Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Lester Melvin Ochs
1921 - 2006
TUCSON, Ariz. - Lester Melvin Ochs, 84, died April 5 at Villa Carondalet Nursing Home in Tucson, Ariz. He was born May 27, 1921, in Barton County, the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Karst) Ochs. He was a graduate of Hoisington High School. He married
Rosetta Stettinger on Dec. 8, 1943. He later married
Myra Polly on Sept. 4, 1966. She died July 15, 2005. He was an automobile finance representative in the Hays area until 1960 when he moved to Salina, he later moved to Tucson, Ariz., where he worked in the automobile business until his retirement. Ochs was a member of the Fountain of Life Lutheran Church in Tucson, Ariz. He was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran of World War II. Survivors include one son, Darrel Ochs of Lenexa; one daughter, Connie Riedel of Hays; one step-son, Ralph Polly of Salina; one step-daughter, Marilyn Myers of Salina; one brother, Hubert Ochs of Wichita; two sisters, Ruth Brack of Hoisington, and Nadine Abel of Cadiz, Ky.; three grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; and one step-great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myra Ochs; an infant brother, Clifford Ochs; and an infant grandchild, Jessica Smith. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery with military rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7428 and American Legion Post No.286. Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Fountain of Life Lutheran Church in Tucson, Ariz., or First United Methodist Church in Hoisington in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 145 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Adolph William Stueckemann
1924 -2006 GARFIELD - Adolph William Stueckemann, 81, died April 18 at Edwards County Hospital in Kinsley. He was born Aug. 10, 1924, at Ellinwood, the son of Gustav W. and Augusta H. Junghaertchen Stueckemann. He married
Patricia Anne Howe on Aug. 10, 1952, at Ellinwood. He was a retired farmer. Stueckemann was a member of the Garfield United Methodist Church, Garfield Township Board and past member of the Garfield School Board. Survivors include his wife, of the home; three daughters, Lee Anne Williams and Laura Kirkwood, both of Larned, and Layna Dechant, Gold Canyon, Ariz.; one brother, Walter Stueckemann, Hutchinson; one sister, Johanna Stueckemann, Apple Valley, Minn.; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned with the Rev. Ken Walker officiating. Burial will be in the Garfield cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or the donor's choice, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Edna Elizabeth Morsbach
1912 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Edna Elizabeth Morsbach, 93, died April 17 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, Great Bend. She was born June 23, 1912, in Greeley County, Kan., the daughter of Harry E. Waldren and Emma E. Jones. She married
Jesse T. Morsbach on Dec. 12, 1951, at Raton, N.M. He preceded her in death on May 12, 2001. A resident of Hoisington since 1970, coming from Tribune and Scott City, Kan., she was a homemaker and a retired nurse's aid. Mrs. Morsbach was a member of the First Christian Church and the Missouri-Pacific Women's Club, both in Hoisington. She loved gardening, flowers and crocheting. Survivors include a son Jim Bivins and his wife Sue, Four Seasons, Mo.; niece Donita Price and her husband Jack J., Lamar, Colo.; special person Kathy Rose, whom she regarded as the daughter she never had; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Mike Bivins; a brother, Lloyd Waldren; three sisters, Leta Davison, Juanita Smith and Lucile Sauder; and infant daughter Faye Charlene Bivins. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Paula Bell officiating. Committal service will follow at 4 p.m. today at Lyons Municipal cemetery in Lyons. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main, P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Marvin E. Thompson
1920 - 2006
