Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Hailey A. Lytle
Hailey Amber Lytle, daughter of James McKinney and Sandra Stalcup Lytle of Seneca, Kansas, was stillborn on October 19, 2001, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
Survivors besides her parents are a brother, Christopher Volle and a sister, Samatha Volle, both of the home in Seneca, and her grandparents Larry and Joyce Stalcup of Centralia, Kansas.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Nicholas Drew Volle January 4, 1996.
Graveside services will be conducted by Pastor Jenny Collins of the United Methodist Church at 9:30 A.M. Saturday, October 27, 2001, at the Seneca City Cemetery.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is in charge of arrangements.
Henry J. "Heinie" Macke
Henry J. “Heinie” Macke, 88, Seneca, KS, died Tuesday, November 25, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
He was born February 6, 1915, on the Macke homestead northeast of Baileyville, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Runnebaum Macke. He grew up there and attended Sacred Heart School in Baileyville. He was a farmer and a stockman.
On September 11, 1945, he married
Mary Nordhus at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. She survives of the home in Seneca. Following their marriage, they lived and farmed on the Macke homestead. Heinie was a dedicated farmer and was the recipient of the Nemaha County Bankers Award and the Goodyear Award in 1971. They retired and moved to Seneca in 1994. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1995.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society, and a former member of Sacred Heart Church, where he served on the church council. He loved playing cards and bingo. After macular degeneration took his sight, he still enjoyed visiting at Harsh’s and trips to the casinos.
Survivors besides his wife Mary are a son, James, Baileyville; five daughters, Donna Macke, Leavenworth, Jane Macke, Overland Park, Joyce Macke, Aurora, CO, Mary Beth Feldkamp, Centralia, Vicki Hulsing, Seneca; two brothers, Lawrence (Bud) of Eugene, OR and Ray of Yakima, WA; a sister, Aurelia Heiman of Baileyville; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Albert, Bernard, Ed, and Frank Macke.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, November 28, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in Sacred HeartCemeteryat Baileyville. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home, Seneca, at 7 P.M. Wednesday and Thursday.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School or for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital and sent in care of the family.
Richard J. Massieon
Richard J. Massieon, 65, of Seneca, KS, died late Sunday evening, March 25, 2012 at his home, with his wife at his side.
Richard was born southwest of Wamego, KS on November 18, 1946, the son of Robert L. and Patricia L. White Massieon. He was raised on a farm in the Laclede community northeast of Wamego. Rich was active in 4-H for eight years. He graduated from Wamego High School in 1964, where his honors and activities were salutatorian, National Honor Society, Class President, President of the Student Council, and First Team All State Football (all school sizes).
Rich then attended Kansas State University, where he played NCAA Division I football for the K-State Wildcats and was a varsity football letterman as an offensive lineman. His coach at K-State was the legendary Vince Gibson. His other activities and honors at K-State were Honorable Mention All Big 8 Academic Team, Vice President of the senior class, R.O.T.C. Arnold Air Society, commissioned Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, and runner-up KSU Favorite Man on Campus. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity serving as an officer, and was also his fraternity's charter representative to the National Leadership Conference. He graduated from K-State in 1968 with a B.A. degree in Pre-Law.
Rich then went on to law school at the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate Degree in 1971. While at KU he was a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity and received a Third Year Law School Scholar Award.
Rich’s personal career was launched as a research law clerk for Kansas Supreme Court Justice Roger Kaul (1971 - 1972). Rich moved to Seneca in 1972 and opened Massieon Law Office and was elected for two terms as the Nemaha County Attorney. He served 29 years as Seneca City Attorney and four years as Onaga City Attorney. He was a member of the Kansas Bar Association and at various times served as President of the Nemaha County Bar Association, Treasurer of the Northeast Kansas Bar Association and was on the 22nd Judicial Bar Bench Committee.
Rich was very civic minded and he loved Seneca. He was active as a former member and past president of the Seneca Jaycees, member and past president of the Seneca Chamber of Commerce, member and past president of the Seneca Rotary Club, Area Chairman of Seneca Ducks Unlimited (26 years), District Director of Ducks Unlimited (four years) and District Director of the Kansas Muzzle Loading Association (four years).
Rich also coached boys baseball, Little League through Legion levels, for 15 years, and Junior High football for six years.
