Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Hester Oveda Zvolanek
1925 - 2005
HOLYROOD - Hester Oveda Zvolanek, 79, died March 5, at the Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Ellsworth. She was born Sept. 8, 1925, at Minneapolis, the daughter of Joseph John and Daisy Babb Wolfe. She married
Glen Bancroft on Feb. 3, 1946, at Lincoln. He died in June of 1954. She married
Wilbert J. Zvolanek on Aug. 5, 1956, in Ellsworth. He died in Oct. of 1998. She was a homemaker and a lifetime resident of the Holyrood and Bennington areas. Zvolanek was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Holyrood. Survivors include one son, Todd Craft of Worcester, Mass.; two daughters, Earlene Watson of Emporia and Glenda Strahan of Salina; one brother, Joe Wolfe of Alamogordo, N.M.; two sisters, Esther Rogers of Atoka, Okla., and Doris Thompson of Newark, Texas; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at Parsons Funeral Home in Ellsworth, with Dr. Jim Morford officiating. Burial will be at the Bennington cemetery in Bennington. Friends and family may call at 8 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Retirement Village. Funeral arrangements provided by Parsons Funeral Home 307 N. Lincoln Ellsworth, KS 67439
Clarence Ervin Bryant
1924 - 2005
ELLINWOOD - Clarence Ervin Bryant, 81, died March 4 at Central Kansas Medical Center. He was born Jan. 16, 1924, at Ellinwood, the son of Delbert W. and Alice V. Burchart Bryant. He married
Donna Mae Calhoun on May 6, 1950, at Great Bend. He was a farmer and lifetime Ellinwood resident. Bryant was a member of the Eagle Lodge and Farm Bureau, both of Great Bend; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and Immanuel United Church of Christ, both of Ellinwood. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II serving from 1942-1944. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Bruce B. Bryant and Lyle W. Bryant, both of Ellinwood; his mother of Ellinwood; two brothers, Ralph Bryant of Hutchinson, and Lloyd Bryant of Ellinwood; one sister, Delores Koehn of Newton; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Virgil Bryant and one grandson. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Larry Young officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends and family may call from 9-8 p.m. today at Kimple Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Clara Barton Hospital or Clarence Bryant Family Memorial. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 N. Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Martha Templing Popp
1910 - 2005
WILSON - Martha Templing Popp died March 5 at the Russell Regional Hospital. She was born Jan. 16, 1910, to George and Mary Deines Templing in Russell County. She attended Bender Hill Rural School. She married
Emil Popp on June 22, 1930, in Barton County. Most of Martha's early married
life was occupied with the activities of farming at Jetmore and McCracken. Later they settled in rural Gorham. In 1965, she and Emil moved to Russell and in May of 1996 she moved to Smoky Village View Villa Apartments in Wilson. Popp was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell and later, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson. Survivors include one son, Clifford; one daughter, Lucille Janda of Wilson; six grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; her sisters; brother; and a step-great-grandson. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. at Russell Funeral Home today. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson with the Rev. James Wagner officiating. Burial will be at the St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. Friends and family may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today. Memorials are suggested to the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Wilson or Wilson Nursing Home in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Russell Funeral Home 610 N. Elm St. / P.O. Box 566 Russell, KS 67665
Lola Lorene Pope
1928 - 2005
WICHITA - Lola Lorene (Schrepel) Pope, 76, of Wichita, died Friday, March 4, 2005, in Garden Plain, Kan. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Wichita, graveside services with Chuck Frankenfeld, pastor of Northwest Free Methodist Church, officiating. Lola was born June 29, 1928, in Great Bend, to Fredrick and Julia (Schminke) Schrepel. She attended Great Bend public schools for 12 years and the Salina Beauty School. She worked in cosmetology from 1945 to 1962. She was a laundry clerk from 1977 until her husband, Vernon's, illness in 1995. She then returned after his death, until 2003, when she became ill and could no longer continue working. Lola was a member of the Northwest Free Methodist Church, where she enjoyed attending services. She married
