Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Evelyn Wagner
Evelyn Kelly Wagner, 85, of Seneca, Kansas, formerly of Denver, Colorado, died Tuesday, December 26, 2000, at Country View Estates Care Home in Seneca. She had been a resident there since June of 1995.
She was born April 21, 1915, in Johnstown, PA, the daughter of John and Anna De Leonard Kelly. She grew up there and was an outstanding student, advancing several grades at a time at the local Catholic high school, eventually achieving early graduation in 1931. She then graduated from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, MD at age 20, and taught school in the Johnstown area for several years.
On June 6, 1940, she married
George Edward Wagner at Johnstown. They moved to Atlanta, GA where both were employed at the Federal Penitentiary. Evelyn was the first female parole officer in the federal penitentiary system. In the 1940's George enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served 23 years. They lived in army bases all over the U.S. and Germany. When her husband retired, they were stationed at Fitzsimmons in Denver and continued living in the area. In 1965 Evelyn began work as a social worker with Denver area welfare agencies. She retired in 1976.
Her husband, George, died November 11, 1978.
Evelyn had a stroke in March of 1994, and entered a nursing home in Aurora, CO. In June of 1995 she moved to Seneca to be near her daughter, son-in-law and family, Mary and Gary Haug.
She was a member of the Catholic Church at Fitzsimmons, and later a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. She was an avid reader, enjoyed traveling and an adventurous lifestyle, and sewing.
Survivors are five sons, John P. Wagner of Sacramento, CA, Thomas E. Wagner of Juneau, AL, Michael J. Wagner of Alamosa, CO, George R. Wagner of Aurora, CO and William R. Wagner of Arvada, CO; a daughter Mary W. Haug of Seneca; a brother James V. Carl of Fountain Valley, CA; a sister, Jane Hill of Johnstown, PA; and 10 grandchildren.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Elizabeth Ann Wagner on October 12, 1942, a grandson, Ryan Wagner in July of 1994, a brother Joseph Carl and a sister, Betty Bowers.
A prayer service was held Thursday at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Later services will be held in Colorado with Horan & McConaty Funeral Service of Aurora in charge of Colorado arrangements. The burial will be in Ft. Logan NationalCemeteryin Denver.
Memorials may be given for the public library of the donor's choice.
Eric J. Waller
Eric J. Waller, 19, died Monday, April 25, 2005, at a Colorado hospital after an accidental fall at his dormitory in Colorado Springs, CO, where he was an Airman First Class at Peterson Air Force Base.
He was born March 14, 1986, at Manhattan, KS, the son of Dale and Deborah Luebbering Waller. In May of 1987 the family moved to Baileyville, KS, where his dad is a veterinarian. Eric helped his dad on their farm and with bees as a beekeeper. He graduated from B&B High School in 2004. He was on the honor roll and in Future Business Leaders all four years, participated in Scholar’s Bowl, Boy’s State, track, Who’s Who in junior year, and the senior play.
On May 24, 2004, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Lackland Air Force Base for basic training. He was enrolled in Computer and Communication School at Kesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. After completing school in October, he was sent to the 50th Space Communication Squadron at Colorado Springs. He lived at Peterson Air Force Base at Colorado Springs.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville where he had been a server. He was a member of the CYC and attended the National Catholic Youth Conference in Houston, TX in November of 2003.
Survivors besides his parents are a brother, Nathan; three sisters, Becky, Lisa, and Laura, all of the home in Baileyville; grandparents, John and Phyllis Waller of Hoyt, and Paul and Lillie Luebbering of Mora, Mo; and a special friend, A/2C Brittney Howell of Amarillo, TX.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday at Sacred Heart Church in Baileyville. The burial will be with military honors in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. Friday at the Lauer Funeral Home, where he will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. on Friday.
Memorials may be given for Sacred Heart Church or for a special transplant organization, and sent in care of the family.
