Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
LeRoy E. Zahn
1920 - 2005
LeRoy E. Zahn, 85, went home to be with the Lord April 14 at Great Bend. He was born March 8, 1920, at Burdett, the son of Earl Zahn and Ethel O. Sorem. A longtime Ellinwood resident, he moved to Great Bend in 1999. He graduated from Jetmore High School in 1939 and attended Southwestern College. He was a State Farm Insurance agent, retiring in 1986; also he worked at Thriftway Grocery Store in Ellinwood. Zahn was a member of the United Methodist Church of Ellinwood, treasurer for 37 years, Sunday School teacher; American Legion member for 35 years; VFW for 35 years; in charge of After Harvest Parade for 14 years; member of Rotary Club, serving as secretary and president; bus driver for Ellinwood schools; Ellinwood City Council member for four years; Ellinwood mayor for two years; ran the clock for football games and kept score at basketball games. He was in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He spent 27 months aboard ship in the South Pacific. He married
Catherine Healzer on March 11, 1945, at Ellinwood. She died April 6, 1995, Survivors include one son, Robert Zahn of Great Bend; one daughter, Mary Zahn of Ellinwood; one brother, Floyd Zahn of Tumwater, Wash.; one sister, Juanita King of Lenexa; and five grandchildren, Monica Zahn, Meggan Bowers, Donald Zahn, Derek Bowers, and Toni Zahn. He was preceded in death by a brother, Junior Zahn. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Ellinwood United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Vernon W. Maelzer officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. until noon Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Lakin Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church or to Barton County Special Olympics. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home, Inc. 113 N. Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Dirk James Combest
1946 - 2005
DODGE CITY - Dirk James Combest, 58, died Wednesday, April 13, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus at Wichita. He was born on June 28, 1946, at Lawrence, the son of Merwin and Twilla (Lyon) Combest. He was raised in Ransom, where he was a graduate of Ransom High School. He then graduated from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City. He married
Kathy J. Gunkel on Dec. 26, 1970, at Dodge City. She preceded him in death on Oct. 28, 1974. He married
Margie Schawe on Jan. 6, 1979, at Spearville. He was presently employed by Salina Supply Company as a salesman. He was a member of Knights of Columbus of Dodge City. Survivors include his wife, Margie L. Combest of Dodge City; four daughters, Shauna Lee Hargett and husband Dan of Clearwater, Shelli Lyn Heinz and husband Jacob of Offerle, Layna Michelle Winter and husband Jeff, and Vicki Lynn Moore and husband Kris, all of Dodge City; his mother, Twilla Kraus of Dodge City; one brother, Brad Kraus of Dodge City; three sisters, Signe Barnes and husband Gerald of McCracken, Shirley Stegman and husband Leon of Topeka and Marie Ney and husband Joe of Hanston. He is also survived by seven dearly loved grandchildren. As an infant he was preceded in death by his father, Merwin Combest, and he was also preceded in death by his father Cyril Kraus. Vigil service will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. today and the Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Saturday, April 16, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Wesley Schawe presiding. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home today from 12 p.m. (noon) to 5 p.m. Burial will be at St. John's cemetery, in Spearville. Memorials can be made to American Heart Association in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Swaim Funeral Home 1901 6th Ave. Dodge City, KS 67801
Johnnie Douglas 'Doug' Crowe, Jr.
1961 - 2005
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Johnnie Douglas 'Doug' Crowe, Jr., 44, peacefully passed away in Kansas City, Mo., on April 11. Doug was born in Stafford on Jan. 5, 1961. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1979 and attended William Jewell College on a swimming scholarship. He was employed at IBT for 16 years and worked in Kansas City, Mo., Chanute, Jefferson City, Mo., and New Orleans, La. Doug was a lifelong swimmer, blues music enthusiast and fan of the Oklahoma Sooners. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnnie and Marie. He is survived by his wife, Susan of Kansas City, Mo., and his sisters, Lovella Mullen of Salina, Brenda Crowe of Kansas City, Mo., and Peggy Crowe of Great Bend. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Sharenne Lohrenz, Kevin Mullen, Melissa Graham, Jared Scheck and Tyler Crowe plus three great-nephews and two greatnieces. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m. at the Great Bend cemetery. The family will receive friends in the reception room at Perkins Restaurant after the service. The family respectfully requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Doug Crowe Memorial Scholarship Fund, Northland United Swim Team, care of Park Hill Aquatics Center, 8152 North Congress, Kansas City, MO 64152.
