Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Willis E. “Willy” Ehrsam
Willis E. “Willy” Ehrsam, 84, of Seneca, KS, died on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
He was born on October 21, 1927 on the family farm southwest of Bern to Elmer and Esther Hunzeker Ehrsam. He attended grade school at Ehrsam’s school, which sat on land donated by his great-grandfather, William Ehrsam. Later he attended Bern High School. He helped on the family farm and served his country as a member of the National Guard for 16 years.
On November 14, 1953 he married
Patricia La Fond at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning.
He was employed by Hall Brothers Construction, Lehmann and Meyers, Elmer Winderschidt Elevator, and George Gudenkauf Rendering. Gudenkauf Rendering was purchased by National By-Products, from which he retired from in 1992.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Society and the Knights of Columbus Council 1769 in Seneca. Willy enjoyed sports, playing cards, fishing, hunting and gardening. He cherished the time he spent with his family and his dog, Mumphy.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years; two sons, Ron and Chuck (Deon) Ehrsam of Seneca; two daughters, Diana (Ron) Jones of Windom, KS and Eileen Ehrsam of Pensacola, FL; a sister, LaVerne Rokey of Sabetha; two grandchildren, Travis and Tanner; three step-grandsons and 12 step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Tuesday, November 1, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Monday, October 31, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given in Willy’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, and sent in care of the family.
Dorothy M. Eisenbarth
Dorothy M. Eisenbarth, 71, of Soldier, Kansas, died Saturday evening, September 1, 2012 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
She was born at the Seneca Hospital on April 1, 1941, to Frank and Lucy Drealan Lichter. She grew up in the Havensville community and graduated from Havensville High School in 1959.
She married
Clyde Eisenbarth on September 4, 1959 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Onaga. The couple spent the first two years of their marriage in Seneca before moving to Corning. In 1965, they purchased a farm south of Corning where they lived their life together. At the time of Dorothy's death, they were just a few days away from their 53rd wedding anniversary.
Dorothy was employed by CR Industries in Seneca for 20 years. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, reading and trips to the casino with her friends. But her true joy was going to her grandchildren’s sporting events.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two siblings, Bill Lichter and Pat Gurney; and a son Eric, on July 28, 1997.
Survivors are her husband, Clyde Eisenbarth of the home; four sons, John Eisenbarth and Tim (Sarah) Eisenbarth, both of Soldier, Randy (Jeanne) Eisenbarth of Hutchinson, and Jesse (Jeanette) Eisenbarth of Onaga; a daughter, Annette (Gary) Schreiber of Soldier; siblings, Barb Lichter of Henry, Illinois, Nick Lichter of Havensville and Beth Cook of Derby, Kansas; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Monday, September 3, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be prayed at 10 AM Tuesday, September 4, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given in Dorothy’s name for St. Patrick’s Church or Midland Hospice House.
Rosalia F. "Sally" Eisenbarth
Rosalia F. "Sally" Eisenbarth, 85, Corning, KS, died late Saturday, April 10, 2004, at the Onaga Hospital in Onaga, KS.
She was born October 14, 1918, on a farm northwest of St. Benedict, KS, the daughter of Anton and Josephine Olberding Weber. She grew up there, attended St. Mary’s School at St. Benedict, and helped on the family farm. Sally also did domestic work in area homes.
On October 17, 1939, she married
Wilfrid M. Eisenbarth at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. They farmed southeast of Corning until Wilfrid entered the army in 1942. While Wilfrid was in the service, Sally worked at the Corning Grain Co. as a secretary from 1942 until 1944. Her husband returned from the army in 1945, and they returned to farming northeast of Corning. In 1947 they bought a farm southeast of Corning where they lived and farmed until retiring and moving into Corning in 1971. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and had been married
59 1/2 years when her husband, Wilfrid, died May 9, 1999.
She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church, and a charter member of the Arthur L. Mills Post #37 of the American Legion Auxiliary at Corning. Besides enjoying her family, Sally liked sewing, embroidering, crocheting, gardening, and raising flowers.
