Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Sister Veronica Staudinger OP
1910 - 2006
Sister Veronica Staudinger, 96, died Sept. 25, in the Dominican Sisters' convent infirmary in Great Bend. born June 11, 1910, in Dubuque, Kan., as Theresa Odilia Staudinger, Sister Veronica was the daughter of John and Veronica Woydziak Staudinger. She entered the Dominican Sisters' Community on Aug. 16, 1924, and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 16, 1928. She celebrated 75 years of religious profession in 2003. Sister Veronica had a career of 52 years as a teacher and/or principal in Catholic elementary schools, which began in 1928. Besides teaching in 16 schools in Kansas, she also taught in three schools in Kirksville, Mo., and Tipton, Mo. In many of these schools she was principal as well as teacher. After her full-time teaching, she also was part-time secretary and librarian for two years at St. Rose School in Great Bend. After her retirement to the motherhouse in Great Bend, she served as a beautician for the sisters, sold religious articles and made crafts for the Annual Mission Bazaar. Sister Veronica was preceded in death by all her brothers and sisters: the Rev. Joseph Staudinger, OSB, Adolph Staudinger, Anton Staudinger, Henry Staudinger, Carl Staudinger, Sister Monica and Helen Malone. Sister Veronica's body has been taken to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Thursday, with the Rev. Reginald Urban presiding. A wake service will be held at 7 tonight. Burial will be in the Sisters' Resurrection cemetery. Both the wake and the funeral will be held at the convent, 3600 Broadway. Memorials in honor of Sister Veronica may be sent to: Dominican Sisters Retirement Fund, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend is in charge of arrangements. Friends may call at the convent from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Bertha W. Willard
1917 - 2006
LEAVENWORTH - Bertha A. Willard, 89, of Leavenworth, formerly of Preston, passed away Monday, Sept. 25, at the Country Care of Easton. She was born April 10, 1917, in Ellis County, the daughter of Alex F. and Theresia (Dreher) Weinmeier. She married
William C. Willard on Nov. 7, 1942, in San Bernadino, Calif. He passed away April 14, 1994. Bertha had been a sales clerk at the McDonald Department Store in Great Bend. She attended the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Leavenworth and was a past member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Great Bend. Bertha was an avid gardener and she loved to read. She is survived by her daughter Jerys R. Krug and husband Dale, Leavenworth; sisters Cecelia Heaton and Mary Allmon, both of Lee's Summit, Mo.; one granddaughter, Shelly; and three great-grandchildren, Sam, Larry, and Ashley. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of over 51 years William, sister Martina Schreiber, and brothers Henry Weinmeier, Alex Weinmeier, and Raymond Weinmeier. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Belden-Sexton-Sumpter Funeral Chapel in Leavenworth. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Great Bend cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be made to Odyssey Hospice or Country Care, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Belden-Sexton-Sumpter Funeral Chapel 500 Oak Street Leavenworth, KS 66048
Harley W. Volkmann
1913 - 2006
Harley W. Volkmann, 93, of Great Bend, died Sept. 24 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita. He was born June 8, 1913, at Lyons, the son of Albert and Ida Schmidt Volkmann. He married
Mary H. Hobbick Nov. 19, 1934, in Lyons. He owned Volkmann Trucking and was also a building inspector for the City of Great Bend. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1944, coming from Lyons. Volkmann was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Elks Lodge and Masonic Lodge, and a charter member of the Great Bend Petroleum Club, all of Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, of the home; a son, Bill Volkmann, Manhattan; a daughter, Chris Foos, Overland Park; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. Graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Inurnment will take place there. There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place. A memorial fund has been established for the church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Donald D. Schuelke
1919 - 2006
LARNED - Donald D. Schuelke, 87, died Sept. 22 at St. Joseph Long Term Care in Larned. He was born Sept. 3, 1919, in Denver, Colo., the son of Elmer and Nola Armantrout Schuelke. He married
Lula Marie Yoder on Oct. 20, 1950, in Lyons. She died June 30, 1993. A resident of Larned since 1984, moving from Rozel, he was a carpenter and laborer. Schuelke was of the Baptist faith. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Medical Corps. Survivors include two brothers, Wesley Schuelke of Morrow Bay, Calif., and Jimmy Schuelke of Hartville, Mo.; one sister, Rosa Carder of Springfield, Mo.; one half brother, Kenneth Achilles of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Goldie Schuelke. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Burial will be in the Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Welcome Inn Seniors, in care of the funeral home. Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550-0124
Oteka Irene Schwerdtfeger
1929 - 2006