Albertus E. Wassenberg
Albertus E. “Bert” Wassenberg, 87, Seneca, KS, died Wednesday, September 17, 2003, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
He was born June 28, 1916, on the Wassenberg Homestead northeast of St. Benedict, KS, the son of August and Mary Ann Stegeman Wassenberg. He graduated from St. Mary’s Grade School at St. Benedict in 1930 and helped on the family farm.
In 1939 he started farming on his own northwest of Kelly and in 1949 moved to a farm northwest of Soldier. He moved to Jackson Hole, WY in 1955 where he built and operated several R.V. Parks and also worked as a fishing and hunting guide. He traveled extensively and spent his winters in the Rio Grand Valley, TX and Matazalan, Mexico. Bert had no children of his own, but his nieces and nephews were very special to him and he took them on many hunting and fishing trips. He kept a second home in St. Benedict (his parent’s) and last year returned to Seneca to live.
On March 27, 1940, he married
Anita Lohman in Maple River, Iowa. They were later divorced.
He was a member of Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jackson Hole and a member of St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict.
Survivors are a brother, Leonard Wassenberg, Seneca, and 23 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Wilbert in 1977, Ed in 1988, and Cyril “Slim” in 1990; two sisters, Mary, an infant in 1912, and Amelia Sudbeck in 1991.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday at St. Mary’s Church at St. Benedict. The burial will be in the church cemetery. He will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Friday at the Lauer Funeral Home where a rosary will be prayed at 7 P.M. Friday.
Memorials may be given for St. Mary’sCemeteryand sent in care of the family.
Leonard Wassenberg
Leonard Wassenberg, 86, of Seneca, Kansas, died peacefully early Saturday morning, Saturday, March 2, 2013 at his home in Seneca surrounded by his family.
He was born February 15, 1927, on the Wassenberg homestead northeast of St. Benedict, Kansas, the son of August and Mary Stegeman Wassenberg. He attended St. Mary’s School in St. Benedict and helped on the family farm.
Leonard served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from February 16, 1946 to April 4, 1947 with the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Squadron. He loved his time in the service, where he learned to fly and developed a lifelong love for travel. After leaving the service he lived and worked on the family farm North of St. Benedict.
On July 27, 1954 he married
Edith Olberding at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca and continued farming the home place until they built and operated the Starlite Motel in Seneca. After the sale of the motel, they traveled in Mexico until returning to Seneca to farm near Vliets. Looking for a new venture, he purchased and operated a Gambles store in Denver, lived in Phoenix and then Denver again until returning the family to the home place. In 1969 he purchased and then operated the Seneca Gambles store, at 4th and Main, for 13 years and moved to a new house in Seneca. After retirement, he continued in farming and the cattle business.
Leonard and Edith loved to travel. They visited many places around the globe throughout Europe, Central America, Mexico, Russia and Morocco. Every summer the entire family would travel around the United States, a favorite destination being Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where his two brothers lived. After retirement he and Edith enjoyed 15 years wintering in Texas and Mexico and then another 15 years in Yuma, Arizona, where they kept a second home.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and formerly St. Mary's Church in St. Benedict. He was a member and past president of the Seneca Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Sts. Peter & Paul church council and the Nemaha County Hospital Board.
He is survived by his wife Edith of the home, seven children, Michael (Mary Anne) Wassenberg of Warrenton, Virginia, Lynette (Greg) Stymfal of Phoenix, Arizona, Richard (Jean) Wassenberg of Seneca, Mary (Clint) Tegtmeier of Bern, Karen (Frank) Weingartner of Phoenix, Arizona, James (Deena) Wassenberg of Falcon Heights, Minnesota and Michelle (Rob) Browning of Paducah, Kentucky; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Bill in 1977, Ed ”Wassie” in 1988, Cyril "Slim" in 1990 and Bert in 2003; two sisters, Mary, an infant in 1912, and Amelia Sudbeck in 1991.
Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Tuesday, March 5, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Wednesday, March 6, at St. Mary’s Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be with military honors in Sts. Peter & PaulCemeteryin Seneca.
Memorial contributions can be given for the Seneca Public Library, and sent in care of the family.
