Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Stephen L. Pejsha
1946-2004
WILSON - Stephen L. Pejsha, 58, died April 25 at his home in Wilson. He was born Feb. 21, 1946, at Lincoln County, the son of Otes and Vera Herbel Pejsha. A resident of Wilson since 1995, coming from Lincoln County, he was a heavy equipment operator in Lincoln County. Pejsha was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wilson. Survivors include his mother of Wilson; two brothers, Gary Pejsha of Nevada, Iowa, and Robbin Pejsha of Salina; and one sister, Shelly Sebesta of Wilson. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. James Wagner officiating. Burial will be at Wilson City cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Foster Mortuary in Wilson and from 9 a.m. to service time Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Midland Hotel in Wilson, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary 610 24th St. Wilson, KS 67490
Alvin Otis Batchman
1909-2004
Alvin Otis Batchman, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Sunday, April 25, at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood, at the age of 94. Alvin was the son of Jacob E. Batchman and Alvena Schrepel Batchman and was born May 4, 1909, at his parents' home stead in Comanche Township in Barton County, delivered by midwife, Grandma Riley. He attended Barton County District School No. 58, Sunny Hill, graduating from the eighth grade. He began his career as a family farmer helping his father and four brothers, raising wheat, corn and maize. Alvin lived on his family homestead for most of his life, and delighted in growing everything from flowers to his favorite, watermelons. He served on the school board of Sunny Hill School from 1939 to 1946 and was a 50-year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, where he cooked for many special dinners. Alvin had been an active member of the adult Sunday school class at his church for most of his life. Alvin was a muliti-talented person who worked as a machinery assemblyman and a carpenter in the winter and helped to build several homes in rural Barton County. When he began farming, he used horses to pull implements and was so proud of the first tractor and pull corn-picker that he was able to buy. Alvin married
his sweetheart, Neva Grace Stone, at the Ellinwood Immanuel Church of Christ on May 4, 1932, where he was a lifelong member. To this happy union three children were born, Marlene Ann Rose Neuforth, Darrell Otis Batchman, and a stillborn son, Richard in 1942. Alvin was preceded in death by his beloved wife Neva, who died on Jan. 26, 2000. They celebrated every wedding anniversary for 67 years and Alvin's birthday by hosting a family dinner for all of their family and extended family. Alvin was also preceded in death by his parents, his four brothers, William, Jake, Earl and Chester, and two sons-in-law, Arthur Rose in 1957, and Harold Neuforth in 1995. He is survived by his sister, Lorraine Stedman 'Babe' of Gilchrist, Ore.; his daughter, Marlene; his son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Audrey Geil Batchman; his three grandsons and wives, David and Janel Rose, Richard and Debbie Batchman, and Alan and Regina Rose. His life was graced by seven great-grandchildren whom he loved and cherished, Nathan and Marisa Rose, Christopher, Bryce and Eric Batchman, and Bradley and Kayla Rose. Throughout the years, Alvin raised many different kinds of crops, but more than anything he enjoyed growing watermelons. He and his family planted eight or nine acres of melons every May and harvested truckloads of melons in August and September. He sold melons at the farm and sometimes at local farmers' markets and truly enjoyed meeting people who came to purchase from him. His talent and skill with growing melons led him to friendships with people from all over central and western Kansas. In his later years his apple orchard was a source of joy. He loved having neighbors and family come to pick apples in the fall. Grandpa loved celebrations, but none more than the Fourth of July. He bought fireworks for all the grandsons and great-grandchildren and invited them all to his home for a barbecue to celebrate the harvest and shoot fireworks to celebrate Independence Day. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ellinwood with the Rev. Larry Young officiating. Casket bearers will be his seven great-grandchildren and honorary pallbearers are neighbor, Harlie Parish, friends Chuck Frydendall, P. Dale Wagner and Edwin A. Pahls of Cawker City. Visitation at the funeral home will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Interment will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery. Memorials are designated to Immanuel United Church of Christ or Ellinwood District Hospital in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home* 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Edwin J. Ohnmacht
1922-2004
Mr. Edwin J. Ohnmacht passed away on April 23. Mr. Ohnmacht was born on June 8, 1922, to Gus and Anna (Kober) Ohnmacht and was raised on the family farm near Olmitz. He graduated from Otis High School in 1941. Mr. Ohnmacht served in World War II. He survived three campaigns in the South Pacific. On Oct. 24, 1951, he married
Edna Mae Joynes in Omaha, Neb. Mr. Ohnmacht retired from the Iowa Department of Transportation in 1983. Mr. and Mrs. Ohnmacht retired to Cherokee Village, Ark., where they enjoyed fishing, listening to baseball games and having their children and grandchildren visit. Mrs. Ohnmacht survives. Their children are Thomas Ohnmacht of Larned, Mrs. Colleen Kelley of Rolla, Mo., Mrs. Barbara Cook of Buffalo, Mo., Mrs. Connie Howery of Phoenix, Ariz., and the late John Ohnmacht. He had 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Cards of condolence may be sent to Mrs. Ohnmacht c/o 12111 Shawnee Hills, Rolla, MO 65401.
