Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Merlin L. Deters
Merlin L. Deters, 63, of Baileyville, Kansas, died late Saturday evening, September 23, 2006, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
Merlin was born in Axtell, on March 15, 1943, the son of Bernard A. and Anna Wiltz Deters; he was the 11th of 14 children. After graduating from Baileyville High School in 1961, Merlin worked in Kansas City for Inland Underground Storage before moving back and taking over the family dairy farm.
On October 7, 1967 in Seneca, he married
Judith Kohake; she survives the home. They raised six children.
Merlin served on the BaileyvilleCemeteryBoard, and kept thecemeterybooks, a community service that has been in Merlin's family over several generations. Merlin was also on the Baileyville Water and Sewer Board, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He helped in the development of Industrial Millwork and presently served on the Board for Koch and Company. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville, where he was a Eucharist minister and a rosary leader.
Merlin had many interests and enjoyed family picnics, camping, fishing, boating, farming, and playing cards with neighbors and family. He loved his grandchildren. He had recently taken them to Wyoming and Yellowstone.
Survivors besides his wife are two sons, Damian (and Alicia) Deters of Hiawatha and Terry Deters of Hutchison; three daughters; Pamela (and Benji) Wysong of Sabetha, Anna (and Brad) Schwartz of Overbrook, and Katie (and Jim) Dalinghaus of Baileyville; four sisters, Lucille (and Ray) Boeckman of Goff, Alicia (and Clarence) Burdick of Sabetha, Shirley (and Mike) Banks of Topeka, Aurea (and Valerian) Schmitz of Seneca; eight brothers, Urban (and Charlotte), Dwaine (and Kathleen), Raymond (and Dorothy), all of Seneca, Lester (and Arlene) of Marysville, Alvin (and Joann), LeRoy (and Gladys), Bernie (and Edie), all of Baileyville, and Gene (Jean) of Branson, Missouri; and eight grandchildren, Erica, Keith, Amy Wysong, Kaley, Jacy, Tommy Dalinghaus, and Brady and Brett Schwartz.
Preceding Merlin in death were his parents, an infant brother, and his son Edwin Charles.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Thursday, September 28, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Rosaries will be 2 PM Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca and 7 PM Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church.
Branson, Missouri; and eight grandchildren, Erica, Keith, Amy Wysong, Kaley, Jacy, Tommy Dalinghaus, and Brady and Brett Schwartz.
Preceding Merlin in death were his parents, an infant brother, and his son Edwin Charles.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Thursday, September 28, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. Rosaries will be 2 PM Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca and 7 PM Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church.
Russell DeVillier
Russell DeVillier, 83, of St. Marys, KS, died early Tuesday morning, December 12, 2006 at the KCH hospice house in Kansas City, MO.
He was born October 28, 1923, at Breaux Bridge, LA, the son of John and Alcidie Dupuis Devillier. He grew up there, attended a rural school and graduated from Cecelia High School in Simnes Port, LA in 1940. He attended Southwestern University at Layfette, LA for two years and played basketball there. During World War II from 1942 to 1945, he served in the U.S. Army.
On September 4, 1946 he married
Angela Haverkamp at St. Mary’s Church at St. Benedict. The celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
Russell attended Kansas State Teacher’s College at Emporia where he earned a BS in 1948 and a master’s degree in 1961. His first teaching position was in Codell, KS and he then taught in Louisiana at his alma mater, Cecelia High, where he coached a class B state championship track team. In 1953 he returned to Seneca to teach at St. Benedict and Kelly schools. He also taught at several other area schools. He was a superintendent at Burr Oak and Powhattan, KS. In 1989 he retired from the Wetmore school system where he was a coach and a teacher. His former students can be found in every corner of the world. He was an educator for 40 years and a great believer in the importance of education.
