Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Luella J. Brinker
Luella Janet Hammes Brinker, 88, of Seneca, KS, died early Tuesday morning, November 1, 2011, at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca after a battle with cancer.
Luella was born January 15, 1923 to Joseph and Mary Ronnebaum Hammes, fourth of eight children. She attended Rock School, St. Benedict Grade School, and Seneca Public High school until her sophomore year when she had to stay home because of illness.
She married
Elmer Brinker on October 8, 1940 at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict, KS. They spent their entire married
life in Seneca, raising seven children. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2000.
After the children grew up, she helped Elmer in the furniture store until they sold it in May 1984. Then her sons opened a furniture store and she continued helping them until recently. Her favorite pastimes were going to the furniture store and attending all the events of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society in Seneca.
Survivors include three sons, Larry and his wife Ginger of Topeka, Bob and his wife Marilyn of Seneca, and Steve and his wife Bonnie of Seneca; two daughters, Nancy Frehe of Seneca and Myra Runnebaum and husband Jim of Seneca; a daughter-in-law Kathy Brinker of Seneca; 23 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband Elmer on February 22, 2001; two sons, Daniel on April 14, 1946 and Marvin on March 5, 2005; four brothers, Art, Al, Gene and Les Hammes; four sisters, Elsie Hammes, Bernita Hutchinson, Laverne Edgerley and Edna Edgerley; a son-in-law Daniel Frehe on January 20, 2005; grandsons Ryan and Richard Brinker, and great-granddaughter Gabriella Runnebaum.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, November 4, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, November 3, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School, and sent in care of the family.
Mary C.t.a. Brinker
Mary C.t.a. Brinker, 82, Centralia, died Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. She was transferred there from Life Care Center of Seneca where she had been a resident since September of 2003.
She was born July 29, 1922, in Oldenburg, Germany, the daughter of John and Anna Moser Suther. She was the step-daughter of Clemens Suther. She came to the United States when she was three years old. She was raised on farms near Marysville and Frankfort. The family also lived at Bigelow, which is now covered by the waters of Tuttle Creek Reservoir. In 1941 she graduated from Frankfort High School.
On January 17, 1942, she married
Lawrence W. Brinker at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Frankfort. They lived in Lillis, Fidelity, and farmed near Centralia before moving into Centralia. Her husband preceded her in death on December 12, 1973.
Mary was employed cleaning houses and businesses in Centralia for many years. She was the housekeeping supervisor at Countryview Estates Care Home, now called the Life Care Center, in Seneca for several years.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church in Seneca. Mary loved to sew both by hand and with the machine. She quilted and made baby quilts for her grandchildren. Taking care of her lawn and flowers also gave her pleasure.
Survivors are two daughters, Dorothy Wiltz and Mary Kathryn“Katy” Huerter, both of Topeka; a brother, Henry Suther of Frankfort; a sister, Clara Erdman of Topeka; four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by brothers Frank, Walter, and Albert Suther; and sisters, Alvina Rogers and Lucy Ann Suther.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the Centralia Cemetery, Centralia, KS. The rosary will be prayed at 7 P.M. Thursday at the Lauer Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given for Life Care Center of Seneca or for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and sent in care of the family.
Marvin D. Brinker
Marvin D. Brinker, 51, Seneca, died Saturday, March 05, 2005, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August of 2000 and had a recurrence in January of 2004.
He was born March 8, 1953, at Seneca, the son of Elmer B. and Luella Hammes Brinker. He attended Sts. Peter & Paul School in Seneca, was active in all sports, and graduated from high school in 1971. Marvin also attended Highland Community College where he played basketball. After working for Suther Building Supply as a carpenter for a year, he started work with the Seneca Wholesale Company in 1973. He began as a driver delivering pop and beer. In January 1999, he took a position as a salesman for the Wholesale. He had worked there over 30 years when he retired in March of 2004 due to his health.
On September 22, 1979, he married
Kathleen “Kathy” Burdiek at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They always lived in Seneca.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and the St. Joseph Society at the church. He was an active member of the Seneca Golf Association and won club champion twice on the Seneca course. Marvin was a founder of the Nemaha Basketball Association for grade school youngsters that played on Saturday and was a coach for them. He followed his children in their sports and enjoyed attending many games. Marvin liked roses and kept a rose garden at home.
Survivors are his wife, Kathleen “Kathy”, and two sons, Brandon and Dane all of the home; two daughters, Michelle Brinker of Houston, TX and Ashley Brinker at St. Louis University; his mother, Luella Brinker of Seneca; three brothers, Larry Brinker of Topeka, Robert “Bob” Brinker and Steven Brinker, both of Seneca; and two sisters, Nancy Frehe and Myra Runnebaum, both of Seneca.
He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer Brinker, on February 23, 2001, and a brother, Daniel Brinker, on April 14, 1946.
Mass of Christian burial will be 9 A.M. Tuesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Monday at 2 and 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Basketball Association of Seneca, Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, or the Nemaha Valley High School Athletic Department, and sent in care of the family.
Rita E. Broderick
Rita E. Broderick, 93, of Fremont, Nebraska, formerly of Seneca, Kansas, died Friday, November 16, 2012 at a nursing home in Fremont.
Rita Eileen Koehler Broderick was born on July 28, 1919, in Seneca, Kansas to John and Helen Heideman Koehler. As the eldest daughter growing up on the Koehler farm, she learned the value of hard work, love of family and a life guided by her Catholic faith. She attended Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Seneca, graduating as salutatorian, and went on to earn her nursing degree from St. Margaret’s Hospital in Kansas City.
