Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Erna Witt
1917-2004
HUDSON - Erna Witt, 87, died July 5 at her home in Hudson. She was born Feb. 8, 1917, at rural Hudson, the daughter of Carl and Lena Engels Drach. She married
Norman Witt Aug. 27, 1937, at Hudson. A lifetime resident of Hudson, she was a homemaker and past school teacher for Silver Bell School in rural Stafford County. Mrs. Witt was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Trinity Guild, Hudson Senior Citizens, Hudson Sunshine EHU and was a Sunday school teacher, all at Hudson. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, N. Theodore 'Pete' Witt, Hudson; two daughters, Patsy Gray, Marble Falls, Texas, and Linda Bunselmeyer, Great Bend; one brother, Arthur Drach, Stafford; one sister, Hilda Siefkes, Hudson; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, William Drach and Leonard Drach. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Wade Russell officiating. There will be a private family inurnment service at Trinity cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to noon today at Minnis Chapel in St. John. 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
Florence H. McCoy
1913-2004
HOISINGTON - Florence H. McCoy, 90, died July 4 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center of Hoisington. She was born Oct. 26, 1913, in Bronx, N.Y., the daughter of Edward Charles and Violet Pearl Mitchell Frank. She married
Robert McCoy Nov. 21, 1936, in Elizabeth, N.J. He died Feb. 27, 1997. A resident of Hoisington, she was a secretary and owned the Broken Wheel Ranch in Lebanon, Mo., and raised Black Angus cattle for 30 years. She was a past president for American Legion Auxiliary in New York and member of the auxiliary for 58 years. Survivors include three daughters, Roberta Welch of Great Bend, Florence Lane of Buckner, Mo., and Barbara de Lagarde of Holbrook, N.Y.; one brother, Harry Frank of Dover Plains, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Edward Frank. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be at Calverton National cemetery in Calverton, N.Y. Friends may call from noon to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to Cheyenne Meadows Living Center, in care of the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Great Bend, KS 67530
Harold Edward Gardner
1940-2004
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Harold Edward Gardner, 63, was born Nov. 9, 1940, in Norman, Okla., and passed away June 27 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Raised in Oklahoma City, he also was a resident of Hoisington and Great Bend for 25 years employed in the oil exploration industry. A return to Oklahoma City was made in 1995 to work in the retail grocery field before retiring due to health reasons. He was preceded in death by his father, Herman. He is survived by his three children, Cheryl Stevens of Thousand Oaks, Eric Gardner of Wichita and Jeff Gardner of Naples, Fla. He is also survived by his mother, Lettie Green; brothers, Timothy Gardner, Jim Gardner and Johnny Green; sisters Nellie Taylor, Patsy Ashford, Carol Whitlock, Judy Jennings and Janet Parker, all of Oklahoma City. Grandchildren are Gabrielle and Anna Stevens of Thousand Oaks. Service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Eisenhour Funeral Home, 5005 S.E. 29th St., Del City, Okla. Funeral arrangements provided by Eisenhour Funeral Home 5005 S.E. 29th St. Del City, OK 73115-4798
Walter 'Jim' Bisbee
1919-2004
Walter 'Jim' Bisbee, 84, died July 2 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Nov. 21, 1919, at Dustin, Okla., the son of Lewis H. and Lucinda Tucker Bisbee. He married
Minnie James on Dec. 6, 1941, at Mena, Ark. He was a resident of Great Bend for 38 years, coming from Goodland. He was a printer and composing room foreman for the Sherman County Harold for 17 years and the Great Bend Tribune for 22 years, retiring in 1987. Bisbee was a veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Army with the rank of sergeant. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, American Legion and a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, James D. Bisbee and wife, Linda, of Wichita; one daughter, Karen L. Webb and husband, Al, of McMinnville, Tenn.; two brothers, King Bisbee of Mena, Ark., and Lynn Bisbee of McColl, S.C.; two sisters, Jean Dickerson of Pomona, Calif., and Elsie Daniels of Mena, Ark.; one granddaughter, Lucinda Freeman and husband, DeWayne, of Wichita. He was preceded in death by one brother, Bill Bisbee and two sisters, Leatha Sprinkle and Irene McElfresh. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend cemetery with Military Committal Rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Monday. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, (Pastor's Mission Fund), Meals on Wheels and Great Bend Public Library. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
John W. Gormly
1928-2004
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - CMSgt. John W. Gormly, U.S. Air Force, retired, age 75, died June 30. He was born Aug. 8, 1928, in Great Bend. He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Gormly in 1978 and a sister, Gretta, in 1989. He is survived by his wife, Emily Mae Gormly; sons, Willison H. Gormly, Terry L. Gormly; and daughter, Gale D. Hearn, all of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Sherry Angel, Janet Lowe, Heather Hearn, Thomas Gormly and Patrick Gormly; great-grandchildren, Chelsea Campbell, Holly Angel, Cassie Angel, Bryson Hearn, Ashton Berkeley, McCaitlin Berkeley and Devon Berkeley; sister, Karen Tetzlaff of Kansas City, Mo. The visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy., San Antonio. The graveside service and interment with full military honors will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ft. Sam Houston National cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to any hospice organization. Funeral arrangements provided by Sunset Funeral Home 1701 Austin Hwy. San Antonio, Texas 78218
Blanche Oborny
1910-2004