He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church at St. Mary’s and the Lions Club at Emmett, KS. He also belonged to the KNEA, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Survivors besides his wife Angela of the home are three sons, James R. DeVillier of Roxboro, NC, Steve DeVillier of Lawrence, and Gene DeVillier of Wellsville; a daughter, Lorraine Poell of Lenexa; and grandchildren David Poell, Lauren Poell, Philip DeVillier, Paul DeVillier, Stephanie DeVillier, Charles DeVillier, and Catherine DeVillier.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Jane DeVillier, on March 29, 1966; two brothers, Stoney and Chep DeVillier; and two sisters; Tenny Fincher and Delta Watkin.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday at St. Mary’s Church, St. Benedict, KS. Burial will be with military honors in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorial contributions may be given for the University of Kansas Pharmacy Department, Holy Cross Catholic School, or the Shawnee Medical Center Foundation Spiritual Wellness Department, and sent in care of the family.
James A. Dodd
James A. Dodd, 54, of Seneca, Kansas, died Monday, January 21, 2013, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
James Allen Dodd was born on August 18, 1958 in Seneca, the son of Donald and Marlene Fuhrman Dodd. He graduated from Nemaha Valley School in 1976. While in school he helped his father on the family farm just southeast of Oneida. After graduation he went to work for Mid-Am Dairy in Sabetha, and later for Darling International in Seneca. In 2007 he became a truck driver for Fairview Express in Seneca, and that was his job at the time of his death.
On February 18, 1984 he married
Teresa Hulsing in Seneca.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Teresa; four daughters, Nichole (Bob) Koch of Seneca, Melissa (John) Williamson of Topeka, Rachel Dodd of Hiawatha and Hannah Dodd of the home; grandchildren, Marissa and Ryan Koch and baby girl Williamson due in March; his parents, Donald and Marlene Dodd of Sabetha; his sisters, Jane (Charlie) Clark of Silver Lake and Joy (James) Lednicky of Horton; three nieces and two nephews.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leon and Rose Dodd and John and Emma Fuhrman.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM Thursday, January 24, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Funeral service will be 11 AM Friday, January 25, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Sts. Peter & PaulCemeteryin Seneca.
Memorials may be given to COINS for a Cause, the Seneca EMTs, or the Nursing Department of the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, and sent in care of the family.
Jane A. Dorn
Jane A. (Kuckelman) Dorn, 76, of Seneca, Kansas, died Friday, November 9, 2012 at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca, where she had been a resident since April 2005.
Jane was born March 6, 1936, in Marysville, Kansas, to Frank and Josephine Smutny Kuckelman, Sr. She grew up in Seneca and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in 1954. She was very involved in 4-H as a student and also tap danced and played the clarinet, and was an exchange student in Uruguay for six months. She received her teaching certificate from Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison and taught elementary school for two years in Maple Hill, outside of Topeka.
On August 9, 1958, Jane married
Weems C. Dorn, Jr., while he was stationed at Forbes Field with the U.S. Air Force, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. While in the service, they traveled and lived in Arizona, Alaska, Illinois and Texas, where she was active in the Officers' Wives Club and she served as a long time lector at Randolph Air Force Base Catholic Church near San Antonio. After their divorce, Jane settled in Universal City, Texas, where she worked in sales until her retirement.
Jane enjoyed playing mahjong and loved to dance, but her most enjoyable times came when she was active in her church. She was a very devoted participant in her congregation and her favorite times were spent studying and meditating with her Bible.
Survivors include her daughters, Erin Marie Ely (John) of Universal City, Texas, Lisa Gerard Catino (Scott) of Mobile, Alabama, Stephanie Gerard Atha (Robert) of Wichita, Kansas, Ashley Mary Gerarda Bacon (John) of Boca Raton, Florida, and Stacey Ann Morgan (Wayne) of Columbia, Mississippi; her brother Frank Kuckelman, Jr. of Seneca; her sister Ann Kuckelman Cobb of Lawrence, Kansas; and four grandchildren, Vance Paul Atha, Isabel Marie Atha, Andrew Houston Underwood and Anastascia Summer Catino.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Josephine Kuckelman; and a brother, Thomas G. Kuckelman.
