Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Martha Oberle
1911 - 2005
CLAFLIN - Martha Oberle, 93, died March 1 at the Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood. She was born Oct. 6, 1911, at Dubuque, the daughter of Ernest and Maggie Polzin Miller. After doing domestic housework, she worked for Boeing at Wichita, then as a civilian worker for the U.S. Air Force for the duration of the Great Bend Air Base. She was also a homemaker. She married
Victor Hromadnik on May 16, 1946, at Dubuque. He died June 28, 1967. On April 30, 1975, she married
William F. Oberle at Holy Name Catholic Church in Bushton. He survives. A longtime area Claflin resident, she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Claflin. Survivors include her husband, William F. Oberle of Claflin; one niece, June Abbott of Atlanta, Ga.; and two nephews, Lawrence Miller of Odin and John Miller of Claflin. She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Steve Miller; and two brothers, Lawrence Miller and William Miller. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday at the Immaculate Conception Church in Claflin followed by an Altar Society Rosary. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with Father John J. Maes, and Con-celebrants Father James J. Roth and Father Steven Scheier officiating. Burial will be at the Holy Name cemetery in Bushton. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, all at Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Holy Name cemetery Fund or Claflin Parish Center, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Harold Nuss
1911 - 2005
RUSSELL - Harold Nuss, 93, died early Monday, Feb. 28, at the Russell Regional Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1911, on a farm near Milberger, in Barton County, the son of John Jacob and Katherine Steinert Nuss. He grew up in the Milberger area and attended rural Barton County schools and later attended business school in Great Bend. On Dec. 3, 1930, he was married
to Esther Blehn, at Milberger. They shared over 70 years of marriage together before the death of Mrs. Nuss on Jan. 15, 2001. After their marriage they made their home in the Milberger community. He owned and operated a general store in Milberger for several years before moving to Russell in 1940. He worked at the Michaelis Creamery in Russell, then later as a mechanic for Ochs Chevrolet. For most of his working career he was an automobile salesman for Vincent Motor Company and later for Hopper Ford in Russell. Throughout his career he won numerous sales awards. He enjoyed working in his yard and home, and helping his wife with her Avon products. Nuss was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, and a life member of the Russell Elk's Lodge. He is survived by one son, Harold Dean Nuss and his wife Carol of Russell; three daughters, Dorothy Funk and her husband Leon, and Marjorie Mighell, all of Russell, and Karen Kay Gaines and her husband Jack of Tucson, Ariz.; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; three brothers, Theodore, Irving and Reuben Nuss; and one infant sister. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, with the Rev. Henry J. Hartman officiating. Internment will follow in St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Pohlman-Heise Mortuary in Russell, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary 610 N. Maple St. Russell, KS 67665
Charles E. Thomas
WICHITA - Charles E. Thomas, 83, died Feb. 25. He was a retired IRS Revenue Officer and World War II U.S. Navy veteran. Survivors include his son, Kirk Thomas of Toms River, N.J.; two daughters, Paula Precht of Shawnee and Karen VanSkike of Norton; one brother, Ravon Thomas of Wichita; one sister, Virginia Webb of Wichita; and seven grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. today at Jamesburg Park cemetery. A memorial has been established with the Norton Christian Church, 208 N. Kansas, Norton, KS 67654. Funeral arrangements provided by Cochran Mortuary 1411 N. Broadway Wichita, KS 67214
Selma Scheck
1908 - 2005
OTIS - Selma Scheck, 96, died Feb. 27 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Oct. 4, 1908, at Otis, the daughter of Pete and Anna Schlegel Hartman. She married
Dan Scheck on July 21, 1936, at Otis. He died May 15, 1974. A lifelong Otis resident, she was a homemaker and sold Avon for a number of years. Mrs. Scheck was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Happy Age Club, both of Otis. She also was involved with the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Survivors include a daughter, Janice Schultz, Pawnee Rock; four grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; three step grandchildren; eight step great grandchildren; and one step great-great grandson. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Brenda; three brothers and six sisters. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. Bruce Adamson officiating. Burial will be at Otis Lutheran cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church or Otis Emergency Medical Service, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Zella Lemon Sleezer
1912 - 2005
ELLINWOOD - Zella Lemon Sleezer, 93, died April 27 at Community Hospice of Texas in Burleson, Texas. She was born March 28, 1912, at Lamar, Ark., the daughter of Fredrick G. Lemon and Sarah A. Moss Lemon. She married
