Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Emil C. Droge
Emil C. Droge, 94, Seneca, KS, died Thursday evening, September 1, 2005, at Crestview Manor in Seneca. He bravely fought cancer.
He was born March 24, 1911, on a farm near Pawnee City, NE, the son of Henry A. and Gertrude Berdau Droge. The family moved near Nashua, MT and homesteaded land. They returned to farm north of Seneca when Emil was seven years old, and he attended Prairie Grove School and worked on the family farm.
In April of 1940 Emil moved to Los Angeles where was employed by Douglas Aircraft. He attended machining and electrical schools and was a machinist for the company for 33 years. After his retirement, he did handyman work in the Los Angeles area. Later he moved to the Droge farm north of Seneca and then into Seneca. He did carpenter work for people, such as building tables for restaurants, quilt racks, and shelving. He did a lot of work at his church, as well as finishing work in the homes of his family and at the Pony Express Museum.
On July 4, 1940, he married
Maxine L. Harper at Yuma, AZ. She died December 27, 1988.
He was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ, north of Seneca, and a former member of Westchester Methodist Church in Los Angeles, where he and his wife taught Sunday School. He was a member of the Machinists Union #725. Emil was community minded and contributed to the STEP Foundation. He received a special award for his work at the Pony Express Museum in Seneca.
Survivors are a daughter, Elaine Barry, Bend, OR; a son, Russell L. Droge, Taiwan; five brothers, Leslie and Arden Droge, Seneca, Charles Droge, Snohomish, WA, John Droge, Waldorf, MD, and Harry Droge, Council Grove, KS; and seven grandchildren.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence and Leonard, and three sisters, Helen Rhodes, Margaret Kirk, and Eleanor Duello.
Funeral services will be 2 P.M. Tuesday at Friedens United Church of Christ, with burial in the church cemetery. The family will meet with friends from 7 to 8 P.M. Monday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where he will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Monday.
Memorials may be given for the Friedens Church, or the American Cancer Society, or the Pony Express Museum, and sent in care of the family.
Gertrude A. Droge
Gertrude A. "Gertie" Droge, 87, of St. Benedict, Kansas, died Tuesday, February 27, 2001, at her grandson, Greg and Denise Deters' home southwest of Centralia, Kansas, where she had lived for the past four years.
She was born August 11, 1913, on the family farm west of Centralia, Kansas, the daughter of William and Mary Holan Koch. Later the family moved to a farm north of Centralia where she attended a rural school.
On May 12, 1931, she married
Raymond J. Droge at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived in the St. Benedict Community. Her husband preceded her in death on September 14, 1978.
She was also preceded in death by an infant son, James Droge in 1948, and a grandson, Darrell Droge on September 15, 1973.
She was a member of St. Mary's Church, and the Altar Society at the church in St. Benedict.
Survivors are two sons, Ray A. Droge and Craig Droge both of Topeka; three daughters, Norma Jean Wojciechowski of Waterville, Ohio, Reva Deters of Seneca, and Diane Laub of Topeka; a brother, Lawrence Koch of Seneca, a sister, Lucy Deters of Seneca; nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren
Besides her husband, son, and grandson, she was preceded in death by five brothers, William, Andrew, Louis, Wauncel, and Ralph Koch, and two sisters, Florence Feldkamp and Lena Barber.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday at St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Friday at 2 and 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for the Alzheimer's Association or St. Mary's Church Restoration Fund and sent in care of the family.
Helen Droge
Helen Henrietta Droge, 96, of Topeka died on Monday, December 23, 2013 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka.
She was born May 13, 1917, on a farm northeast of Axtell the daughter of Louis and Susanna Dalsing Hasenkamp. She grew up there, attended Clear Creek School, and helped on the family farm. She did domestic work and helped care for newborn babies in the homes.
On February 22, 1938, she married
Francis J. Droge at St. Michael’s Church at Axtell. They lived and farmed northeast of Axtell and west of Axtell and moved to a farm north of Beattie in 1958. After her children left home, she worked as a nurses aid at the Marshall County Care Home and then at Mary Marshall Manor in Marysville. She also worked at Twin Valley and retired in 1974. Her husband died November 4, 1982. In 1995 she moved to Topeka and did babysitting for her grandchildren. Her daughter Julie cared for her mother in the final years of her life.
She was a member of St. Mathew’s Church in Topeka and a former member of St. Malachy’s. She was an excellent seamstress and also enjoyed quilting and crocheting.
