Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Marcella Unruh
d. May 28, 2013
Durham – Marcella Unruh, 90, died May 28, 2013 at Eagle Crest Retirement Community in Salina. She was born September 7, 1922 to Isaac and Mollie (Betz) Lorenz in Durham. She was a homemaker. She married
Norman Unruh October 14, 1943 in Newton. Survivors include: sons, Gerald (Pamela) Unruh of Salina, Gene (Susan) Unruh of Gypsum, Galen (Marlene) Unruh of Salina; daughter, Marlene (Don) Satterfield of Shawnee, Kansas; 10 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Preceded in death by her husband in 1988. Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Durham officiated by Pastor Curtis Wiens. Family receive guests from 6 to 8 Thursday at Jost Funeral Home. Memorials to Hospice of Salina in care of the Funeral Home.
Sri-Chol (Sheree) Mickey-Brown
d. March 14, 2013
Hillsboro – Sri-Chol (Sheree) Mickey Brown, 47, died March 14, 2013. She was born December 16, 1965 in Bangkok, Thailand, the daughter of Jack E. and Porn (Chanthorn) Frist. She worked for the Harvey County SRS office. She married
Elmer Mickey September 11, 1998 in Newton, Kansas. Survivors include: Husband, Elmer Mickey of Hillsboro, Kansas; son, Mathew Brown of Washington D.C.; Brother, Jeremiah Frist of California; Sister, Jenifer Fletcher of Lodiburg, Kentucky; parents, Jack E. and Porn (Chanthorn) Frist of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Celebration of life Monday, March 18, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Marion. Memorial to Relay For Life Of Johns Hopkins University.
Mervin Troyer, 97
Mervin Troyer, 97, died at Schowalter Villa, Hesston, on Friday, March 11, 2016.
Mervin was born Feb. 9, 1919, near Jet, Oklahoma to Samuel J. and Iva Miller Troyer. The eldest of four children, which included Maurine and twins Wilbur and Wilma, he spent the first eleven years in Oklahoma.
Mervin attended the Jet consolidated school through grade five. In 1930, the family moved to a farm west of Harper, near Crystal Springs. Mervin completed his elementary education in a one room country school, Nebo, in 1933. Four years later, he graduated with the 1937 class of Harper High School. The following winter he attended six weeks of Short Term Bible School at Hesston College.
After moving to Kansas, the family attended the Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church east of Harper and later in Harper. In his early teens, he committed his life to Christ and was baptized. He continued an active member at Pleasant Valley after marriage, serving on several boards and committees. He served for a time as Superintendent of the Primary-Junior Sunday School Department and also as a youth Sunday School teacher.
After high school, Mervin helped his parents on the farm and spent three fall corn and bean harvest seasons working on a farm in Arthur, Illinois.
On July 28, 1940, he married
Dorothy King in Arthur, Illinois. Mervin and Dorothy lived in Arthur for one year after their marriage and he worked as a shipping clerk for Progress Manufacturing, Company.
In 1941, they moved to a farm near Duquoin, where they welcomed children to their small rural home: Elnor Joan, Harlan Dale, who died at the age of two, and twins Donald Gene and Ronald Dean. Mervin was very involved in the care of son Harlan, who was born handicapped and required several surgeries and hospitalizations. While the children were in elementary school, he supplemented his farm income by driving the Grandview Grade School bus.
After 18 years, they moved to the family farm west of Harper, where he enjoyed farming for another 22 years. In 1982, Mervin and Dorothy left the farm to live in Harper where they stayed until 1989. They then moved to Hesston, to an apartment at Schowalter Villa.
In retirement Mervin enjoyed working in the yard and gardening. He spent hours doing woodwork projects, making tops and toys, or making chair risers for Villa residents and doing miscellaneous projects for Villa staff and the child care. He especially enjoyed working with children on craft projects, games, and just watching them play outside his window.
Mervin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Dorothy, in 2001, son Harlan Dale, grandson, Darin Troy Stutzman, great-granddaughter Courtney Marie Troyer, great-great-grandson Mikel Lee Maxim and his sister, Wilma Mast.
He is survived by children: Elnor J. (Don) Stutzman, Donald (Michelle) Troyer, and Ronald (Marie) Troyer; grandchildren, Derek (Serena) Stutzman, Dalton (Amy M.) Stutzman, Amy D. Stutzman, Amber (Cameron) Cook, April Lally, Deonna Troyer, Elizabeth (Rick) Decker, David Troyer, Sondra Knight, and Stephanie (Brian) Balog; 20 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Monday, March 15 and burial was Tuesday at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Cemetery, Harper.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Schowalter Villa Good Samaritan Fund, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Hesston.
