Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Paul Richard Webb
1954-2006
WICHITA - Paul Richard Webb, 52, died Dec. 29 at his home in Wichita. He was born July 16, 1954, at Wagner, Okla. He was formerly of Hoisington. Service arrangements are pending with Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington, and will be announced.
Roger L. Steitz
1939 - 2006
Roger L. Steitz, 67, of Concordia, Mo., died Dec. 29 at Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, Mo. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Concordia. The Rev. R. Lee Hagan will officiate. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home and visitation will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial with military rites will be held in St. Paul's Lutheran cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. born Sept. 4, 1939, in Great Bend, he was the son of the late Roland Steitz and Helen Serpan Steitz. On Oct. 15, 1966, he married
Rose Ann Mausolf, who survives, of the home. He had lived in Concordia the last 30 years and was a retired insurance agent and also had worked for Famous Footwear and Concordia True Value Hardware. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church where he had served as an elder and held various other positions. He had served in the U.S. Army and was a member of Concordia American Legion Post No. 258. Additional survivors include two sons, Mark Alan Steitz of Warrensburg, Mo., and David Noel Steitz of Concordia; one stepgranddaughter, Madilyn McConnell; one sister, Carolyn Kopper of Los Angeles; and several nieces and nephews. Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home 1002 E. 1st St. Concordia, MO 64020
Carol A. Haselhorst
1928 - 2006
COLBY - Carol A. Haselhorst, 78, died Dec. 26 at Memorial Hospital in Abilene. She was born Dec. 21, 1928, at Great Bend. She was a retired day-care provider. Survivors include a daughter, Susan McLemore of Colby; a brother, Loren J. Kutina of Great Bend; a sister, Mary L. Brazda of Vinita, Okla.; and three grandchildren. Vigil and rosary services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel in Colby. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby, with Father Dana Clark officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart cemetery at Colby. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel. Memorial donations to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church & School may be made via the funeral home or left at any Colby bank. Funeral arrangements provided by Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel 745 South Country Club Drive Colby, KS 67701
Roberta 'Bert' Sanger
1927 - 2006
Roberta 'Bert' Sanger, 79, of Great Bend, died Dec. 28 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. The oldest child of Robert and Wanda Davis Duff, she was born April 10, 1927, near Gray in Beaver County, Okla. She attended schools in Beaver County including Bethany High School. She earned her GED and attended Barton County Community College in Great Bend. She trained as a nurse and worked at Central Kansas Medical Center and the Great Bend Manor for many years. She married
Henry Sanger on Dec. 3, 1947, in Perryton, Texas. He died Aug. 16, 1993. Over the years she resided in Beaver County, Okla., Sublette, Skellytown, Texas, Ashland and Great Bend. Mrs. Sanger was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend, United Methodist Women and various church circles and committees. She was a devoted wife and mother, and was well known for her delicate embroidery work which she generously shared with family and friends. She leaves to mourn a daughter, Carol Siefkes and husband David of Great Bend; grandchildren Darin and Angela Siefkes of Austin, Texas, and Craig Siefkes of Davenport, Iowa; a sister and family Billie Jean and Joe Bass of San Angelo, Texas; and one great granddaughter, Samantha Siefkes of Davenport, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, James Sanger; a brother, Frankie Duff; and her parents. A memorial service will be held at a later date. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Public Library in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Melvin Wayne 'Champ' Simpson, Jr.
1940 - 2006
Melvin Wayne 'Champ' Simpson, Jr., 66, of Great Bend, died Dec. 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo. born May 11, 1940, at Monegaw Springs, Mo., he was the son of Melvin Clay and Frances Elizabeth Jackson Simpson, Sr. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, coming from Missouri as a small child, he was a truck driver for R&S Transportation. Mr. Simpson was a member of Grace Community Church and founder and director of Chapelaires Gospel Singing Group, both of Great Bend. Survivors include his companion, Cindy Huddleston of Larned; five sons, Harold Wayne Simpson of Hutchinson, Michael Clay Simpson of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jason Scott Simpson of Ellinwood, Brian Simpson of Springfield, Mo., and David Simpson of Olathe; one daughter, Debra Louise Simpson Ford of Hutchinson; his parents; one brother, Kenny Wayne Simpson of Fayetteville, Ark.; three sisters, Ruby Feil and Barbara Espinosa, both of Great Bend, and Doris Case of Sacramento, Calif.; nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Nelta Jones. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home with the Rev. J.P. McCamey officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to service time on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Cindy Huddleston Medical Expense Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Hazel M. 'Peg' Duke