Vernon Pope on July 26, 1953, in Yuma, Ariz. They resided in Wichita prior to spending many years in Odessa, Texas. When Vernon retired, they returned to Wichita to be nearer relatives. Survivors include two sisters, Anna Dora Hayes of Great Bend and Ella Mae McCandless and husband Lloyd of St. John; nephews David Gaunt, Vernon Hayes and wife Karen, Jerry Hayes and wife Rita, Terry Gaunt and wife Glenda, Steven Gaunt and wife Glenna, Alvin Schrepel and wife Donna, all of Great Bend; and Rod Willson of Wichita; nieces Penny Spillman of Wichita, Carolyn Anschutz and husband Wayne of Hutchinson, SueEllen Lee and husband Jack of Meeker, Okla., Linda McCandless of Kansas City, Mo., and Debra McCandless of Leawood; stepdaughter Lynda Hudson of Georgia; sister-in-law Velma Willson and husband Don of Wichita; and special friends Richard and Sammy Flaharty of Garden Plain. She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon on May 25, 1995; one brother, Alvin Schrepel and wife Delores; her parents; one sister, Florence Gaunt and husband Lowell; and a nephew, Vincent Schrepel, all of Great Bend. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Harry Hynes Hospice, in care of Resthaven Mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Resthaven Mortuary 11800 West Highway 54 Wichita, KS 67209
Homer O. Kliewer
1929 - 2005
DENTON, Texas - Homer O. Kliewer, 75, died March 1 at the Denton Community Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born Nov. 16, 1929, at Pawnee Rock, the son of Christian and Arpa S. Kliewer. He graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1952, and was a veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Peggy; three daughters, Kathryn, Cindy and Dee Dee; two sisters, Norma Wallace and Merle Schwendimann; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at DeBerry Funeral Home in Denton. Funeral arrangements provided by DeBerry Funeral Home 2025 W. University Denton, TX 76201
Phyllis J. Becker
1928 - 2005
Phyllis J. Becker, 77, died March 2 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. She was born Feb. 24, 1928, at Burdett, the daughter of Earl and Gladys Friend Dixon. She married
Bill Drewmond in 1947. They were divorced and she married
Fred Becker on Jan. 27, 1957, at Duncan, Okla. He survives. She was a psychiatric aide for Larned State Hospital for 20 years, retiring in 1962, and also worked for Fuller Brush. She also helped her husband as camp host at Lake Wilson from 1999-2001. She was a resident of Great Bend since 1942, coming from Pawnee Rock. Fred and Phyllis had also lived in Moberly, Mo., Kansas City, Mo., McPherson and Ellsworth. She was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Eagles Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed hobbies of cross stitch, crocheting and knitting. Her strong will allowed her to be active in craft activities and bingo even with her degenerating eyesight. She and Fred also enjoyed camping and boating for 27 years. Survivors include her husband, Fred, of the home; one daughter, Sandra Houk and husband Bill of Liberal; one brother, Gerald Dixon of Great Bend; two sisters, Frances Miller of San Francisco, Calif., and Mary Gohlson of Duncan, Okla.; two grandchildren, James Brown, Jr. of Lafayette, Ind., and Jamie Brown of Wichita; and two great-grandchildren, Leanna Brown and Corey Brown. She was preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters. She was the fifth child of 15 children. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home, with the Rev. Garry Dassow officiating. A private family inurnment will be at a later date. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Housing Authority, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Ruby Louise Hunter
1921 - 2005
LARNED - Ruby Louise Hunter, 83, died March 2 at St. Joseph Memorial Long Term Care. She was born June 9, 1921, at Mustang, Okla., the daughter of Charles and Ruby Yokum Stewart. She married
John K. Hunter, Sr. on Aug. 23, 1948, at Oklahoma City, Okla. He died Feb. 18, 2004. A resident of Larned since 1966, coming from Beloit, she was a retired cosmetologist and school bus driver for 28 years for USD 495 in Larned. Survivors include two sons, Jim of Salina and John, Jr. of Larned; three daughters, Saundra Phillips and Joan Donovan, both of Larned, and Patricia Dizmang of Curtis, Neb.; one stepdaughter, Judy Smith of Topeka; two brothers, John Stewart of Seattle, Wash., and Harvey Stewart of Bowling Green, Ky.; two sisters, Esther Hagerman and Rita Steiner, both of Oklahoma City, Okla.; 20 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Glenn, Ed, Wayne and Bill Stewart, and four sisters, Elsie Kellerman, Fay Walther, Christine White and Shirley Stewart. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned, with the Rev. Dan Lundgren officiating. Burial will be at the Larned cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to service time Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Julius W. Yakel
1911 - 2005