Luella M. Kuhn
1920 - 2005
VICTORIA - Luella M. Kuhn, age 85, died Tuesday, April 12, at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born March 19, 1920, at Hays, to Jacob P. and Amelia (Staab) Walters. She married
Emil A. Kuhn on Aug. 7, 1939, at Hays. He died Sept. 5, 2000. She was a nurse's aide at St. John's Rest Home in Victoria for 19 years. She was a member of St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria. Survivors include three sons, Neil Kuhn of Victoria, Jim Kuhn of Munjor and Dave Kuhn of Russell; two daughters, Helen Staton of Russell and Carol Kuhn of Hays; four brothers, Herb Walters of Hays, Frank Walters of Topeka, George Walters of Placentia, Calif., and Eddie Walters of Pevely, Mo.; one sister, Alice Gerstner of Amarillo, Texas; eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Clarence Walters, Ray Walters, Bill Walters and Elmer Walters; and one granddaughter, Jennifer Kuhn-Bishop. A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Cline's Mortuary, 412 Main, Victoria, KS 67671. Services are at 10 a.m. Friday, April 15, at St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria with Father Charles Polifka O.F.M. Cap. officiating. Burial will be at St. Fidelis cemetery in Victoria. Visitation is from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Friday, all at Cline's Mortuary in Victoria. Memorials to St. Fidelis Church or Masses. Funeral arrangements provided by Cline's Mortuary of Hays & Victoria P.O. 252 Hays, KS 67601
James Edward 'Ed' Stamper
1903 - 2005
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - James Edward 'Ed' Stamper, 102, formerly of Great Bend, Hutchinson and Overland Park, passed away peacefully at the John Knox Care Center at Lee's Summit, Mo., Saturday evening, April 9, 2005. A celebration of his life will be at 3:30 p.m. today at Prairie Baptist Church, 7416 Roe Avenue, Prairie Village, with a reception immediately following at the church. Private burial will be in Johnson County Memorial Gardens at Overland Park. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Mr. Stamper's name to Prairie Baptist Church. Ed was born Feb. 14, 1903, on the family farm near Everest, in Brown County, Kan., and had been a resident of the Kansas City area since he and his wife retired there from Hutchinson in 1971. His wife of over 70 years, Dorothy Butts Stamper, preceded him in death in 2001. Ed was a member of Prairie Baptist Church, a Mason and a member of the Abdallah Shrine. He enjoyed music and participated in barber shop singing in choruses and quartets in Great Bend and Hutchinson as a member of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. and in his church choirs. He was the owner of Stamper Insurance Agencies in Great Bend and Hutchinson and a partner in Kirk-Stamper Motor Company in Great Bend. In retirement, he loved to play golf and visit with his fellow golfers. Survivors include his daughter, Mollie Caldwell of Kansas City, Mo.; and two sons, J. Harlan Stamper of Prairie Village and Gary E. Stamper of San Antonio, Texas; daughters-in-law Judy and Rosemary; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements provided by D. W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel 11200 Metcalf Overland Park, KS 66210
Billy Joe Walker
1934 - 2005
LARNED - Billy Joe Walker, 70, died April 8 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center-St. Francis Campus, Wichita. He was born Aug. 31, 1934, at Kansas City, Kan., the son of Curtis E. and Lonita Bertha Moss Walker. On Oct. 21, 1951, he married
Effie E. Cody at Wichita. A Larned resident since September 1999, he was a retired truck driver and minister. Walker belonged to the First Bible Baptist Church, Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, of the home; three sons, Billy Joe Walker Jr., Katy, Texas, Bobby James Walker, Moreno Valley, Calif., and Ricky 'Kansas' Walker, Larned; two daughters, Terri Ann Greenberg, Yorba Linda, Calif., and Sherri Lyn Bacani, Anaheim, Calif.; one brother, David Walker, Wichita; one sister, Carolyn Ralstin, Cheney; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at the church with the Rev. Bob Walker and the Rev. Daryl Grimm officiating. Burial will be at the Larned cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Ronald McDonald House in care of Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550-0124
Arlene E. Karst
1925 - 2005
DORRANCE - Arlene E. Karst, 79, died April 9 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born June 7, 1925, in Dodge City, the daughter of Alex Ehrlich and Mollie Deines. She married
Clarence Karst on June 13, 1943 at Susank. He died April 2, 1984. A lifetime resident of the Dorrance area, she was a homemaker, senior companion and Avon representative. Mrs. Karst was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Dorrance. Survivors include one son, Ron Karst of Dorrance; one daughter, Ramona Luebbers of Russell; one brother, Ben Ehrlich of Great Bend; one sister, Laura Odor of Garland, Texas; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at the church, with Sister Diane Wagner officiating. Burial will be at the Russell City cemetery in Russell. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary, Inc. 610 24th St. Wilson, KS 67490
