Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Elmer F. Hunninghake
Elmer F. Hunninghake, 90, of Seneca, Kansas died late Thursday evening October 4, 2012 at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca.
Elmer was born on August 9, 1922, to Joseph and Rose Dick Hunninghake. He grew up on a farm north of Baileyville. He graduated from high school in 1940 as valedictorian. He served his country from 1942 to 1946 in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a radio man in the Pacific Theatre.
He married
Mary Eagan on November 30, 1947 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Axtell, Kansas.
Elmer had a long career owning and managing gas stations in the area. He started in the service station business with his brother Henry in Axtell. After moving to Seneca in 1956, he owned and managed gas stations in Seneca -- in succession a Sinclair, an Amoco (formerly Standard), and a downtown Mobil station. These businesses afforded him the opportunity to befriend anyone and everyone. East-coast summer tourists traveling Highway 36 to the mountains would be amazed how Elmer would recall them by name from a prior summer's stop at the Standard station.
Elmer enjoyed bowling on leagues with Mary and was an avid sports fan. They rarely missed a sporting event that involved one of their four boys. In retirement, Elmer was typically watching a football or baseball game on TV, enjoying country music on the radio, or tending to his many plants, flowers, and birdhouses. He loved the Guy Lombardo music variety show.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca, and the St. Joseph Society at the church. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 and the American Legion Post #21.
Elmer is survived by Mary, his wife of nearly 63 years, and his children, Ron (and Mary Jo) of Wichita, Jerry (and Joanne) of Mesa, Arizona, Dick (and Ginger) of Atchison, and Mike (and Patricia) of Wichita, along with 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Without question, he lived a life of love, as the devoted husband, the respected father, and the ever popular “Grandpa” to all his grandchildren.
Surviving siblings include Lester of Seneca, Larry of Kansas City, and Gladys Kongs of Topeka. He was preceded in death by his brother Henry.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Monday, October 8, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed on at 2 & 7 PM Sunday, October 7, Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Cards and flowers will be treasured but donations to help fund the research and treatment of cancer and other chronic diseases may be made in Elmer's memory for the Riordan Clinic in Wichita (www.riordanclinic.org).
Lester W. Hunninghake
Lester W. Hunninghake, 91, of Seneca, Kansas, formerly of Baileyville, died Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
Lester Wilmer Hunninghake was born on June 7, 1921, to Joseph and Rose Dick Hunninghake. He grew up on a farm north of Baileyville. Lester attended school in Baileyville, graduating from 8th grade.
On June 3, 1946 he married
Wilma Evelyn Bergman at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. The couple made their home on a farm northwest of Baileyville, where they operated a dairy and raised various crops. Lester also worked at the Standard Gas Station in Axtell. The couple moved to Seneca in August of 2012.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville, where he had helped build the church.
He enjoyed playing cards, woodworking, traveling, dancing and polka music. It gave him immense pleasure attending the ball games of his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Wilma of the home; three sons, James (Carol) Hunninghake of Green Ridge, Missouri, Deloye (Carol) Hunninghake of Baileyville and Gale (Mary Jane) Hunninghake of Seneca; a daughter, Brenda (Mark) Meyer of Baileyville; a brother, Larry Hunninghake of Kansas City; a sister, Gladys Kongs of Topeka; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry Hunninghake on July 10, 1994 and Elmer Hunninghake on October 4, 2012; and a grandson, Bradley J. Hunninghake on August 13, 1994.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, May 24, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Thursday, May 23, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Anna C. Hutchins
Anna C. Hutchins, 82, Axtell, KS, formerly, Carthage, MO, died Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at Life Care Center, Seneca, KS. She had been a resident there since November of 2003.
She was born December 10, 1921, at Oxford Junction, IA, the daughter of George and Antonia Kubetz Nowachek. After graduating from high school there in 1939, she moved to Santa Monica, CA. She attended a Douglas Aircraft technical school, graduated in 1940, and became a “Rosie the Riveter” for Douglas Aircraft. Later she did more advanced work for the same plant.
