Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Harold Arthur Younkin
1909 - 2004
Harold Arthur Younkin, 95, died Sept. 26 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born June 4, 1909, in Great Bend, the son of John King and Edna C. Verbeck Younkin. He married
Glenda Pfister on May 30, 1942, at Great Bend. She died Oct. 30, 1987. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a mail carrier for 50 years for the United States Postal Service. He served as a sergeant with the United States Army during World War II. Younkin was a member of First Christian Church of Great Bend, Great Bend Masonic Lodge No. 15 and its affiliate bodies, also York Rite and Amarath Inc. The past few years he served as the Worthy Patron of the local chapter of the Eastern Star. He was active in the Masonic bodies for over 50 years. He was active in the world wide military branch of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, serving as General Commanding officer from 1976-1977. He was the grand officer of the Encampment of Kansas from 1964-1965, D.C. of Kansas 1960-1965, he was a member of the American Legion and the Barton County Farm Bureau and the National Letter Carriers Association. Survivors include one brother, Paul R. Younkin of Redding, Calif.; one sister, Marietta Showwalter of Healdsburg, Calif; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Christian Church in Great Bend with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery with Military Committal Rites conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church Building Fund. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Sister Bridget Wenta
1917 - 2004
Sister Bridget Wenta, 87, died Sept. 27, 2004, at Dominican Sisters' convent infirmary in Great Bend. She was born July 12, 1917, in Fowler, as Agnes Caroline Wenta, the daughter of John and Bridget Hageman Wenta. She entered the Dominican Sisters' Community on May 29, 1933, and pronounced her first vows Aug. 10, 1936. She celebrated 65 years of religious profession in 2001. Sister Bridget engaged in domestic work all her religious life in the missions of the sisters and in the convent infirmary. She was also supervisor of the laundry at both Sacred Heart Hospital in Lamar, Colo., and at the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She assisted in the sewing room at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend and in the gardens of the motherhouse. For a brief period in the late 1970s she ministered as a health service assistant. She had been in the motherhouse infirmary since 1995. Survivors include one brother, Leo Wenta of Fowler, and one sister, Mary Ann Bernard of Landcaster, Calif. Sister Bridget's body was taken to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. today at the convent, with the Rev. Gerald Hammeke officiating. Friends may call this morning until service time. A wake service was held Tuesday. Burial will be in the Sisters' Resurrection cemetery. Memorials in honor of Sister Bridget may be sent to: Dominican Sisters Ministry Fund, Office of Mission and Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Opal L. Ruble
1916 - 2004
HOISINGTON - Opal L. Ruble, 87, died Sept. 24 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center's St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born Dec. 9, 1916, at Vinita, Okla., the daughter of Robert and Georgiana Adams Heater. She married
Johnnie M. Ruble on Sept. 26, 1936, at Great Bend. He preceded her in death on Feb. 19, 1991. A longtime resident of Hoisington, she was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Gary L. Ruble, Valdosta, Ga.; a daughter, Judy Stevenson, Great Bend; nine grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home. Memorials of the donor's choice may be made in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home P.O. Box 146, 415 North Main Hoisington, KS 67544
Leslie R. Deckert
1911 - 2004
LARNED - Leslie R. Deckert, 92, died Sept. 25, 2004, at the Larned HealthCare Center in Larned. He was born Dec. 27, 1911, in Barton County, the son of Andrew and Susan Boese Deckert. He was a farmer in rural Pawnee County, moving to Larned in 1981. He belonged to the First Methodist Church in Larned. On Aug. 9, 1941, he married
Phyllis Campbell at Baxter Springs. She survives. Other survivors include: a son, Andrew J. Deckert and wife Linda, Manhattan; a daughter, Cora C. Smith and husband Larry W., Wichita; four grandchildren, Alysun J. Deckert, Seattle, Wash., Ryun A. Deckert and wife Angie, St. Louis, Mo., Scott A. Smith, Burbank, Calif., and Matthew J. Smith and wife Jodie, Lawrence. The youngest of 14 children, he was preceded in death by his parents, all his brothers and sisters, a granddaughter, Rebecca, and a daughter-in-law, Nancy. Funeral will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the mortuary. Burial will be at the Pawnee Rock cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the First Methodist Church, Larned, in care of Beckwith Mortuary Inc. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary Inc. P.O. Box 477, 916 Main Street Larned, KS 67550
John E. Schulte
1912 - 2004
HAYS - John E. Schulte, 92, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. He was born Sept. 23, 1912, at Victoria, Kan., to Bernard H. and Clara (Linenberger) Schulte. He married
Amelia 'Molly' (Dinkel) on Sept. 24, 1940, at Victoria. She died Feb. 27, 2002. He was a self-employed contract painter and lived in Victoria until moving to Hays in 2001. Schulte was a member of Saint Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria. Survivors include two sons, Damian Schulte and his wife Lisa, Escondido, Calif., and Regis Schulte and his wife Brenda, Wichita, Kan.; two daughters, Claudia Hertel and her husband Denis, Great Bend, Kan., and Carey Schulte, Ellis, Kan.; two brothers, Denis Schulte and Benny Schulte, both of Victoria; two sisters, Edna Dreiling of Victoria and Caroline Pfeifer, Hays; six grandchildren, Philip Hertel, Chris Hertel, Matt Schulte, Kimberly Schulte, Melissa Schulte and Alison Schulte; and two great-grandchildren, Jessica Hertel and George Schulte. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Saint Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria. Burial will be at Saint Fidelis cemetery, Victoria. Vigil service will be at 7 tonight at Cline's Mortuary, 412 Main, in Victoria. Visitation is from 3 to 9 p.m. today and from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Cathedral of the Plains Charitable Fund, DSNWK or Masses. Funeral arrangements provided by Cline's Mortuary of Hays & Victoria P.O. Box 252 Hays, KS 67601
Sister Mary Alberta Schreiner OP
1905-2004