1909 - 2006
Hazel M. 'Peg' Duke, 97, of Great Bend, died Dec. 22 at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. She was born May 9, 1909, at Lane, Okla., the daughter of Ernest Howe and Clara Mae Wolbert Jamison. She married
Lynn Oliver Duke on July 26, 1926, at Sherman, Texas. He died Oct. 28, 1980. She was co-owner of Duke Oil Company. She was a resident of Great Bend for 60 years. Mrs. Duke was a member of First Christian Church. Survivors include a nephew, Leonard Williamson of Great Bend, and a sister, Wanda Ardelia Bell, as well as many other nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Duward Jamison, Frank Jamison, Earl Jamison and Roy Jamison, and one sister, Neva Williamson. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be in the Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home. Memorial donations to the charity or organization of the donor's choice may be made in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Della Margaret Harris
1929 - 2006
ST. JOHN - Della Margaret Harris, 77, died Dec. 23 at Pratt Regional Medical Center in Pratt. born July, 27, 1929, at Wheeling, W.Va., she was the daughter of Olaf and Ila Ryan Hartzel. A resident of St. John since 1971, she was a records clerk at Hearthstone Nursing Home in St. John. She married
Joseph A. Harris Jr. on May 17, 1947, at Bridgeport, Ohio. He preceded her in death. Mrs. Harris was a member of the Church of Christ, Business and Professional Women, Rebekahs and the American Legion Post at Cameron, W.Va. She was also a Womens Army Corps veteran. Survivors include a son, Terry of Larned; a daughter, Renny Russell of Rohnert Park, Calif.; a sister, Delores Vandevander of Cameron, W.Va.; two grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Helen Barone, Ida Hartzel and Priscilla Nelson. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Minnis Chapel in St. John with the Rev. Carl Feril presiding. Friends may visit from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Full military honors and burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Memorials are suggested to the Church of Christ in lieu of flowers. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel 526 E. 4th St. John, KS 67576
Betty Lou Estes
1936 - 2006
LARNED - Betty Lou Estes, 70, died Dec. 25 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. She was born May 1, 1936, in Syracuse, the daughter of Lewis and Florence Phillips Bone. She married
Glenn Estes. He preceded her in death. A resident of Larned since 1988, she was a retired waitress. Mrs. Estes was of the Christian faith. Survivors include one son, Daniel Binns, Larned; three brothers, Walter Bone, Garden City, Jim Bone, Geuda Springs, and Joseph Bone, Cheyenne, Wyo.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home, Larned, with the Rev. Dennis Scheibmeir officiating. Burial will be in the Larned cemetery. Friends may call from noon until 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Terry C. Johnson Center of Basic Cancer Research - KSU, in care of Morell Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home 1021 Broadway P.O. box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Margaret E. Wright
1919 - 2006
SEWARD - Margaret E. Wright, 87, died Dec. 25 at her home. born March 10, 1919, at Dewitt, Ill., she was the daughter of William Jenning and Margaret Augusta (Gray) Miller. She married
Ernest R. Wright Nov. 25, 1942 at Chicago. He died in April 1971. A resident of Seward since 1945, she was a bookkeeper for the local grain elevator and several local banks. She graduated from high school in Maroa, Ill. Mrs. Wright was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Bend, and Seward Senior Citizens and served on the Seward City Council. Survivors include a son, William Ernest Wright, Portland, Ore.; two daughters, Gail M. Stineburg, Ozark, Mo., and Alice E. Olivier, St. John; two sisters, Jeanne Bray, Jacksonville, Ill., and Martha Cox, Garland, Texas; 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, William Miller, and a granddaughter, Juniper Ann Wright. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Minnis Chapel, St. John, with the Rev. James Strasen officiating. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel. Burial will be in the Eden Valley cemetery north of Seward. Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel, Inc. 526 E. 4th Ave. St. John, KS 67576
Doris Lucille Herndon
1915 - 2006
EL DORADO - Doris Lucille Herndon, 91, of El Dorado, died Dec. 21 at her home. born Sept. 22, 1915, at Thayer, the daughter of Harvey Leonard and Margaret VanJohn Osburn. She married
Cecil Herndon on March 10, 1937, in El Dorado. He preceded her in death on Oct. 9, 1972. A resident of El Dorado for the past 59 years, moving from Atlanta, she was an office manager for State Farm Insurance for 29 years. Mrs. Herndon was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Knife and Fork, Bluestem Campers, Stick and Chatter, Business and Professional Women, Hospital Auxiliary and served as a Girl Scout Leader. Those she leaves include two daughters, Dorma Lee Haines and husband Donald of Cripple Creek, Colo., and Cecilia Ann Herndon of Rogers, Ark.; three grandchildren, Denise Lynn Deckert and husband Warren of Pawnee Rock, Diane Rae Haines-Weis and husband Tim of Westmore, and Donald Ray Haines II and wife Joni of Great Bend; and seven great grandchildren, Amber Lynn Benham of Malaga, Spain, Zachary Mark Benham of Wyandotte, Mich., Alexandra Jade Weis of Emporia, Addison Jordan Weis of Manhattan, and Donald Ray Haines, III, Michael Stephen Haines, and Brenna Michelle Haines, all of Great Bend. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today at Carlson Funeral Home in El Dorado. Inurnment will be in Sunset Lawns cemetery in El Dorado. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church in El Dorado in care of Carlson Funeral Home in. Funeral arrangements provided by Carlson Funeral Home P.O. Box 1213 El Dorado, KS 67042