On April 14, 1942, she married
Onas Benton Hutchins at Santa Monica. While her husband was in the U.S. Army serving in the Aleutian Islands, she moved to Carthage, MO, where his parents lived. Following his discharge, he joined her there. They lived in Carthage until 1987 when they moved to Eagle Rock, MO. They moved to Axtell in 1998 to be near their daughter and family. Her husband, Onas, died October 21, 2003.
She was a member of St. Michael’s Church in Axtell. She spent a lot of time with her grandchildren, educating them, and taking them on trips. Anna enjoyed politics, was politically involved, and also was a voracious reader. In Carthage, she was a member of the VFW Auxiliary #2590, a leader for Brownie and Cub Scouts, and very involved in the school system and the PTA.
Survivors are a son, Robert Hutchins of Slippery Rock, PA; two daughters, Martha Biggs of Axtell and Ruthanne Holbert of Manhattan Beach, CA; two sisters, Blanche Ales of Oxford Junction, IA and Joyce Wessmer of Eagle Rock, MO; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Thomas, and two brothers, Robert and Bernard Nowachek.
Memorial services will be held Sunday at 1 P.M. at the Knell Mortuary in Carthage, MO. Inurnment will be in the ParkCemeteryat Carthage.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Hutchins Scholarship Fund and sent in care of the family.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca was in charge of local arrangements.
John H. Hutfles
John Henry Hutfles, 75, of Centralia, Kansas, died Sunday, March 28, 2010 at his daughter's home in Overland Park, under the care of Catholic Charities Hospice.
John was born in Centralia on March 18, 1935 to Ernest and Augusta Boeckman Hutfles. He graduated from St. Bede’s High School in Kelly in 1953 and served in the U.S. Army for two years. He moved to Illinois and worked at Clark Oil Refinery and Mobil Oil Refinery for 36 years.
John married
Theresa Grotovsky on April 4, 1959 in Tinley Park, Illinois. The couple lived in Orland Park, Mokena, and Seneca, all in Illinois, and also in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, where John worked for two years in the start up of an oil refinery for Mobil Oil. They retired to Centralia, Kansas in 1994, and John continued to enjoy his love of farming and John Deere tractors.
He was a member of St. Bede's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #14639 in Kelly. He also belonged to the Exxon Mobil Retiree Club. He enjoyed traveling, especially to visit grandchildren in Virginia and Tennessee, and while living in Saudi Arabia he traveled with his family to many different countries.
Survivors include his wife Theresa of the home in Centralia; three sons, Retired Air Force Major Anthony Hutfles of San Antonio, Texas, Air Force Lt. Col Gary (Claire) Hutfles of Springfield, Virginia, Steven (Svetlana) Hutfles of Fredonia, Kansas; three daughters, Janet Hutfles of Overland Park, Kansas, Air Force Major Veronica Hutfles of Livermore, California and Joanne (Cory) Hernandez of Parsons, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Sean, Lawrence, Veronica Rose, and Eileen Hutfles, and Bryce and Ty Hernandez; two brothers, Jerry Hutfles of Knob Noster, Missouri and Joe Hutfles of Byron, Georgia; two sisters, Mary Elaine Wheeler of Climax Springs, Missouri, and Jane Newman of Montgomery, Texas; and many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Augusta Hutfles, and a sister-in-law Phyllis Hutfles.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Monday, April 5, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Tuesday, April 6, at St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given for St. Bede’sCemeteryin Kelly or Catholic Community Hospice of Overland Park, and sent in care of the family.
Mary Augusta Hutfles
Mary Augusta Hutfles, 93, of Seneca, Kansas, formerly of Kelly, died early Monday evening, March 6, 2006, at Life Care Center in Seneca.
Augusta, as she was known, was born November 16, 1912, on a farm east of Kelly, the daughter of Henry and Josephine Sextro Boeckman. She attended St. Bede’s School in Kelly.
On October 4, 1933, she married
Ernest J. Hutfles at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. They lived and farmed northeast of Centralia before moving to a farm west of Kelly. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Her husband preceded her in death on October 7, 1983. She later moved into Seneca.
She was a member St. Bede’s Church and the Altar Society at the church in Kelly. She and Ernest traveled together and especially enjoyed visiting Germany. She liked gardening, playing cards, quilting, and sewing.