Gerald Kessler
d. June 4, 2013
Lehigh – Gerald Kessler, 76, died June 4, 2013 at his residence. He was born March 2, 1937 to Rudolf and Katherine (Kasper) Kessler in Hillsboro. He married
Joyce Thiessen on June 9, 1958 at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. He was a farmer. Survivors include: wife, Joyce Kessler of Rural Lehigh; son, Lynn (Marie) Kessler of Rural Lehigh; daughters, Renay (Phil) Neufeldt of Buhler, Melanie (Rick) Reed of McPherson; 9 grandchildren. Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 10, 2013 at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church officiated by Pastor Steve Schroeder. Interment 10:00 a.m. Monday at Lehigh MennoniteCemeteryrural Lehigh, Kansas. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Sunday with family present at Jost Funeral Home. Memorials suggested to Parkview Church or Gideon’s in care of the Funeral Home.
Donna June ‘DJ’ Behrmann
Donna June “DJ” Behrmann, 59, died March 11, 2002, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita. She was the mother of Keli Teeter of Hesston.
She was born June 28, 1942, at Emporia, the daughter of Earl and Shirley Sexton Houtz. A homemaker and a resident of Hutchinson for 27 years, she previously worked as an apartment manager in Wichita.
On Aug. 24, 1973, she married
Arthur A. Behrmann at Wichita. He survives.
Other survivors include a step-grandchild.
Cremation is planned. Memorial service was Friday (March 15) at Johnson and Sons Memorial Chapel, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Tom Howland presiding. Family Inurnment was in Freeport Cemetery, Freeport.
Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Reno County, in care of the funeral home.
Lyle E. Yost
(March 5, 1913 - April 5, 2012)
Lyle E. Yost, 99, died Thursday (April 5, 2012), at the Schowalter Villa, in Hesston. Lyle was born on March 5, 1913, in the home northwest of Hesston, Kansas. His parents were Joseph and Edith Alma (Hensley) Yost.
Lyle attended Goshen College in Goshen, IN where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 1937 and his Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching in 1942.
On July 31, 1938 he married
Erma Martin. Lyle and Erma spent most of their lifetime in the Hesston area. In 1943, they moved to the family farm where his grandfather and father had lived, just north of Hesston. Upon his retirement, Lyle moved into the city of Hesston.
Lyle had many designations, awards and recoginitions, but his greatest accomplishment was being the designer and inventor of the 1947 unloading auger, the catalyst for the development of Hesston Manufacturing, Hesston Corporation which in now known as AGCO. His lifetime achievements were astounding and admired, 1964- Wildlife Society, Distinguished Conservation Citation; 1966-1967, Hesston Chamber of Commerce, 1st President;1969, National Agriculture Adverstising & Marketing Association, Farm Marketing Man of the Year; 1969-1971, Appointed by Sec. of Commerce, Washington D.C., Regional Export Expansion Council; 1971, Farm & Industrial Equipment Institute FIEI, President; 1972, Topeka Capital Journal, Kansan of Achievement in Business Award; 1972, Received Official Seal of Wichita, Best of Agricultural Award; 1972, KS Association of Commerce & Industry, Promotion of Kansas; 1972, Newton Chamber of Commerce, 25 years of Community Service; August 1973, Fortune Magazine, featured article-“A Farmer’s Fertile Ground”; November 15, 1973, Forbes Magazine, Featured Article-“Farm Boy Makes Good”; 1974, Native Sons & Daughters of Kansas (states’ most coveted honor), Kansan of the Year;1975, Alpha Kappa Psi National Business Honor Society, Honorary Member; 1975, Kansas State University, Outstanding Service in Field of Agriculture; 1978, FFA Foundation, Executive Sponsor; 1980, Bank IV, 25 years as a Board Member; 1980, Jr. Angus Breeders of America, Outstanding Support to Jr. Angus Breeder; 1980, Hesston Bank, 15 years on Board of Directors Service Award;1980, Future Farmers of America FFA, Honorary State Farmer; 1982, Kansas Vocational Association, Supporting Higher Vocational Education;1983, National Industrial Clubs of America, Development of Industrial Youth; 1983-1991, Hesston College, Presidents Advisory Council Chairman; 1961, Mennonite Economic Development Association MEDA, Honorary Membership; 1987, Farm & Industrial Equipment Institute FIEI, Honorary Membership; 1987, Published a book, Factory on the Plains;1989, FIEI, Chairman Board of Directors; 1993, EMI, FIEI, Special Industry contributions and recognitions; 2006, Kansas Business Hall of Fame, admitted to Hall of Fame as Business Leader.
