., and Amy Long, Bucklin; three brothers, Jack and Van, both of Silver Lake, and Bill, Portland, Ore; three sisters, Mary Betz, Liberal, Sue Gramling, Paragould, Ark., and Beth Stoecklein, Spring Hill; and eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jeanne Guhr; four brothers, Jerry, Bobby, Johnny and Karl; and a sister, Jeanne Hawkins.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Dodge City, with Pastor Gib Botten presiding. Friends may call from 9 to 8 p.m. Monday at Burkart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Christ the King Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ford County.
Memorials may be sent to Christ the King Lutheran Church or to Manna House, in care of the funeral home.
Dorothy M. Johnston
Dorothy M. Johnston, 91, died Jan. 6, 2005, at Thorne Care Center, Wesley Towers, Hutchinson.
She was born April 11, 1913, at Chicago, the daughter of Arthur and Florence Anderson Johnston. A resident of Hutchinson since 1992, she was a retired secretary, working for Goodbody & Co. and Merrill Lynch Securities, both of Chicago.
She belonged to First Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson.
She was preceded in death by a sister Florence Lockwood; and an infant daughter, Pamela Lynn Johnston.
Private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be sent to the Good Samaritan Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.
Albert C. Sanders
SEDGWICK - Albert C. "Pappy" Sanders, 83, died Jan. 7, 2005, at Halstead Health and Rehabilitation.
He was born July 28, 1921, at Clarinda, Iowa, the son of Joe C. and Leta Winkle Sanders. A resident of Sedgwick for 25 years, formerly of Valley Center, he was a truck driver for Missouri Pacific.
He belonged to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7253, Derby and Teamsters Local No. 795, Wichita.
On June 21, 1979, he married
Evelyn Jane Potter, at Wichita. She survives.
Other survivors include: a son, Ron, Wichita; a stepson, Alfred Parker Jr., Atoka, Okla., and a step-daughter, Sandy Loveall, Wichita; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Susan Bushey; three brothers, Robert, Leonard and Lee Sanders; and three sisters, Maurine Orr, Dorothy Lahr and Jane Boyington.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead with Father Thomas Wai presiding. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Bentley.
Memorials may be sent to Caring Hands Humane Society, in care of the funeral home.
