Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Robert "Howard" Willard
Robert 'Howard' Willard died Feb. 16 at his home in Great Bend. Services are pending with Charter Funerals in Great Bend.
Carol Jean Knupp
1942 - 2006
DESOTO - Carol Jean Knupp, 63, died on Wednesday Feb. 15 at her home in DeSoto Kan. She was born April 5, 1942 in Ellinwood, Kan., the daughter of Roy and Olinda Knop Lathrop. She married
Larry Knupp on Sept. 1, 1963 in Ellinwood. He survives of the home. She grew up on a farm outside of Ellinwood and attended Ellinwood High School, graduating in 1960. She attended the University of Kansas where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism in 1964. After graduating from KU, Mrs. Knupp worked at the Great Bend Tribune in Great Bend, Kan. as a reporter and education editor. She was one of the first winners of the K.N.E.A. Golden Quill Award in 1971. In 1975, Mrs. Knupp became the editor of the Ellinwood Leader in Ellinwood, Kan., when she and her husband purchased the newspaper. The newspaper won numerous awards for local journalism during her tenure as editor. Mrs. Knupp served on the Ellinwood School Board for many years including a term as the board president. In 1983 she retired and became a homemaker and free-lance writer. She wrote for many local and regional publications including the Kansas City Star and did extensive research on central Kansas folklore. She was an avid collector of antiques and vintage quilts. Survivors include one son, Justin Knupp and his wife Amy of Lawrence, brother Arlyn Lathrop, Great Bend, two grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence. Burial will be at the Oak Hill cemetery, Lawrence. Memorials are suggested to the Habitat for Humanity in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home 601 Indian St. Lawrence, KS. 66044
William "PeeWee" Clifton Morgan
1941 - 2006
HUDSON - William 'PeeWee' Clifton Morgan, 64, died Feb. 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 21, 1941, at Vernon, Texas, the son of William A. and Alta King Morgan. He married
Linda Christian on Oct. 12, 1968, at Saginaw, Mich. He had worked as a driller in oilfields in Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, New York, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Kansas before retiring in 1983. He was a resident of Hudson for five years moving from Turon. Survivors include his wife, Linda; two sons, James Morgan of Grainvalley, Mo., and David Morgan of Hudson; two daughters, Christina Shaver of Trimble, Tenn., and Elizabeth Morgan of Oilmount, Mont.; one brother, Richard Morgan of Elgin; two sisters, Belinda Fox of Byron, Okla., and Sandy Bearden of Skiatook, Okla.; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one grandson, Waylon Peltier. Memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Highland Hotel and Convention Center in Great Bend. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel 125 N. Main Stafford, KS 67578
Marie Louise Boxberger
1916 - 2006
Marie Louise Boxberger, 89, of Great Bend, died Feb. 15 at Friendship Manor in National City, Calif. Services are pending with Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Freda R. Brauer
1937 - 2006
LA CROSSE - Freda R. Brauer, 68, died Feb. 14 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. Services are pending with Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Ruby M. Carder
1921 - 2006
ELLSWORTH - Ruby M. Carder, 84, died Feb. 14. She was born Ruby M. Kelley on June 30, 1921, in Salina. She was a cook at Elmore Cafeteria for 25 years, and a retired cafeteria worker for the Salina school district. Survivors include two sons, Stanley E. Carder of California, and Dick F. Carder of Georgetown, Texas; one daughter, Nancy C. Schmidt of Ellsworth; two brothers, Bob Kelley of San Antonio, Texas, and Ray Kelley of Manhattan; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd E. 'Shorty' Carder, who died in 1998. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel in Salina. Burial will be at the Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the chapel, with the family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements provided by Roselawn Mortuary 1307 S. Santa Fe Ave. Salina, KS 67401
Clara Kuntz
1918 - 2006
LARNED - Clara Kuntz, 87, died Feb. 14 at St. John's Health Care in Hays. She was born Oct. 31, 1918, at Ness City, the daughter of Jacob Michael and Frances Dechant Paul. She married