A memorial service will be held at 3 PM Tuesday, November 20, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, with burial following at Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery.
Because of the loving care Jane received while a resident at the nursing home, the family requests memorials be given to Crestview Manor in Seneca.
Erwin H. Dressman
Erwin H. Dressman, 77, formerly of Goodland, KS, died October 3, 2003, at Royal Terrace Nursing Home in Olathe, KS, from complications of a stroke.
He was born January 24, 1926, at Baileyville, KS, the son of Joseph and Helen Heiman Dressman. As a boy of the Great Depression era, he raised money trapping animals for fur, and helped on the family farm. He attended Sacred Heart School in Baileyville.
In August 1944, he entered the US Army and was transferred to the Rhineland in January 1945. He was a machine gunner running nighttime sorties behind enemy lines in the forward advance on Germany and excelled at the .38 caliber. His unit came under fire on March 5 and sustained heavy casualties. Several American Indian comrades succeeded in retrieving him from the field and transported him back to safety. He spent the next six months in rehabilitation before returning to his hometown. He received the Purple Heart and his unit was awarded the Distinguished Unit Emblem for bravery.
Erwin met his future wife, Nancy Mealy, of Axtell, KS, at a holiday dance, when he teasingly hooked her with his cane as she strode past him on the dance floor. They were married
on April 3, 1948, and the union produced 13 children. Erwin had a long career as a cattle buyer, pursuing that trade in western Kansas. He had a reputation of being able to guess the weight of any animal to within a few pounds just by looking at it. He moved to Olathe in October 2002.
Survivors are his wife, Nancy, Overland Park, KS; seven sons, Martin of Kansas City, MO, Terry of Overland Park, KS, Tim of Hutchinson, Jason of Longview, TX, Richard of Plano, TX, James of Granbury, TX, and Neal of St. Peters, MO; six daughters, Shana Handley of Overland Park, KS, and Sheila Sisk of Fairway, KS, Marian Lutters of Burlington, CO, Lisa House of Goodland, Janet Brown of Parker, CO and Muriel McCants of Escalon, CA; three brothers, Edwin of Frankfort, Dallas of Baileyville, KS and Lester of Topeka; a sister, Glenda Bruna of Hanover; 26 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters in infancy, and two brothers, Clarence and Alvin.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 A.M. Friday, October 10, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. The burial will be in the Sacred Heart Church cemetery, with military honor guard by the R.R. Hendricks Post #216 of the American Legion at Axtell. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home at 7 P.M. Thursday.
The family requests that in memory of Erwin's dedication to the cattle business, in lieu of sending flowers, please spend the money on a good steak for yourself.
Nancy C. Dressman
April 8, 1926 - October 4, 2014
Nancy Carol (Mealy) Dressman was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on April 8, 1926 to Frank and Ethel Severin Mealy of Axtell, Kansas. Her early childhood was spent tending cows, chickens and gardening with her younger sister, Muriel. She hunted small game with her father and grandfather Severin. She spoke fondly of her trips to St. Joseph and Kansas City to visit uncles and aunts. She was fortunate to live near her grandfather Severin who helped provide the opportunity to fresh fruit from his orchard and shared in duties tending cattle.
Nancy spent one college year in Atchison attending Mount Scholastica, she then returned to Axtell to work with the newly formed Rural Electric. She later transferred to Kansas City and worked for Skelly Oil on the Plaza. At a New Year’s Eve dance in Seneca, future husband, Erwin hooked her with a cane and asked for a dance. Erwin was injured in WW II and had recently returned to the area after rehabilitation and vocational training. Nancy said she knew Erwin, had seen him at other socials in the area and immediately formed a lasting relationship. They married
April 3, 1948 and nine months later began a brooding spree that would produce thirteen children. Nancy was active in Catholic Church Religious Education in Goodland, Kansas and worked later at the hospital maintaining records. An avid gardener, bread maker and canner she was thrifty with bottling beer, pickles, jams and jellies. With fifteen mouths to feed her children did not experience leftovers until they moved out on their own.
