Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ben C. Holthaus
Ben C. Holthaus, 89, of Seneca, Kansas, died Saturday, December 8, 2001, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca. He had been a resident there since November of 2000.
He was born November 6, 1912, on the Holthaus homestead west of Seneca, the son of Frank H. and Josephine Rethman Holthaus. He grew up there and attended St. Mary's School at St. Benedict. He worked on the family farm.
As a young man, Ben started a trucking business, Holthaus Trucking Co., hauling livestock to the St. Joseph, Missouri, stockyards. He was married
to Sally Enneking on May 17, 1937 at St. Bede's Church at Kelly, Kansas. They lived in the St. Benedict Community north of Seneca. She died November 5, 1944.
On February 25, 1946, he married
Kathleen Fangman at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. They lived in Seneca until 1949 when they moved to a farm west of Seneca. They farmed and raised livestock besides operating the trucking business which had expanded with more drivers, for hauling to Omaha, Emporia, and other places in Kansas. His wife, "Kate, " died August 21, 1990. In February of 1991, he moved into Seneca where he continued to live until his health made nursing home care necessary.
He was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hilary Anne File on November 23, 1996; brothers Carl, Joseph, Cornelius, Lawrence, Adolph, and Gregg; sisters, Josephine Holthaus, Mary Dick, Agnes Rottinghaus, and Clementine Bennett.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society, and the Knights of Columbus #1769, all in Seneca. Ben liked people and especially children. It was a well-known fact that when he drove by he tossed bubblegum out his truck window to be enjoyed by youngsters and some not so young.
Survivors are six daughters, Jeanette Callaghan, Mary Haug, and Lana O'Connor, all of Seneca, Jacklyn Engelken and Jolene File both of Topeka, and Debra Erwin of Charlotte, North Carolina; a brother, Cyril Holthaus of Seneca; thirteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
A prayer service will be conducted at the Lauer Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon by Fr. Roderic Giller, O.S.B., at 2 P.M. and the rosary will be prayed by the Knights of Columbus at 7 P.M. on Sunday. The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. on Monday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church. The burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given for students attending the World Youth Day in Toronto and sent in care of the family.
Dennis E. Holthaus
Dennis E. Holthaus, 61, of Rt. 1, Seneca, Kansas, was found dead Sunday, June 18, 2000, near his home.
He was born January 21, 1939, at the Sabetha Hospital in Sabetha, Kansas, the son of Edwin H. and Agnes Olberding Holthaus. He grew up on the family farm southwest of St. Benedict, Kansas. He graduated from St. Mary's Grade School at St. Benedict in 1953 and St. Benedict High School in 1957. Dennis Joined the US. Army National Guard after he graduated from high school. He was a farmer and a stockman.
On October 12, 1963, he married
Marilyn Meyer at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville, Kansas. She survives of the home. They lived on their farm west of St. Benedict.
He was a member of St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict. He served on the board of Rural Water District #3 for several years.
Survivors besides his wife Marilyn of the home are two sons, Kevin Holthaus of Seneca, and Jeffrey Holthaus of Berryton, Kansas; a daughter, Rebecca Shanks of Topeka; his mother, Agnes Holthaus of Seneca; two brothers, Jerome Holthaus and Leon Holthaus both of Seneca; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin H, Holthaus on June 3, 1958.
Rosaries will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home at Seneca on Tuesday at 2 and 7 P.M. Mass of Christian burial will be offered 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Church cemetery.
Memorials may be given for St. Mary's Church or for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital at Seneca and sent in care of the family.
Emily J. Holthaus
Emily J. Holthaus, 91, Seneca, KS, died Friday, September 26, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
She was born March 13, 1912, on a farm northeast of St. Benedict, KS, the daughter of Clemens C. and Catherine McIntyre Sudbeck. She attended St. Mary’s School at St. Benedict, graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca, and studied one year at Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison.
On August 27, 1940, she married
Cyril F. Holthaus at St. Mary’s Church, St. Benedict. He survives of the home. They lived north of Seneca and northeast of Baileyville, KS before moving to their present farm southeast of Baileyville.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the Altar Society, where she had been an officer at Baileyville. Emily had also served as president of ACCW (Catholic Conference of Women). She was also a member of the Happy Hour Club, enjoyed doing ceramics at Dollie Olberding’s for several years and loved to play the organ.