Nancy Ellen Ballinger
1922 - 2005
OSAGE CITY - Nancy Ellen Ballinger, 82, died Friday, April 8, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. She was born July 20, 1922, in Mehan, Okla., the daughter of Meridith Merrit 'Mert' and Ora Ellen Heister. She graduated from Perkins High School in Perkins, Okla., in 1939. Mrs. Ballinger was a homemaker and a child care provider. She married
Robert Layton on Dec. 14, 1941, at Perkins. Robert was a veteran of World War II and was lost in the Korean War. They had two children together, Sharon and Penny. She married
Allen Leonard Ballinger on March 1, 1959, in Seminole, Okla. They started a family together in 1963 with the adoption of their son Marc Alan and added a daughter five years later with the adoption of Vicki Lynn. Survivors include her husband, Allen L. Ballinger of Osage City; three daughters, Sharon Barker of Valley Falls, Penny Sutton of Ottawa and Vicki Reed of Waynesville, Mo.; a son, Marc A. Ballinger of Osage City; a sister, Mildred Phillips; three brothers, Bob, Ed, and Bill Heister, all from Oklahoma; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Hazel, and a brother, Ray Dean. A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Grace Community Church, 310 E. 8th St., in Overbrook. Burial will be at the Osage cemetery. Mrs. Ballinger will lie in state from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carey Funeral Home in Burlingame, where the family will meet with relatives and friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Nancy Ballinger Memorial, and sent in care of First State Bank, P.O. Box 275, Osage City, KS 66523. Funeral arrangements provided by Carey Funeral Home, Inc. 503 S. Topeka / P.O. Box 196 Burlingame, KS 66413
Marian R. Clawson Sherman Dick
1922 - 2005
LARNED - Marian R. Clawson Sherman Dick, 82, died April 6 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She was born May 7, 1922, at Alamota, the daughter of Arnold B. and Leta Hazel Ross Clawson. She married
Carl Dick on Dec. 29, 1949, at Larned. A longtime resident of Larned, she was a homemaker. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Larned. Survivors include two sons, Arthur 'Art' Dick of Larned and Clay Sherman of Mason City, Iowa; one daughter, Shirley Treas of Salina; two brothers, Virgil Clawson of Larned and A.B. Clawson Jr. of Pawnee Rock; one sister, Maxine Yeager of Larned; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by four brothers, Joe Clawson, Earl Clawson, Ben Clawson and Edward Clawson; one sister, Carolyn Fairchild; and one grandchild, Justin Sherman. Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday 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. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to KNI Special Residence Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550
Irven L. Burnett
1919 - 2005
Irven L. Burnett, 86, died April 5, at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 15, 1919, at Wheels Point, Texas, the son of Irven and Helen Burnett. He married
Leona Herl Dinges on July 17, 1976, at Great Bend. She survives. He was a country schoolteacher and after that he was a manager for American Trailers until 1984 and retired from Guthrie Trailers in 1994. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1970 coming from Oklahoma City, Okla., and Fort Worth, Texas. He was a World War II veteran, serving with the United States Army. He was a member of First Christian Church, V.F.W. Post #3111, American Legion Post #180, and Fraternal Order of the Eagles #646. Survivors include his wife, Leona Herl Burnett of the home; one stepson, Donald L. Herl and wife Henrietta of Salina; one stepdaughter, Almeda Jurgensen and husband Merle of Great Bend; one brother, Chester Burnett of Texas; eight grandchildren, Eddie Jurgensen and wife Cindy, Brad Jurgensen and wife Sherlyn, Brett Jurgensen, Kimberly Krinhop, Danna Armes and husband Frank, Derion Herl and wife Barbara, Jody Imler, and Brandon Herl and wife Michelle; 20 great-grandchildren; Brandi, Chelsea, Kyla, Katelyn, Andrew, Drew and Hannah, Hayley and Tara Jurgensen, Travis, Des A Raie, Scott, Donald, Ryan, Tiffani, Amber, Shana, Showna, Cailin and Kelsey; four great-great grandchildren, Korbin and Parker Jurgensen and Domonic and Dalton Wegant. She was preceded in death by one sister, Hazel. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Christian Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend cemetery with military rites conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Visitation will be Sunday from 1-9 p.m. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church or Barton County Relay For Life, ACS in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
