Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Dorothy V. Koelsch
1915-2004
ST. JOHN - Dorothy V. Koelsch, 89, died March 19 at Leisure Homestead in St. John. She was born Feb. 25, 1915, in St. John, the daughter of Elmer and Margaret Carrier. She was a 1933 graduate of St. John High School. She married
Joe Koelsch. He preceded her in death. A resident of St. John, she was a homemaker, legal secretary for two Stafford County attorneys, clerk and bank teller for First National Bank of St. John and owner of Koelsch Department Store from 1964 to 1978. Mrs. Koelsch was a member of First United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star, United Methodist Women, Hesparian Club, past president of Harmony Music & Study Club, Victory Extension Homemakers Unit, Henry Rohr Chapter 204 OES, all of St. John, and served on St. John hospital and library boards. Survivors include one son, Richard Scrogin of Hutchinson; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lawrence Carrier and Victor Carrier; and two sisters, Marian Fulton and Veva Sidman. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Minnis Chapel Inc. in St. John, with the Rev. Robbie Fall officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel Inc. P.O. Box 34 St. John, KS 67576
Laura Renae Taylor
1960-2004
RUSSELL - Laura Renae Taylor, 43, died March 18 at Russell Regional Hospital. She was born Sept. 4, 1960, at Fort Morgan, Colo., the daughter of John W. and Alice Lorraine Wilson Clapp. She grew up in Fort Morgan and attended public schools there, graduating from Fort Morgan High School in 1978. She later completed vo-tech training in mechanics and also attended business school. She resided in Fort Morgan for many years before moving to Great Bend in 1990. She moved to the rural Russell area in 1994, where she resided until her death. She worked at the Rush County Nursing Home as a certified nurses' aide for a few years, then worked as a waitress at the Pizza Hut in Great Bend for several years. She enjoyed raising baby calves and bottle feeding them. She also loved the outdoors and enjoyed wheat harvests, but especially loved caring for and spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her companion, Dennis Boxberger of Otis; one daughter, Jodie Dirreen of Great Bend; one brother, Eldon Hartley of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Evelyn Ardd of Greeley, Colo., and Roberta Carter of Hutchinson; three grandchildren, Alexandra Dirreen, Gina Dirreen and Lauren Dirreen, all of Great Bend; and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. Graveside services and inurnment of her cremains are scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday at Fairview cemetery in Galatia. Pohlman-Heise Mortuary of Russell is in charge of arrangements. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary* 610 N. Maple St. Russell, KS 67665
Christine Breeden
1927-2004
Christine Breeden, 76, of Great Bend, died March 18 at Prairie Sunset Home in Pretty Prairie. She was born July 17, 1927, in Grandview, Ind., the daughter of Jesse and Anna Bennett Gilliland. She married
Kenneth W. Breeden July 17, 1947, at Great Bend. He died Dec. 30, 1987. A resident of Great Bend, she worked as a clerk at the former Sweetbriar Clothing store, was coowner of Village Square Dress Shop and worked in the Barton County Treasurer's office, retiring in 1987. Mrs. Breeden was a member of First United Methodist Church, Elks Ladies Auxiliary and HDU. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth W. Breeden Jr. of Wichita and Kevin L. Breeden of Evergreen, Colo.; two brothers, Don Gilliland of Lakewood, Colo., and Tom Gilliland of Denver, Colo.; three sisters, Ruth Case of Seattle, Wash., Norma Miller of Albert and Peggy Aldrine of Dallas, Texas; and one grandson, Josh Breeden of New York, N.Y. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Jim Gilliland and John Gilliland; and one sister, Louise Kerr. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Huntington's Disease Society of America, 158 W. 29th St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001-5300, the church of Great Bend or Prairie Sunset Home of Pretty Prairie. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home* 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Chester '˜Chet' Dale Lenz Jr.