Andy W. Kuntz on Aug. 18, 1949, at Cherokee, Okla. He died Sept. 11, 1991. A longtime resident of Larned, she was a homemaker. Kuntz was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society in Larned. Survivors include two sons, Thomas Michael of Independence, Mo., and Andrew David of Hays; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Phillip Paul, John Paul, and Mike Paul; and four sisters, Margaret Curtis, Susanna Shananhan, Dorothy Rohr and Pauline Rotenburg. Vigil and Rosary services will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Larned with the Rev. Anthony Suellentrop officiating. Burial will be at the Larned cemetery. Friends may cal from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Virginia T. Reif
1925 - 2006
WICHITA - Virginia T. Reif, 81, died Feb. 15 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Jan. 1, 1925, in rural Barton County, the daughter of Joe C. and Emma (Courage) Reif. She was a 1942 Hoisington High School graduate and a 1945 graduate of St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Wichita. She was a retired registered nurse at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, and she was also employed with the American Red Cross for 10 years. She had been a resident of Wichita since 1960, coming from Hoisington. Reif was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include one brother, Don E. Reif of Hoisington; one sister, Yvonne Lang of Perry; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Alvin Reif and Joe Reif Jr., and two sisters, Frances McDonald and Dorothy Hommon. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisignton. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hoisington with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at Golden Belt cemetery in Barton County. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Rosewood Services or American Diabetes Association, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
JoAnn Crabb
1930 - 2006
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. - JoAnn Crabb, 75, retired bookkeeper for Eversharp Tool, died on Friday, Feb. 10, at the home of her daughter in Broken Arrow, Okla. She was born to Leslie V. and Glenda B. (Barngrover) Curry in Great Bend on Oct. 31, 1930. She is survived by three daughters, Joni Boggs and husband Al, Jana Differ and husband Randy, and Jeramie Butcher and husband Tim; seven grandchildren; sister, Norma Yancey; and brother, Dean Curry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmie Gean Crabb, parents, Leslie V. and Glenda B. Curry, and brother, Bob Curry. Funeral service was held Feb. 13 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, with interment at Memorial Park cemetery. All arrangements were entrusted to the Nick Reynolds Funeral Service in Tulsa, Okla.
Clarence Victor Flegler
1925 - 2006
RUSSELL - Clarence Victor Flegler, 80, died Feb. 13 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell. He was born Aug. 24, 1925, at Russell, the son of Jacob and Hannah (Deines) Flegler. He attended West Kenneback School. He married
Gertrude Madden on Jan. 28, 1951, in rural Russell. He was an active farmer and stockman for many years. He also worked as custodian for the school district for about 10 years, retiring in the 1980s. Flegler served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Europe during the Battle of the Bulge. He was also a prisoner of war for about four months. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Bob Flegler of Minneapolis; one daughter, Mitzi Harrison of Lindsborg; one brother, Vernon Dean Flegler of Russell; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Nancy Jo; and one sister, Dora Lee Miller. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, with the Rev. Peter Rupprecht officiating. Burial will be at Trinity Bender Hill Lutheran cemetery in rural Russell. Visitation will be today from noon to 8 p.m. at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary in Russell. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary 610 N. Maple St. Russell, KS 67665
Boyd E. Morris
1931 - 2006