PLANO, Texas - Julius W. Yakel, 93, died Feb. 28 at his son's home in Plano. He was born Dec. 7, 1911, in Wichita County, Kan., the son of Henry and Anna Elizabeth Treisa Yakel. He married
Clara Rube on Feb. 17, 1940, in Barton County. She died Aug. 4, 1999. He was a retired auto mechanic. He had been a resident of Plano, Texas, for the past several years, moving from Shawnee, Kan. Survivors include one son, Dennis Yakel of Plano, Texas; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hoisington cemetery, with the Rev. Garry Dassow officiating. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to service time on Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to the Concordia Lutheran Church in Hoisington, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Shirley Dickinson Cowan
1908 - 2005
NEWTON - Shirley Dickinson Cowan, 96, retired teacher, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005. Shirley Cowan was born Sept. 28, 1908, at Russell, to Willis David Beller and Mary Stella Newcomer Beller. In January 1931, she married
Robert Leland Dickinson and lived on the Dickinson homestead in northeast Ellis County. After his death in 1953, she continued to manage the farm and teach until her move to Great Bend in 1959. After her retirement from teaching in 1972, she married
Dennis W. Cowan and lived in Ellinwood. The Cowans moved to Friendly Acres, a Methodist Retirement Village, in 1988. Dennis Cowan died in 1992. In her early years, Mrs. Cowan taught in rural schools in Ellis and Russell County. She was also a teacher in Natoma and Great Bend. During her lifetime, she was active in church and civic affairs. She was a former member of the United Brethren Church in Russell, Presbyterian churches in Fairport and Great Bend and the Methodist Church in Ellinwood. She was a current member of the Salem Methodist Church in Newton. She was a longtime 4-H club leader, a member of Federated Clubs in Natoma, Great Bend and Ellinwood, and was active in the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a charter member of the Ellinwood Senior Center and set up and directed Meals on Wheels in Ellinwood. Survivors include: son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Jan Dickinson of Gorham; daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Ray Ganoung of Hoisington and Margaret and George Beyer of Wichita; and daughter, Janet Nordlund of Elkhorn, Neb. Stepchildren include Wendell and Rosie Cowan of Lucas, Marian and Ora Cowan of Arkansas, Vernon and P.J. Cowan of Oregon and Elie and Dale Williams of Council Grove. There are also 20 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Also surviving are brothers Willis Leon Beller of Topeka, Robert Beller of Lincoln, Neb., and George Beller of Denver, Colo.; and sisters, Laurine Gordon of Wichita, Rachel Daughtery of Vallejo, Calif., and Marjorie Gross of Denver, Colo. Services will be held at Natoma Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 7. Burial will be at Natoma cemetery. A memorial service at Friendly Acres Chapel in Newton will be announced at a later date. Friends may call at Peterson Funeral Home from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Friendly Acres and Salem Methodist Church in Newton; Ellinwood Methodist Church and Ellinwood Senior Center in Ellinwood. Funeral arrangements provided by Peterson Funeral Home 215 N. Main Newton, KS 67114
Hubert 'Herb' E. Strecker
1926 - 2005
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Herb Strecker, a resident of Colorado Springs, passed away on Feb. 20, 2005. Herb was born on Feb. 17, 1926, to Emanuel and Martha Strecker of Galatia. He attended Hoisington High School and graduated in 1944. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After being discharged from the Air Force, he attended the University of Kansas. While at KU he met his wife, Margaret, who he married
in 1948. He graduated from KU in 1950, receiving a Bachelor of Science in engineering. He was employed by a Natural Gas Pipeline Company in Liberal until 1964 when he was transferred to Kansas City. While in Kansas City, he was active in the American Gas Association. He lived in Kansas City until he retired in 1984. He spent his retirement years in Colorado Springs, enjoying photography, traveling and teaching computer classes to senior citizens. In 2004, he and Margaret celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Emanuel and Martha Strecker. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, two daughters and son in-law, Cynthia O'Malley of Walnut Creek, Calif., Chris and Dorothy Campo of Kansas City; a sister, Ruth Dietz of Fort Collins, Colo.; a brother, Norman Strecker of Bellflower, Calif.; and six nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held Thursday, Feb. 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Colorado Springs Senior Center, Computer Room, Attention COSNUG, 1514 N. Hancock, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