He also served as Director with the following instituions and corporations; Bank IV, Hesston State Bank, Kansas Gas & Electric, Kansas Council on World Affairs, Management Research Development Institute, American Forage & Grassland Council, Gideons International, Kansas Development Credit Corporation, FIEI, Advisory Council for the Kansas Center for Regional Progress, Governer’s Committee for Parnters in Progress, State Rural Development Advisory Council, Kansas Calvalry, Hertzler Foundation, Prince of Peace Chapel/Aspen, Wesley Hospital Foundation.
Lyle was also featured in over 100 magazines including: Forbes, Farm Journal, Agri Marketing, Wall Street Journal, Preogressive Farmer, Mennonite Weekly Review, High Plains Journal, Business Week, Christian Science Monitor, Dow Digest, Flying Farmer, Capper’s Weekly, Farm & Country, Wichita Business Journal, and Implement and Tractor.
He had many hobbies and interests, and was an avid golfer. He played on golf courses around the world including St. Andrews. With his love for the sport, he was instrumental in developing the Hesston Golf Park.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Erma M. Yost, June 3, 2003, sister, Zella Yost King, February 13, 2012, companion, Edith Yoder, July 28, 2011, daughter, Necia Ann Jost, April 1941 and grandchild, Elizabeth Ann Yost, August 29, 2006.
Survivors include 3 sons, Byron and wife Beth Yost, Castle Rock, CO, Winston and wife Cheryl Yost, Larkspur, CO, and Cameron and wife Miriam Yost, Colorado Springs, CO; One daughter, Susan Yost and husband CW Crumm, Hesston, KS; grandchildren , Jon Yost, Boise, ID, Joseph Yost, Colorado Springs, CO, Jenna Yost Galvan, Colorado Springs, CO, Alicia Yost, Colorado Springs, CO, Teresa Yost, Colorado Springs, CO; Four great-grandchildren
Visitation will be Tuesday (April 10, 2012) from 1:00P.M to 9:00 P.M. at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton, Kansas. The family will greet from 5:00-8:00 P.M. with a Men’s Quartet performing at 7:00 P.M.
Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday (April 11, 2012) at the Hesston Mennonite Church, Hesston, Kansas
Inurnment will be held at Eastlawn Cemetery, Zimmerdale, Kansas.
Memorial funds have been established with the Aspen Chapel and the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, in care of the funeral home at 120 E. Broadway,
Art Unrau
d. June 1, 2013
Hillsboro – Art Unrau, 101, died June 1, 2013 at his residence in Hillsboro. He was born February 15, 1912 to David and Anna (Becker) Unrau in Munich, North Dakota. He married
Isabelle Claassen on June 12, 1938 in Fairbury, Nebraska. Survivors include: son, Paul of Moundridge; daughters, Phyllis (Dale) Schroeder of Lakewood, Colorado, Elvera (Charles) Rempel of Hillsboro, Priscilla (Richard) Wieneke of Bakersfield, California; 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Predeceased by his wife in 2005. Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 7, 2013 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro. Burial 10:00 a.m. Friday at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 Thursday with family present at Jost Funeral Home. Memorials to the Union Rescue Mission in care of the Funeral Home.
Ruby K. Schroeder
d. April 3, 2013
Hillsboro – Ruby K. Schroeder, 85, died April 3, 2013 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro, Kansas. She was born August 21, 1927 to John and Katherine (Janzen) Prieb in Inola, Oklahoma. She owned and operated the Florist shop in Hillsboro. Survivors include: sons, Vincent (Vickie) Schroeder of Marion, Russell W. (Debbie) Schroeder of Goessel; daughter, Kathy (Ivan) Schmidt of Rural Goessel; sister, Lavina Schroeder of Buhler; 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Celebration of Life Monday, April 8, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro, Kansas. Officiated by Pastor Travis Schmidt and Pastor Loyal Martin. Visitation 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro family to receive guests. Memorials to Parkside Homes or Haiti Life Line Ministries. In care of the Funeral Home.
