Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Alan Eugene Birdsell, 66
Alan Eugene Birdsell lived 66 years and 20 days before returning to the Lord. He lived all of it. Most of which was with his wife by his side.
Meeting in Indiana, courtesy of a couple dogs and a cat, they went out and enjoyed the first of several dinners together. A short time after that first arranged meeting, they got married
and started planning for their family.
That family started with the birth of Derrick (Amy) in Indiana. A few years later the couple and their son moved to Kansas, and shortly thereafter Christopher (Mary) joined the picture and the family was complete (or so they thought) until Derrick and Amy had his grandson Glen.
As a husband and father, Alan excelled at supporting his family every way he knew how. He always gave the best gift at Christmas (although Becky always said her sons gave the best) and always took time to teach his sons all the important life lessons: how to ride a bike, how to throw a ball, how to drive a stick shift, and most importantly, how to stand up and face the world.
It was this teaching attitude that expanded into his professional life as well, teaching and coaching hundreds of kids over 50 years to not only be better in school, or to be better runners, but how to be better people. He could always relate to his runners, his students, his colleagues, and his friends.
It is safe to say that he will be missed, but he will never be forgotten. He touched so many people with his kindness, his wit, and his heart.
A visitation was held June 26, at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston. A memorial service was held June 27, at the United Methodist Church, Hesston with Reverend Keith Schadel officiating.
Memorials may be sent to the Kansas Humane Society in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.
David Winter
(May 2, 1931 - January 16, 2015)
Newton David Winter, 83 died on January 16, 2015 at his home, after a four year bout with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family. David was born the son of David and Fay Winter. They precede him in death. He was a former teacher and coach in Newton. In 1955, he married
Maureen Burt, and together they raised their family of four children. Surviving him is his loving wife, Maureen; son, David (Connie) Winter, Newton, daughter, Mary Kay McFarlane, Newton, son, Steve (Kristen) Winter, Longview, TX and daughter, Karen (Rich) Linville, Kansas City, MO; 15 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death was his son-in-law, Rick McFarlane. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held on Tuesday, January 20th at 7:00 P.M. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 10:30AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Father James Mainzer will be presiding. Burial will follow at the St. Mary’s CatholicCemeteryin Newton, Kansas.
Robb R. Stewart 50
Robb R. Stewart 50, died June 20, 2017, at his Lehigh residence.
He was born Oct. 11, 1966, in Newton, to Robert R. and Lois E. (Wedemeyer) Stewart.
On Oct. 9, 1987, he was married
to Julie R. Koehn at Newton; she survives of the home.
Robb grew up just west of Newton and he attended Hesston Schools and was in the class of 1985.
Robb worked for nearly 30 years at AGCO in Hesston, as a painter. He was a graduate of the auto body program at the Salina Vo-Tech college. Starting at a young age Robb did not shy away from hard work. He worked custom cutting crews for his father as well as Jake Schmidt and Jerry Redinger.
Robb and his wife moved to Lehigh two years ago from Newton to realize a dream of having his own shop where he could work side by side with his sons on their “classic” cars.
He was a family man and was known to stop what he was doing to help out any family member or friend in need. As his boys were growing up camping and fishing trips to Marion were special bonding time with his family and friends. He loved his three grandkids and looked forward to their visits and play time with their “papa.”
Robb greatly loved being a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and co-worker and he will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife Julie of the home; mother, Lois Stewart of Newton; son Daniel and his wife Laura Stewart of LeHigh, son Dylan and his wife MaKenna Stewart of Newton; brother Mark B, Stewart of Pineville, Missouri and three grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Stewart.
A funeral service was held June 26 at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with a visitation June 27 Sunday.
Burial will be in the Hesston City Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Fund at Newton Presbyterian Manor in care of Petersen Funeral Home.
Sid Swartz Whitcher, 68
Sid Swartz Whitcher was born on Jan. 21, 1950 to Bertha and Forest Whitcher of Falfurrias, Texas, in Premont, Texas.
When Sid was around a year old, the family moved to Premont where he attended school, until his graduation in 1968. While in high school, Sid played football, baseball and was a very active member of the Premont Band, playing alto saxophone.
Sid attended Hesston College in the fall of 1968, part of the notorious group which lived in “The Elms,” a house on the corner of Weaver Street and Academy. Sid had to promise to be good to attend HC the following year.