1956-2004
SALINA - Chester 'Chet' Dale Lenz Jr., 47, died March 14 at Salina. He was born Nov. 5, 1945, in Great Bend, the son of Chester Dale and Henrietta Elizabeth Peters Lenz. He was a graduate of Phillipsburg High School and from Cloud County Community College with an associates degree in sociology. A resident of Salina, he was self-employed as a contractor/remodeler at Tradesman Company in Salina. Survivors include two daughters, Hannah M. Lenz and Kristina A. Lenz, both of Salina; his father; four sisters, Janice D. Weiershaeuser of Gross-Gerau, Germany, Pamela E. Burns of Honolulu, Hawaii, Annie Lenz of Wichita and Jane M. Stewart of Spokane, Wash.; and special friend, Patricia Champ of Salina. Memorial service was Friday at Carlson-Ford-Geisendorf Funeral Home in Salina. Inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Chester Dale Lenz Jr. Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Carlson-Ford-Geisendorf Funeral Home and Crematory 500 S. Ohio Salina, KS 67401
Eilt A. Miller
1923-2004
ALBERT - Eilt A. Miller, 81, died March 19 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 14, 1923, at Albert, the son of Conrad and Anna Rients Miller. He married
Reita Yarmer April 24, 1946, at St. John. She died Jan. 9, 1972. He married
Marian Tuzicka McNemee Feb. 10, 1979, at Albert. A lifetime area resident, he was a farmer and stockman. Miller was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Albert, a past board member of Clara Barton Hospital and was active in other community and church activities. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Stephen Miller of Des Moines, Iowa; two daughters, Coleen Nuss of Great Bend and Shelly DeWald of Otis; one stepson, Mark McNemee of McLouth; two stepdaughters, Carol Olson of Olivia, Minn., and Karen Lambert of Gillette, Wyo.; three brothers, Louis Miller of Bloomington, Ill., Carl Miller of Ellinwood and John Miller of Albert; four grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one stepson, Robert McNemee; three brothers, Abbe Miller, Edward Miller and Martin Miller; and one sister, Tena Marshall. Prayer service will be at 7 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Ethan Feistner officiating. Burial will be at Peace Lutheran cemetery in Albert. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Alzheimer's Foundation, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Pete Scheck
1917-2004
Pete Scheck, 86, of Great Bend, died March 19 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born May 7, 1917, at Victoria, the son of Joseph P. and Magdalene Windholz Scheck. He married
Evelyn Scheck Nov. 21, 1938, at Walker. A resident of Great Bend since 1941, coming from Hays and Victoria, he worked at the Buick Garage in Great Bend, was a foreman of Charlie Humes Construction, was a mechanic at Folley's Caterpillar and retired from Farley Machine Shop in 1981. Scheck was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Eagles, all of Great Bend. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Larry Dean Scheck of San Diego, Calif.; two daughters, Gloria A. McCormick of Hays and Betty Jane Brown of Great Bend; three brothers, Edwin Scheck and Melvin Scheck, both of Russell, and Linus Scheck of Macksville; four sisters, Mary Weigel, Katie Scheck and Magdalena Moeder, all of Victoria, and Rubina Dinkel of Colby; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Gilbert Scheck, Seraphine Scheck and Victor Scheck; and two sisters, Bertha Denning and Leona Scheck. Vigil will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, with Knights of Columbus rosary at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Revs. Reginald Urban and Gerald A. Hammeke officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment Fund or Alzheimer's Association, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Ruby Tucker
1920-2004
JOHNSON - Ruby Tucker, 84, died March 16 at Park View Assisted Living Residence in Ulysses. She was born Jan. 22, 1920, at Great Bend, the daughter of Otto and Elsie Ludwig Oser. She was a 1938 graduate of Great Bend High School and attended Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia for two years. She married
Herman Lawrence 'H.L.' Tucker Jr. May 4, 1944, at Great Bend. A resident of Johnson, she was a school teacher and homemaker. Mrs. Tucker was a member of First United Methodist Church, Come Join Us Sunday school class, United Methodist Women and Cosmos Club, all of Johnson. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Tom Tucker and wife, Dawn, of Johnson; two daughters, Karen Farrell and husband, Mike, of Newton, and Nancy Nicholas and husband, Wendell, of Johnson; three sisters, Frieda Miller and Margaret Wilkens, both of Ellsworth, and Marian Brown and husband, John, of Baker City, Ore.; eight grandchildren, Kyle and Kris Farrell, Dr. Becky Nicholas and Niki Nicholas, Tiffany Moeller and husband Mike, Scott, Rochelle and Heath Tucker; and three great-grandchildren, Kayla and Tyler Hook and Lynne Moeller. She was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Constance Jean Tucker; and one sister, Ruth Ek. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Glenn Fogo officiating. Burial will be at Stanton County cemetery in Johnson. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Garnand Funeral Home in Johnson. Memorials are suggested to the church, Kansas Alzheimer's Association, or Stanton County Long Term Care Unit, all in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Garnand Funeral Home* 605 W. North Ave. Johnson, KS 67855
