Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Sylvester A. Skoch
Sylvester A. Skoch, 96, of Seneca, Kansas, died Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Life Care Center in Seneca.
Sylvester was born November 28, 1915, on a farm northwest of St. Benedict, Kansas to Venzle B. and Rose Haefele Skoch. He attended Bellview Grade School near the farm and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1937.
After high school Sylvester passed the country teacher examination, and began his teaching career in the fall of 1937 at Dewy School near his home.
On September 25, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served as a medical corpsman and First Sergeant during combat for three years in European and North African theaters of operations. Sylvester was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations against the Enemy. He served in five theaters of WWII: England, North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.
After his discharge from active duty in 1945, Sylvester returned to Seneca where he worked in the Nemaha County Treasurer's Office for six months. He was then employed for five years in Everest, Kansas as the elementary school principal, 7th and 8th grade teacher and basketball coach. He also attended Emporia State Teachers College during the summer months.
In 1951 he was recalled for active duty with the Army during the Korean Conflict, and served 13 months as a personnel officer in the hospital
at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. He also served at Camp Pickett, Virginia in the medical replacement training center until his discharge on April 1, 1953.
After this second stint in the military, Sylvester again returned to his teaching career and in 1955 finished his Bachelors of Science degree from Washburn University in Topeka. He completed his Masters in Education by attending Kansas University during the summer for four years. For two years he taught in Bern, Kansas. The remainder of his teaching career was at Meredian Elementary School in Wichita, Kansas, where he taught 6th grade for 20 years. He retired from teaching in 1977.
He then worked as a cabinet maker for three years in the maintenance department at Friends University in Wichita. In 1980, he moved to Seneca where he continued to enjoy woodworking and making cabinets at his shop until his health declined.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca and the St. Joseph’s Society at the church. He was also a member of Knights of Columbus Council #1769 and the American Legion Post #21 in Seneca.
Survivors are a sister, Mildred Mueting of Axtell, and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond, Robert and Paul Skoch; and sisters, Anna Marie Carroll and Thelma Key.
A rosary will be prayed at 2 PM Sunday, November 18, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Monday, November 19, at St. Mary's Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with full military honors. He will lie in state from Sunday morning at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Richard L. Slemp
Richard L. Slemp, 85, of Seneca, KS, died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was transferred there from Country View Estates Care Home on Monday evening after he became ill. He had been a resident at the care home since April of 2001.
He was born August 28, 1917, on a farm at Tuttle, OK, the son of Thomas and Nora McPhail Slemp. Richard grew up there and graduated from Tuttle High School in 1935. In 1938 he married
Anna Sue Porter at Tuttle, where they lived on and managed a dairy farm. In the early 1940s they moved to Falls City, NE where he owned and operated a propane business. He was divorced.
On May 30, 1954 he was married
to Harriett Voltmer. They moved to Tulsa, OK, and he worked for R.J. Allison Company, a fuel business. Later he started his own propane business, RL Slemp Fuel Tank Service, in Tulsa. Richard also had farmland east of St. Joseph, MO, and farmed that while he was living in Tulsa. He retired about 6 years ago. Due to failing health, he moved to Seneca in April of 2001.
He enjoyed his work and visiting with his friends at Waffle House in Tulsa.
Survivors are his two daughters, Sue Lee of Seneca, KS and Roxi Slemp of Cheverly, MD; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son Richard Slemp on February 13, 2002 and a stepdaughter Gail Ann Voltmer in 1979; and three brothers Earl, Ray, and J.R. Slemp.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be given for the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital, Seneca, KS 66538.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is in charge of arrangements.
Bruce A. Slocum
Bruce A. Slocum, 56, of Marshall, Missouri, died Friday, June 7, at his home. He had been ill health for many years.
He was born May 1, 1946, in Jackson County, Missouri, the son of Maurice and Ruth Cassels Slocum. He was a resident of the Marshall Habilitation Center at Marshall for most of his life.
Survivors are two sisters, Virginia S. Johnson of Gower, MO and Renee Letterman of Lee's Summit, MO.
