Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
The Rev. Cecil L. Swindle
1918-2004
The Rev. Cecil L. Swindle, 85, former pastor of First Christian Church in Great Bend (1951-1958) died July 21 in Tucson, Ariz. born Dec. 2, 1918, in Prosperity, Mo., he served as a pastor, mostly in Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) for more than 50 years. He was a graduate of Baxter Springs High School, Manhattan Bible College in Kansas and Phillips University in Enid, Okla. He also served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie (Udall Lewis); his three sons and their wives, John (Sandra) of Honolulu, Hawaii, James (Gail) of Houston, Texas, and Timothy (Kerry) of Tucson; two stepchildren; five grandchildren; and step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Hilda (Herrmann), his sister, and his two brothers. Burial will be in Bayard, Neb., on Monday, July 26. A memorial service will be held in Tucson on Friday, July 30. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the National Benevolent Association of the Christian Church, 11780 Borman Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146, or to Habitat for Humanity, 621 E. Lester St., Tucson, AZ 85705. Funeral arrangements provided by Bring Funeral Home Inc.* P.O. Box 1423 Tucson, AZ 85702
Lawrence '˜Larry' F. Klein
1915-2004
ELLINWOOD - Lawrence 'Larry' F. Klein, 88, died July 21 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Oct. 15, 1915, in rural Ellinwood, the son of Albert and Mary Schneweis Klein. He married
Leona M. Huschka June 27, 1945, at Saints Peter and Paul Church north of Ellinwood. A resident of rural Ellinwood since 1952, he was a farmer, cattleman and a self-employed mechanic for Klein's Repair. Previously, he worked for Davis-Child Chevrolet in Great Bend. Klein was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the North African theater from 1941 to 1944 and discharged in 1945. He was a former member of Saints Peter and Paul Church, and a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Claflin; Knights of Columbus 1187 and American Legion Post 0320, both of Ellinwood; and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428 of Hoisington. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, the Rev. Pascal Klein, Hoisington; one daughter, Simone Klein, Wichita; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Leo Klein and Al Klein; and two sisters, Helen Pfeiffer and Elanor Clody. Vigil will be at 7 tonight, followed by Knights of Columbus rosary, both at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Saints Peter and Paul Church, with the Revs. Pascal Klein and Trong Tran officiating. Burial will be at Saints Peter and Paul cemetery, rural Ellinwood, with military graveside rites by VFW Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Saints Peter and Paul Heritage Association or Seminary Burse, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main, P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Dr. Daniel O. Dunavan
1944-2004
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Dr. Daniel O. Dunavan, 60, died July 20 at his home. He was born June 26, 1944, in Great Bend, the son of Ira McKendree and Mildred B. Walters Dunavan. He married
Sheryl Ratzlaff June 2, 1968, at Goessel. He received a bachelor of arts degree in music from Wichita State University, a master of arts in music from DePaul University in Chicago, and a doctorate in music from the University of Iowa. A resident of Cape Girardeau for 32 years, coming from Chicago and Wichita, he was a professor of music, teaching percussion in the music department at Southeast Missouri State University for 32 years. Dunavan was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. He was a sponsor of Circle K at Southeast Missouri State University, a lifetime member of the Percussive Arts Society National Organization and the form president of its Missouri chapter. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Symphonia Music Fraternity. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Dylan Dunavan, Oak Park, Ill., Cary Dunavan, Kansas City, Mo., and Jesse Dunavan, Cape Girardeau; two brothers, LTC Robert C. Donavan, Ret., Pawnee Rock, and LTC Alan L. Dunavan, Ft. Leavenworth; and one granddaughter. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Robert Klein officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. Local services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Christian Church in Pawnee Rock, with the Rev. Tom Albright officiating. Friends may call from 9:15 a.m. until service time Monday at the church in Pawnee Rock. Burial will be at Pawnee Rock cemetery in Pawnee Rock. Memorials are suggested to Daniel O. Dunavan Percussion Scholarship Fund at Southeast Missouri State University or Hope Lodge (American Cancer Society), 4215 Lindell Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108, both in care of Ford & Sons Funeral Home, 1001 N. Mt. Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Local arrangements by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
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 1981. He died Oct. 26, 1996. She was an artist under the name K. M. Webb. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah Slemer, Gladwin, Mich., and Diane Dennis, Pendleton, Ky.; her father of Topeka; one brother, Dave M. Webb, Topeka; two granddaughters, two grandsons, one step-granddaughter; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Daniel Dujnieh. Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Daniel '˜Paul' Smith Jr.