RUSSELL - Marvin E. Thompson, 85, of Russell, died Tuesday morning, April 11, 2006, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kan. Memorial services are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 21, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary Chapel in Russell. A reception will be held at the Russell Elks Lodge No. 1715 following the services. Cremation has preceded the services. Mr. Thompson was born May 5, 1920, in Belton, Mo., the son of Harry and Eudora (Sappington) Thompson. At an early age, Marvin and his family moved to the Paola, Kan., area where he grew up. He graduated from Paola High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Kansas in 1944 and the University of Kansas Law School in 1946. After graduation, he worked as a law clerk from 1946 to 1947 for The Hon. Arthur J. Mellott, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Kansas. In 1947 Marvin began his law practice in La Crosse, Kan., and moved to Russell in 1950, where he continued his law practice until his retirement from the firm of Thompson, Arthur & Davidson in 2002. He was united in marriage to Maxine Snow on Nov. 14, 1942. Maxine preceded him in death on March 20, 1991. Marvin was united in marriage to Armella M. Wasinger on Feb. 14, 1992, in Hays, Kan. Marvin was admitted to practice law in the Kansas Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court of Kansas, U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Tax Court. His professional associations include the Kansas Bar Association, where he served as president from 1972 to 1973 and as a member of the executive council from 1959 to 1974; Fellow of the Kansas Bar Foundation; American Bar Association; Fellow of the American Bar Association; Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers; and Russell County Bar Association. He also served on the Kansas Judicial Council from 1969 to 2000, where he served as a member of the Probate Code Advisory Committee, the Lien Law Advisory Committee, the Title Standards Advisory Committee, the Care & Treatment/Guardianship Advisory Committee; the Continuing Legal Education Advisory Committee, and the Governmental Immunity Advisory Committee. He served for several years as chairman of the Probate Code Advisory Committee and of the Governmental Immunity Advisory Committee. He also served on the Russell County Zoning Commission for a number of years. Marvin was a member of the First Congregational Church of Russell, the Russell Elks Lodge No. 1715, the Russell Masonic Lodge, and the Isis Shrine. Surviving family include his wife Armella of the home; son, David Thompson and wife Myra of Russell; daughter, Patricia Hubert of Greenfield, Mass.; step-daughters, Ruth Heckman and husband Jim of Guilford, Conn., Mary Kay Kimmitt and husband Jim of Roswell, Ga., and LuAnn Wasinger of Ft. Collins, Colo.; sister, Lucy Roark of Paola; nine grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Harry and Harold. In lieu of flowers, the family has established memorials with Shriner's Burn Center, South Wind Hospice, the Kansas Bar Foundation and St. Mary's Catholic Church Building Fund. Contributions and condolences may be left with PohlmanVarner-Peeler Mortuary, which is assisting the family with arrangements. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Varner-Peeler 610 N. Maple Russell, KS 67665
Claire Geraldine Buehler
1920 - 2006
CLAFLIN - Claire Geraldine Buehler, 85, died April 15, 2006, at River Bend Assisted Living in Great Bend. She was born April 25, 1920, at Fall River, Mass., the daughter of Jeremiah A. and Norah Roach Malvey. She married
Frank Buehler on June 14, 1946, in Ladue, Mo. She was a resident of Claflin since 1946, coming from Fall River, Mass. She was a registered nurse and a homemaker. She was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Frank and Claire met during World War II while serving in the South Pacific. Mrs. Buehler was a member of Claflin United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. She was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph Malvey, one sister, Mary Malvey, and one grandson, Joel Todd Buehler. Survivors include her husband, Frank Buehler of the home; two sons, John M. Buehler and wife Susan of Baldwin City, Kan., Jere K. Buehler and wife Bonnie of Claflin; daughter, Clarice B. and husband Mark Miller of Denver, Colo.; sister, Ruth Duggan of Framingham, Mass.; grandchildren, Gretchen Bixler, T. J. Buehler, B. J. Buehler, Tim Pflughoeft, Jeremy Pflughoeft and Heath Buehler; and great-grandchildren, Claire Buehler, Jackson Buehler, Brooklyn Buehler, and Bailee Buehler. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at the United Methodist Church in Claflin with the Rev. Sarah Hickson de Salazar officiating. Interment will be at the Claflin cemetery in Claflin. Memorials are suggested to the Claflin United Methodist Church or donor's choice. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Shawn M. Cook
1972 - 2006
HAYS - Shawn M. Cook, 33, died Saturday, April 15, 2006, at his home in Hays, Kan. He was born Sept. 8, 1972, in Wichita, to Dennis E. Cook and Ann Spacil. He married