Lou Connor Komarek
1911-2004
SALINA - Mary Lou Connor Komarek, 62, died March 17 at Salina Regional Medical Center in Salina. She was born Oct. 14, 1941, at Hoisington, the daughter of Robert and Aurelia Schugart Connor. A resident of Salina, coming from Omaha, Neb., and Hays, she was an office manager and general manager of Holiday Inn Express of Salina and formerly Hampton Inn of Omaha. Survivors include one son, Shane Komarek of Salina; two daughters, Linda Komarek of Salina and Sue Morris of Logan; two brothers, Robert Connor of Banning, Calif., and John Connor of Great Bend; four sisters, Margaret Ehrlich and Jean Flagor, both of Hoisington, Loretta Ulrey of Larned and Barbara Lehning of Logan; and seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Jim Connor. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. David Flagor officiating. Inurnment will be at St. John Catholic Church cemetery in Hoisington. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Salina Red Cross, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Geneva M. Ney
1925-2004
OLPE - Geneva M. Ney, 78, died March 10 in Sun City West, Ariz. She was born March 27, 1925, in Olpe, the daughter of William P. and Katherine Haag Miller. She married
Richard M. Ney Sept. 16, 1944, in Olpe. A resident of Sun City West, coming from Olpe, Wichita and Kent, Wash., she was a homemaker and worked at the Boeing plant in Wichita during World War II. Mrs. Ney was a member of St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in Surprise, Ariz. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Michael R. Ney of Covington, Wash.; one daughter, Michelle R. Stasco of Seattle, Wash.; two brothers, William P. Miller of Emporia and Frank Miller of Van Buren, Ark.; three sisters, Helen Bowman of Emporia, Wilma M. Gerleman of Salina and Kathryn Hickel of Sun City West; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Berthold Miller, Christian Miller and Leonard Miller; and four sisters, infant Clara Miller, Bernadine Wiederholdt, Ilene Burns and Louise Miller. Funeral Mass was Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church at Olpe. Burial was at St. Joseph cemetery at Olpe. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic cemetery Endowment Fund, in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home of Emporia. Funeral arrangements provided by Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home P.O. Box 175 Emporia, KS 66801
Catherine Ann Rugan
1925-2004
ELLINWOOD - Catherine Ann Rugan, 78, died March 17 at her home in Ellinwood. She was born Oct. 25, 1925, at Hoisington, the daughter of Philip and Anna Elizabeth Siegfried Krug. She was a 1943 graduate of Hoisington High School. She married
Warren A. Rugan March 25, 1951, at Hoisington. A lifetime resident of Barton County, she was a farm wife. Mrs. Rugan was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Lutheran Women's Missionary League, Garden Club and Sunshine Club, all of Ellinwood. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Kurt A. Rugan and Walter P. Rugan, both of Ellinwood, and W. Gene Rugan of Lyons; one daughter, Sharon Theimer of Winfield; one brother, Orland Krug of Houston, Texas; one sister, LaVera Sullivan of Spanish Fort, Ala.; and 10 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Krug and Harold Krug; and one sister, Olive Krug. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Andy Keltner officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to LWML or Ellinwood Garden Club, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home Inc. 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Margaret Lou Donley
1923-2004
Margaret Lou Donley, 81, of Great Bend, died March 15 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born Jan. 9, 1923, at Topeka, the daughter of Edmond Leroy and Marjorie Anderson Caskey. She married
Kenneth Delpha Donley Dec. 19, 1950, at Kansas City, Mo. He died in 1983. A longtime resident of Great Bend, coming from Macksville, she was a retired manager of C.O. Mammels Grocery in Macksville. Mrs. Donley was baptized Episcopalian and a member of American Legion Auxiliary in Great Bend and Macksville, and Alpha Pi Sorority at Washburn University in Topeka. Survivors include one son, Eddie Paul Donley of Mesa, Ariz.; three daughters, Carol Sue Burns of Texas, Linda Lou Echlos of Alabama and Bonnie Bradley of Lewisville, Texas; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Farmington cemetery in Macksville, with the Rev. Larry Sadowski officiating. Friends may call from 3 to 9 p.m. today, with family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Friday, all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to Arthritis Foundation, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main P.O. Box 145 Hoisington, KS 67544
