Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Max R. Folkerts
1938-2004
TIMKEN - Max R. Folkerts, 65, died Jan. 19 at his residence. He was born Jan. 22, 1938, in Great Bend, the son of Harvey H. and Vera C. Parker Folkerts. A resident of Rush County since 1991, coming from St. Louis, Mo., he was retired from U.S. Coast Guard, serving as an engine man. Folkerts was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Albert. He was a veteran of U.S. Coast Guard, serving in the Vietnam War. Survivors include two sons, James Folkerts and Lawrence 'Larry' Folkerts; three daughters, Lisa, Lori and Leah; one sister, Sherri Litzenberger of Edmond, Okla.; and several grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert L. Folkerts and Bruce Folkerts. Memorial service and burial will be announced at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Central Rush County Emergency Medical Service, in care of Janousek Funeral Home of La Crosse.
Michael William McQuiston
1948-2004
PAWNEE ROCK - Michael William McQuiston, 55, died Jan. 20 at his home. He was born Feb. 12, 1948, at Sterling, Mich., the son of William James and Mildred Louise Gable McQuiston. A resident of the area since 1968, coming from Big Rapids, Mich., he was a custodian at Larned State Hospital. Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Mildred and John Godin of Great Bend; and four sisters, Jerri Breese and Jolene McQuiston, both of Great Bend, Lois Anderson of Dundee and Connie J. McQuiston of Jackson, Wyo. Funeral services will be announced at a later date. Cremation has taken place and there is no visitation. Inurnment will be at Pawnee Rock cemetery. Bryant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dale Eugene McVey
1942-2004
LARNED - Dale Eugene 'Mac' McVey, 62, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 16. He retired as Senior Chief Petty Officer after 24 years of service in the U.S. Navy and retired from civil service. Dale was a member of the Fleet Reserve Ocean View Branch 60 of Norfolk, Va. He loved to fish and watch football but most of all he loved his family. Dale was predeceased by his parents, Rex and Marjorie McVey. He is survived by two sons, Christopher McVey and Robert McVey, both of Chesapeake, Va.; three daughters, Kimberly Clark of Simpsonville, S.C., Kelly McVey of Topeka and Karen McVey of Chesapeake; girlfriend, Pamela Schmidt of Norfolk, Va.; three sisters, Betty Jo 'Jody' West, Cheryl Ann Lagle and Mary Jane 'Janie' Boese, all of Kansas; and three grandchildren, Rebecca Clark, Ricky Dale Clark and Kyle Clark, all of Simpsonville. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Smith and Williams Funeral Home, Norfolk Chapel, Va. Inurnment services will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 28 at Larned cemetery with military honors. The family will receive friends at 306 17th St., Larned, following graveside services. You may offer condolences at www.smithandwilliamsfuneralhome.com.
Mary L. Parr Staab
1931-2004
Mary L. Parr Staab, 72, of Great Bend, died Jan. 20 at her residence. She was born Nov. 5, 1931, at Wichita, the daughter of Walter and Velma Fulgroat. She married
Don Staab Jan. 1, 1994, in Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend, she worked for Great Bend Tribune, retiring in 1999. Survivors include her husband of Great Bend; four sons, Tim Parr, Randy Parr, Gary Parr and Mike Staab, all of Great Bend; three daughters, Sue Miller of Lakewood, Colo., Cheryl Louderback of Liberal and Kathy Collicott of Great Bend; 17 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Bob Fulgroat. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend, with the Rev. Michael Joiner officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend City cemetery at a later date. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to Larry Jones Feed the Children or Disabled American Veterans, both in care of the funeral chapel.
Sarah R. Elliott
1918-2004
HAYS - Sarah R. Elliott, 85, died Jan. 17 at her home in Hays. She was born Nov. 15, 1918, in rural Barton County, the daughter of George C. and Margaret J. McGovern Elliott. A resident of Hays since 1992, coming from Hutchinson, she was a bookkeeper for a lumber yard in Hutchinson. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church of Hays and a former member of St. Theresa's Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Hutchinson. Survivors include two sisters, Susan Elliott and Rose Ann Rome, both of Hays. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Patrick Elliott and William Elliott. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at the church in Hays. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. today at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. today at Hays Memorial Chapel in Hays. Memorials are suggested to Masses in her name, in care of the funeral home.
Carmen D. Elsen
1951-2004
DENNIS - Carmen D. Elsen, 53, died Jan. 16 at her home in Dennis. Survivors include her husband, Ralph, of the home. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parsons, with the Rev. Robert Wachter officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Memorial service will be at a later date at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend. Forbes Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements.
Aldine L. Mead
1918-2004
Aldine L. Mead, 85, of Great Bend, died Jan. 18 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. She was born April 26, 1918, at Cedar Vale, the daughter of T.F. and Ada E. Niles Randel. She married
Elmer O. Mead Sept. 15, 1935, at Cedar Vale. He died June 1975. A resident of Great Bend since 1987, coming from Coffeyville, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Mead was a member of First Christian Church of Coffeyville. Survivors include two sons, Bob Mead of Pawnee Rock and Bill Mead of Great Bend; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Gary Mead; two brothers, Claude Randel and John Randel; and three sisters, Madge Foster, Marie Foster and Leola Johnson. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Pawnee Rock cemetery, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Barton County Relay for Life, in care of the funeral home.