Survivors besides her husband are five sons, Cyril C. and Leander of Seneca, and Eugene, Linus, and Elmer of Centralia; two daughters Kathleen McCaffrey, Shelton, CT and Marietta Dalinghaus, Baileyville; 19 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clemens and Ignatius Sudbeck and two sisters, Margaret Dalinghaus and Elizabeth Haverkamp.
The mass of Christian burial will be 11 A.M. Monday at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M Sunday at the Lauer Funeral Home where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Sunday.
Memorials may be given for Sacred HeartCemeteryor the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and sent in care of the family.
Eugene M. Holthaus
Eugene M. Holthaus, 71, of Seneca, Kansas, died Saturday, October 27, 2012 at his home west of Seneca after a long battle with cancer.
Gene was born on September 20, 1941 in Sabetha, Kansas, the son of Carl B. and Rosemary Olberding Holthaus. He graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1959.
He married
Karen E. Slater on January 2, 1971 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. In 1974 they purchased a farm three miles west of Seneca, where Gene pursued his lifelong passions of farming and raising cattle until his death.
Gene was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, where served as a member of the parish council. He was a Board Member of the Nemaha-Marshall Electric Association from 1986 to 2010, serving as President from 1999-2001. He was also a Board Member of Rural Water District #2 for several years. He was an active member of the farm movement in the 1970s, traveling to Washington D.C. in 1978 to bring awareness to the plight of the family farmer.
Gene was preceded in death by his father, Carl B. on August 28, 1978 and his mother, Rosemary on May 20, 2006.
He is survived by his wife Karen of 41 years; his three children, Tony Holthaus of Maize, Kansas, Andrew and wife Antoinette Holthaus of Lenexa, and Gena Holthaus of Topeka; one granddaughter, Olivia Holthaus; his three sisters, Marian Rottinghaus of Seneca, Maxine Rice of Horton and Stella Pella of Tecumseh, Nebraska; and his two brothers, Mark Holthaus and Chris Holthaus, both of Seneca.
A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Tuesday with a prayer service at 7 PM Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 AM on Wednesday, October 31, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given in Gene’s memory for Relay For Life, or C.O.I.N.S. for Cancer, or the Nemaha County Training Center.
Nicholas G. Holthaus
Nicholas Gerard Holthaus, 55, of Baileyville, KS, died on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca after fighting a courageous battle with cancer.
Nick was born on January 27, 1956 in Seneca, the son of George and Rita Reinecke Holthaus. He graduated from B&B High School in Baileyville in 1974. After school he continued to help his father on the farm until marriage.
On December 10, 1977 he married
Jeanne Marie Sudbeck at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. They first lived southeast of Baileyville on his grandmother’s farm. In 1983, they moved to the home place 1-1/2 miles west of Baileyville. They were blessed with six children and celebrated 34 years of marriage. Nick farmed and raised cattle and hogs until his illness prevented him from doing so.
He loved to farm but one of his greatest joys was the time he spent with his wife, children and family. He was a devoted husband and father, who had a strong faith.
Nick was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus in Baileyville and the Rural Life Committee. He served on the Rural Water Board and the District 451 School Board and was past vice president. For his church he served on the parish council and was past president; he was also a lector and belonged to the folk choir. For his community he coached youth basketball and baseball.
Nick will be dearly missed by his wife Jeanne of the home; his children, Patrick Holthaus of Seneca, Martin Holthaus of Seneca, Pamela (Nicholas) Muroki of Denver, CO, Russell (Rachel) Holthaus of Gardner, KS, William Holthaus of Baileyville and Angela Holthaus of the home; his father, George Holthaus of Seneca; his brothers and sisters, Harlan Holthaus of Baileyville, Galen Holthaus of Marysville, Rosalee Stimac of Seneca, Elaine O’Connor of Kansas City, MO, Betty Sudbeck of Seneca, Nancy Sudbeck of Seneca and Joanie Holthaus of Seneca.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Rita M. Holthaus on February 19, 2009; a brother Dennis in 1944; and a sister Mary Ann in 1948. Rosaries will be prayed at 3 & 7 PM Sunday, December 25, at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Monday, December 26, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Randy K. Holthaus
Randy K. Holthaus, 60, of Seneca, Kansas, died Sunday, February 10, 2013 due to injuries from a car accident a mile-and-a-half west of the Axtell junction.