1926-2004
OZAWKIE - Daniel 'Paul' Smith Jr., 78, died July 19 at his home in Ozawkie. He was born Feb. 2, 1926, at Topeka, the son of Daniel P. Smith Sr. and Martha M. Mallory Smith. He married
Blanche M. Pratt on March 26, 1951, at Columbus, Ga. A former Topeka resident, he lived in Ozawkie from 1991 until his death, except for the period of 1975 through 1980 in which he lived in Great Bend and worked for the school district. He was employed as a maintenance painter for USD 501 from 1960 until his retirement. Smith was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in the 4th Engineers, 1st Division in Europe. He attended the Rock Creek Bible Church at the time of his death and was a member of the Assemblies of God. Survivors include his wife of the home; daughter Gayla Joy and her husband Don Rayls, Topeka; and grandchildren Joshua Paul Douglas, Topeka, and Jonathan Patrick Douglas, serving in the U.S. Army in Germany. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Penwell-Gabel ParkerPrice Chapel in Topeka. Military honors will be conducted by a funeral detail from Fort Riley. Burial will be at Memorial Park cemetery, Topeka. Memorials are suggested to Rock Creek Bible Church, 5257 Hwy K-92, Meriden, KS 66512 or Midland Hospice, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606-2800. Online condolences may be sent to penwellgabel.com. Funeral arrangements provided by Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel* 245 NW Independence Topeka, KS 66608
Wilma Ester Martin
1912-2004
Wilma Ester Martin, 92, peacefully passed away July 17 at her home in Great Bend, Kan. She was born Feb. 9, 1912, at Porterville, Kan., the daughter of Harry Ray and Carol Kline Vesper. The family moved to Chase County in 1914 and that was Wilma's home until ill health caused her to move to Great Bend to live with her daughter. Wilma attended grade school at Wonsevu and Baker Schools, graduating from Matfield Rural High School in 1930. She then attended Wichita Business College. She married
Adrion C. Martin on Jan. 18, 1933, at Council Grove. He passed away in May 1969. Wilma was a member of the Matfield Community Church and served on the church board for many years. Wilma was a Past Matron and a 59-year member of Falls Chapter No. 25 Order of the Eastern Star. Wilma also served on the Matfield Grade School Board, on the Chase County Extension Board, and had been a member of the New Century Club, a 4-H project leader and a Cub Scout Den Mother. She also had been active in other community organizations. Wilma was a homemaker and seamstress. She was an avid reader and loved spending time with her family and friends, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who loved to play cards with her. Wilma is survived by a son, Larry Martin, and his wife Madeleine of Sebastopol, Calif.; a daughter, Jane Saindon of Great Bend, Kan.; a brother, Ray Vesper of Hawthorne, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Vinita Swift of Annapolis, Md.; grandchildren Joe Saindon and his wife Sissy, Loren Saindon and his wife Christine, LeAnne Delgado and her husband Aaron, all of Great Bend; and great grandchildren Tyler and Taylor Saindon, Jacob, Colton and Janay Delgado, all of Great Bend; and many nieces and nephews. Wilma was preceded in death by a son, Lowell R. Martin, two brothers, David and James Vesper, an infant sister and a step great granddaughter, Crystal Harris Delgado. Funeral will be Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at The Community Church in Matfield Green, with the Rev. Donnie Paden officiating. Burial will be at the Matfield Green cemetery. Family visitation will be from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight at Brown Bennett Alexander Funeral Home in Cottonwood Falls. Memorials are suggested to the Matfield Green Community Church or to The Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice of Great Bend, all in care of the funeral home. Wilma has touched so many people's lives, and will always be remembered for her beautiful smile. Funeral arrangements provided by Brown Bennett Alexander Funeral Home* 201 Cherry Street Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845
Roy E. Peak
1910-2004
Roy E. Peak, 93, died July 18 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 7, 1910, at Santa Fe, Mo., the son of Roy Elwood Sr. and Bessie E. Parris Peak. He married