Darlene C. McIrvin
d. April 10, 2013
Darlene C. McIrvin, 89, died April 10, 2013 at Parkside homes in Hillsboro, Kansas. She was born December 25, 1923 to Ora L. and Alta R. (Phillips) Vawter in Flagler, Colorado. She was a homemaker. Survivors include: sons, Ken (Jane) of Lehigh, Kansas, Randy (Elaine) of Ft. Lupton, Colorado, Cliff (Betty) of McPherson, Kansas, Jim of Universal, Texas; daughter, Lori McIrvin of San Antonio, Texas; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Celebration of Life will be Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 2:15 p.m. at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. Memorials to Parkside Home in care of the Funeral Home.
Donna Meredith ‘Meredy’ Humphreys
Donna Meredith ‘Meredy’ Humphreys, 33, died March 9, 2002, at her home in Mesa, Ariz. She was a sister of Hank Humphreys of Hesston.
She was born Nov. 29, 1968, at Great Bend, the daughter of Don and Alice Gould Humphreys. She graduated from Great Bend High School and from Bethany College, Lindsborg, with an honors degree in chemistry. She moved to Mesa, Ariz., in 1991, to pursue a doctorate in chemistry at Arizona State University. She was unable to complete the course because of failing health. She was employed in Mesa, Ariz. as a chemist and computer programmer.
Other survivors include: her parents; a sister; three other brothers; and two nephews.
Memorial service was March 13 at First Presbyterian Church, Great Bend, with the Rev. Hal Staats presiding.
An endowment has been established with Bethany College, in care of Provost and Chemistry Professor Mike Mitchell.
Lakeshore Mortuary, Mesa, Ariz., was in charge of the arrangements.
Genevieve Belton
d. November 8, 2014
Hillsboro – Genevieve Belton, 95, died November 8, 2014 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. She was born March 6, 1919 to Emanuel and Lena (Frank) Becker in Durham. She married
Richard Duane Belton May 21, 1941 at Yuma, Arizona. Survivors include: sons, Richard G. (Mary Claire) of Sacramento, CA, Mark D. Belton of Overland Park, Kansas; 2 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband in 1982. Celebration of her life will be Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro officiated by Pastor Brian Allen. Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Durham ParkCemeteryrural Durham. Family will receive guests from 6 to 8 Tuesday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Memorials to the Church in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, Kansas 67063.
Walter Kleinsasser
d. January 15, 2015
Hillsboro – Walter Kleinsasser, 92, died Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. He was born November 9, 1922 to John and Katharina (Glanzer) Kleinsasser at Carpenter, South Dakota. He married
Esther Mendel May 23, 1946 at Yale South Dakota. Survivors include: son, Joe (Michelle) Kleinsasser of Hillsboro; daughter, Faith (Ron) Klaassen of Newark, New Jersey; 3 grandchilden, Ryan and Nathan Kleinsasser of Hillsboro, Jonathan Klaassen of Newark, New Jersey; brother, Harold Kleinsasser of Reedley, California; sister, Edna Espenson of Windom, Minnesota. Celebration of Life Service will be Friday, January 23, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church officiated by Pastor Steve Schroeder. Interment will be at 10:00 a.m. at GnadenauCemeteryrural Hillsboro on Friday. Family will receive guests from 6 to 8 Thursday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Memorials to World Impact or Tabor College in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, Kansas 67063.
Hans R. Penner
Hans R. Penner, 83, died March 6, 2002, at Newton Presbyterian Manor.
He was born Jan. 21, 1919, in Elbing, Germany. He brought his family to Newton in 1956 and began a career with Hesston Corporation shortly after his arrival. He retired as an industrial engineer after 28 years.
Survivors include: his wife, Gerta Penner of Newton; a son, Rolf Penner of Wichita; a daughter, Inge Penner of San Francisco, Calif.; and 12 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Christel Neumann in Germany.
There was a private family graveside service in Greenwood Cemetery. Broadway Colonial Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Margie Lu Hostetler Swartzendruber, 85
Margie Lu Hostetler Swartzendruber, 85, died Feb. 20 at Newton Medical Center of pneumonia.
Margie dedicated much of her life to caring for children. She was a founder of Hesston Community Child Care and served as a teacher and director. After retirement, she took responsibility for laundry and dining duties part time, and when she could no longer do that due to Alzheimer’s, she faithfully walked from home to the child care to feed the bunnies in their outdoor hutch.
Margie was born Jan. 8, 1931, at the home of her parents, Clara Burkey Hostetler and Elbert Nathaniel Hostetler, near Beaver Crossing, Nebraska. She grew up on this farm, the middle of five sisters, with one older brother. She attended a one-room school, District 80 in Seward County, through the eighth grade, then Hesston Preparatory School in 1946 and 1947, where she met Wayne Swartzendruber, of St. John, Michigan.
