Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Wilma A. Kietzman
Wilma A. Kietzman, 89, died Sept. 22, 2004, at Hutchinson Hospital.
She was born July 15, 1915, in Dickinson County, the daughter of Fred T. and Ethlyn P. Pray Rees. She was a 1932 graduate of Beloit High School and a graduate of Strickland Business College, Topeka. A 19-year resident of Hutchinson, formerly of Los Angeles, she retired as credit manager for Shurflo, Anaheim, Calif.
She belonged to United Methodist Church, Toast-mistress Club, and Professional Businesswoman's Association.
On July 17, 1940, she married
Elza Joseph "Joe" Nolan at Topeka. He died in 1966. In 1967, she married
John P. Kietzman at Topeka.
Survivors include: a son, Perry H. Nolan, Hutchinson; a sister, Jean Rogers, Emporia; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Harlan Rees.
Cremation has been planned. Memorial Service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, with Ernie Bishop presiding. A private inurnment will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be sent to Good Samaritan Village, in care of the funeral home.
Charles Lee Klingler
ELLINWOOD - Charles Lee Klingler, 78, died Sept. 22, 2004, at Ellinwood District Hospital.
He was born Jan. 29, 1926, at Augusta, the son of LeRoy and Florence Heath Klingler. An Ellinwood resident since 1972, formerly of Hoisington, he was an oilfield driller, retiring in 1990.
He belonged to Heritage Club, Ellinwood.
On Oct. 3, 1952, he married
Betty Colleen Wilson at Hoisington. She died Feb. 24, 2001.
Survivors include: two daughters, Kathleen "Kathy" Dunnaway, Ellinwood, and Marcia Jane Melton, Great Bend; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Kimple Funeral Chapel, Ellinwood, with the Rev. Paul Thomas presiding. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to service time Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakin-Comanche District Cemetery, Ellinwood.
Memorials may be sent to Ellinwood Heritage Club, in care of the funeral home.
Florence Anna Swanson
BURLINGTON - Florence Anna Swanson, 97, died Sept. 22, 2004, at Life Care Center, Burlington.
She was born April 21, 1907, at Jamestown, Va., the daughter of Louis C. and Emma Stella Francois Gerard. She moved with her family to Hutchinson when she was a child. She had sold Avon and Tupperware in Hutchinson and also had a sewing and alteration shop. In 1995, she moved to Burlington to be near her daughter. She became a resident of the Life Care Center in February 2001.
She belonged to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, South Hutchinson.
On Nov. 1, 1924, she married
Robert F. McDermed at Hutchinson. They became the parents of a daughter, Virginia. They were later divorced. On July 11, 1943, she married
Thomas Franklin Swanson at Los Angeles, Calif. He died Nov. 25, 1976.
Survivors include: a daughter, Virginia Benton and husband Floyd, Lebo; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four brothers and sisters.
Prayer service will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Jones Funeral Home, Burlington, with visitation to follow. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Teresa's Catholic Church, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson.
Jones Funeral Home, Burlington, is in charge of arrangements.
Verna Lea Kirkwood
LARNED - Verna Lea Kirkwood, 78, died Sept. 22, 2004, at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend.
She was born Sept. 19, 1926, the daughter of John Elmer and Elizabeth Wilhelm Murphy. A lifetime Larned resident, she was a retired bookkeeper for Erway Lumber, Larned.
She belonged to First United Methodist Church, Larned.
On Aug. 6, 1950, she married
William Arlyn Kirkwood at Larned. He died July 21, 1994.
Survivors include: a son, Kent, Larned; a daughter, Jill Johnson, Lyons; two brothers, Melvin M. and Robert O. Murphy, both of Larned; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, J.D. and Lester Murphy; and a sister, Norma Blackburn.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Morell Funeral Home, Larned, with Pastor Tim Ault-Duell presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Larned Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association or the Court Appointed Special Advocates, both in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 124, Larned, KS 67550-0124.
Izel Dunning
ANTHONY - Izel Dunning, 103, died Sept. 20, 2004, at Anthony.
She was born March 15, 1901, at Wolcott, Ind., the daughter of Ernest E. Lear and Josephine Deimer. She was a homemaker.
She belonged to Anthony Christian Church.
On June 6, 1922, she married
Floyd Ray Dunning at Anthony. He died May 28, 1969.