While working as a registered nurse in Kansas City, her sister Esther introduced Rita to Gerald Broderick. “We fell in love the moment we met, ” she would later say. The couple married
on January 6, 1942.
Gerald’s career as a pharmacist took them to Texas, where they lived in San Antonio, Victoria and Corpus Christi. Three children were born to the couple, Mary Lynne, Helen Kay (Katy) and Thomas Edward. While living in Corpus Christi, her husband Gerald died unexpectedly in 1975.
Rita worked as an RN in a variety of medical fields, but felt her most rewarding experience was as a public health nurse, for the State of Texas, a career she retired from in 1983. Following retirement, Rita returned to her home town of Seneca to be close to family.
Rita devoutly practiced her Catholic faith as exemplified by her devotion to the Mass, the Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. She was an active member of each parish with which she was associated. She was most proud of her work as a volunteer at Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center, instructor of CCD religious education, and Eucharistic Minister. Throughout her life, Rita had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A highlight of her life was a visit to Medjugorje, the site of the apparitions of Mary Queen of Peace.
Rita was a skilled oil painter and enjoyed gardening, reading, playing bridge, crocheting and visiting with her family. In her later years, Rita was affectionately called “Great” by the great-grandchildren who loved visiting her, since “Great” always had some treat to share. Beloved by her brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, “Great” will be fondly remembered and sadly missed.
Rita was preceded in death by her cherished husband Gerald and her greatly loved brother Col. Leonard Koehler.
Surviving her are sisters Esther Proffitt of Seneca, Mary Helen Lear of Hiawatha and Barbara Buckley if Prairie Village, Kansas; brothers Jim Koehler of Seneca, Abbot Ralph Koehler, OSB of Atchison, and Ron Koehler of Kansas City, Missouri; her children, Lynne Hamele of Omaha, Nebraska, Katy and husband Ken McElroy of Austin, Texas and Tom and wife Debra Broderick of Austin, Texas; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Monday, November 19, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Tuesday, November 20, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in Sts. Peter & PaulCemeteryin Seneca.
In lieu of flowers, Rita requested that donations be made to the Mission Center, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 411 Pioneer St., Seneca, Kansas 66538, or to the charity of your choice.
Hedwig R. "Hattie" Brokamp
Hedwig R. “Hattie” Brokamp, 96, Centralia, KS, died Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at Crestview Manor in Seneca. She had been a resident there since May 16, 2003.
She was born July 14, 1907, in Herndon, KS, the daughter of Charles and Barbara Berger Hutfles. The family moved from Herndon to a farm south of Kelly in 1917.
On April 10, 1929, Hattie married
Aloysius “Allie” Brokamp. They farmed west of Kelly. Her husband, Allie, died April 11, 1983, and Hattie continued to live on the farm with her son, Clarence. She had a garden and raised chickens for many years.
She was a member of St. Bede’s Church at Kelly and the Altar Society at the church. She was blessed with a very deep faith and prayed many rosaries and other prayers.
Survivors are a son, Clarence of Centralia; two daughters, Dolores Dick of Raytown, MO; and Ethel Lierz of Holton, KS; two brothers, Clarence Hutfles of Topeka, and Leo Hutfles of Falls City, NE; a sister, Elizabeth Stallbaumer of Seneca; grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son Norman “Bud” Brokamp on August 6, 2002, a daughter, Hildegarde Henry, on March 22, 1958, and two brothers, William and Harry Hutfles.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, October 20, at St. Bede’s Church. The burial will be in the church cemetery. She will lie in state at Lauer Funeral Home after 8:30 A.M. Sunday where the rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for St. Bede’s Church and sent in care of the family.
Odelia E. Brokamp
Odelia E. Brokamp, 86, of Seneca, died Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
She was born March 24, 1918, on a farm south of Seneca, the daughter of Joseph F. and Theresa Dalsing Ronnebaum. She grew up there, attended the Diamond School, Sts. Peter & Paul School, and helped on the family farm.
On November 24, 1936, she married
Edwin B. Brokamp at St. Bede’s Church at Kelly. After Edwin died in a tractor accident on April 26, 1960 at age 51, Odelia continued to live on the farm. She upholstered and refinished furniture, and did quilting. Later she bought and sold antiques. In the fall of 2001, she moved to Terrace Heights in Seneca. Due to her health, she entered Crestview Manor in 2003 and later was a resident at Life Care Center both in Seneca.
She was a member of St. Bede’s Church at Kelly and the Altar Society at the church where she was very active, and also had served as Altar Society president. Odelia was a charter member of the Nemaha County Historical Society, served in several offices, helped renovate the historic county jail, and donated a lot of antiques to the Society. She was also a member of the Heritage Club in Seneca.
Survivors are a son, Harold Brokamp, Corning; twin daughters, Janice Steinlage, Sabetha and Joyce Enneking, Seneca; a step-daughter, Mary Ann Henry, Seneca; twelve grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, 9 step-great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandson.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Bernardine Broxterman, Clara Mueting, and Pauline Levret; two brothers, Albert and Paul Ronnebaum; and a granddaughter, Kathy Steinlage, on February 26, 1974.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, January 20, 2005, at St. Bede’s Church at Kelly. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed Wednesday at 2 and 7 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Wednesday.
Memorials may be given for the Nemaha County Historical Society or St. Bede’s Church and sent in care of the family.