Memorial services will be held at 1:15 and at 2:15 P.M., Wednesday, June 12, 2002, at the Chapel in Wilson Hall, Marshall Habilitation Center in Marshall. The Sweeney-Reser-Willis Funeral Home will be in charge of the Marshall arrangements.
Graveside services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday June 22 at the Seneca City Cemetery, Seneca, Kansas. Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca will be in charge of the Seneca arrangements.
Ruth B. Smith
Ruthe Brininstool Smith, 92, of Seneca, Kansas passed away Thursday evening while resting in her recliner.
She was born on August 20, 1921, at Wapanucka, Oklahoma, the daughter of John “Papa” and Gertrude “Gertie” Sanders Egger. The family then moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico.
On December 14, 1939 she married
Charles Moorman “Sonny” Brininstool in Roswell New Mexico. They made their home in Carlsbad, NM where they owned and operated a popular restaurant, The Arrowhead. Her husband, Sonny died on December 23, 1954 in a tragic oil rig accident. Ruthe then moved to Torrance, California with their baby daughter, Deena; and her sister, Ruby.
On April 17, 1964 she married
Dr. Eldred Marr Smith at Apple Valley, California ad they enjoyed seven beautiful years of marriage, before he passed away from leukemia on January 5, 1971. In 1971 she moved to Las Vegas where she studied art at the University of Nevada and continued her teaching career. She moved to Seneca in 1996 to be near her family.
Ruthe belonged to several professional Art Guilds and continued painting until she could no longer hold a brush. She was an amazing woman of intelligence, courage and strength; and as all of her friends, family and acquaintances know she had a deep concern and love for our country.
She was blessed with an old soul and many talents. She saw the world through the eyes of an artist and her family will always love her for teaching them to see the rich colors, life and beauty in barren deserts, mountain meadows and ocean views
She is survived by her daughter, Deena (Don) Schmelzle of Manhattan; two granddaughters and two great-grandsons.
Funeral Services for family and friends in Kansas will be held at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca at 7 PM on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. A graveside service will be held for her family and loved ones in Victorville, California.
Please, in lieu of flowers and gifts leave memorial contributions in Ruthe’s memory to T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter, 609 Levee Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Wilfred T. Smith
Wilfred T."Fat" Smith, 81, of Seneca, Kansas, died Tuesday, November 21, 2000, at Crestview Manor in Seneca.
He was born July 25, 1919, at Seneca, the son of John J. and Elizabeth Gunther Smith. He grew up in Seneca and attended the Blue Star School and Sts. Peter & Paul School. He worked for Nemaha County in the Roads Department. On September 22, 1944, he entered the U.S. Army at Ft. Leavenworth and served in the 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Division in the South Pacific. He was wounded in action twice in the Philippines and had a steel plate in his head as a result of his wounds. He received two purple hearts. He was discharged on April 12, 1946, as a staff sergeant, and returned to Seneca.
On February 4, 1939, he married
Marie H. Rosengarten at Topeka, Kansas. They lived in Seneca and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1989. She died July 2, 1991.
He worked at the Farmer's Elevator in Seneca before going to work for the Seneca Wholesale for 35 years. "Fat" first drove a beer truck and later became a salesman until his retirement in 1981. For ten years after his retirement, he still drove part time. He also worked for the automobile dealerships in Seneca driving cars to Seneca from car auctions. "Fat" drove many people from Seneca to Topeka for doctor appointments.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society at the church, the Earle W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, and a lifetime member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars all at Seneca.
Survivors are a son, Donald E. Smith of Liberty, MO; a brother, Virgil Smith of Hemet, CA; three sisters, Cleta Thompson and Gerry Howard, both of Las Vegas, NV, and Patricia Toney of San Diego, CA.
The mass of Christian burial will be 1:30 P.M. Saturday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be with full military honors by the American Legion and the VFW in the church cemetery. There will be a prayer service Friday at 7 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca where he will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Friday.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Church and sent in care of the family.
Mary A. Sourk
Mary Alberta Capsey Sourk, of Goff, Kansas, died peacefully at the age of 96 on Wednesday evening, October 10, 2012 at Crestview Manor care home in Seneca.