Robert L. "Bob" Waters
Robert L. "Bob" Waters, 89, of Hastings, Nebraska, formerly of Seneca, Kansas died Friday, August 9, 2013 at Perkins Pavilion care center in Hastings. He would have been 90 years old in four more days.
Bob was born on August 13, 1923 to Patrick H. and Lena Winkler Waters in Marysville, Kansas. With the family farm located between Axtell and Baileyville, he started grade school in Axtell and then graduated from Baileyville High School in 1941.
Bob proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1946. He was assigned to the seaplane tender USS Belknap. In January 1945 the Belknap was performing shore bombardment and beach reconnaissance ahead of an amphibious landing at Luzon in the Phillipines, when she was struck by a lone kamikazi attack plane, resulting in 38 U.S. fatalities and 49 injuries. Repairs to the ship were sufficient only to sail her back to the U.S. for scrapping. At this time Bob was reassigned to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. He was discharged as a Machinist’s Mate Second Class V-6, having served in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. After military service, Bob returned to Kansas to work on the family farm.
Bob married
Evelyn Melcher on November 27, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, Kansas. Theirs was the first wedding where the church allowed photographs to be taken inside. They were married
for 64 years.
In the post-war years, Bob was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegraph operator. He and Evelyn moved to Carr, Colorado and western Kansas following the railroad job. They settled in Seneca, where Bob worked in the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for over 35 years before his retirement.
His hobbies were fishing, gardening, bird watching, and following any sports or news of any kind related to Kansas State University.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn of Hastings; three children, Jane (Chris) Mudd, of Oklahoma City, Susan (Mike) Uridil of Hastings, and Mike (Connie) Waters of Colorado Springs; seven grandchildren: Andrew, Annie and Matt Mudd, Chris and John Uridil, Molly Engelhardt and Alex and Greg Waters; and seven great-grandchildren: Caden, Witten and Colton Mudd, Creighton, Jack and Loren Uridil, and Hannah Englehardt.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Lena Waters; two brothers, Wilbur and Patrick Waters; and three sisters, Eileen, Ferneese and Mary Ann.
Bob was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, Kansas and the St. Joseph Society at church. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769, Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, all in Seneca.
A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Tuesday, August 13, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Wednesday, August 14, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with full military honors provided by the Seneca VFW and American Legion.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca or St. Cecilia Church in Hastings.
Elizabeth Weber
Elizabeth Weber, 94, of Seneca, Kansas, died Friday, May 18, 2012 at Life Care Center in Seneca.
She was born on the family farm east of Dawson, Nebraska on July 25, 1917, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Joyce Kelly. She graduated from St. Mary’s Grade School and Dawson High School, class of 1934. She also attended Peru State Teachers College for two years and taught at Cornell School District #33 near Verdon, Nebraska for two years.
On June 22, 1938, she married
Richard M. Weber at St. Mary’s Church in Dawson, Nebraska. The couple celebrated 36 years of marriage before Richard preceded her in death on March 20, 1973.
They lived in Hebron for a short time and later in Hanover, Kansas, before moving to Seneca in 1949, where she has lived since.
In 1966 Elizabeth began to work for the Seneca Free Library as Librarian, retiring in 1987 as the Head Librarian. In the days before barcode check-outs, many waves of avid readers both children and adults knew her as the face behind the circulation desk with the check-out date stamp.
She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society at the church in Seneca. She was a member of the Seneca Business & Professional Women (BPW).
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Joyce and her husband Larry Becker, and a sister Eleanor Bourke.
She is survived by her children, Barbara (William) Oppy of Fort Collins, Colorado, James (Judy) Weber of Loveland, Colorado, Patricia (Lawrence) Schmelzle of Estherbrook, Wyoming, Richard Weber of Seneca and Janet "Jan" Weber of Sabetha; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 PM Monday, May 21, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Burial will be in St. Mary’sCemeteryin Dawson, Nebraska. A rosary will be prayed at 4 PM Sunday at Lauer Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given in Elizabeth’s memory for Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School in Seneca, or St. Mary’sCemeteryin Dawson, Nebraska.