He was the Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 71 (five years), with honors and activities including Order of the Arrow, Graduate of Timber Tag and the Wood Badge in 1987, District Eagle Advancement Chairman (six years) and the Silver Beaver Award in 1996.
He served on various civic and professional committees, including the Seneca Economic Development Committee, the Seneca Doctor Procurement Committee and the Kansas University Medical School Admissions Panel (six years).
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council #1769, and American Legion Post #21, all in Seneca, the Kansas State University Golden Cat Club and the Nemaha County Historical Society (life member).
His hobbies were hunting, fishing, camping, the Blackpowder Rendezvous Historical Fur Trade Re-enactment, as well as many improvement projects for wildlife habitat on his farm near Goff. Rich enjoyed retreating to his farm where he could enjoy the wide open space for hours.
He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Patricia Massieon.
He was married
to Carol A. Noble; the couple had three children together. They later divorced.
Rich married
Mary Lee Pryde on December 21, 2007, in Seneca.
He is survived by his wife Mary of the home in Seneca; two sons, Andy (Jennifer) Massieon of Lenexa and Mark (Lynn) Massieon of Kansas City, MO; a daughter, Mary (Brian) Blachly of Olathe; a brother, Robert Massieon of Wamego; a sister, Jacqueline Winter of Scottsdale, AZ; and five grandchildren, Andrew (Drew) Massieon, Sophia Massieon, Cameron Massieon, Niah Blachly and Athan Blachly.
He is also survived by two step-children, Nicholas (Debbie) A. Roybal of St. Joseph, MO and Angelina R. M. (Rudy) Romero of Santa Fe, NM; and three step-grandchildren, Dawnica Roybal, DeAnna Roybal and Ivan Ray Romero.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Thursday, March 29, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM Friday, March 30, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The family will have a private burial at a later date.
A memorial fund in Rich's memory is to be determined later; contributions should be sent in care of the family.
Elsie B. Mathewson
Elsie B. Mathewson, 93, of Seneca, KS, died Wednesday, January 1, 2003, at the Midland Hospice Center in Topeka, KS. She had led an active life until having a heart attack in November 2002.
She was born January 11, 1909, on a farm east of Seneca, the 13th of 14 children of Louis and Anna Luckeroth Becker. Elsie's mother died when Elsie was 3 years old. She graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Seneca in 1926. She taught school for two years and worked for a year at George Springer's variety store in Seneca.
On May 7, 1930, she married
Paul R. Mathewson at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca.They farmed from 1930 to 1939 before moving to Seneca to operate a restaurant and nightclub known as "Paul's Place, " located on the highway at 11th Street, until 1959. Elsie worked at Lierz' Men's Wear for 12 years and then in 1966 she and Paul took over operation of their liquor store on the highway. Her husband Paul preceded her in death on August 28, 1978. After working with the public for 33 years, Elsie retired and sold her home and business in 1983. She continued living in the house next to the liquor store until 1993, when she moved into a new home.
She was a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, St. Ann's Altar Society of the church, and the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion Auxillary in Seneca. She was also a member of the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Guild, for which she raised funds for many years by organizing and playing in the NV Hospital Bridge and Pitch Club. She also played in several other bridge and card clubs.
Survivors are three sons, William of Manhattan, KS, Wayne of Howe, TX, and Richard of of Cleveland, MO; a daughter, Kay Fangman of Topeka; 15 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband Paul, she was preceded in death by a son, Terrance, on July 8, 1992; seven brothers, Leo, Roy, Clarence, Alvin, Lawrence ("Pat"), Art and Harvey Becker; six sisters, Alma Becker, Rose Gress, Leona Haefele, Clara Rogers, Stella Koelzer, and Edith Roche.
The mass of Christian burial will be 1 PM Friday at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Thursday at 2 and 7 PM.
Memorials may be given for the Nemaha Community Hospital Equipment Fund or Midland Hospice House and sent in care of the family.
Frank A. Mathewson
Frank A. Mathewson, 98, Seneca, KS, died Sunday, October 12, 2003, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca. He had been a resident there since June of 2001.
