Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
John A. Schmitz
John Albert Schmitz, 60, of Centralia, Kansas, died Sunday morning, July 29, 2012 at his home. He had been battling cancer.
John was born in Axtell, Kansas on September 26, 1951 to Virgil and Irene Mathewson Schmitz. When he was almost five his mother died, and a year later his father married
Verita Koch Schmitz. John attended St. Mary's Grade School in St. Benedict and graduated from B&B High School in Baileyville in 1969.
After high school, he moved to Kansas City to attend Atlantic School for aviation training, graduating in June of 1970. John was employed with Delta Airlines in Chicago, Illinois, when he was drafted by the U.S. Army on March 9, 1971. He was honorably discharged on April 8, 1972 after serving seven months in Vietnam.
After serving his country, he worked for First National Bank in Lincoln, Nebraska. He then returned home and purchased the family farm.
On July 13, 1974 he married
Nancy Glynn at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. The couple had two children, Eric and Holly, before they divorced.
John sold Mormon Feed while living on the family farm. He later sold the family farm and worked for Industrial Mills of Seneca.
On June 20, 1992 he married
Lisa Gore in Westminster, Colorado. The couple had two children, Emily and Jared, and celebrated 20 years of marriage.
More recently, John drove a bus for Unified School District 380 in Vermillion and was employed by Black Vermillion Watershed until his illness precluded him from working. He enjoyed fishing, going to auctions, playing cards and attending his children’s activities.
He is survived by his wife Lisa of the home; two sons, Eric (Candice) Schmitz of Centralia and Jared Schmitz of the home; two daughters, Holly (Brian) Wempe of Du Bois, Nebraska and Emily Schmitz of the home; grandchildren, Jayce and Breanna Schmitz; his step-mother, Verita Schmitz of Seneca; two brothers, Linus Schmitz of Ponca City, Oklahoma and Elmer Schmitz of Highland, Kansas; and seven sisters, Marian Hasenkamp of Axtell, Kansas, Jane Strohmeyer of Manhattan, Kansas, Doris Holthaus of Olathe, Kansas, Eileen Scott of Los Altos Hills, California, Caroline McClure of Humboldt, Nebraska, Sandra Samskey of Olathe, Kansas and Nancy Vogel of Clearwater, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his mother Irene, on March 13, 1956 and his father Virgil, on January 2, 1998.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday, July 31, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The funeral service will be at 10 AM Wednesday, August 1, at the United Methodist Church in Centralia. Burial will be in Roots Cemetery, south of Seneca.
Memorials may be given in John’s memory for Coins for a Cause (a Nemaha County cancer group), or Nemaha County Relay of Life, or St. Luke’s Neuroscience Institute.
Leonard Schmitz
Leonard A. Schmitz, 55, of Seneca, died Monday, December 16, 2013 at his home in Seneca.
Leonard was born on October 10, 1958, in Seneca to Ambrose and Mary Ann Boeckman Schmitz. He attended and graduated 8th grade from B&B grade school at St. Benedict; and graduated from B&B High School in 1976.
Leonard lived north of St. Benedict and farmed with his dad until his accident on June 6, 1981; when his duties changed to helping his dad with the management of the farm. Leonard moved into Seneca September of 2011.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict and a member of the Knights of Columbus of Axtell.
Leonard had many hobbies, playing cards, restoring toys and furniture, gardening and canning his harvest, taking care of flower gardens, fishing and hunting, cracking walnuts, KU basketball, and western movies. One of his passions was to make rosaries and give them to friends and to missions overseas.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ambrose Schmitz on May 28, 2012; and a niece, Emily Dawn Tangeman.
Survivors are his mother, Mary Ann of Seneca; five sisters, Jody (Stephen) Niehues of Topeka, Grace (Alan) Knott and Monica (Len) Marousek both of Omaha, NE, Armella (Stephan) Tangeman of Olathe and Mary Ellen (Steve)Bowhay of Pawnee City, NE; and several nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, December 20, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Rosaries will be prayed on Thursday at 2 & 7 PM at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be left in Leonard’s memory to St Mary’s Catholic Church.
Sharon K. Schmitz
Sharon K. Schmitz, 57, of Axtell, Kansas lost her battle with cancer on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at the home of her in-laws in Seneca.
She was born in Beloit, Kansas on June 20, 1954 to Adrian Clyde and Marie A. Gustafson Ewing. At her birth the family lived in Randall, Kansas, then moved to Clovis, California in 1955 and Raisin City, California in 1956. She graduated on June 17, 1972 from Caruthers High School in Caruthers, California. After her graduation, the family moved to Goff, Kansas.
Sharon went to work for the telephone office in Holton from 1973 to 1977. She was then employed by the Holton Hospital as a Swing Bed Coordinator until 1988.
On July 13, 1987 she married
Greg Schmitz in Miami, Oklahoma. She treasured every moment of raising their daughter, Kendra, even leaving the workforce after pregnancy to devote all her time to being a mother. The couple lost a son, Holden Richard Schmitz, shortly after birth on May 19, 1992.
Sharon loved spending time with family, taking care of her yard and home. She found recreation in her yard tending to her garden, flowers and the overall landscape.
Besides her son, she was preceded in death by her mother Marie on May 12, 1993, and by her father Clyde on April 26, 2012.
Sharon is survived by her husband Greg of the home in Axtell; her daughter Kendra Bergmann and husband Matt of Home, Kansas; and a sister, Patti (William) Dean of Goff, Kansas.