Harold Sleezer on July 30, 1931, at Fame, Okla. He is deceased. She was currently a resident of Lillian, Texas, and formerly of Madill, Okla., and Ellinwood. She was a homemaker. Sleezer was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Survivors include one niece, Margaret McKee of Lillian, Texas; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. preceded in death by two sons, Brian G. and Harold Sleezer Jr. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Wesley Neill officiating. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Kimple Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 N. Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Agnes C. Mater
1911 - 2005
Agnes C. Mater, 94, died April 28 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 18, 1911, at Olmitz, the daughter of Maximilian and Anna (Kysely) Mater, Sr. She worked as a waitress until her retirement in 1977. She was a longtime resident of Olmitz and Great Bend. Mater was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella, all of Great Bend. Survivors include two sisters, Angela Mater ASC of Wichita and Sister Teresita Mater CGS of St. Paul, Minn. She was preceded in death by five brothers, James, Alphonse, Frank, Max and Leo Mater; and four sisters, Lily Behr, Mary Mater, Anna T. Mater and Sister Maxine Mater ASC. Vigil service will be today at 7 p.m. followed by Altar Society Rosary. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Ann Catholic Church in Olmitz, with the Rev. Ultan Murphy officiating. Burial will be at the St. Ann cemetery in Olmitz. Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Holy Family School Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Edward F. 'Ed' Mohr
1901 - 2005
OTIS - Edward F. 'Ed' Mohr, 103, died April 27 at the Rush County Nursing Home in La Crosse. He was born Nov. 25, 1901, in rural Otis, the son of John Jacob and Anna Marie (Eitel) Mohr. A lifelong Rush County resident, living on the family homestead farm, he was a farmer. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in La Crosse; an elder of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Shaffer; a board member for the Otis Public Schools; a board member for the Rush County Soil Conservation Service; and sang in a quartet for several years. On Sept. 3, 1924, he married
Ruth Robertson. To this union were born three sons: Eric 'Dwane' Mohr, Dale K. Mohr and Wilbur 'Bill' Mohr. On Aug. 20, 1935, he married
Verna V. Scotland. To this union were born two sons: Roger C. Mohr and Eliot B. Mohr. Survivors include his wife, Verna V. Mohr of Otis; three sons, Wilbur 'Bill' Mohr and his wife Marvel of Wichita, Roger C. Mohr and his wife Joanne of Otis, and Eliot B. Mohr and his wife Louise of Spokane, Wash.; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Laurinda Crays of Auburn, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Eric 'Dwane' Mohr and Dale K. Mohr; one brother, Roy E. Mohr; and five sisters, Hulda Riffel, Josephine Roth, Emma Hagelgantz, Genevieve Hein and Alta Perry. Visitation will be Sunday, May 1, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse, with family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Church visitation will be Monday, May 2, from 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in La Crosse. Funeral service will be Monday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in La Crosse, with Pastor N. K. Harvey and Pastor Edward Jumper officiating. Interment will be at the Shaffer SDA cemetery in Bison. Memorials are suggested to the ADRA, a disaster relief agency, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Janousek Funeral Home 719 Pine / P.O. Box 550 La Crosse, KS 67548
Georgia R. Williams
1916 - 2005
LIBERAL - Georgia R. Williams, 88, died April 26 at her home in Liberal. She was born Oct. 29, 1916, at Domby, Okla., the daughter of George Roy and Mary Anna Hensley Headrick. She was a 1934 graduate of Adams High School. She married
Clifford C. Hill on Aug. 6, 1938, at Liberal. He died Nov. 23, 1951. She then married
Myrl G. Williams on Aug. 13, 1961, at Clayton, N.M. He survives. A resident of Liberal since 1936, she owned and operated Liberal Taxi until she retired in March of 1971. After retirement, she worked at Avis Car Rental at the Liberal Airport for five years. Williams was a member of the First United Methodist Church, 20th Century Sunday School Class and Circle 3. She also was a charter member and past president and held other offices of Soroptimist International of Liberal. She was a past member and past president of Garfield Elementary PTA, past Girl Scout leader, past board member and docent at Baker Arts Center; member of Evergreen Garden Club and was a past board member and treasurer and volunteer at the Liberal Senior Citizens Center. Survivors include one son, Delbert Hill of Topeka; two daughters, Mary Downs of Liberal and Winifred Kiddoo of Henderson, Nev.; one stepson, Ken Williams of Great Bend; five brothers, Melbourne Headrick of Hooker, Okla., Donald Headrick of Elkhart, Harlan Headrick of Guymon, Okla., Ronald Headrick of Aztec, N.M., and Ivan Headrick of Liberal; two sisters, Myrtle Pettijohn of Liberal and Mary Hintergardt of Guymon, Okla.; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and eight step grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Jacob and Warren Headrick. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Liberal, with the Rev. Ken Hathaway officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Kitch-Brenneman Funeral Home in Liberal. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Liberal cemetery.
