Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Bernard Osterhaus
Bernard John Osterhaus, 89, of Seneca died on Friday, March 4, 1983, at Crestview Manor Nursing Home in Seneca, where he had been a resident since 1979.
He was born on a farm northeast of Seneca, on October 29, 1893 to Henry and Bernadine Rottinghaus Osterhaus. He attended the Rock School. After school, he helped on the family farm until he entered the United States Army on September 19, 1917. He served during World War I in the Pot Tel 2nd Co. 1st Brigade of the 1st Depot Brigade. He was discharged, he returned to Seneca to farm with his father. On February 11, 1920, he married
Pauline Runnebaum at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, Kansas. He farmed north of Seneca all of his life and retired and moved to Seneca in 1968.
The couple celebrated their 50th and their 55th Wedding Anniversaries publically. His wife Pauline passed away September 6, 1975.
His memberships include Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, St. Joseph Society, and the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion. Barnard kept busy; he did carpentry work for the neighbors and others in the community. He enjoyed wood working, gardening and fishing.
He is survived by his children, Lucille (Donald) Winkler of Seneca, Bernice (Anthony) Rettele, of Centralia, Edith (Bill) Kongs of Wetmore, Gilbert (Barbara) Osterhaus and Edna M. (Joe) of Seneca; a brother, Henry Osterhaus of St. Benedict; two sisters, Hilda Mathewson of Seneca and Anna Ronnebaum of Kansas City; 26 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Leonard on April 16, 1958; a grandson, Stephen Osterhaus on May 20, 1974; a brother, Alvin; and five sisters, Mary Deters, Elizabeth Wessel, Rose Wessel, Dora Wilberding and Alvina Halfen.
Rosaries were prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial was Monday morning at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The Burial was in the Sts. Peter and Paul CatholicCemeteryin Seneca. The military honors were provided by the Earle W. Taylor Post 21 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Elizabeth M. Osterhaus
Elizabeth M. Osterhaus Elizabeth M. Osterhaus, 93, of Seneca, Kansas, died Friday, May 19, 2000, at Crestview Manor Care Home in Seneca. She had been a resident there since October of 1999.
She was born August 4, 1906, on a farm east Baileyvillle, Kansas, the daughter of August and Mary Macke Huninghake. She grew up there, attended school, and worked for neighbors and friends in the area.
On January 27, 1932, she married
John Francis Osterhaus at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. They lived and farmed in the Sabetha and Oneida area. Her husband, John, died August 6, 1959. After the death of her husband, she and her sons moved to Oneida, Kansas, for a short time and then to Seneca. She did domestic work in Seneca for many years.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and St. Ann's Altar Society at the church where she was very active until her health failed. She loved gardening, her flowers, and being with her family and friends by whom she will be sadly missed.
Survivors are two sons, Leon Osterhaus and Elmer Osterhaus both of Seneca; a daughter, Leona Nichols of Highland Village, Texas, a sister, Ann Osterhaus of Seneca; eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by seven brothers; Herman, Frank, George, Joseph, Henry, Paul, and August Huninghake. Three of her brothers served in World War II, and Henry died in the Normandy invasion. She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tracy Osterhaus, on September 5, 1970.
The mass of Christian burial was offerered Monday, May 22, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Church and sent in care of the family.
Erma D. Osterhaus
Erma Dorothy Osterhaus, 90, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday afternoon, December 29, 2011, with her sons at her side, at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca, where she had been a resident since 2007.
She was born on September 21, 1921 to Luke and Clara Engelken Haug on a farm northeast of Baileyville. She attended a country school near Baileyville before the family moved to a farm southwest of St. Benedict. She then attended St. Benedict School and helped on the family farm.
On October 30, 1946 she married
Paul B. Osterhaus at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. They lived and farmed east of Seneca until 1972, when they moved to Seneca. Erma worked alongside her husband at Suther’s Building Supply until 1982. The couple celebrated 36 years of marriage before Paul’s sudden death on November 24, 1982.
Erma worked at Crestview Manor care home for 18 years, retiring at the age of 81.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Sodality in Seneca. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, quilting and embroidering. She relished a good card game, especially 10 point pitch and pinochle. She loved country music. Family was very important to her and she cherished the time she spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her three sons, Larry and wife Karen Osterhaus, Ron and wife Elaine Osterhaus, and Wayne and wife Nancy Osterhaus, all of Seneca; two brothers, Lambert Haug of Seneca and Regis Haug of Denver, CO; two sisters, Delores Boeckman of Seneca and Marceil Rottinghaus of Centralia; six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Besides her husband Paul, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Urban Haug.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 2, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given in Erma’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul Building Fund, and sent in care of the family.
Gilbert B. Osterhaus
Gilbert B. Osterhaus, 82, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca, after recently being hospitalized and diagnosed with acute leukemia.
Gilbert Bernard Osterhaus was born east of St. Benedict, Kansas on September 4, 1929, the son of Bernard J. and Pauline Runnebaum Osterhaus. Gilbert attended Rock School and graduated on May 25, 1947 from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in St. Benedict.
On May 12, 1953, Gilbert enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving his country during the Korean War, at Fort Carson in Colorado. He was assigned to H/S Company 12th Engineer Battalion. Most of his duties were in the motor pool, where he was appointed as a personal driver for the Company Commander. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
On June 27, 1955 he married
Barbara “Bobbie” Haug at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The couple made their home in Seneca where they raised eight children and celebrated 56 years of marriage.