O. Wayne Lee
1939-2004
LARNED - O. Wayne Lee, 65, died Jan. 16 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. He was the son of Raymond and Melba Jo Hamilton Lee. He came to Hutchinson in 1969 and was a night reporter for the Hutchinson News. He later moved to Simi Valley, Calif., where he became editor and publisher of the Simi Valley Enterprise. He returned to Hutchinson in 1992 to become the editor and publisher of the Hutchinson News, retiring in 1996. In his retirement he was a free lance writer and novelist. He was a member and church elder of First Presbyterian Church of Hutchinson and attended New Jerusalem Church in Pawnee Rock. His many civic accomplishments included president of Rotary Club, Simi Valley; president of United Way, Ventura County; chairman of Moorpark College Foundation; and was involved with Hutchinson Downtown Development. On Nov. 10, 1961, he married
Patricia Ann Cox at Miami, Okla. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Bradley Wayne Lee of Hutchinson and Gregory Tinsley and wife Teri of West Point, Miss.; one daughter, Christina Long and husband Kevin of Hutchinson; one brother, Jeffrey Scott Lee of Neosho, Mo.; and five grandchildren, Brooks Tinsley, Candace Long-Moore and husband Darnell, Kyle Long, Megan Tinsley and Sara Beth Tinsley. Wayne was a loving husband, father and grandfather. Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at New Jerusalem Church in Pawnee Rock with Vivian Bright and Cliff Summers officiating. Memorials are suggested to American Lung Association, in care of Morell Funeral Home in Larned, P.O. Box 124, Larned, KS 67550-0124.
Louise Cecelia Klepper
1914-2004
Louise Cecelia Klepper, 89, of Great Bend, died Jan. 18 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Sept. 25, 1914, the daughter of Alois and Christina Beran Spiringer. She married
Ronald Klepper June 10, 1952, at Great Bend. He died May 8, 1971. A resident of Great Bend since 1983, coming from Larned and Garfield, she was a homemaker and worked as a lunch room attendant for Sacred Heart Catholic School in Larned for six years. Mrs. Klepper was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Patrick Altar Society, both of Great Bend. Survivors include one daughter, Carol Lang and husband, Mick, of Great Bend; one grandson, Mark Lang of Great Bend; one brother, Roman Spiringer of Evansville, Ind.; and one sister, Ann Hannah of Denver, Colo. She was preceded in death by one son, Donald Klepper; two brothers, Joe Spiringer and Victor Spiringer; and one sister, Frances Esfeld. Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend followed by a vigil at 7:30 p.m., also at the funeral home. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Reginald Urban officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery in Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society or Holy Family School Endowment, both in care of the funeral home.
Bennie G. Zordel
1959-2004
PAWNEE ROCK - Bennie G. Zordel, 44, died Jan. 17 in Pawnee Rock. He was born Oct. 27, 1959, at Russell, the son of Donald and Alice McAdoo Zordel. He completed training from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. A resident of Pawnee Rock, coming from Russell, he was a certified Harley Davidson mechanic and was a transmission specialist at Weller Tractor Salvage Inc. in Great Bend for 12 years. Zordel was a member of Sons of the American Legion in Larned and Ride the Iron Motorcycle Club of Russell. Survivors include his life companion, Theresa Zordel-McGonigle of Ashland; three daughters, April Robinson of Ashland, Brandy Zordel of Pawnee Rock and Jessica Wittig of Great Bend; two sisters, Brenda Mader of Topeka and Nora Pace of Russell; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Kitty Zordel. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell. Burial will be at Russell City cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary in Russell. Memorials are suggested to Zordel Family Education Fund, in care of the mortuary.
Edward Jacob Bruntz
1919-2004
BAZINE - Edward Jacob Bruntz, 84, died Jan. 17 at Ness County Long Term Care in Ness City. He was born April 2, 1919, at Hastings, Neb., the son of Jacob and Eva Brunz Bruntz. He was a graduate of Bazine High School. He married
Alice Schlegel Bittner January 1965, at Larned. A longtime resident of Bazine, he was a farmer. Bruntz was a member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church and American Legion, both of Bazine. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; two stepdaughters, Shirla Holmes of Garden City and Barbara Bedwell of Medicine Lodge; three brothers, Ruben Bruntz of Richland Hills, Texas, Sam Bruntz and John Bruntz, both of Bazine; three sisters, Rose Gumescheimer of La Crosse, Viola Daubert of Otis and Dorothy Schoenhals of Perryton, Texas; one stepsister, Dorothy Almquist of La Crosse; eight step grandchildren; and 12 step great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. James Webster officiating. Burial will be at Alexander cemetery, with military rites by Olin Cole Post of American Legion of Bazine. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City and until service time Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or Hospice of the Prairie of Dodge City, both in care of the funeral home.
Jimmie Don Blevins
1935-2004
KINGMAN, Ariz. - Jimmie Don Blevins, 68, of Kingman, Ariz., lost a short but courageous battle with cancer Jan. 9. He was born on Aug. 29, 1935, in Great Bend and grew up in the town of Chase. After high school graduation, he entered the U.S. Army to become a decorated Korean War veteran. Upon his honorable discharge, Blevins married
his wife of 47 years, Stella Marker of Ellinwood. They moved to California and for the next 44 years he provided a wonderful life for his family. In the summer of 2000, Blevins retired from the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. as a heating and refrigeration technician to Kingman where he was able to pursue his love of woodworking. As a result, the family will enjoy his handicrafts for generations to come. Blevins was also a devout member of the Catholic Church and a member of the Kingman Elk's Lodge. Blevins is survived by his wife Stella of Kingman; his three children, Kevin (Cindi) of St. George, Utah; Diane Barker of Lancaster, Calif.; Doug (Karen) of Lake Ozark, Mo; and his four grandchildren: Laura, Racheal, Jason and Alex. Also surviving are Jim's two brothers: Dave (Linda) of Dallas, Texas, and Ken (Julie) of Sacramento, Calif., and their families. This proud man will be greatly missed by many. No public services are planned yet. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the American Cancer Society.