Rosie M. Bennett
1905 - 2006
MOUNT HOPE - Rosie M. Bennett, 101, died Dec. 24 at Hospice House in Hutchinson. She was born May 10, 1905, in Greeley County, the daughter of Don and Jessie Jane Lewis Kirkman. She was a resident of Great Bend most of her life, moving to Mount Hope nine years ago. She married
Paul Bennett on Feb. 9, 1928, in Larned. He died Dec. 26, 1970. She was a baker for Duckwall's in Great Bend. Mrs. Bennett was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary in Great Bend. Survivors include a son, Gene Bennett and wife Audrey of Mount Hope; a daughter Norma Vettese and husband Joe of Flippin, Ark.; 13 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Bob Bennett; a daughter, Willene Bennett; a brother, Roy Kirkman, and one sister, Mary Smith. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. today at Mount Hope United Methodist Church with the Rev. Donna Wise presiding. Burial will be at 3 p.m. today at Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Hospice House in Hutchinson in care of Van Campen Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Van Campen Funeral Home 102 N. Wichita P.O. Box 217 Haven, KS 67543-0217
Tobias 'Toby' Dietz
1914 - 2006
NESS CITY - Tobias 'Toby' Dietz, 92, died Dec. 26 at the Ness County Long Term Care Center in Ness City. He was born Oct. 21, 1914, in Russell County, the son of William and Natalia Krug Dietz. He was a farmer and stockman, and a resident of Ness County since 1926. On May 24, 1939, he married
Esther Frank at Bazine. She died March 22, 1992. Dietz was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Indian Hills Saddle Club, both of the Ness City, and the American Quarter Horse Association and the Palomino Breeders Association of America. Survivors include three sons: Bill Dietz and his wife Ruth of Ellis, Kent Dietz and his wife Debbie of Davis, Okla., and Dean Dietz and his wife Terri of Lincoln, Neb.; two daughters, Barbara Reinert and husband Larry, and Patti Lutters and husband Joe, all of Ness City; one sister, Matilda Jones, Ness City; nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by eight brothers, Daniel, Julius, Ben, Connie, Eddie, Raymond and two infant brothers; and by a sister, Minnie Dietz. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church in Ness City, with Pastor Jon Anderson presiding. Burial will be in the Ness City cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City, and Thursday morning until service time at the church. The family will receive friends at 7 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Mosaic Handicap Facilities, Lincoln, Neb.; Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa; or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ness City. Funeral arrangements provided by Fitzgerald Funeral Home 207 N. Pennsylvania; P.O. Box 96 Ness City, KS 67560
Juanita Blackwell
1940 - 2006
LARNED - Juanita Blackwell, 66, died Dec. 23 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She was born April 6, 1940, in Fernwood, Miss., the daughter of Carey and Eva Kirkland. An area resident, she was a Licensed Mental Health Technician for the Larned State Hospital. On Aug. 20, 1980, she married
Robert Blackwell in Alva, Okla. He died Sept. 2, 2001. Survivors include: three sons, Robert Blackwell of Kinsely, Johnny Rogers of Indiana, and William Kirkland of Mississippi; three daughters, Kathy Bohn of Pawnee Rock, Rebecca Wilder of Garfield and LaDonna Jones of Mississippi; 11 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Larned cemetery with the Rev. Albert Hatten presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Pawnee County Humane Society in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Vicki Lynn Brucciani
1941 - 2006
BAUDETTE, Minn.- Vicki Lynn Brucciani, 65, died Thursday, Dec. 21, in the Lakewood Care Center following a brief illness. She was born Feb. 9, 1941, in Great Bend to William and Olive (McNeil) Rowe. She grew up in Great Bend and graduated from high school there. Vicki married
Joseph Brucciani on Sept. 10, 1960, in Great Bend. Vicki and Joe lived in many different cities in the United States, while Joe was working for the federal government. They moved to Baudette where Joe worked for Solvay Pharmaceuticals and had a love for the area, living on the river. While in Baudette, Vicki was a member of the Ladies of the Moose and of the Red Hat Society. Some of her hobbies included knitting, pottery, gardening and spending time in the outdoors. She loved to entertain and cook for friends in their home. She was an avid tennis player while they lived in the Atlanta, Ga., area. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jack Rowe. Survivors include her husband, Joe of the home; her son, Chris and his wife Loretta Brucciani of Atlanta, Ga.; her grandchildren Joseph and Kathryn Brucciani of Atlanta, Ga.; her sister, JoAnn Cameron of Great Bend; and her sister in-law, Jinx Rowe of Wichita. A memorial Mass will be held on Jan. 4 in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baudette. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the service in the church. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Funeral arrangements provided by Helgeson Funeral Chapel 1207 3rd Street NE Roseau, MN 56751