BUSHTON - Oteka Irene Schwerdtfeger, 76, died Sept. 23 at Hutchinson Hospital. She was born Dec. 25, 1929, in Winfield, the daughter of Dwight Murray Sr. and Doris Irene Prouty Murray. She married
Leonard Schwerdtfeger on Oct. 15, 1949, in Bushton. He died March 10, 2000. A resident of Bushton since 1943, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Schwerdtfeger was a member of the Bushton United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women. Survivors include three sons, Lennie Schwerdtfeger and wife Gwyn of Roseville, Mich., Alan Schwerdtfeger of McPherson, and Glenn Schwerdtfeger and wife Carolyn of Columbus, Ohio; one daughter, Crystal Behnke and husband Howard of Lyons; one brother, Dwight Murray Jr. and wife Foy of McLoud, Okla.; one sister, LaVer Sexton of Seligman, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Jonathan Behnke, Julie Wheat and husband Brandon, Joshua Behnke, David Schwerdtfeger, Amy Schwerdtfeger, Emily Schwerdtfeger and Rachel Schwerdtfeger; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. today at the United Methodist Church in Bushton with the Rev. Sarah Hickson de Salazar officiating. Burial will be at Bushton cemetery. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. today at the church. Memorials are suggested to Bushton United Methodist Church, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Great Bend. Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Loyd D. Morton
1924-2006
SEWARD - Loyd D. Morton, 82, died Sept. 21 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. He was born July 8, 1924, at Manchester, Tenn., the son of T.D. and Maude Jones Morton. He married
Violet Smith Sept. 16, 1945, in Seward. She survives. He was a farmer and owner/operator of Morton Service. He had been a resident of Stafford County for 60 years, coming from Manchester, Tenn. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, both of Seward. He was also a member of the American Legion Argonne Post 180 and the Disabled American Veterans. He had served on the Stafford County Rural Fire Department for many years. Survivors include his wife, Violet, of Great Bend; a son, James L. Morton and his wife Karen, Great Bend; a daughter, Mary M. Devin and husband Dennis, Colorado Springs, Colo.; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth and Wilburn Morton, and three sisters, Alta Gordon, Alline Thomas and Myrtle Toomey. A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Seward, with Father Rene Guesnier officiating. Interment will be in St. Francis Xavier cemetery, Seward. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home in Great Bend. Memorial funds in Mr. Morton's name have been established for Disabled American Veterans and for the St. Francis Xavier Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Kenneth H. Mawhirter
1915-2006
ST. JOHN - Kenneth H. Mawhirter, 91, of St. John, died Sept. 21 at Stafford District Hospital, Stafford. born Sept. 20, 1915, in rural St. John, the son of John A. and Minnie (Towel) Mawhirter, he was a farmer/stockman and a lifetime resident of St. John. On June 4, 1937, he married
Ardena Florence (Eidson) at Lincoln. She preceded him in death. He attended Happy Valley Schools and St. John High School. Mr. Mawhirter was a member of the Eagles Lodge at Great Bend. Survivors include three sons, Terry of St. John, Brent of Stafford and Randall of Tyndal, S.D.; five daughters, Shirley Aumiller of Great Bend, Judy Tanner and Leanna Lutz, both of St. John, Janice Willinger of Hudson and Deanna Porter of Hutchinson; 25 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death a son, Gary, four brothers, Phillip, Raymond, Walter and John, and two sisters, Virgie Adams and Francis Brenn. A graveside service and burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Fairview Park cemetery, St. John, with Rev. Wade Russell officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Stafford District Hospital in care of Minnis Chapel, St. John. Minnis Chapel 526 E. 4th Ave. St. John, KS 67576
Mary I. Voran
1914-2006
BELPRE - Mary I. Voran, 92, died Sept. 22 at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park. She was born May 29, 1914, in Great Bend, the daughter of John and Clara Kazmaier Welch. She spent her younger years on the family farm in rural Barton County. The last four years of her life, she lived in Overland Park with her daughter Sally and her family. She belonged to the Belpre United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, the Belpre Women's Club and the Belpre Research Club. She served on many various boards and committees during her life. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Her laughter, kindness and love will be greatly missed. On Feb. 24, 1952, she married
Elmer Voran at Great Bend. He died Dec. 29, 1988. Survivors include a daughter Sally Wagner and her husband John of Overland Park; a grandson, Austin Wagner of Overland Park; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Ethel Unruh and Pauline Smith and four brothers, Mike Welch, Albert Welch, Clarence Welch and John Welch. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with Vivian Bright presiding. Burial will be in the Belpre cemetery in Belpre. Memorials are suggested to the City of Belpre Park Memorial Fund, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Inc., P. O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Beckwith Mortuary Inc. P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Wayne O. Strohm