Survivors include: three grandchildren, Roger Goertz, The Woodlands, Texas, Rodney Goertz, Shenandoah, Texas, and Janie Gates, Sachse, Texas; six great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary Chapel, Anthony, with the Rev. John Schnelle presiding. Interment will be in Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony.
Memorials may be sent to Anthony Community Care Center or to the Anthony Christian Church, both in care of the mortuary.
Zaw Aung-Thein
WICHITA - Zaw Aung-Thein, 35, died Sept. 22, 2004, at Select Specialty Hospital, Wichita.
He was born Aug. 26, 1969, at Rangoon, Burma, the son of Percy and Rosie Khin Eye Aung-Thein. A Wichita resident since 1991, formerly of McPherson, he was a former cashier at The Beacon Restaurant, Wichita.
Survivors include: his parents, McPherson; a brother; and two sisters.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, McPherson, with the Rev. Howard Berglund presiding. Visitation with the family will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Stockham Family Funeral Home, McPherson. Interment will be in McPherson Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church or to the National Kidney Foundation, both in care of the funeral home.
Ima L. Beebe
FORGAN, Okla. - Ima L. Beebe, 88, died Oct. 7, 2004, at Beaver County Memorial Hospital, Beaver, Okla.
She was born Feb. 26, 1916, at Hillrose, Colo., the daughter of Charles H. and Irra M. Ausmus Schlater. She graduated from Marion High School. Living at Forgan and Beaver, Okla., before moving to Oklahoma City, she worked at Streets Department Store until her retirement in 1982, when she returned to Forgan.
She belonged to Forgan United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women.
On July 17, 1935, she married
Dwight F. Beebe at Hillrose, Colo.
Survivors include: a son, Larry, Saginaw, Texas; a daughter, Deborah Carter, Forgan, Okla.; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by: two brothers, George and Marion Schlater; a sister, Lavina Zimmerman; and a granddaughter.
Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Forgan United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Timothy Hemstra and Cletus Carter presiding. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Miller Mortuary, Liberal. Private family burial will be in Floris Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the church or Floris Midway Cemetery, both in care of the mortuary.
Mathilda P. Unrau
GOESSEL - Mathilda P. Unrau, 98, died Oct. 7, 2004, at Bethesda Home, Goessel.
She was born Sept. 8, 1906, in McPherson County, the daughter of Abraham J. and Elizabeth Penner Nikkel. A lifetime Goessel and Lehigh area resident, she was a homemaker.
She belonged to Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church.
On Aug. 15, 1929, she married
Rufus Unrau. He died Jan. 17, 1991.
Survivors include: three sons, Glen W., rural Newton, Rufus D., rural Lehigh, and Robert, Des Moines, Iowa; a daughter, Shirley Unruh, rural Inman; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a grandchild.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. October 24, at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, near Goessel, with the Revs. Lee Suderman and Mark Wiens presiding. Family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the West Day Room of Bethesda Home, Goessel.
Memorials may be sent to Bethesda Home in care of Miller Funeral Home, Goessel.
Robert J. 'Bob' DeWild
VIOLA - Robert J. "Bob" DeWild, 60, died Oct. 6, 2004, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
He was born Oct. 27, 1943, at Longmont, Colo., the son of Clarence H. and Josephine J. Rupke DeWild. A Viola resident since 1997, moving from Wichita, Galva and McPherson, he worked as a Field Superintendent for Layne Western Water and Environmental Systems.
On June 30, 1981, he married
Sharon L. Koster at Newton. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include: three sons, Rodney, Mulvane, Mitchel, Wichita, and Bradley; five daughters, Tammy, North Platte, Neb., Lisa, Rexburg, Idaho, Stephanie, Fort Mill, S. C., Sandy, Belle Plaine, and Sara, Clearwater; his mother, McPherson; four brothers, LeMayne, Pacifica, Wash., Kevin, Alamogordo, N. M., Leland and Virgil, both of McPherson; three sisters, Wava Duncan, Mound City, Mo., Valerie Erickson, McPherson, and Valissa Taggart, Clovis, N. M.; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by: a son, Lloyd; and his ex-wife, Virgie Sue Martin.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Stockham Family Funeral Home, McPherson, with the Rev. Michael Fibranz presiding. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, with family receiving friends from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Crestwood Memorial Park, McPherson.
Memorials may be sent to Leukemia Society of America, in care of the funeral home.