Nicole Schafer on June 8, 2002, at Hays. He was a teacher and coach at TMP-Marian High School in Hays. He was a 1991 graduate of Larned High School and later graduated from Fort Hays State University. Cook was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays. Survivors include his wife, Nicole Cook, and daughter, Alivia Cook, both of the home; his father and step-mother, Dennis E. and Carole Cook, Great Bend; his mother and step-father, Ed and Ann Haremza, Larned; two step-brothers, Jay Dee and his wife Dena Haremza, Larned, and John and his wife Jill Haremza, Garden City; and four step-sisters, Brenda Haremza, Sheli Haremza, Jill E. Haremza and Amy Haremza, all of Larned. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lawrence and Mildred (Simpson) Spacil, and Alec and Myrtle (Boyle) Cook; and foster grandparents, Earl and Louise Hall. His body was cremated and a funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Al Billinger Field House at TMP-Marian Campus, Hays. Inurnment will be at the Lakin-Comanche cemetery in Ellinwood at a later date. A rosary will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cline's Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, in Hays. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at the Al Billinger Field House. Memorials are suggested to the Alivia Cook Education Fund, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Cline's Mortuary of Hays P.O. Box 252 Hays, KS 67601
Lavina (Mae) Klima
1926 - 2006
CLAFLIN -Lavina Mae Klima, 80, died Friday at her residence in Claflin. She was born March 17, 1926, in Rice County, the daughter of James Arthur Belote and Lavina (King) Belote. She married
Vernon G. Klima, April 1, 1951, at Lyons. He preceded her in death May 26, 1999. She was a homemaker and a resident of Claflin after moving from Holyrood in 1963. Mrs. Klima was a member of the First Baptist Church in Claflin. Survivors include four sons, Dennis Klima and Gary Klima, both of Great Bend, Ernest Klima, Hutchinson, and Jim Klima, Claflin; four daughters Carol Graves, Hutchinson, Donna Briggeman, Iuka, Veral Blair, Claflin, Sherry Siemsen, Holyrood; one sister Esther Adams, Hutchinson; 23 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington with the Rev. Shawn Winters presiding. Burial will be at the Claflin cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice in care of the funeral home. Funeral Arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS. 67544
Joan Cooper
1931 - 2006
LIBERAL - Joan Cooper, 74, died Wednesday at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal. She was born Aug. 23, 1931 in Larned, the daughter of Elmer and Lena (Lipsack) Mausolf. She was a 1949 graduate of Otis High School, attended Kansas University, and completed her Bachelors degree in education at Fort Hays State University in 1954. She married
Glen Edward Cooper August 23, 1954, at Albert. He preceded her in death on Nov. 7, 1976. She was a homemaker and also an assistant librarian at Liberal High School. Mrs. Cooper was a member of the First Untied Methodist Church and SCCC Booster Club, both in Liberal. Survivors include two sons Craig Cooper of Gunnison, Colo., Scott Cooper of Chicago, Ill.; one daughter Christy Cooper of Orange Calif.; step mother Alberta Mausolf, Albert, and one sister Dee Ochs, Colorado Springs, Colo. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the church with Rev. Ken Hathaway presiding. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Kitch-Brenneman Funeral Home, Liberal. Memorials are suggested to the church, or the Glen and Joan Cooper Memorial Scholarship Fund at Liberal High School or to SCCC Lady Saints Basketball in care of the funeral home. Funeral Arrangements provided by Kitch-Brenneman Funeral Home 1212 W 2nd Liberal, KS. 67901 800-640-9205
Kathryn 'Kaye' Orth Habiger
1911 - 2006
BUSHTON - Kathryn 'Kaye' Orth Habiger, 94, died Saturday at Good Samaritan Center in Lyons. She was born Dec. 18, 1911 at Bushton, Kan., the daughter of Henry and Margaret Finnin Orth. She graduated from St. John School of Nursing at Marymount College in Salina. She married