1916-2006
Wayne O. Strohm, 90, of Great Bend, died Sept. 22 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. He was born March 30, 1916, at Conway, the son of Oscar E. and Harriet Bailey Strohm. He married
E. Ione Rostine on Oct. 6, 1940, in McPherson. A resident of Great Bend since 1958, coming from Lyons, he was a civil engineer for the state of Kansas. Mr. Strohm was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of First Christian Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3111 and American Legion Post No. 180, all of Great Bend. Survivors include his wife of the home; a daughter Diana Wick of Sterling; two sisters, Beulah Benifel of Omaha, Neb., and Berta Dee Archer of Lyons; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lawrence Strohm and LeVerne Strohm and a grandson Matthew T. Komarek. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the First Christian Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery in Great Bend with military honors. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church Building Fund in care of the funeral home. Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
William DeBoer
1915 -2006
PHILLIPSBURG - William DeBoer, 91, died Sept. 13. He was born May 6, 1915, in Phillips County. He was a farmer. Survivors include a son, Bob Yenne of Arvada, Colo.; six daughters, Myrna Campbell of Great Bend, Caroline Stutterheim, Lorraine Wells and Helen Rae DeBoer, all of Phillipsburg, Elnor VanDerwege of Lindsborg and Shirley Stutterheim of Almena; a brother, Robert of Prairie View; a sister, Wilma Hogan of Long Island; 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two wives, Martha, in 1952 and Velma, in 1996. Funeral services were Sept. 16 at Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View. Burial was in Prairie View cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Services or the church. Funeral arrangements provided by Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel 1115 2nd Street Phillipsburg, KS 67661
Ethel Darlene Jurgensen
1929-2006
Ethel Darlene Jurgensen, 77, died Sept. 20 at her home in Great Bend. She was born July 18, 1929, in Rush County, the daughter of Carl and Anna Marie Steitz Folkerts. She married
Howard Jurgensen on Oct. 13, 1946, at Great Bend. He died Jan. 18, 2000. She was a homemaker and a lifetime resident of Great Bend. Mrs. Jurgensen was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Survivors include a son, Curtis Jurgensen of Valley Center; a daughter, Pamela Randel of Kansas City, Mo.; a brother, Doyle Folkerts of Great Bend; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Harrison Folkerts, another infant baby brother and one sister, Wilma Unruh. Service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend, with the Rev. James A. Strasen officiating. Interment will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. A memorial fund has been established for Trinity Lutheran Church. Donations may be made in care of the funeral home. Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Alan D. Spreier
1958 - 2006
LARNED - Alan D. Spreier, 48, died Sept. 18 at Hutchinson Hospital, Hutchinson, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born May 7, 1958, in Larned, the son of Donald and Ellen Arlene Bradley Spreier. A longtime resident of Larned, he was a press operator for Office Products Inc. at Larned and was previously employed at Moore Labels in Wichita. He was a member of First Southern Baptist Church, Larned. He served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Luce DDG-38 from 1979 to 1982. Survivors include a son, Aaron Bradley, Helena, Mont., and a daughter, Aryka Leann, Butte, Mont.; his parents, Don and Arlene, Larned; three sisters, Debra Gross and husband Terry, Larned, Cathy Boyd and husband Steve, and Brenda Rump and husband Michael, Overland Park; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned, with Pastor Ron Day presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to service time Thursday at the funeral home. Cremation will follow the service. Inurnment will be in the Larned cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to We Care Clinic of Great Bend or First Southern Baptist Church, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124, 1021 Broadway Larned, KS 67550
LeRoy Edgar Fry
1919 - 2006
ELK FALLS - LeRoy Edgar Fry, 87, died Sept. 18 at the Sedan City Hospital. He was born Jan. 18, 1919, at Hutchinson, the son of Claude Elmer and Hazel Effie (McCracken) Fry. He attended school in Hutchinson and graduated from Bresee Academy in 1936. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served as cook on a submarine tender during World War II. On Nov. 28, 1946, he married