Sister Mary Alberta Schreiner, 99, died Sept. 24 in the Dominican Sisters' convent infirmary, Great Bend. born Aug. 13, 1905, in Colwich, as Anna Mary Schreiner, Sister Alberta was the daughter of Frank and Anna Martin Schreiner. She entered the Dominican Sisters' community June 1, 1920, and pronounced her first vows June 9, 1923. She celebrated 80 years of religious profession in 2003. Sister Alberta was a life-long teacher, beginning in 1922 in the elementary schools of Kansas. She was also principal of 12 different elementary schools during her elementary school career. After 1963, she was instructor at Immaculate Conception High School in Great Bend, did substitute teaching and was a GED tutor. She has also served as assistant to the community's general secretary and the community's archivist and as registrar of the sisters' high school and college. She has been in the convent infirmary since 1996. Sister Alberta's body will lie in state at the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the convent. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the convent. Burial will be at Sisters' Resurrection cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday, all at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to Dominican Sisters, Office of Mission and Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692. Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend is in charge of arrangements. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Haas Bushong
1915-2004
ST. JOHN - Haas Bushong, 89, died Sept. 23 at Leisure Homestead in St. John. He was born April 17, 1915, in Brixey, Mo., the son of Marion and Nancy North Bushong. He married
Teresa Roohms Dec. 23, 1939, at Great Bend. She died in 1996. A resident of St. John since 1935, he was a truck driver, farmer, dairyman and equipment salesman for the Massey Ferguson dealership in St. John. He was a member of Church of Christ of St. John and Elks Lodge No. 1451 of Pratt. Survivors include a companion, Marilyn Thornburg of Hudson; and one sister, Hazel Hurst of Cabool, Mo. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Harold Bushong, Hervil Bushong and Huston Bushong; and four sisters, Hettie Welch, Hattie Oxley, Hester Bushong and Helen Naugle. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Minnis Chapel Inc. of St. John, with George Shelton officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to Paralyzed Veterans of America, in care of the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel Inc. P.O. Box 34 St. John, KS 67576
Donna Marie Randel
1926-2004
OSBORNE - Donna Marie Randel, 77, died Sept. 24 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Nov. 25, 1926, at Moline, Ill., the daughter of J. Ben and Lulu Irene Voss Jessen. She married
Ira Frank Randel June 25, 1947, at Kansas City, Mo. He died Jan. 4, 1992. A resident of Osborne for three years, coming from Bison, she was a high school teacher at Bison High School and Otis-Bison High School. She was a member of United Methodist Church of Bison. Survivors include one son, Dana Randel of Osborne; one daughter, Kris Randel Waldren of Larned; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by one sister, Jean Jessen. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Burial will be at Lone Star cemetery in rural Bison. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Donna Marie Randel Memorial Fund, Baker University, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main, P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Mark William Cunningham
1952-2004
ELLSWORTH - Mark William Cunningham, 52, died Sept. 23 at his residence in Ellsworth. He was born Jan. 27, 1952, in Wilson, the son of Maynard W. and Norma Jean Bell Cunningham. He married
Malinda Wiles Dec. 8, 1992, in Las Vegas, Nev. A lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, he was an auto dealer and former owner of Cunningham Motors of Ellsworth. He was a member of Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1127, Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association and American Legion Post 174 of Ellsworth. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in Vietnam. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Mark Cunningham II of Ellsworth; two daughters, Kelvi Cunningham of Manhattan and Callie Cunningham of Ellsworth; two brothers, Kent Cunningham of Kanopolis and Brent Cunningham of Ellsworth; and one sister, Jeanne Lee Cunningham of Lawrence. Memorial service was Saturday at Parsons Funeral Home in Ellsworth, with the Rev. Dr. John Snook officiating. A private inurnment will take place. Memorials are suggested to Mark Cunningham Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Parsons Funeral Home 397 N. Lincoln Ave. Ellsworth, KS 67439
Luella Jane Garman
1955-2004
Luella Jane Garman, 49, of Great Bend, died Sept. 23 at her residence. She was born June 14, 1955, at La Crosse, the daughter of Victor and Agnes J. Oborny Pechanec. She married
Larry Garman Oct. 2, 1992, at Girard. A resident of Great Bend for one and a half years, coming from Ellsworth, she was a homemaker and secretary. She was a member of the Catholic faith. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Jeffrey Menzer of Cherryvale; one daughter, Shannon Menzer of Independence; her father of Timken; three brothers, Dennis Pechanec of Timken, Stephen Pechanec of Otis and Tobias Pechanec of Houston, Texas; three sisters, Charlene Koochel of Albert, Pam Lichter of Great Bend and Christine Kaus of Salina; and three grandchildren. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ultan Murphy officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the grandchildren's education fund, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main, P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Charles Lee Klingler
1926 - 2004
ELLINWOOD - Charles Lee Klingler, 78, died Sept. 22 at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood. He was born Jan. 29, 1926, at Augusta, the son of LeRoy and Florence Heath Klingler. He married
Betty Colleen Wilson on Oct. 3, 1952, at Hoisington. She died Feb. 24, 2001. Resident of Ellinwood since 1972, coming from Hoisington, he was an oilfield driller, retiring in 1990. He was a member of Heritage Club of Ellinwood. Survivors include two daughters, Kathleen 'Kathy' Dunnaway of Ellinwood and Marcia Jane Melton of Great Bend; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Kimple Funeral Chapel in Ellinwood, with the Rev. Paul Thomas officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 3-8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to service time Monday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Heritage Club, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