With his brother-in-law H. Joseph "Joe" Love, he owned and operated Love and Osterhaus Builders, constructing several homes in Seneca and surrounding area, including the 1973 chapel addition to Lauer Funeral Home. He retired in 1987, but even in retirement he enjoyed “tinkering” and would do odd jobs, typically wherever he could help out widowed ladies in the community.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, serving as a past Post Commander. He served on the Seneca City Council from 1983 to 1987. Gilbert was elected onto the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department in February of 1962. He served his community for 20 years with dedication, holding various fire department offices including Lieutenant of Truck #2, 1970 to 1971; Dance Committee 1963, 1964 1968, 1973; and Fire Police, 1979 to 1982.
He was a prince of a man who always had a contagious smile and an optimistic view of life. He enjoyed reading westerns, genealogy, and woodworking.
He is survived by his wife Bobbie; six sons, Tom Osterhaus of Seneca, Ben Osterhaus of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Dave Osterhaus of Houston, Texas, Dean Osterhaus of Wetmore, Brian Osterhaus and Cory Osterhaus, both of Seneca; two daughters, Gail Lintner of Cameron, Missouri and Marlene Ferguson of Hutchison, Kansas; three sisters, Lucille Winkler and Edna "Eddy" Love, both of Seneca, and Edith Kongs of Manhattan; and 14 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Bernice Rettele on May 26, 2007; and a brother, Leonard Osterhaus.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM on Friday, February 24, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM Saturday at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. The funeral procession to the churchcemeterywill be escorted by the Seneca Fire Department and American Legion. Full military honors will be provided at thecemeteryby the Seneca VFW and American Legion.
Memorials may be given in Gilbert’s memory for the Seneca Free Library or American Legion Baseball.
Joseph F. Osterhaus, Jr.
Joseph F. Osterhaus, Jr., 80, of Seneca, KS, died Saturday morning, March 8, 2008 at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca.
Joe was born on a farm south of Baileyville on August 17, 1927, the son of Joseph and Josephine Enneking Osterhaus Sr.
Joe attended Beattie Catholic School and graduated from the 8th grade. After school, he helped on the family farm and worked for other area farmers. On December 7, 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. After serving 1 year and 3 months in Germany with the 294th Transportation Company, he was honorable discharged November 14, 1953. As a civilian again, he went to work for a construction company in Topeka. After a year in Topeka, he returned to Seneca to work for John Deere until 1976. Joe was later employed by Love and Osterhaus Construction, Chicago Rawhide Industries for ten years, and for Koch & Company for ten years.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Joseph’s Society, the American Legion Earl W. Taylor Post # 21, the Veterans of Foreign War Post # 7458 serving as Commander, and the Knights of Columbus Council 1769, all in Seneca, and was a former member of the Seneca Lions.
Joe was the type of individual who always liked to stay busy. He enjoyed many activities after his retirement, including bingo, woodworking, small engine repair, fishing, hulling walnuts, and attending ballgames.
On February 11, 1956, he married
Margaret Ann Graf in Corning, KS; they later divorced.
He will be missed by his son, Bill Osterhaus; brothers Clarence, Vincent, Kenny, Raymond all of Topeka, and Melvin of Wetmore; sisters Rose McMurphy of Topeka and Gladys Ennis of Rockford, IL; and two grandchildren, Justin Riffey and Andy Barnhill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son James, his daughter JoAnn, and a sister Mary Whittmer.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 am on Wednesday, March 12, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A rosary will be prayed at 2 & 7 pm Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials can be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School Building Fund or Nemaha County Veterans’ Wall, and may be sent in care of the family.
Pauline Osterhaus
Pauline Osterhaus, 79, of Seneca, Kansas, died on Saturday, September 6, 1975 at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital. She had been admitted the day before with a heart condition.
She was born on October 5, 1895 in Oldenburg, Germany, to Bernard and Agnes Rottinghaus Runnebaum. The family immigrated to the United Stated when Pauline was seven years old. They settled in the St. Benedict, Kansas area, where Pauline grew up and attended a country school.
On February 11, 1920 she married
Bernard J. Osterhaus at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict.
After marriage they lived south of the church in St. Benedict for a few years and later farmed 5-1/2 miles north of Seneca. They retired and moved into Seneca in the spring of 1968. The couple celebrated their 50th and 55th wedding anniversaries.
Pauline was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church.
She loved to cook, garden, can fruit, play cards, sew, embroider and crochet.
Survivors are her husband Bernard of the home in Seneca; a son, Gilbert Osterhaus of Seneca; four daughters, Lucille (Donald) Winkler and Edna Mae "Eddy" (Joe) Love, both of Seneca, Bernice (Anthony) Rettele of Centralia, and Edith (William) Kongs of Wetmore; two sisters, Mary Johanna (Henry) Olberding of Baileyville and Caroline Lena (Tim) Heiman of St. Benedict; and 26 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son Leonard on April 16, 1958; a grandson Steven Osterhaus on May 20, 1974; six sisters, Alvina Lorson, Emma Haug, Mary Elizabeth Macke, Mary Anna Roggenkamp, Augusta Runnebaum, and Mary Agnes Runnebaum; and three brothers, Frank, Herman and Bernard Runnebaum.
Rosaries were prayed on Sunday and Monday evenings, September 7 & 8, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Tuesday, September 9, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca by Fr. Charles Aziere, OSB. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Pallbearers were Alan Osterhaus, Robert Rettele, Fred DeNoon, Thomas Osterhaus, William Love and Terry Osterhaus.