After graduation, and a summer class in Seward, Nebraska, she was the teacher for one year at a rural school not far from her parents home. She and Wayne married
on May 27, 1950, at the West Fairview Mennonite Church, her home church growing up.
Soon after their marriage, the couple moved to Aibonito, Puerto Rico, to join the voluntary service unit there, and Margie taught kindergarten children in La Plata for two years.
In 1952, they moved to Hesston where the first of their three children, Elbert Wayne was born. Jan Eileen followed in 1953, and Karl Dale in 1958. As a homemaker, Margie encouraged her children's imaginative play as the baby boom kids of blocks on North Weaver indulged in group enterprises: playing “wagon train,” enacting dramas with the clothesline for curtain and backdrop, and staying up late during the summer to play Mother May I and Sardines. Margie was always up for a picnic or creek splashing at “Spangler’s Grove,” and Harvey County Park West, drives in the country, sometimes to the Flint Hills, and swimming at Pete’s Puddle.
Anyone passing through Hesston from a Spanish-speaking area inevitably took advantage of Margie and Wayne’s hospitality, since both had become fluent Spanish while in Puerto Rico. Cuban immigrants were best friends with the couple, with Margie’s hospitality being more a matter of delight in welcoming and enjoying whomever showed up.
Later while living on the “Truck and Duck Farm” east of Hesston, where they moved in 1983, Margie hosted Spanish-speaking persons, both immigrants and citizens, and taught English to several of them.
Throughout their lives, Margie and Wayne were friends and sponsors to immigrants and refugees from Latin America and Asia. They became foster parents to Nai Nyan, a young Laotian boy, for several years. In 1997, Margie and Wayne moved from their country home to South Weaver Street in Hesston and became part of that neighborhood. In 2013, Margie moved to Schowalter Villa where she continued to be a part of the community until her final illness.
Margie was baptized at the rural West Fairview Mennonite Church as a teenager. In Kansas, she attended the Pennsylvania Mennonite Church, at the present site of Eastlawn Cemetery, and stayed with the congregation when it moved to Hesston in the mid 1960’s, and was renamed Whitestone Mennonite Church, where she remained a faithful member until her death.
At Whitestone, she participated in the Autumn Heirs Sunday school class and served as Sunday School superintendent. She was a devoted teacher to small children in Sunday School for years. She helped organize and support a Hispanic congregation that met at Whitestone in the 1980s and 1990s.
Margie started a pre-school in her home in 1967, that became the roots of the Hesston Community Child Care. She completed her A.A. degree, graduating from Hesston College in 1973, then completed a bachelor of science degree in elementary education at Bethel College in 1976. From 1975 - 1977 she was codirector and teacher at Community Play School in North Newton. She remained focused on small children throughout her life. Even in her last months she was alert to small children and they responded to her.
Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne, in 2008; her brother, Eldon Hostetler; sisters Edith Reed and Leila DeVoe; brothers- in-law Bob Swartzendruber, Levi Troyer and Robert Phelps; son-in-law, David Leo Ledgere and nephews, George Swartzendruber and Benton Reed.
She is survived by her sons, Elbert, of Halstead and Karl, of Sterling Heights, Michigan and; her daughter Jan Swartzendruber and husband, Floyd Saunders of Newton; sisters Wilma Phelps, Hesston, and Vada Clemens, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania; granddaughter, Sibyl Beaudry, Centreville, Virginia; grandson Mauricio Swartzendruber, Kalamazoo, Michigan; in-Laws Gene and Velma Swartzendruber, Hesston, Richard and Naomi Swartzendruber, Valley Center, Larry and Rozella Swartzendruber, Henderson, Nebraska, Evie Troyer and Virginia Swartzendruber, Hesston. She also had 27 nieces and nephews, or niblings, seven grandchildren by marriage and one great-grandson, Ethan Beaudry and two more great-grandchildren on the way.
Following a graveside service for the Family at EastlawnCemeteryon March 19, a memorial service will be held at Whitestone Mennonite Church at 11 a.m., with luncheon provided after the service. There is a memorial fund for the Hesston Community Child Care Center with Central National Bank.
The family expresses deep gratitude to everyone at Schowalter Villa for caring for Margie in her last three years, to the staff at Newton Medical Center for their care in her last three days, to the people of Whitestone for caring about her for many years and making her memorial possible, and to all of you who remember her with your words, cards and attendance and in your thoughts and prayers.