NORTON - Blanche Oborny, 94, died June 30 at the Andbe Home in Norton. She was born April 20, 1910, in Pilsen, the daughter of Emanuel and Emma Krch Vinduska. She married
Louis Lentz Oct. 28, 1936. He died in 1945. She married
Edward J. Oborny April 28, 1968. He died in 1986. A resident of Norton since 1988, coming from Timken and Pilsen, she was a homemaker and worked as a telephone operator, managed the first school lunch program for the parish parochial school at Pilsen and was the priest's housekeeper in Pilsen. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and Altar Society. Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Ann Wetter of Norton; one stepson, Edward J. Oborny of Bison; one stepdaughter, Marcella Stos of Otis; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren and step great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Jim; and one sister, Mary. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Family Parish, St. John Nepomucene Church of Pilsen. Burial will be at the church cemetery in Pilsen. Memorials are suggested to St. Francis Catholic Church, Norton County Hospital or Andbe Home in Norton, all in care of Enfield Funeral Home in Norton. Pilsen arrangements are by Zeiner Funeral Home of Marion. Funeral arrangements provided by Enfield Funeral Home 215 W. Main Norton, KS 67654
James Mark McCoy
1946-2004
WEST PLAINS, Mo. - James Mark McCoy, 57, died June 26 in West Plains, Mo. He was born Sept. 16, 1946, in Great Bend, the son of Raymond A. and Hazel Inez Engleman McCoy. A resident of West Plains, he worked at Marathon Electric. Survivors include two sons, Shawn Mark McCoy Brewer of Topeka and Ryan McCoy Risley of Wichita; one daughter, Miranda McCoy Thornton of Wichita; one brother, Grant McCoy of Edmond, Okla.; two sisters, Alyce Schartz of West Plains and Rita Dannabohm of Abilene; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one grandchild. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving during the Vietnam War on the USS Valley Forge. Memorial service was Wednesday at Union Grove cemetery in Howell County, Mo., with military rites. Funeral arrangements provided by Carter Funeral Home Inc. West Plains, Mo.
Helen J. Meggers
1922 - 2004
CLAFLIN - Helen J. Meggers, 81, died June 30 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born Nov. 28, 1922, at Claflin, the daughter of Emil and Orie (Belt) Kratky. A resident of Claflin since 1968, she was a homemaker. She married
Rolland Meggers March 22, 1946, at Cimarron. He died Oct. 1, 1968. Mrs. Meggers was a member of Veteran of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Great Bend. Survivors include two sisters, Alice Johnson of Chickasha, Okla., and Frances Keyes of Claflin. She was preceded in death by one brother, Victor Kratky, and one sister, Elma Kratky. Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Raymond cemetery in Raymond with John Radenberg officiating. Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Memorials are suggested to Claflin Ambulance Fund or American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main, P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Vernon L. Short
1944 - 2004
Vernon L. Short, 59, died June 30 at his home in Great Bend. He was born July 27, 1944, at Norton, the son of Alvin and Zelda (Lyons) Short. A resident of Great Bend for more than 25 years, coming from Houston, Texas, he was a driller in the oil industry. Short served in the United States Navy. Survivors include three daughters, Serinae Zamora, Tonya Roberts and Joanna Zamora, all of Great Bend; two brothers, Ray Short and Eddie Stamey, both of Texas; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Merle Short, Rex Short and Harry Short, and one sister, Judy Criswell. There will be no funeral services. Arrangements are being handled by Charter Funerals in Great Bend. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Avenue Great Bend, KS 67530
Eldon Budreau
1935 - 2004
CONCORDIA - Eldon Budreau, 68, died June 29 at Cloud County Health Center, Concordia. He was born Nov. 2, 1935, in rural Concordia, the son of Joe A. Budreau and Mabel Tholstrup. He graduated from Concordia High School. He married
Eva Deneault on Sept. 15, 1953, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Concordia. He worked for 13 years for the Delmer F. Harris Company constructing playground equipment. A lifetime farmer, he was also a car salesman, real estate agent, auctioneer, contractor and general entrepreneur. Budreau was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Concordia Survivors include his wife of the home; six sons, Sam Budreau of Chanute, Ben Budreau of Concordia; Kip Budreau of Shawnee, Nick Budreau of Lenexa, Mark Budreau of Clyde and Russ Budreau of Concordia; four daughters, Janice Havel of Kansas City, Mo., Jill Orth of Great Bend, JoDee Swank of El Dorado and Julie Snavely of Concordia; 28 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Barry Brinkman officiating. Burial will be at St. Concordia cemetery in Concordia. Vigil service will be held at 7:30 tonight at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Chapel in Concordia. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home 325 W. 6th St., P.O. Box 606 Concordia, KS 66901
Walter B. Stieben
1914-2004
Walter B. Stieben, 90, of Great Bend, died Aug. 29 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 11, 1914, at Greeley, Colo., the son of John B. and Eva Brill Stieben. He married
Florence E. Schafer on April 7, 1946, at Kinsley. A 50-year resident of Great Bend, he was a truck driver. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Terrance D. Stieben of Great Bend and Kenneth Stieben of Pratt; and a sister, Ruth Graf, Ness City. He was preceded in death by two sons, James Stieben and Robert Stieben; one daughter, Sandra Sponsel; two brothers, Henry B. Stieben and John B. Stieben Jr.; and six sisters, Eva Frank, Mollie Wittig, Katie Weigand, Lizzie Stieben, Lydia Schlege and Linda Bartel. A private family funeral service will be held at a later date with the Rev. A.J. Owens officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend City cemetery. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Great Bend, KS 67530
