Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Steve E. Johnson
(October 30, 1954 - October 25, 2011)
Steven Edwin Johnson, 56, of Hesston, died Tuesday (Oct. 25, 2011) at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus in Wichita.
He was born on October 30, 1954 in Kansas City, Ks., the son of Benjamin Wesley and Jeanette Alberto Holden Johnson. Steven served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Steven married
Michele Tipton in Hutchinson, Ks. on August 30, 1989. They lived in the Newton area for over 20 years.
Survivors include his wife Michele of the home; son Marc Anthony; daughters Dina Johnson and Sommer Johnson; brothers Ronald Irvin Johnson, Reginald Dupree Johnson and Jay Johnson; sisters Madonna Bock, Leatrice “Babe” Johnson, and Clarice McCartney along with many extended family members.
Steven is preceded in death by his parents and brother Greg Johnson.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday (Oct. 29, 2011) at King Hall located on King Park in Hesston.
The family will be at the park at 9:30 on Saturday to visit with friends prior to the services.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
Sue Brown
d. December 15, 2014
Hillsboro – Sue Brown, 50, died December 16, 2014 at her residence. She was born November 16, 1964 to Dale and Delores (Bronson) Gwennap at Smith Center. She married
Tim Brown May 12, 1984 in Smith Center. Survivors include: spouse, Tim Brown of Rural Hillsboro; son, Matthew Brown of Red Cloud, Nebraska; daughters, Marti (Shawn) Newton of Clyde, KS, Megan Brown of Rural Marion, Melissa (Chad) Cannon of Topeka; brothers, Larry Gwennap and Rick Gwennap; sisters, Betty Hamme, Pam Huffman, Ellen Kopsa, Deb Allen, Tracy Lammers; 8 grandchildren. Celebration of Life Service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 22, 2014 at The First Presbyterian Church in Delphos, Kansas officiated by Pastor Michelle McHenry. Family will receive guests from 6 to 8 Friday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro. Memorials to Brown Family Memorial Fund in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Emily Christine Byler, 22
Emily Christine Byler, 22, Paraprofessional Teacher, passed away Monday, May 11, 2015, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
She was born Dec. 4, 1992, in Barberton, Ohio, the daughter of Michael Ray and Jayne Marie (Speigle) Byler.
She moved to Pratt in Aug. of 2014 from Ohio. She had been attending the Pratt Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by her partner of three years, Elizabeth Hillegass of Pratt; mother Jayne of Canton, Ohio; father Michael of Atlanta, Ga.; sister Kathryn (Garry) Juarez of Cameron Park, Calif. and brother Justin Byler of Amherst, Mass.
A visitation was held May 16 at Pratt Presbyterian Church. A funeral service followed with Pastor Stephen Wing presiding.
An Ohio service was held May 19, 2015 at First Mennonite Church with Marilyn Rossiter presiding. Smith-Varns Funeral Home will be handling arrangements.
Burial will follow at the family’s convenience in Blough Mennonite ChurchCemeteryin Hollsopple, Pa.
Memorials may be made to ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health) Services of Tuscarawas County or Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS, 67124.
Viola Eck
Viola Eck, 96, died July 25 at Kindred Hospital in Dallas.
She was born on Sept. 13, 1907, in Goltry, Okla., to Barney and Anna (Smith) Becker.
Her husband, Joel, preceded her in death.
She was a homemaker and was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church.
Survivors include a son, Wayne, of Furley; four daughters, Doris Swartz of Augusta, Norma Koehn of Moundridge, JoAnn Isaac of Houston and Gloria Struble of Dallas; a sister, Laura Wagoner of Saratoga, Wyo.; 16 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
The memorial service was Thursday at Hesston Mennonite Church with the Rev. John Murray officiating.
Burial was in Emanuel Bible ChurchCemeteryin rural Moundridge.
Leo A. Arnold
(November 5, 1905 - October 24, 2011)
Leo Anthony “Barney” Arnold, 105, of Newton, died Monday (Oct. 24, 2011) at Asbury Park in Newton.
He was born on November 5, 1905 in Wamego Ks., the son of Louis and Magdelena Zeigler Arnold. Barney attended Wamego High School, where he was active in football, basketball and track, his high school Mile Relay team set a record at the K.U. Relays. He later attended Kansas State University.
Barney married
Libby Ann Smerchek on November 25, 1932 in Claflin, Ks. They moved to Newton in 1941.