While at Hesston, he met Kathy Erb. Sid returned to Texas to attend Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), for a semester and the two continued to date. In November of 1971, Sid and Kathy were married.
The couple bowled together and played softball. Sid also began to umpire for Carl Boyer and the Hesston Recreation. In 1972, Sid began to work at Hesston Corporation, now AGCO, until his retirement in October of 2015.
When the Hesston Golf Course opened, Sid became a member, and helped with the founding of the various men’s clubs and leagues. He was known as the guy who could hit a three-wood from anywhere. He also continued to play slowpitch softball, and became a fixture behind the plate at youth baseball games. Rarely a rule came up which Sid didn’t know and was also the first to help teach any kids on the field.
In 1977, Sid and Kathy had Rusty, with Mindy following in 1980. Sid soon had his kids playing golf and ball. In 1991, the couple had daughter number two, Wendy, and Sid was back in the coaching ranks until Wendy hung up her cleats.
He loved his sports, with his favorite athlete being Mohammed Ali. Sid was a rabid Dallas Cowboys fan (imparting the fandom on Rusty and Wendy), adopting the Royals as one of his favorite baseball teams. He rarely missed a KU basketball game. Sid was a stats guru, looking up stats to share, or taking stats at games.
He fell in love with fishing and also took up pheasant hunting, enjoying time in the field with the friends he made. When there wasn’t a game on, or he wasn’t outside, he liked to play all sorts of card games, or devour books with a voracious appetite for reading.
Sid never met a stranger, talking to as many people as he could. He was active in his retirement at the Hesston Area Senior Center, making two trips a day to see the “morning” and “afternoon” crowd. He was incredibly proud of his kids and their accomplishments.
Memorial service will be Friday, July 20, 2018 at 5 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. Memorials may be made to Hesston College Athletics.
Walter Shacklett
(April 15, 1942 - January 18, 2015)
Walter P. Shacklett, 72, died Sunday (January 18, 2015) at the Newton Medical Center.
Services are pending and will be announced by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.
Edna Unruh, 94
Moundridge – Edna Unruh, 94, passed away on Oct. 7, 2017, at Moundridge Manor.
She was born Aug. 29, 1923, to Jacob W. and Fanny Schmidt Koehn at rural Galva.
She was a member of the Meridian Mennonite Church, rural Hesston.
On April 7, 1940, she married
Oliver A. Unruh at Moundridge. He passed away on Dec. 10, 2006.
She was also preceded in death by brothers, Jesse and Noah; sisters Katie Unruh and Sophina Schmidt; a great-grandson Derrick Nikkel and a son-in-law, Delton Nikkel.
She is survived by her children, Deloris Nikkel of Inman, Stanley Unruh of Kansas City, Missouri, Leona Unruh and Viola (Arden) Koehn all of Montezuma; eight grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at Meridian Mennonite Church, rural Hesston.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.
A visitation was held Tuesday at Moundridge Funeral Home and Meridian Mennonite Church, rural Hesston.
Memorials may be sent to the Moundridge Manor in care of Moundridge Funeral Home.
Ventura Campa
(July 14, 1921 - January 19, 2015)
Ventura Campa, 93, of Newton, died Monday (January 19, 2015) at the Presbyterian Manor in Newton.
She was born on July 14, 1921 in Newton, the daughter of Thomas and Clara Landine Terrones. Ventura was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1940. During World War II she worked at Hurse Products.
Ventura married
Diego Mendoza Campa on September 26, 1942 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton. He died on December 9, 2009.
She was a longtime member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Ventura enjoyed traveling with her children and grandchildren as well has hosting many Sunday dinners in her home.
Survivors include her sons Roger Campa of Newton and Tom Campa of Goddard, Ks.; five daughters Gloria Brown and Benita Campa of Newton, Patty Aguirre and Carol Sanchez of Wichita, Becky Barreda of Brownsville, Tx.,; 19 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren: and four great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Hilaron (Leo) Terrones of Newton, and sister Lorrie Lujano of Newton.
Ventura is preceded in death by her parents; husband; three sons John Campa, Timothy Campa and Thomas Edwards; brothers, Foster Terrones, Alfred Terrones, Gene Terrones, and Andrew Terrones; and sisters Hope Gonzalez and Antonia Terrones.
The Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 6:00 P.M., Sunday (January 25, 2015).
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 P.M., Monday (January 26, 2015) both at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Newton. Interment will be in the St. Mary’s CatholicCemeteryin Newton.
Friends may call at the church after 4pm on Sunday and until service time on Monday.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
Phyllis Gay Slater
(October 6, 1938 - January 1, 2015)
Phyllis Gay Slater, 76, died on January 1, 2015, at Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita, Kansas. She was born on October 6, 1938 to Elizabeth Antoinette (Downey) and Melvin Arthur Clore, in Herington, Kansas.
On November 21, 1975 she married
Robert J. Slater in Herington, Kansas.
Together Phyllis and Robert enjoyed life to the fullest.
They enjoyed dancing and traveling. Just this fall, they explored Canada and a trip to Niagara Falls.
Phyllis was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Herington, Kansas.
During her lifetime she worked as a C.M.A. and had helped with many aspects of the nursing field.
She was also a homemaker and showed unconditional love to all her family in her daily tasks. All who knew her would describe her as a very caring and compassionate person.
Phyllis also enjoyed music, reading and taking walks. Her major accomplishment was with the Newton T.O.P.S.
She received a pin after achieving the K.O.P.S. status.
Her family was very proud of her accomplishment of meeting her weight loss goals.
Preceding her in death were her parents Melvin and Elizabeth Clore and a sister, Marylou Greenemeyer.
Survivors include her husband, Robert of the home; 6 children, daughter and son-in-law, Pamela K. (Thomas) Hattaway, Newton, daughter, Jackie S. Bird, Newton, son and daughter-in-law, Jeff L. (Dede) Patterson, Herington, daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis A. (Brian) Cole, Hutchison, daughter, Mayola E. Patterson, Newton, son, Randall L. Slater, Wichita, Grandson and wife, Tim (Jennifer) Bayes, Newton; three step-children, step-sons Gary Slater, Hillsboro, Alan Slater, Arkansas City, step-son and wife, Mark (Cindy)Slater, Florence; brothers and sisters-in-law, Daniel (Barbara) Clore, Herington and Byron (Yvette) Clore, Andover; 16 grandchildren ; 20 great grandchildren; 13 step grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place.
A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, January 5, 2015 at the Newton Bible Church at 2:00 P.M.
Burial will be at a later date at the Sunset HillCemeteryin Herington, Kansas.
Dorothy Ann Friesen, 80
Dorothy Ann Friesen, 80, passed away on June 26, 2016 at Mercy Hospital, Moundridge. She was born in Newton on March 23, 1936, to Paul E. and Edna O. Tangeman Vogt. She was an active member of the Garden Community Church, rural Moundridge. On May 4, 1956 she married
Norman Friesen. They farmed in rural Walton for 45 years until retiring in Hesston. She is survived by her husband, Norman of Hesston, sons, Larry (Jeanette) Friesen, Dale (Shelly) Friesen all of Walton, KS, and daughter Yvonne (Gerhard) Fast of Hesston, 1 brother, Arnold (Shirley) Vogt of Hesston, 1 sister, Helen (Alvin) Bergen of Augusta, 5 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters, Verna Broeckel and Betty Oller. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at the Moundridge Funeral Home. Memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Garden Community Church with Pastor Gary Janzen officiating. Inurnment will be in the Garden Community ChurchCemeteryat a later date. Memorials may be given to either Garden Community Church or Harvest Radio Migration –Brazil (Avant Ministries), in care of Moundridge Funeral Home.
James W. Muzyka
d. March 7, 2013
Peabody – James W. Muzyka, 57, died March 7, 2013. He was born January 11, 1957 in Queens, New York, the son of Michael and Sandra (Calacicco) Muzyka. He married
Diane Bedford December 16, 1987. Survivors include: Diane Muzyka of rural Peabody, Kansas; son, Chris Muzyka of Norfolk, Virginia; daughter, Katrina Muzyka of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Michael Muzyka of Bronx, New York; sister, Joan Lizzi of Debary, Florida. Graveside Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Kansas Veterans’Cemeteryof Winfield, Kansas. Memorial to Wounded Veterans.
