Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
J. Marion Weathers
1926-2004
J. Marion Weathers, 77, of Great Bend died Jan. 16, at Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born Sept. 13, 1926, at Great Bend, the son of Roscoe and Mable Mae Denbo Weathers. He married
Jean Bruce on June 23, 1982, at Great Bend. A lifetime resident of Barton County, he was a retired farmer . Weathers was a member of the Eagles Lodge. Survivors include his wife of the home; one step-son, Bruce Huss, Wichita; one step-daughter, Jill Herold, Denver, Colo.; one brother, James Weathers, Great Bend; and three step-grandchildren. A graveside service will take place at 1:30 p.m., Monday, at Great Bend cemetery, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Friends may call 1 - 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. - noon Monday at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation Center, in care of the funeral home.
Kathleen M. Krmela
1931-2004
OTIS - Kathleen M. Krmela, 73, died Jan. 2, at Mt. Pleasant, Mich. She was born May 29, 1931, in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of Harold E. and Kathleen Askey Webb. She married
Raymond Krmela in September of 1981. He died Oct. 26, 1996. She was an artist under the name K. M. Webb. Survivors include one daughter, Deborah Slemer, Gladwin, Mich.; her father of Topeka; one brother, Dave M. Webb, Topeka; two granddaughters, one step-granddaughter; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Otis, with Rev. Larry Frank, officiating. Burial will be at the Lutheran cemetery, Otis. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the family of Kathleen Krmela, in care of the church. Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Lawrence J. Wilson
1944-2004
Lawrence J. Wilson, 59, of Great Bend, died Jan. 16 at his residence in Great Bend. He was born Oct. 30, 1944, at Des Moines, Iowa, the son of John Lyle and Rose Marturrello Wilson. He married
Mary Malone Nov. 9, 1996, at Alma. A Great Bend resident he was employed in the home improvement field. Wilson was a member of American Bowler Congress and was a U.S Marine veteran having served in the Vietnam war. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Michael Strunk of Ford; three daughters, Dawn Goodnaugh of Minden, Nev., Amanda Strunk of Ford and Amber Strunk of Hays; and two grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First Southern Baptist Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Doyle Smith officiating with military services conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard at the church. Private burial will be held at a later date at Ford cemetery in Ford. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today, all at Charter Funerals in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home and Hospice or American Cancer Society, both in care of the funeral home.
George F. Erdtmann
1911-2004
George F. Erdtmann, 92, of Great Bend, died Jan. 15 at Alterra Sterling House in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 19, 1911, at Ellsworth, the son of George Henry and Clara Burmeister Erdtmann. He married
Almira Hardenburger June 3, 1934, at Narka. She died Dec. 21, 1986. A resident of Great Bend since 1948, coming from Ellsworth, he was a chief load dispatcher for Centel for 39 years, retiring in 1976. Erdtmann was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Great Bend, a past Sunday school superintendent, Lutheran Laymen's League, various church-related boards and served on the Foundation Board of Directors for Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington for 16 years. He was a member of Lake Barton Golf Club and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Survivors include one son, G. Richard Erdtmann of Bolivia, N.C.; one daughter, Miriam Strasen of Great Bend; two sisters, Edith Herrin of Wichita and Pauline Polach of Salina; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, William Erdtmann, and one sister, Alma Cochran. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Great Bend cemetery followed by services at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Revs. James A. Strasen and Robert Kreier officiating. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday with the family receiving friends until 8 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home.
Bessie M. Strong
1911-2004
Bessie M. Strong, 92, of Great Bend, died Jan. 13 at her residence in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 21, 1911, at Athol. A resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker. Survivors include one son, Buck Strong of Casa Grande, Ariz.; two daughters, Jean Arment of Dallas, Texas, and Jacque Scheideman of Great Bend; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Simmons Mortuary in Smith Center. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery in Smith Center. Memorials are suggested to Srader Center, Senior Center or Christian Church, all of Smith Center and in care of the mortuary, 118 W. First St., Smith Center KS 66967.
Olive Viola Krug
1912-2004
HOISINGTON - Olive Viola Krug, 91, died Jan. 14 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Nov. 9, 1912, in Hoisington, the daughter of Philip and Anna Elizabeth Siegfried Krug. A resident of Hoisington, she was a federal government employee for more than 30 years, retiring in 1972. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hoisington, Civic Club, and Business and Professional Women. Survivors include one brother, Orland Krug of Houston, Texas; and two sisters, LaVera Sullivan of Spanish Fort, Ala., and Catherine Rugan of Ellinwood. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Harold Krug and Robert Krug. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Kelley Taylor Schaus officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Arthritis Foundation or Kroesch Scholarship Fund, all in care of the funeral home.