Survivors are three sons, Francis of Fairfax, VA, Thomas of Bern, KS and Roger of Sabetha, KS; five daughters, Betty Becker of Corning, Elaine Becker and Patricia Flentie, both Centralia, Mary J. Eisenbarth of St. Joseph, MO, and Marlene Wolfe of Centreville, VA; 18 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by five sisters, Dorothy and Clara Weber as infants, Anna Koelzer, Katie Stegeman, and Marie Otting; two brothers, Leo and John Weber; and two great-grandchildren, Mariah Boeckman and Ty Flentie.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning. The burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. Monday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Monday.
Memorials may be given for St. Patrick’sCemeteryor Lakeside Terrace in Sabetha and sent in care of the family.
Lowell Elder
Lowell E. Elder, 80, of Seneca died unexpectedly Thursday, August 28, 2014, shortly after being transferred to the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
Lowell was born on November 23, 1933, at his grandmother’s home in Oregon, Missouri, to Eldon and Lela Adams Elder. His early childhood was spent in Oregon and after he had completed 4th grade, the family moved to Seneca where Lowell was then enrolled. Lowell graduated from Seneca Public High in 1951. After graduating he was employed by Mealy’s HyKlas in Seneca.
On September 3, 1956, he married
Lela M. Tanking at St. Gregory Catholic Church in Marysville. As newlyweds the couple moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, as Lowell was inducted into the United States Army on June 20, 1956 and was attached to the Co A 13th SIG BN APO 24. He served in Korea for over a year. He was discharged on April 26, 1958 as a Staff Sergeant. After his service to his country, the couple returned to Seneca. Lowell resumed employment for Mealy’s HyKlas in Seneca. He was recruited by the Public School, to work for them as a Custodian. In 1970, he was promoted to Superintendent of Building and Grounds for Seneca School; he retired after 35 years. During his “retirement” he started up Elder Floor Service, which he had for 15 years.
Lowell was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church (ushering for over 50 years), St. Joseph’s Society, the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Earl W. Taylor Post #21, and a past president of the Seneca Public Alumni Association. He had many interest in life which included bowling, fishing, hunting, cards, western movies, gardening and to watch and follow his grandchildren in sports and or whatever they were doing.
Lowell was preceded in death by his wife, Lela on December 18, 2009 after 53 years of marriage.
Lowell is survived by a special friend, Susie Baker of Tonganoxie; his sons, Lee and Geralyn Elder of Andover, Lynn and Gina Elder of Salina, Larry and Karla Elder of Topeka, and Les and Dana Elder of Minneapolis, MN; his daughter, Lisa and Mike Stallbaumer of Seneca; and his siblings, Alice Nemecheck of Cedar Park, Texas, Hank Elder of Overland Park, Kansas, Annie Nelson of Paola, Kansas, Myredith Buss of Salina and Richard Elder of Humboldt, Kansas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, September 1st at 2 PM at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Rosaries will be at Lauer Funeral Home on Sunday, August 31st at 2 PM and on Monday, September 1st at 11 AM.
Memorials are for Lowell and Lela Elder Scholarship Fund.
Aloysius H. "Wishy" Engelken
Aloysius H. “Wishy” Engelken, 76, Seneca, KS, died Sunday, January 11, 2004, shortly after arrival at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He had an apparent heart attack.
He was born December 8, 1927, on a farm south of St. Benedict, the son of Henry J. and Johanna Bergman Engelken. Wishy attended St. Mary’s School at St. Benedict until the family moved to Seneca. He graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1946. He entered the US Army in 1946 and served in Korea and Japan. After his discharge in 1947, he returned to Seneca where he was employed by Emmett Mealy at Mealy’s Grocery Store. He also owned a liquor store on Highway 36 and later sold it. In 1966 he became part owner of Mealy’s, and later owned it with Dave Stein. Wishy owned and operated the store with his family helping until 1990 when they closed the store. In his retirement, he worked for the Big B Grocery Store and for the Seneca Meat Market.
On July 9, 1951, he married
Marjorie Heideman at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on July 7, 2001.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society at the church, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and a life member of the VFW. He had been the commander three different times.