For many years, he worked for Stauffer Construction. As a building contractor he worked throughout Kansas and Missouri until retiring.
Barney was a long time member for Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #2516 in Newton, holding numerous local and state offices. He was honored by the organization by being named “Grandfather of the Year”.
Barney is survived by sons Gene Arnold and his wife Kim of Pascagoula, Mississippi and George Arnold and his wife Janice of Hesston, Ks.; daughter Nancy Smith of Dixon, Ill.; daughter-in-law Lynda Arnold of Wichita; eight grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife on December 7, 1994; son Donald in Sept. 1993; several siblings.
Barney was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed spending time with his family at their many sporting events.
Graveside services and interment will be held at 3:00 P.M., Saturday (Oct. 29, 2011) at the Czech-MoravianCemeterynear Blue Rapid, Ks.
Friends may call at the funeral home Friday 1pm til 9pm, where the family will receive friends between 6 and 9.
A memorial has been established with the Eagles Lodge “Max Baer Heart Fund” and Asbury Park, contributions may be sent Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.
Frank J. Ediger
d. March 3, 2013
Frank J. Ediger, 91, died March 3, 2013 at Parkside Home in Hillsboro. He was born September 28, 1921 to Frank C. and Martha (Harms) Ediger in Henderson, Nebraska. Survivors include: wife Elvina Ediger Hillsboro; sons, Dennis (Debra) Myrtle Beach, CA., Mark (Avis) Juction City, KS., Garth (Jan) Overland Park, KS., daughter; Juanita (Ron) Carter Topeka,; 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Marie (Pauls) Ediger in 1982.
Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church. Burial 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery. Visitation 6 to 8 Tuesday at Jost Funeral Home. Memorial to Parkside Home in care of The Funeral Home.
Sherrill Ann Wedel
Sherrill Ann Wedel, 62, of McPherson, died Jan. 26 at Hospice House in Hutchinson.
The funeral service was Sunday, Jan 30, at First Mennonite Church in McPherson, with the Rev. Leonard Wiebe officiating. Burial was Sunday at Eden MennoniteCemeteryin Moundridge.
She was born on Aug. 1, 1942, in McPherson to Walter and Margaret Schrag.
She was a homemaker and helped with the family farm. In 1976, she founded Canterbury Tails Inc.
She graduated from the McPherson School of Practical Nursing in 1992. She was a member of First Mennonite Church in McPherson.
Survivors include her husband, Tony, of the home; two sons, Kip of Salina and Troy of McPherson; a daughter, Lauri Wedel-Isaacs and her husband, Mike, of Hesston; a brother, Bob Schrag of Galva; her parents, of Moundridge; two grandchildren; two nieces; and a nephew.
Memorials have been established with the church, in care of Moundridge Funeral Home.
Moundridge Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Allen Edward Zook, 91
Allen Edward Zook, age 91, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015, at Fairlawn Haven in Archbold, Ohio. He was born Aug. 6, 1924, near Garden City, Missouri, to Edward K. and Nancy Edith (Hershberger) Zook.
On Mar. 15, 1952, Allen married
Esther Neff of LaGrange, Indiana, and she preceded him in death on Dec. 4, 2004.
Allen was a minister in the Mennonite Church for many years and served congregations in Kirksville, MO, Versailles, MO and Gulfport, MS before retiring in Hesston, KS.
He moved to Archbold in 2011. He was a member of the Hesston Mennonite Church at the time of his death. In addition to ministry, he had a number of part-time jobs. He served in Civilian Public Service from 1944 -1946 in Hill City, South Dakota, and Lincoln, Nebraska. He also operated the Mennonite Central Committee Relief canner for two years in the 1940’s.
Allen and Esther were the parents of four children who survive: Elaine (Nathan) Barge of Harrisonburg, Virginia, David (Lynn) Zook of Sarasota, Florida, Lois Arndt of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Donna (Allen) Rutter of Stryker, Ohio; one brother, John Zook, of Goshen, Indiana; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters: Mary Erb, Erma Zimmerman and Luella Bitikofer; his twin brother Alvin; his brother Marvin; two infant siblings, Mabel and Clarence and son-in-law, John Arndt.
Visitation will be on Friday, Sept. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Miller Ott Funeral Home in Hesston.
A memorial service will be held at Hesston Mennonite Church on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m.
Burial will be in the Eastlawn Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Mennonite Central Committee or Shalom Counseling and Mediation Center.