Mildred Byrnes at St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Hutchinson. She died Aug. 31, 2001. A former Hutchinson resident, also living in Hoisington, Larned and Great Bend, he owned Peak Interiors, Larned. Peak was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Great Bend, and was a 62-year member of Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert Kent Peak; a daughter, Vickie J. Peak; and two sisters, Elinor and Jane Peak. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Hutchinson, with the Rev. Stuart Smeltzer officiating. Burial will be at Penwell-Gabel's Memorial Park cemetery in Hutchinson. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory in Hutchinson. Memorials are suggested to St. Teresa's Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory 300 E. 30th Avenue Hutchinson, KS 67502
Daniel '˜Larry' Hamilton 1
932-2004
Daniel 'Larry' Hamilton, 71, died July 18 at his home in Great Bend. He was born Nov. 21, 1932, at St. Louis, the son of William E. and Grace M. Uhl Hamilton. Hamilton was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles, Great Bend. He served in the U.S. Army for 12 years, earning four Purple Hearts and two Bronze Stars during the Korean War. Survivors include a daughter, Regina Finnigan, Aliquippa, Pa.; two granddaughters and one grandson. An informal gathering to celebrate his life will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Eagles Lodge, 1024 Main Street, in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Great Bend Home Health and Hospice, in care of Charter Funerals, Great Bend. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Great Bend, KS 67530
Jean Avey
1921-2004
ALBERT - Jean Avey, 83, died July 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 17, 1921, at Kansas City, Kan., the son of Jess and Etta Mae Davidson Avey. A resident of rural Albert since 1946, he was a farmer/businessman. Avey was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Great Bend and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. On Feb. 14, 1942, he married
Evelyn Butherus at Bison. She survives. Other survivors include one son, Rod Avey, Ames, Iowa; two daughters, Cindy Bredemeier and Lyn LeMom, both of Denver, Colo.; one sister, Virginia Long, Kansas City, Mo.; four grandchildren, Amy Rasco, Ryan Bredemeier, Dustin Avey and Julie Avey; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Morell Funeral Home in Larned with Paster Jan Follett and Pete Resz presiding. No visitation is scheduled. Burial will be at the Nekoma cemetery in Nekoma. Memorials may be sent to the Voice of Prophecy in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS
LeRoy Leon Wittig
1932-2004
LeRoy Leon Wittig, 71, died July 15 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born Sept. 8, 1932, at Burdett, the son of Victor A. and Martha Scheck Wittig. He married
Julia L. Donner on April 16, 1961, at Great Bend. A lifetime area resident, he was a truck driver for Morrison Grain, National By Products and Central Kansas Rendering. He was also a butcher for Thies Packing. Wittig was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a charter member of the First Bible Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of the home, one son, Steven L. Wittig, Great Bend, two daughters, Teresia L. Wittig, Harlingen, Texas, and Diana L. Wittig, Ellsworth; two brothers, Glen Wittig, Pratt, and Virgil Wittig, Leoti; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Wittig, and one sister, Virginia York. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Darrell Grimm officiating. Burial will be at Olivet cemetery with military rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Bethpage Missions in Ellsworth. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Robert Loren Wellman
1943-2004
MACKSVILLE - Robert 'Bob' Loren Wellman, 61, of Macksville, died July 15 at Hospice House of Reno County. He was born Feb. 19, 1943, at Topeka, the son of Loren William Wellman and Jetta Fern Wellman. He married
Karen Lee Aulgur on Aug. 8, 1964, at Wichta. A 1962 graduate of South East High School in Wichita, he attended Kansas State University for one year. He was owner/operator of Wellman Trash Service in Macksville, having moved there from Wichita in 1973. Wellman was a member of IOOF Lodge No. 539 in St. John and the Grand Lodge IOOF of Kansas; Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 982, Hutchinson; and Grace United Methodist Church, Macksville. Survivors include his wife Karen Lee of the home; mother Jetta Wellman of Macksville; one daughter, Kim Maxwell of Odin; one brother, Roger Wellman of Wichita; and two grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Elaine Lord officiating. Burial will be a Farmington cemetery in Macksville. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel in Macksville. Memorials are suggested to Hospice House of Reno Co. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel Inc. 205 N. Main Macksville, KS 67557