Survivors are his wife, Marjorie of the home; 5 sons, Daryl “Joe” of Benton, Randy, Ron, David of Seneca, and Dale of Topeka; a daughter, Dana Emmert of Seneca; two brothers, Bernard of Seneca and Kenneth of Topeka; three sisters, Leona Koelzer of Onaga, KS, Florence Pearson of Seneca, Mary Ann Armstrong of David City, NE; 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Alfred and Cletus; and a sister, Rosalita Mace.
Mass of Christian burial will be 2 P.M. Tuesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 3 and 8 P.M. Monday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School or the American Legion Baseball Association.
Elizabeth B. Enneking
Elizabeth B. Enneking, 89, of Seneca, Kansas, died Wednesday, March 14, 2001, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka, Kansas. She was transferred there following surgery at a Topeka hospital. She had been in failing health the past year and had entered Crestview Manor Care Home in Seneca on March 1, 2000.
She was born October 17, 1911, on a farm southwest of Seneca, the daughter of Frank and Wilhelmina Schraad Mohlman. The family later moved to a farm north of Seneca, and Elizabeth attended St. Mary's School at St. Benedict, Kansas. Before her marriage, she did domestic work for local families.
On October 19, 1932, she married
Louis C. Enneking at St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict. They lived on the Enneking homestead north of St. Benedict until 1955 when they moved to Kelly, Kansas. In 1965 they moved into Seneca where Elizabeth started work at the Seneca Hospital in the dietary department until her retirement in 1983. Elizabeth worked as a volunteer at the Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center in Seneca for many years until 1997.
Louis and Elizabeth celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1982. Her husband, Louis, died January 9, 1988.
A daughter, Betty Ward died August 3, 1993, and a grandson, Jack Ward, Jr.died September 15, 1995.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and St. Ann's Altar Society at the church. Elizabeth was an industrious lady who was an excellent seamstress, a quilter, did baking, gardening, and took special pride in taking care of her yard.
Survivors are four sons, Louis Enneking, Jr and LeRoy Enneking both of Seneca; Linus Enneking and Lynn Enneking, both of Topeka; two daughters, Darlene Lechner and Marilyn Kahler, both of Topeka; a sister Susan Groff of Seneca.; thirteen grandchildren; five step-grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, nine step-great-grandchildren, and a step-great-great-grandchild.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Henry, Francis, and Joseph Mohlman and three sisters, Rita Noble, Josepha Wichman, and Marie Staurhan.
The Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the church cemetery. A prayer service will be conducted at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Friday at 2 P.M. and the rosary will be prayed by St. Ann's Altar Society at the funeral home at 7 P.M. Friday.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School, Crestview Manor, the Midland Hospice, or Sts. Peter & Paul Mission Center and sent in care of the family.
Francis Eugene "Gene" Enneking
Francis E. “Gene” Enneking, 75, Seneca, died early Sunday, July 3, 2005, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. He entered there on June 30. He suffered from complications of diabetes.
He was born February 18, 1930, at Axtell, KS, the son of Frank J. and Agnes Otting Enneking. The family lived northwest of Centralia, and he attended a rural school. When the family moved to a farm east of Seneca in 1937, he attended Sts. Peter & Paul School. He helped on the family farm.
Gene drove a truck for Gudenkauf Rendering and for Don Winkler. He also worked the harvest with Ray Wichman. Later he worked in car sales for local dealers besides driving his own truck and hauling rock. Gene and his brother Jim sold cars at Enneking Motors east of Seneca. Due to failing health, Gene retired in 1995. After serious health problems developed, he entered Countryview Estates on January 27, 1999, later renamed the Life Care Center.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society, and the Knights of Columbus #1769. Gene always enjoyed people and was known to make life better for those around him at the care home.
Survivors are a brother, James Enneking, Seneca; four sisters, Norma Melvin and Virginia Huber, both of Seneca, Lavona Engelken, Topeka and Beverly McClary, Centralia; and nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, July 5, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & PaulCemeteryor for Life Care Center Activity Room and sent in care of the family.