He was born September 10, 1952 to Henry "Hienie" and Vera Johnson Holthaus in Axtell. He graduated in 1970 from Nemaha Valley High School. He then entered the Air National Guard out of Topeka.
Randy married
Donna S. Haverkamp on October 13, 1973 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The couple owned and operated W&W Shoe Store on Seneca's Main Street. In 1985 they moved their family to Scott City, Kansas where Randy worked at Grain Sorghum Hogs and later at Henderson Motors. In 1994, they returned to Seneca where Randy was part owner of Nemaha Valley Motors until 2006.
He was a member of the American Legion Earl W. Taylor Post #21, the Air National Guard, and the roundtable coffee drinkers at the Home Plate restaurant.
Randy was known for his green thumb and enjoyed spending his time in the garden and flower beds. He also enjoyed lending a hand to his good friends on the farm. His grandchildren were very important to him and he enjoyed going to their events and spending time with them. He was also an avid KU sports fan.
He is survived by Donna, his wife of 39 years; a son, Aaron Holthaus of Lawrence; two daughters, Nicole Clark of Topeka and Carrie (Cory) Holthaus of Seneca; six grandchildren, Addyson Holthaus, Lacey and Kyle Clark, Chase, Cayden, and Callie Holthaus; three brothers, Mike (Judy) Holthaus of Topeka, Kurt (Deb) Holthaus of Seneca, and Tim (Roxann) Holthaus of Seneca; and one sister, Cheryl (Terry) Osterhaus of Lakewood, Colorado.
Randy was preceded in death by his father, Henry "Hienie" on January 25, 1997; his mother Vera on March 21, 2003; and two infant brothers, Henry on December 27, 1945 and Joseph on September 16, 1946.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM Friday, February 15, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. A memorial service will be held at 1 PM Saturday, February 16, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Sts. Peter & PaulCemeteryin Seneca.
Memorial contributions can be made for the Seneca Public Library, or the Seneca Chamber of Commerce for a commemorative bench on Main Street, and sent in care of the family.
Reva L. Holthaus
Reva L. Holthaus, 76, of Baileyville, KS, died Sunday, January 5, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. She had been a resident at Aldersgate Village in Topeka since August 2001 due to declining health.
She was born October 12, 1926, at St. Benedict, KS, the daughter of Andrew G. and Margaret C. Andres Engelken. She graduated from St. Mary's Grade School and from St. Benedict High School as the valedictorian in 1944.
On May 25, 1948, she married
Leo Holthaus at St. Mary's Church at St. Benedict. After they were married, they lived a year with Leo's parents on a farm southeast of Baileyville until they rented a farm east of Seneca. In 1950 they moved to a farm northwest of Baileyville and in 1955 to Baileyville. Besides farming, they raised St. Bernard dogs for sale. They were divorced in 1970. In 1970 Reva became a census taker in Nemaha County and also a foreman on a corn detasseling crew. She worked as a cook at the Seneca Hospital and then was employed at the Baileyville State Bank as a teller for 25 years until her retirement in January 1999. She also liked selling Fashion Two-Twenty makeup. In July of 1999, she was hospitalized in Topeka and then went to live with her grandson Jason Holthaus and his wife Carol until August 2001.
Her memberships include Sacred Heart Church and the Altar Society at the church at Baileyville. She did accounting work for the church for many years. She was also a member of the Benedictine Oblates and a rosary leader for them.
Survivors are six sons, Allan Holthaus, Ron Holthaus, Fred Holthaus, all of Topeka, Steve Holthaus of Morrill, KS, Les Holthaus of Osage City, KS, and Howard Holthaus of Olathe, KS; three daughters, Debbie Rilinger of Morrill, KS, LeeAnn Kidney of Holton, KS, Janet Monk of Gardner, KS; a brother, Clarence Engelken of St. Benedict, KS; 27 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Roy and Lester Engelken; and a grandson, John Paul Holthaus on August 26, 1986.
Mass of Christian burial will be 11 A.M. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. Burial will be at St. Mary's ChurchCemeteryin St. Benedict. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Tuesday at 2 and 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for Sacred Heart Church or for the Alzheimer's Association and sent in care of the family.