OLATHE - Boyd E. Morris, 74, passed away peacefully on Feb. 13 in Olathe. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. today at Westside Church of the Nazarene in Olathe. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16. The family suggests memorials to the church building fund. To leave a special message for the family, please visit the Web site at www.penwellgabel.com. Boyd was born April 6, 1931, one of eight children. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Grace. He leaves behind five children, Jane and husband John Fortin of Overton, Neb., Don and wife Alberta Morris of Hays, Terri and husband Doug Main of Portales, N.M., Cathy Anazao of Alamogordo, N.M., and Denise Morris of Tokyo, Japan; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. He also leaves four brothers, Neil and wife Betty Morris of Lenexa, Robert and wife Geneva Morris of Ingalls, Virgil and wife Jean Morris of Johnson, and Jim and wife Jean Morris of Ulysses; three sisters, Maureen and husband Jim Main of Phoenix, Ariz., Shari and husband Dennis Massion of Scottsdale, Ariz., Nita Killman of Indianapolis, Ind.; and a loving church family. Boyd attended Southern Nazarene University and was a proud U.S. Marine veteran. He was an active member of Westside Church of the Nazarene. He leaves a legacy of joy, integrity and kindness. He was a strong pillar of the family, devoted husband, loving father, grandfather and a very generous spirit. Boyd also leaves behind a loving church family, all whom will dearly miss him. Funeral arrangements provided by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home 14275 Blackbob Rd. Olathe, KS 66063
Juanita Yarmer
1927 - 2006
ELLINWOOD - Juanita Yarmer, 78, died Feb. 13 at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson. She was born Aug. 15, 1927, at Tuscumbia, Ala., the daughter of Ben Berry and Lili Streeter. She married
Jack Yarmer on Oct. 30, 1950, in Clayton, N.M. She was an Ellinwood resident for the past 20 years, formerly of Singapore, Malta, Turkey, and Los Palmas in the Canary Islands. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband of the home and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Ben Berry, Jr.; and two sisters, Betty Graber and Annie Graber. Altar Society Rosary will be at 3 p.m. today at Kimple Funeral Home. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood with the Rev. Charles Mazouch officiating. Burial will be at the Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Ellinwood Heritage Club. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 N. Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Vera Myers Benedict
1915 - 2006
ENCINITAS, Calif. - Vera Myers Benedict passed away of natural causes in Encinitas, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2006, after living in Long Beach, Calif., for over 60 years. Vera was born in Galatia on April 7, 1915, to Ben and Rosie Myers. She was raised on a farm in Kansas with three sisters, Helen, Marcia, and Virginia (all deceased) and a brother and experienced a warm and loving childhood. In 1942, she moved to Long Beach, Calif., to work at the Douglas Aircraft Company where she met her future husband, Mark Benedict. Vera and Mark were married
on June 5, 1943, and took up residence in Belmont Shore. The couple had two sons, Jim and Jeff. Vera was primarily a homemaker and was active in the PTA and scouts while her sons were growing up and later involved with the Women's Republican Party. Vera was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who cherished her family and enjoyed life. She was preceded in death by her husband Mark in 1989; and is survived by her sons and daughter-in-laws Jim (Tina) Benedict and Jeff (Katie) Benedict; grandchildren, Lindsay, Kelly and Eric; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be private.
Martha E. Merten
1932 - 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Martha E. Merten died at her home in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday morning, Feb. 11. She is survived by her companion of 50 years, Marilyn L. Miller. born in 1932 in Great Bend, Martha was the daughter of the late Lloyd W. and Margaret D. Merten. Her surviving family includes three sisters, Mary Anne Mull of Great Bend, Rachael Miller of Eufaula, Okla., Rebecca Modica (husband, Joseph) of Tampa, Fla.; and a brother, Robert Merten (wife, Karol) of Denver, Colo.; and 17 nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Sally, a victim of multiple sclerosis, as was Martha. Martha graduated from Great Bend High School in l950; received her baccalaureate degree from Oklahoma College for Women in l954; and received a master's degree in reading development from the University of Michigan in 1960. Her growing up on a farm in the rolling wheat fields of central Kansas and her love of books shaped her life as a person and as a teacher in Kansas (l954 to l968) and Michigan (l968 to l977). Her work with middle and high school students revolved around her philosophy that reading brings joy as well as learning, information, and success. Her health forced her retirement in 1977. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice or to the Marilyn L. Miller Scholarship Fund, School of Education, UNCG.