Ola Hemphill
1927 - 2005
PRATT - Ola Hemphill, 78, died April 25 at Hospice House in Pratt. She was born March 19, 1927, at Elijah, Mo., the daughter of Tom and Willie Walker Belcher. A resident of Pratt, she worked as a certified nurse's aide, was a clerk at T & S and was a homemaker. She belonged to First Church of the Nazarene in Pratt. On Feb. 28, 1945, she married
Clyde Edwin Hemphill at Pratt. He died March 19, 2000. Survivors include one son, Gary and his wife Marge, of Pratt; two daughters, Sue Rohleder of Omaha, Neb., and Diane White of Kinsley; one brother, Tommy Belcher of West Plains, Mo.; three sisters, Norma Goodenough and Bernice Belcher, both of Great Bend, and Kate Yochem of Gas; three grandchildren, Kim Kettering and Megan and Joe Rohleder; and two great-grandchildren, Sami and Sean Kettering. She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Eva Hogan, Lois McDowell and Ann Louise Fisher; and an infant brother, Andrew Belcher. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Iuka cemetery in Iuka, with the Rev. Deanna Fluck presiding. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be sent to South Wind Hospice, in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS 67124.
Henri E. Rondeau
1923 - 2005
Henri E. Rondeau, 81, died April 27 at his residence in Great Bend. He was born Nov. 29, 1923, at Shreveport, La., the son of Henri Sr. and Beatrice Spaugh Rondeau. He married
Mary Joanne 'Jodie' Gamlowski on Aug. 28, 1948, at Topeka. She preceded him in death in September 1994. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1927. He graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor of science degree in architecture. Henri was an accomplished architect and deeply involved in community affairs. He was appointed by the governor to the State Registration Board of Architects and Engineers; and was a corporate member of the American Institute of Architects and served on its public relations committee. He served on the City Board of Construction and Building, Board of Examiners and Appeals and was a longtime member and past chairman of the United Way; a member and former director of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce; a member of the Planning Committee for Barton County Community College; served on the Board of Directors of Great Bend Foundation; and was a lifelong member and past president of the Great Bend Noon Lions Club. An Eagle Scout, Henri was also a former Scoutmaster and member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national Scouting organization. He was a former director of Sunflower Training Center and was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and Steel Ring Engineering Society at Kansas State University. Henri was also a decorated veteran of World War II, and a member of The American Legion, VFW and Elks Lodge. He was a loving and patient father and a kind and generous member of the community. He will be dearly missed. Survivors include four sons, Mark Rondeau and wife Michelle, Matthew Rondeau and wife Kathie, and Henri 'Hank' Rondeau, all of Great Bend, and David Rondeau and wife Vickie of Olathe; three daughters, Susan Rondeau Jones of Cheyenne, Wyo., Sally Rondeau of Kansas City, Mo., and Betsy Brickey and husband Ted of Grantville; two sisters, Hautesse Rondeau of Shreveport, La., and Delores Isern of Billings, Mont.; 20 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Benjamin and Andrew Brickey. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at the First Christian Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Interment will be at the Great Bend cemetery in Great Bend. Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with family to receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Broadway Beautification Project in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