Lawrence J. Habiger Feb. 12. 1945, at Bushton. He preceded her in death on Mar. 18, 2005. She was a retired registered nurse for Rice and Barton Co. hospitals and nursing homes. She was a resident of Lyons since 2005, formerly a longtime resident of Bushton. Mrs. Habiger was a member of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and Holy Name of Jesus Altar Society, and an avid card player all in Bushton. Survivors include three daughters Marguerite Feist of Ellinwood, Zoe Miner of Lyons, Bridget Habiger, of Denver, Colo.; one sister Magdalen Cerar of Carlinville, Ill. She was precede in death by two brothers John Orth and Felix Orth, four sisters Louise Slansky, Josephine Flanders, Mary Link and Nancy Lee Neasloney. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church with Revs. Steve Scheier, James Roth, and Juan Garza presiding. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Sillin Funeral Home, Lyons, and at 6 p.m. at the church, rosary will follow at 7:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the church cemetery Fund or the Bushton First Responders in care of the funeral home. Funeral Arrangements provided by Sillin Funeral Home & Granite Memorials 214 West Ave. South Lyons, KS. 67554
Opal Knappenberger
1913 - 2006
OLATHE - Opal Clara Katherine Knappenberger, 92, died Thursday at Stafford District Hospital. She was born Oct. 13, 1913, in Haven, the daughter of Albert and Florence (Wittorff) Schlickau. She graduated from Haven High School and Kansas State University. She married
Dr. Joseph Knappenberger on Dec. 26, 1935 in Akron, Ohio. He preceded her in death in 1992. She was a homemaker and owner of Knappenberger Veterinary Clinic in Hutchinson from 1937 to 1948 before moving to Olathe in 1948. Mrs. Knappenberger was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at KSU, member of the St. Marks Lutheran Church, Olathe; an active 4-H and Extension leader in Reno and Johnson counties and local and state Kansas Extension Homemakers Assoc., and life member of Kansas Veterinary Medical Assoc.. Auxiliary. Survivors include two sons Dr. Tom Knappenberger of Olathe, Don Knappenberger of St. John; two daughters Janice Dunn of St. John, May Janssen of Sheridan, Ind., ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Lerado cemetery near Penalosa. There will be public visitation. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. in the Trinity United Church of Christ, Hudson, with Lay minister John Schlickau presiding. Memorials are suggested to the Stafford District Hospital or St. Marks Lutheran Church, Olathe both in care of Minnis Chapel, St. John. Funeral Arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel, Inc. 526 E 4th St. John, KS 67576
Charles McKinley Cooper Jr.
1924 -2006 HUTCHINSON - Charles McKinley Cooper Jr., 81, died Thursday at the Hutchinson Hospital. He was born June 3, 1924, in Hutchinson, the son of Charles M. Cooper Sr. and Marguerite Elsie Heim. He graduated Langdon High School. He married
Fern M. Smith on April 21, 1958, in Nickerson. She preceded him in death on Dec. 9, 1996. He was a retired weighmaster for Farmland Industries and a longtime resident of Hutchinson. Mr. Cooper was a member of the St. Paul's United Church of Christ, American Legion Lloyd F. Schroeder Post 200, Sons of the American Legion all of Holyrood, V.F.W. Post 6485 and Masonic Lodge # 146 both of Ellsworth and a veteran of WWII in the United States Navy. Survivors include two sons Charles Howard of Hutchinson, Duth Mannel of Holyrood; one brother Joseph Cooper of Grand Island, Neb.; one sister Leverna Burrow of Columbia, Tenn., six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brother Jackie Dean Cooper, two sisters Virginia Thomas, Lucille Drake, an infant sister, and stepchildren Robert and Margaret Howard. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Fairlawn cemetery with the Rev. Debra Rains presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Graveside rites conducted by Hutch-Reno Masonic Lodge #124, A.F. and A.M. and Ft Riley Honor guard. Memorials are suggested to the American Legion Post 200 in care of the funeral home. Funeral Arrangements provided by Elloitt Mortuary 1219 North Main Hutchinson, KS. 67501
Phyllis Barrow
1928 - 2006
ELLINWOOD - Phyllis Barrow, 78, died Friday at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. She was born Oct. 12, 1928, in Great Bend, the daughter of Elmer Lawrence and Florence Ann Johnson Barrow. She was a lifetime resident of Barton County. Miss Barrow was a member of the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ellinwood. Survivors include two brothers Bob Barrow of Great Bend, Jack Barrow of Cypress, Texas; one sister Shirley Christiansen, Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.; and nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Larry Young presiding. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Kimple Funeral Home, Ellinwood. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest cemetery in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church. Funeral Arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