Alta Grace Weaver at Hutchinson. He managed lunch counters in Duckwall stores at several locations in Kansas. He owned a cafe in Larned and a grill in Great Bend before learning the art of hickory smoked barbeque at Plainview, Texas. He continued in the food service industry at Hesston and Hutchinson until retiring in 1982 and moving to Elk Falls, where he operated the Sherman House restaurant during the 1990s. Fry was a member of the Calvary Chapel at Elk Falls. Survivors include his wife, of the home; three sons, Larry Fry, Poway, Calif., Steven Fry, Elk Falls, and Brian Fry, Nickerson; a daughter, Carolyn Fox, Bellflower, Calif.; two sisters, Georgia Mae Fry, Kansas City, and Grace Hess, Coolridge, Ariz.; six grandchildren and one great grandson. He was preceded in death by two brothers, two sisters and a grandson, Andrew. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Elk Falls United Methodist Church with the Rev. Steven Bliss of Calvary Chapel officiating. Private inurnment will be held at the Elk Falls cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Elk Falls Senior Center and the Calvary Chapel at Elk Falls, in care of Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard. Zimmerman Funeral Home P.O. Box 1233 Howard, KS 67349
Rose E. Riedel
1919 - 2006
ELLINWOOD - Rose E. Riedel, 86, died Sept. 18 at Kingman, Ariz., where she had been staying with her son Darrell and wife Joyce Riedel. She was born Dec. 28, 1919, at Beaver, the daughter of Engelbert and Anna Reif Kaiser. She married
Andrew L. Riedel on Jan. 15, 1938. He died on Jan. 5, 2005. An Ellinwood resident since 1939, she worked at Linke Christian Drug in Ellinwood and Self-Service Drug in Great Bend. Mrs. Riedel was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Ellinwood. Survivors include two sons, Jim and wife Sharon Riedel of Eagle Rock, Mo., and Darrell and Joyce Riedel of Kingman, Ariz.; and a brother, Ed Kaiser of Hoisington. She was preceded in death by her husband; a daughter, Shirley Wombacher; six bothers, Joe, Lawrence, Louie, John, Frank and Walter Kaiser; six sisters, Sister Rita Kaiser, Sister Bertran Kaiser, Margaret Rebenseifner, Theresa Nather, Leona Stuart and Eleanor Schwartz; six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood with Father Charles Mazouch officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. There will be a 3 p.m. Altar Society Rosary and 7 p.m. vigil service Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or donor's choice, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Marguerite Taylor Wyly
1912 - 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Marguerite Taylor Wyly, 93, passed away peacefully on Aug. 30 at Albuquerque, N.M., at her senior assisted living apartment. She was born Nov. 6, 1912. A native of Kansas, she would still visit her family farm at Great Bend, which has been in her family since the 1890s. Her early education was in a one-room rural schoolhouse. She later attended school in town and graduated from Great Bend High School. Her family were all members of the First Congregational Church. Her dearly beloved parents were Ralph C. Taylor and Grace Blakesley Wesley, who were of English and Irish Descent. Her grandparents were George H. Taylor and Margaret Skehan of Great Bend. Following high school, in 1935, Marguerite worked in Washington, D.C., for eight years as an FBI stenographer. It was there she met the love of her life, a tall, handsome FBI special agent named Percy Wyly, from Tahlequah, Okla. They would later be married
on her birthday in 1942, in kansas City. Percy would soon be promoted to a special agent in charge (SAC) and over the next 25 years she supported his career, in helping move their belongings and children, Jim and Nan, to more than 15 U.S. cities. Percy went on to open the first FBI office in Albuquerque. When Percy retired from the FBI in 1960, they chose to return to Albuquerque and make it their permanent home. Marguerite was a wonderful homemaker and offered much support and strength to her family. She was a devoted wife who loved her children, and was so proud of her four grandchildren and new great-grandchild. Marguerite had a strong appreciation for music, especially 'Stardust' and other songs from the Big Band Era. Saturday afternoons were always spent watching her favorite Lawrence Welk shows. She was a fine lady, strong in spirit, and faith in God. To the very end, she had an intense desire to be independent and not impose on others. She was always quick to offer a helping hand through her volunteer work with charities and the Girl Scouts. Marguerite was a longtime member of the Albuquerque Elks Lodge, Royal Neighbors of America, and the First Presbyterian Church. Along with her husband percy, she had been very active over the years socially with the Society for Ex-FBI Agents, as well as the Greater Albuquerque Rotary Club. Her favorite trip was going to New Orleans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Survivors include her son Jim and wife Pele of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; her daughter Nan and husband Alan Zeman of Pecos, Texas; four grandchildren, Jeff Wyly of Sacramento, Calif., Scott Wyly of Fort Worth, Texas, Kristin and Rob Lambson of Phoenix, Ariz., and Russell and Cara Moore of Albuquerque; and one great-grandchild, Luke Moore of Albuquerque. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Percy, of 58 years, in 2000. A memorial service was held Sept. 7 at the First Presbyterian Church Chapel, phone 505-764-2900, 215 Locust N.E. in Albuquerque. The Rev. Carl Soderberg officiated. A reception was held after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to The Assistance Leaue of Albuquerque, Box 35910, Albuquerque, NM 87176, tel. 505-265-0619, or the American Cancer Society, c/o Lorraine Westy @Suite 300, 10501 Montgomery Blvd. N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87111, tel. 505-262-6023. French Mortuary# Albuquerque, New Mexico