She was preceded in death by her husband Francis J. Droge on November 4, 1982; a daughter, Carol Sue Kopp on Oct 16, 1964;and siblings; Edward, Melinda Lierz, Fred, Alfred, Amanda Brucken, Mildred Holthaus, Raymond, Leo, Virgil, Urban and Agatha Brucken.
Survivors are two sons, Louis Droge, Topeka and August Droge, Walton, KS; a daughter, Julie Ann Droge, Topeka; two grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.
The Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M., Saturday, December 28, 2013 at St. Malachy’s Church, Beattie. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca at 2 & 7 P.M. Friday, December 27, 2013.
Memorials may be given for St. Malachy’sCemeteryand sent in care of the family.
Grace E. Dunn
Grace E. Dunn, 98, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday evening, January 9, 2003, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca. She had been a resident at the care home since May 1994.
She was born August 7, 1904, at Harrisonville, MO, the daughter of Gustav and Augusta Massel Kottwitz. She moved with her family to Peabody, KS, and graduated from Peabody High School in 1923. She graduated from Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan, KS, with a bachelors degree in Home Economics in 1933. She taught school in Wyoming and Marion County, KS. She had lived in Seneca since 1948.
She married
Clarence Dunn in 1936. He died in 1991.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and the Seneca Garden Club
Survivors are three sons, Wayne Dunn of Grapevine, TX, Donnell Dunn of Fargo, ND, Howard Dunn of Richardson, TX; a daughter, Joyce Barrett of Colorado Springs, CO; thirteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 2 P.M. Sunday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The burial will be in the Seneca City Cemetery. The visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given for the Seneca Free Library, Seneca, KS 66538.
Marjorie L. "Margie" Eagan
Marjorie L. “Margie” Eagan, 74, Seneca, died Monday morning, April 19, 2004, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. She was transferred there from Crestview Manor in Seneca where she had been a resident since May of 1994.
She was born March 30, 1930, at Axtell, KS, the daughter of Peter J. and Mary Montgomery Eagan. Margie grew up there, attended Axtell schools, and graduated from Axtell High School in 1950. After graduation, she entered the religious community of Sisters of Charity, at Leavenworth. As Sister Loretta Ann, she made her profession of vows on August 15, 1952. After completing her training at St. Mary’s College as a hospital dietician, she was assigned to a Sisters of Charity hospital in Helena, Montana. Later she was assigned to a hospital in Denver as a hospital dietician. While there, she was stricken with a severe illness and later returned to the Mother House in Leavenworth. Several years later, she moved to Seneca where she worked at Harsh Drug Store for many years.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church, and did volunteer work for the church.
Survivors are seven sisters, Evelyn Koch of Osage City, Regina Koch of Marysville, Genevieve Broxterman and Betty Ketter, both of Topeka, Lucille Fox of St. Mary’s, and Rose McGeeney and Mary Hunninghake, both of Seneca.
Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a sister, Irene Koch, and a brother, John Eagan.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be at St. Bridget Cemetery, northwest of Axtell, KS. The rosary will be prayed at 7 P.M. Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given to Sts. Peter & Paul Church or the Crestview Manor activity fund, and sent in care of the family.
Charles Ehrsam
Charles W. "Chuck" Ehrsam, 58, of Seneca passed away on July 11, 2014, at his residence.
Chuck was born May 18, 1956, in Seneca to Willis and Patricia LaFond Ehrsam. He attended Sts. Peter and Paul Grade School and graduated from Nemaha Valley High School in 1975.
Chuck joined the United States Navy and was honorably discharged on September 21, 1978.
He was employed by Gudenkauf Rendering for a few years, before working for Wenger Manufacturing. He was employed at USC, LLC in Sabetha from 2003 until his death.
Chuck married
Patricia Bredemeier, the couple had two sons. They later divorced. On September 18, 2010 he married
Deon Schultz at the Seneca Lake.
He enjoyed the outdoors where he could hunt, fish and barbeque. He was an avid fan of John Wayne movies. He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and Sons of the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his father Willis Ehrsam on October 29, 2011.
Chuck is survived by his wife Deon; his sons, Travis and Tanner Ehrsam both of Seneca; his mother, Patricia Ehrsam of Seneca; a brother, Ron Ehrsam of Seneca; two sisters, Diana Jones of Windom, KS and Eileen Ehrsam of Pensacola, FL.
A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM, Monday, July 14, 2014, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, with burial in the church cemetery.
Memorials will be designated at a later date.