Elmer L. Karst
1926-2004
RUSSELL - Elmer L. Karst, 77, died Tuesday, April 20 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born Aug. 9, 1926, in Milberger, the son of William F. and Lydia Templing Karst. He was baptized in the Lutheran Church and grew up in the Milberger area, attending rural schools there. After receiving his education, he worked on the family farm and at the age of 16 he began working in the oilfields. On June 21, 1947, he was united in marriage to Viola Ruth Engling in Russell. They shared over 56 years of married
life together. He began working for Rapid Well Service Company of Russell in 1952, then later purchased the company in 1965. He and his family owned and operated Rapid Well Service until his death. He resided in the Russell area all his life. He is survived by his wife, Viola Karst of the home; two sons, Stephen Karst and Kirk Karst both of Russell' one brother, Donald Karst of Russell; two sisters, Alvina Templeton of Russell and Ruth Miller of Hoisington; three grandchildren, Kari Karst, Kevin Karst and Stephanie Hogan all of Russell; and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Kaycie Hogan both of Russell. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Clarence and Herbert Karst. Mr. Karst was cremated and private family inurement services will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Kansas Heart Association in care of PohlmanHeise Mortuary, 610 N. Maple St., Russell, KS 67665 Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary* 610 North Maple St. Russell, KS 67665
Leo R. Galliart
1914-2004
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Leo R. Galliart, 89, died April 22 at John Knox Village Nursing Home, Lee's Summit. He was born Aug. 13, 1914, in Larned, the son of Adam and Margaret Janssen Galliart. He married
Janet A. Robinson April 26, 1971, in Miami, Okla. A former resident of Larned, moving to Lee's Summit nine years ago from Wichita, he was a farmer. Galliart was a member of Presbyterian Church in Larned. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Verl Galliart of Larned; three daughters, Merilee Hook of Wichita, Linda Converse of Garfield and Gay Sauer of Lawrence; one stepson, Dick Fiscus of Lee's Summit; two stepdaughters, Judy Ruckle of Lee's Summit and Sharon Read of Rogers, Ark.; 17 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Glenn Galliart and Fred Galliart; and two sisters, Elsie Bird and Edna Unruh. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Jim Hawthorne officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Welcome Inn Senior Center or Larned EMS, both in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Ethel C. Thielen
1912-2004
DORRANCE - Ethel C. Thielen, 92, died April 20 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born Jan. 28, 1912, in Russell County, the daughter of Patrick and Sylvia Fink Coady. She married
George H. Thielen May 12, 1936, in Russell County. A lifetime resident of Dorrance, she was a homemaker and teacher. Mrs. Thielen was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Dorrance. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Neal Thielen of Boulder, Colo., and Joseph Thielen of Dorrance; one daughter, Joan Kaufman of Topeka; three sisters, Ruth Ruff of Cairo, Ga., Julia Mermis of Gorham and Betty Newton of Anthony; one brother, Richard Coady of Eugene, Ore.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Frank Coady officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's cemetery in Dorrance. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph's cemetery Fund or Wilson Senior Center, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary Inc. 610 24th St. Wilson, KS 67490
Frank A. Jenisch
1920-2004
CLAFLIN - Frank A. Jenisch, 84, died April 21 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 12, 1920, on a farm in rural Claflin, the son of Joseph and Frances Tinkel Jenisch. He married
Alice M. Bieberle June 17, 1947, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Bushton. A lifelong resident of rural Claflin, he was a farmer and a stockman. Jenisch was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus No. 2630, both of Odin. Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters, Lois and husband Jerry Steiner of Claflin, Marilyn and husband Bill Brandt, and Carol and husband Tim Samsel, all of Wichita; four sisters, Anna Boor of Odin, Hilda Ille of Great Bend, Mary Wondra and Eleanor Ille, both of Claflin; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Albert Jenisch, Joseph Jenisch and Arthur Jenisch; three sisters, Gertrude Gerritzen, Olivia Debes and Frances Zorn; and one grandson, Thomas Joseph Samsel. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today followed by Knights of Columbus rosary, both at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Odin with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at Holy Family cemetery in Odin. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Catholic Church or Claflin Ambulance Fund, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by *Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main St. Hoisington, KS 67544
Lois J. Sohm
1934-2004
OTIS - Lois J. Sohm, 69, died April 22 at her home in Otis. She was born Nov. 7, 1934, at Kinsley, the daughter of Orville and Evelyn Feldman Winkler. She married