He was born January 13, 1905, on the Mathewson homestead south of Seneca, the son of William A. and Mary Lackey Mathewson. Frank graduated from the Blue Star School, District No. 58 and also attended Sts. Peter & Paul School. In 1976 he earned a G.E.D.
On February 9, 1927, he married
Nola McDonnell at St. Michael’s Church, Axtell. They farmed the Mathewson homestead, raised livestock and for many years raised about 10, 000 turkeys per year. He also did custom thrashing and corn shelling. From 1933 to 1945 he worked at the ASCS Office in Seneca, where he was the office manager. In 1973 they moved to Seneca but he continued to farm until 1987. His wife, Nola, died March 22, 1975.
He was married
to Marcella Rettele Rethman on September 4, 1976. They enjoyed retirement together. She died April 1, 1999.
Frank was a lifetime member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church where he had served on the church committee and where he belonged to the St. Joseph Society. He joined the Knights of Columbus #1769 when he was 18 years old, and was also a member of the Ponce de Leon Chapter of the 4th Degree Knights. He helped organize the Rural Electric Association, the Rural Water District, and the Agricultural Servcie Center. After his brother-in-law Kenny McDonnell died in 1988, Frank took over keeping track of the weather in Seneca for the Courier Tribune. He always had a large garden and enjoyed sharing his produce with family and friends.
Survivors are two sons, Gerald Mathewson of Seneca and Max Mathewson of Grandview, MO; three daughters, Marilyn Huckabay of Meriden, Donna Stewart of Greenfield, IN, and Ruth Gapske of Overland Park; three stepsons, John Rethman, Jr. of Seneca, Walter, “Pete" Rethman of Holton, Wayne Rethman of El Dorado; five step-daughters, Doris Fairfield and Elizabeth “Betty” Himmelberg, both of Kansas City, MO, Judy Heim of Marian, KS, Carol Karnowski of La Vista, NE, and Mary Sander of Morrill, KS; nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; 24 step-grandchildren and 35 step-great-grandchildren.
Besides his wife, Nola, and his wife, Marcella, he was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Mathewson on December 6, 1994; a grandson, Dennis Mathewson on April 19, 1990; three brothers, Albert, Paul, and George Mathewson; a sister, Helen Oenbring; a step-son Thomas Rethman; and two step-daughters, Juanita Rethman and Marceil Fouraker.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at Sts Peter & Paul Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. He will lie in state at the Lauer Funeral Home after 8:30 A.M. on Tuesday where a rosary will be prayed by the Knights of Columbus at 2 P.M. and a prayer service will be conducted at 7 P.M. Tuesday.
Memorials may be given for the Knights of Columbus or for Sts. Peter & Paul School and sent in care of the family.
Michael S. Mazza
Michael Stino Mazza, 80, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, February 22 at Life Care Nursing Home in Seneca.
Michael was born in Kansas City, MO on August 12, 1926 the son of Frank and Mary Theresa Picone Mazza. Before enlisting in the Navy at the age of 16, he attended Karnes Elementary and Manual High School in Kansas City. Michael served on the U.S.S. Duluth and the U.S.S Pasadena and was honorably discharged with the rank of Fireman First Class on January 21, 1948.
After service to his country, Michael worked as a bartender at his uncle’s business, the Quality Hill Bar in Kansas City. In 1959, Michael went to work for KSG, Kansas Service Grocers, which was later bought out by Associated Grocers, where he continued working as a delivery driver until he suffered a stroke in 1987, which led him to retire. He was a member of Teamsters Local Union 955 of Kansas City, MO.
On May 14, 1955, Michael married
Esther Mardell Willkie in Kansas City. The couple raised three children. In February 2006, Michael and his wife moved to Seneca to be close to their granddaughter Kelly Schmelzle.
Michael enjoyed playing cards, bowling, horseshoes, hunting and fishing. He also took pleasure in watching western movies.
Survivors besides his wife Esther of the home are two daughters, Cathy Sue Harper of Lewisville, TX, and Sherry Ann Scott of Kansas City, MO; a son, Frank Joseph Mazza of Kansas City; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The rosary will be prayed at 7 PM on Sunday February 25 at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 AM Monday at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with full military honors by the VFW Memorial Post #7458, and the American Legion Earle W. Taylor Post #21, both of Seneca.
Memorial fund will be designated later; memorials may be sent in care of the family.