Mary was born on May 8, 1916, on the Capsey family farm north of Soldier to W.H. “Major” and Ella Marie Forest Cook Capsey. She attended Mount Union Country School and graduated in 1934 from Soldier High School. Her mother died when she was 14 years old and she and her sisters helped their father raise the younger siblings. Mary learned to drive on her father’s Model A.
She married
William Ward Sourk on October 22, 1934 in Leavenworth. The couple celebrated their anniversary annually by attending American Royal events in Kansas City. Mary and Ward made their home three-and-a-half miles north of Goff. While their home was being built they lived in a one-room cottage, which still sits on the property. From that one-room cottage Mary prepared meals for 35 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) boys who planted a wind break on the property.
Mary and Ward enjoyed attending Kansas State University football and basketball games, for which they had season tickets. The couple raised sheep and cattle. During the Depression years, Mary raised chickens and sold eggs and cream to make extra money for household expenses.
Her husband became a Board Director of the First National Bank of Goff after his father’s death and served in that capacity from 1940 to 1979, and as the Bank President from 1965 to 1979. Mary became a widow on August 12, 1979. After Ward’s death Mary held shares in the bank until 2007. Mary stayed on the farm and continued to operate the farmland and cattle herd with the help of her son, Edward, until her death.
Mary was an asset to her community and church. Mary taught Sunday School and served as an officer for the United Methodist Woman of Goff United Methodist Church. She also served on the Administrative Church Board. She was a member of the Goff chapter of Eastern Star for 65 years, and served as Worthy Matron. She was a member of the Goff Pride Committee and the Corning Unit club.
Mary was active in 4-H, beginning with the enrollment of her oldest daughter into the Rustlers Club. She was a Rustlers Project Leader for 34 years and the Community Leader for 19 years. She worked for 4-H through the Extension Council as a superintendent at the County 4-H Fairs, and in 1999 was named Grand Marshall of the Nemaha County Fair Parade. The Sourk family sponsored an annual Nemaha County 4-H participant to the Citizenship Washington Focus. Mary was a supporter of many community organizations, including the county Extension program where she was member of the Homemakers Unit for 50 years, and represented the Extension programs on the multi-county Glacial Hills RC & D. She served over 30 years on the county chapter of the American Cancer Society and was on the Board of the Nemaha County Historical Society.
She was a life-long member of the So & So Club, an organization started by her mother. She was a 70-year member of the GFWC Goff Women’s Club and a member of the district GFWC Kansas Rainbow Club. In 1979 she was GFWC First District President. Mary also served as the District Citizenship Pilgrimage Chairman, District Art Chairman, and State HOBY Chairman.
Mary was a strong independent woman to whom family meant a great deal, and until her health prohibited, had a weekly Friday luncheon with her siblings. In the family, Mary was well-known for her Parker House dinner rolls and her delicious pies. After Ward’s death, Mary enjoyed traveling with family and friends, traveling to Europe, a Hawaiian cruise, numerous GFWC Mississippi Valley and National Conventions, and lastly traveling at the age of 92 to Playa de Flamingos Beach of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for her granddaughter’s wedding.
Besides her husband, Mary was preceded in death by two grandsons, Douglas Stephens and Steven Rowland; siblings, Nora Helen Allen Monroe, Maurine McCorkle, Kenneth Capsey and Georgena Miller; and son-in-law, Norman Stephens.
She will be missed by her children, Mary Lee Stephens of Americus, Virginia Cook of Parsons and Ed (Helen) Sourk of Hiawatha; grandchildren, David Stephens, Brian Stephens, Donald Stephens, Ted Rowland, Susan Richards, Sara Sourk, Grant Sourk and Luke Sourk; 10 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchild; and siblings, Lela Kroh of Kansas City, Betty Rieschick of Soldier, and Edwina Pollock of Holton.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Sunday, October 14, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Funeral service for Mary will be at 2 PM on Monday, October 15, at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Ward in FairviewCemeteryin Goff.
Memorials may be given in Mary’s memory for the Mary Sourk Memorial Fund, to be used for the benefit of the community, sent in care of Lauer Funeral Home, 212 S. 4th Street, Seneca, KS 66538.