Lowell Sohm Nov. 26, 1955, at Kinsley. He survives. A longtime resident of Otis, coming from Kinsley, she was a homemaker and owned and operated Lois' Upholstery and Lois' Quilt Shop, was a retired employee of Magnus Archery Company retiring in 1977, a quilting instructor at Barton County Community College and a retired registered nurse at Central Kansas Medical Center. She was a member of United Methodist Church of Otis, a charter member and past president of Central Kansas Thread Benders Quilt Guild and a retired Otis Emergency Medical Technician. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Steven Sohm and his companion Evy Andre, and Mike Sohm, all of Otis; three daughters, Ronda Ranker and her husband David of Hays, Susan Sohm and her companion Ron Mohr, and Diane and Kent Rexwinkle, all of Great Bend; her mother, Eva Winkler of Kansas City, Mo.; one sister, Joann Wilkinson of Kansas City, Mo.; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jason Sohm and Kim Rodie, Jamie and Jason Vsetecka, Dylan and Sierra Vsetecka, Matthew Ranker and Rebecca Lynn Smith, Amy Ranker, Hayley Ranker, Dustin and Alisha Rexwinkle, Skylar Rexwinkle, Jessica Schmidtberger, Tyler Tomlinson, Tysten Tomlinson, Kyle Schmidtberger and MaKenna Berry. She was preceded in death by her father, Orville Winkler; one brother, Ronnie Winkler; and a great-grandson, Connor Rexwinkle. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Marilyn Christmore officiating. The casket will remain closed. Burial will be at Methodist cemetery in Otis. Friends may call from 1 to 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by *Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main St. Hoisington, KS 67544
Katie McMillan
1908-2004
Katie McMillan, 95, of Great Bend, died April 21 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born June 13, 1908, at Kutar, Russia, the daughter of Jacob and Mollie Eckes Reifschneider. She married
Sid McMillan Sept. 5, 1940, at McPherson. He died in January 1959. A lifetime resident of Barton and Rush counties, she worked in the meat department at Farmer's Market, Mammals and Safeway, retiring in 1960. She was a member of Central Baptist Church, American Legion Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, all of Great Bend. Survivors include two brothers, Harold Reifschneider and LeRoy Reifschneider, both of La Crosse; and two sisters, Esther Murray of La Crosse and Helen Appel of Rush Center. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Henry Reifschneider and Edward Reifschneider; and three sisters, Marie Reifschneider, Mollie Bott and Ida Crotinger. Funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Dr. Gordon Rhodes officiating. Graveside service will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Hallett cemetery in Hallett, Okla. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today, and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Frances H. McDonald
1917-2004
TULSA, Okla. - Frances H. McDonald, 87, died April 21 at Southcrest Hospital in Tulsa. She was born March 13, 1917, in McPherson, the daughter of David E. and Agnes Sjorgren Freeburg. She married
Leslie 'Owen' McDonald June 2, 1940, in Pawnee Rock. A resident of Great Bend since 1952, she worked as a telephone operator and was also employed at Dupree Meat Locker and retired as a seamstress at Freeburg Draperies. She lived in Broken Arrow, Okla., for the past five years. She attended First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend. Survivors include a son, Leslie O. McDonald Jr. and wife Margo of Riverside, Calif.; two daughters, Karen Hiebert and husband David of Broken Arrow and Vicki Unruh and husband Lanny of Ness City; one sister, Mildred Myers and husband Leslie of Pasadena, Texas; brother-in-law, J.E. 'Earl' McDonald of Dallas, Texas; sisters-in-law, Teresa Ellwood, of Norfolk, Neb., and Laura Freeburg of Great Bend; seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and one step-great-grandchild. Frances was preceded in death by her husband Owen; and three brothers, John, Milton and LaVerne. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 24, at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend, with the Rev. Robert Castile, First Church of the Nazarene, officiating. Interment will be at Fairview Park cemetery, St. John. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Charter Funerals Chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by *Charter Funerals 2115 Washington St. Great Bend, KS 67530
Marie M. Sander
1907-2004
RUSSELL - Marie M. Sander, 97, died April 19 at Russell Regional Medical Center. She was born Feb. 1, 1907, at Catharine, the daughter of Paul and Paulina Wintholz Meis. She married
Edgar Anthony Sander in 1931 in Walker. He died May 2, 1999. A resident of Russell, formerly of Lenora, she was a homemaker and a farm wife. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Russell. Survivors include one son, Edgar A. Sander of Spencer, Okla.; one brother, Edmund Meis of Hays; three sisters, Ida Brungardt, Edna Hammerschmidt and Bernita Weigel, all of Hays; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Gerald Joseph Sander. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary in Russell. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Russell with the Rev. Charles Steier officiating. Burial will be at St. Ann's cemetery in Walker. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary 610 N. Maple St. Russell, KS 67665