Visitation is from 6:30 to 8 PM on Sunday, June 3, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 AM Monday, June 4, at St. Mary’sCemeteryin St. Benedict.
Alice M. Schooler
Alice M. Schooler, 98, of Centralia, Kansas, died Thursday morning, June 7, 2007, at her home.
Alice Margaret Schooler was born August 19, 1908, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of Alfred and Ruby Moulton Hybskmann. Her family moved to Seneca when she was six, where she attended Seneca Public School.
On July 19, 1927, she married
Gilbert L. "Gib" Schooler in Whiting, Kansas. She and Gib moved to Sterling, Colorado where her husband worked for the railroad. In 1928 they moved to a farm south of Oneida, Kansas, and in 1929 relocated to a farm north of Centralia and other farms in the area. In 1957 they transitioned to Holton where they operated a Tastee-Freez fast food and ice cream place. They sold it in 1961 when they retired. Alice Margaret was also employed at the Trump Apron Factory in Frankfort and the Slimmaker Dress factory in Onaga and Holton.
Her husband Gib preceded her death on September 26, 1970. Shortly after, Alice moved to Centralia, where she had been currently living.
She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Centralia and the Women's Fellowship, the Hobby Club, Kensington Club, Social Club and the Reading Circle. She enjoyed cooking, quilting and sewing.
She is survived by a son, Harold Schooler and his wife Lela of Seneca; a son-in-law, Robert Ward and his wife Joan, also of Seneca; two granddaughters, Karen Rivera and Janette Boucher, both of Topeka; and nine great-grandchildren, Roderick, Jarrod, Lance, Jacob, and Renee Rivera, Kent and Gillian Broadfoot, and Jena and Gwen Boucher.
Besides her husband Gib, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Gweneth L. Ward on August 26, 1994; a sister, Viola M. Conway on May 31, 1998; and a granddaughter, Wanda Broadfoot on January 13, 2006.
A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, June 13, at the United Church of Christ in Centralia, with a visitation at the church for one hour before the service. Burial will be in the Centralia Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given for the United Church of Christ in Centralia, and sent in care of the family.
Harold D. Schooler
Harold D. Schooler, 85, of Seneca, Kansas, died Sunday, January 6, 2013, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
Harold was born November 10, 1927, in Sterling, Colorado, the son of Gilbert and Alice Margaret Hybskman Schooler. When he was a few months old his family moved to a farm south of Oneida, Kansas. In 1929 they moved to a farm north of Centralia. He attended school in Centralia and graduated in 1947. While inhigh school he worked on a farm in western Kansas during the summers. In October 1947 he began employment with Kansas Power & Light (KP&L) in Topeka.
On August 1, 1948 he married
Lela Grable in Centralia. They lived in Topeka where he worked for KP&L. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He was a draftsman, stationed at Forbes AFB in Topeka, and at Bafflin Island south of Greenland. He was in charge of the generating plant at a radar site. He was discharged in Brooklyn, New York on October 12, 1955.
After military service, he returned to Kansas and his employment with KP&L, working in Marysville, Kansas. In 1957 he was transferred to Topeka. In May of 1988, after 42 years with KP&L, he retired as assistant division superintendent. In July 1993 Harold and his wife moved to Seneca.
He enjoyed traveling with his wife in their RV to Florida and Arizona during the winter months. He enjoyed hunting with his two dogs and fishing when he had time.
He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church near Axtell, and the American Legion Earl W. Taylor Post 21 in Seneca.
Survivors include his nieces.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lela on July 18, 2012, and his sister, Gweneth Ward.
The funeral service will be 11 AM Wednesday, January 9, at Salem Lutheran Church south of Axtell. Burial will be in Centralia City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be given for C.O.I.N.S. for a Cause, or Salem Lutheran Church, or the American Legion Post #2.
Lela M. Schooler
Lela M. Schooler, 83, of Seneca, Kansas died on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
She was born October 11, 1928, on a farm north of Vliets, Kansas, the daughter of Leonard and Cora Kjellberg Grable. She attended Marshall County District 13 School and Vermillion Grade School. She attended Marysville High School for two years, and finished her junior and senior years at Centralia, graduating in 1946. She worked in the Marx Store in Centralia and for Dr. Butler as a dental assistant.
On August 1, 1948 she married
Harold D. Schooler in Centralia. They lived in Topeka for 45 years and moved to Seneca in 1993. Lela was employed in various positions at Kansas Power and Light in Topeka and Marysville for 11 years. She began working as a secretary for the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) in 1959. For 10 years she served as secretary to the executive director at KSHSAA. She retired from KSHSAA in January of 1989 after 30 years of service.
In retirement, she and her husband Harold traveled to a great many places in their RV and spent 13 winters in Arizona.
She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Axtell and the Martha Circle. She was a charter member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topeka.
Survivors include her husband of almost 64 years, Harold, of the home; brothers, Don (Mary Lou) Grable of Maitland, Florida and Dennis (Claudanne) Grable of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; a sister-in-law, Mary Grable of Osage Beach, Missouri; 13 nieces and nephews; an aunt, Gladys Kjellberg Pollman of Centralia; and many great-nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held at 2 PM Monday, July 23, at Salem Lutheran Church, south of Axtell. Family will meet with friends for one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Centralia City Cemetery.
Memorials may be given in Lela’s memory for Coins for a Cause (a Nemaha County cancer group), or Salem Lutheran Church.