Survivors are three sons, John of Centralia, Jerry of Knob Noster, Missouri, and Joe of Byron, Georgia; two daughters, Mary Elaine Wheeler of Climax Springs, Missouri and Jane Newman of Tomball, Texas; a brother, Lawrence Boeckman of Seneca; three sisters, Frances Wichman and Arlene Schmitz, both of Seneca, and Mary Ann Schmitz of Baileyville; 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence, Raymond, and Alvin Boeckman; and three sisters, Clara Segenhagen, Rosalia “Sally” Deters, and Dorothy M. Henry; a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Hutfles; and a granddaughter, Lori Ann Hutfles.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Friday at St. Bede’s Church in Kelly. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for St. Bede’s Cemetery, and sent in care of the family.
Lt. Col. Veronica J. "Vern" Hutfles
Air Force Lt. Col. Veronica J. "Vern" Hutfles, 37, of Bellevue, Nebraska, died Saturday, April 7, 2012 at her home, following a courageous seven-year battle with melanoma.
Veronica was born in Morris, Illinois on October 22, 1974, the daughter of John H. and Theresa Grotovsky Hutfles. She grew up in Seneca, Illinois and attended Seneca Grade School and High School, graduating in 1992.
After high school she entered the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, playing on the women’s varsity basketball team. In 1996 Veronica received her Bachelor's Degree of Science in Engineering Sciences from the Air Force Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
"Vern, " as she was known, was selected for pilot training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, earning her wings in December 1997. She received F-16 fighter plane training at Luke AFB in Arizona, attaining solo rating and initial qualification before transitioning to her permanent aircraft, the B-52, with training at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. She was then stationed at Minot AFB, North Dakota.
In 2006, she completed a Master's Degree in Business Administration specializing in Aviation Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. In that same year she became a Special Actions Officer for the Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
Veronica served as a combat B-52 bomber pilot on operational missions over Afghanistan with over 250 combat hours, before moving on to serve as Air Liaison Officer supporting the U.S. Army's National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. She served on the Air Combat Command Commander's Advisory Group before completing a fellowship at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California. Her final assignment was on Strategic Command's Headquarters Staff at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
Veronica was promoted to her final rank of Lieutenant Colonel on June 1, 2011, and served with honor on active duty, unhampered by her illness to the very end.
Veronica's exemplary service, personally and professionally, was chosen for depiction in Sascha Pflaeging's book, "When Janey Comes Marching Home: Portraits of Women Combat Veterans." The book quotes Veronica's story about a B-52 bombing run originating from the island of Diego Garcia in the Pacific, targeting a mountain pass in Afghanistan, with the mission of preventing hostile insurgents from crossing over the pass and doing battle with friendly forces.
Over her career she was decorated with the Meritorious Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (1 Oak Leaf Cluster) and Air Force Training Ribbon.
Throughout her time in the Air Force, Vern continued her love of sports, participating in numerous intramural leagues for softball, hockey, and her favorite, basketball, as well as coaching several youth and Special Olympics basketball teams. She was a loving aunt for seven nieces and nephews, and godmother for two goddaughters, Veronica Rose Hutfles and Izabel Cabral.
She was preceded in death by her father John; and her grandparents, Ernest and Augusta Boeckman Hutfles, and James and Anna Grotovsky.
Survivors include her mother Theresa of Centralia, Kansas; three brothers, Retired Air Force Major Anthony Hutfles of San Antonio, Texas, Air Force Lt. Colonel Gary (Claire) Hutfles of Springfield, Virginia and Steven (Svetlana) Hutfles of Fredonia, Kansas; two sisters, Janet Hutfles of Overland Park, Kansas and Joanne (Cory) Hernandez of Parsons, Tennessee; nieces and nephews, Sean, Lawrence, Veronica Rose, and Eileen Hutfles, and Bryce, Ty, and Max Hernandez; and a very special friend, Dave Cardillo of Billings, Montana.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday, April 13, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, Kansas. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Saturday, April 14, at St. Bede's Church in Kelly, Kansas. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given for the Wounded Warriors Foundation and/or the American Melanoma Foundation, which can be sent in care of the family.