Melissa Lou Cool Leiker
1977-2004
CLAFLIN - Melissa Lou Cool Leiker, 27, died Jan. 14 near Great Bend. She was born Jan. 4, 1977, at Great Bend, the daughter of Donald L. and Lillian D. Hershey Cool. She was a 1995 graduate of Claflin High School. She married
Paul A. Leiker May 15, 1999, at Great Bend. A longtime Barton County resident, coming from Littleton, Colo., she was a paper carrier for Great Bend Tribune and was formerly employed at the Eagles Lodge kitchen in Great Bend. Survivors include her husband of Great Bend; two daughters, Alexandria Dawn Leiker and Makeyla Elizabeth Leiker, both of the home; her parents of Lakewood, Colo.; one sister, Chrystal Morris of Denver, Colo.; her grandparents, O.O. Cool of Webster Springs, W.Va., and Norrine Hershey of Ellinwood. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Andy Keltner officiating. Burial will be at Hilltop cemetery in Raymond. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to the daughters' educational fund, in care of the funeral home.
Victor C. Arensdorf
1923-2004
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. - Victor C. Arensdorf, 80, died Jan. 14 at Lake Havasu City. He was born Jan. 27, 1923, at Ellinwood, the son of Chris and Christena Knipp Arensdorf. He was a 1940 graduate of Ellinwood High School. A resident of Arizona for the past 18 years, he was a store manager for Republic Supply, serving in Ellinwood from 1953 to 1956, and retiring in 1984 after 29 years. Arensdorf was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Havasu City, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, both of Ellinwood. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran, serving in World War II with a fighter squadron in Saipan/I.E. Shima. Survivors include a companion, Pauline Shaw of Lake Havasu City; and one brother, Richard P. Arensdorf of Oklahoma City, Okla. He was preceded in death by one sister, Yolanda Dulaney. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood, with the Rev. John Maes officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood.
Leon C. Schnittker
1934-2004
WICHITA - Leon C. Schnittker, 69, died Jan. 15. He was born May 22, 1934, in Cairo (Cunningham), the son of Joseph and Elsie Schnittker. A resident of Wichita, he retired in 1991 as owner of The Poster Company. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, of the home; two sons, Scott Gilbert of Wichita and Keith Schnittker of Aiken, S.C.; two daughters, Dea Ann Varner of Kansas City, Mo., and Diana Wilson of Wichita; two brothers, Delmar Schnittker of Grand Lake, Colo., and Howard Schnittker of Kansas City, Mo.; one sister, Jolene Tustin of Great Bend; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Norma Jean Kramp; and one grandson, Keith Schnittker Jr. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Glenn Park Christian Church in Wichita. Friends may call from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West in Wichita. Memorials are suggested to Glenn Park Cancer Support Group, in care of Glenn Park Christian Church, 2757 S. Glenn, Wichita, KS 67217.
Florence Thelma Miller
1917-2004
BURDETT - Florence Thelma Miller, 86, died Jan. 13 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in Larned. She was born Sept. 9, 1917, in rural Burdett, the daughter of Orren and Flora Louise Winkelman Salmans. She married
Ray Claude Miller March 12, 1939, at Hanston. He died Sept. 7, 1972. A lifetime resident of the Burdett community, she was a homemaker, worked in the dietary division at Larned State Hospital and was employed by Pawnee County Assessors Office in Larned. Mrs. Miller was a member of Burdett United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Burdett Seniors, a charter member of Shiley EHU and served 10 years on the Burdett City Council. Survivors include one sister, Ferne Miller of Burdett; one grandson; two step-grandsons; two step-grand-daughters; and one step great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by one son, Wayne Ray Miller; and one brother, Herbert Salmans. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Tony Horsley officiating. Burial will be at Browns Grove cemetery in Burdett. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Memorials are suggested to South Wind Hospice, in care of the funeral home.
Vera Volkmann Wahl
1909-2004
LYONS - Vera Volkmann Wahl, 94, died Jan. 14 at Good Samaritan Center in Lyons. She was born Dec. 5, 1909, at Lyons, the daughter of Albert W. and Ida Schmidt Volkmann. She was a 1926 graduate of Lyons High School and a 1930 graduate of Southwestern College at Winfield with a degree in music education. She married
Edward Wahl June 26, 1937, at Lyons. He died May 23, 1993. A lifetime resident of Lyons, she was a school teacher, having taught in Dexter and Lyons. Mrs. Wahl was a member of United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Order of Eastern Star, all of Lyons, Rice County Retired Teachers and Order of Mound at Southwestern College. Survivors include two sons, David E. Wahl of Green Valley, Ariz., and Dr. Robert W. Wahl of Nashville, Tenn.; two brothers, Harold Volkmann of Wichita and Harley Volkmann of Great Bend; and four grandsons. She was preceded in death by one brother, Roy Volkmann; two sisters, Lillian Volkmann and Alberta Volkmann. Graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Lyons Municipal cemetery in Lyons with the Rev. Cindy Watson officiating. Friends may call from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