Nancy spent her final twelve years in Overland Park, Kansas attending Holy Cross Catholic Church, and becoming a member of the esteemed Sunshine Club. After losing Erwin in 2003 her later years were filled with daily reading of Magnificat and The Word among Us and prayer. She loved dinners with family and friends, outings with grandchildren and a simple lifestyle.
Her parents Frank and Ethel preceded her both passing in 1981. She leaves behind her sister, Muriel McGuire; her niece, Michelle; and nephew, Terry. She will be missed by her six sons, Martin, Tim, Jason, Terry, Richard and James; and six daughters, Shana, Marian, Muriel, Sheila, Janet and Lisa Beth. Her son Neal unexpectedly passed in 2009. She leaves 26 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
In tribute she would recommend that you purchase an annual subscription to Magnificat of Yonkers, NY and/or The Word among Us of Fredrick, Maryland.
Arrangements are provided by Lauer Funeral Home Seneca, Kansas. The rosary will be one hour prior to the Mass on October 11, 2014 at 9:30 AM; with a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, followed by reception; all held at Little Sisters of the Poor located at 8745 James A. Reed Road Kansas City, Missouri 64138, (816) 761-4744. Private interment Monday, October 13, 1:00 PM Sacred HeartCemeteryBaileyville, Kansas.
Arden H. Droge
Arden Henry Droge, 89, of Seneca, Kansas, died at 4:20 AM Thursday morning, November 17, 2011, at Life Care Center in Seneca, where he had been a resident since last month.
Arden was born on March 19, 1922 on the Droge farm 14 miles north of Seneca to Henry August Droge and Gertrude Elizabeth (Berdau) Droge. He attended Prairie Grove School in Nemaha County, a one-room country school. He graduated from Seneca Public High School in 1940.
Arden entered active military service on October 3, 1942 and was always proud to have served in the U.S. Army 691st Field Artillery Battalion. He was deployed to the European Theater of Operations from August 1944 to January 1946.
After World War II, Arden returned to Seneca where he married
Bessie Louise Sausser on July 10, 1948. They made their home in the area, where Arden continued farming. Their first child, Elizabeth Ann, was born on September 4, 1949. After moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado for employment, their first son, Michael Henry, was born on June 13, 1951. The family returned to the Seneca area in 1952, where Richard Lee was born on October 10, 1954.
In 1959, the family moved to Kansas City, where Arden was employed on the Hallmark Farm near Leawood, Kansas until he retired in 1987. Arden and Bessie returned to Seneca, where they worshipped at Friedens United Church of Christ in Bern. Arden's grandfather, Conrad Berdau, was one of the church founders.
During retirement, he and Bessie enjoyed their many friends and remaining close to their family.
Arden is survived by Bessie, his wife of 63 years, and all three of their children, Elizabeth and husband Michael Wells of Carrollton, Texas; Michael and wife Molly of Parkville, Missouri, and Richard and wife Susan of Lakewood, Colorado; and three brothers, Charles Droge of Snohomish, Washington, John Droge of Waldorf, Maryland, and Harry Droge of Council Grove.
He is also survived by three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The grandchildren include Elizabeth's two daughters Christine Nicole and Tracy Elizabeth, and Richard's daughter Bonnie Elizabeth. Grandchildren are the three children of Christine and husband Rod Stuart — Lauren Alysia, Garrett Wade, and Cole Michael; the two daughters of Tracy and her husband Tommy Cloud — Katelyn Elizabeth and Rebecca Charlotte; and the two sons of Bonnie and husband Travis Huggins — Cade Michael and Henry Patrick
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Clarence, Emil, Leslie, and Leonard Droge; and three sisters, Helen Rhodes, Margaret Kirk, and Eleanor Duello.
The funeral service for Arden will be held at 2 PM Saturday, November 19, at the Friedens United Church of Christ on K-63 Highway near Bern. A graveside service will follow at the Seneca CityCemeteryin Seneca.
