Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ida Mae Watkins
1927-2004
NEWKIRK, Okla. - Ida Mae Watkins, longtime Newkirk-area resident, died Sunday night, Aug. 29, 2004, in Integris Baptist Health Center, Oklahoma City, Okla. She was 77. At her request, Mrs. Watkins was cremated. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today, Sept. 3, in Miller-Stahl Funeral Chapel with Danny W. Cornish, minister of the Newkirk Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will take place later in Newkirk cemetery. Miller-Stahl Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Ida Mae Watkins was born July 17, 1927, at Newkirk, the daughter of William and Velma (Auld) Mefford. In the early 1930s she moved with her family to Kansas where her father worked in the oil fields. She received her education in Kansas and graduated from Gorham High School. On Nov. 10, 1945, she and Lloyd Earl Watkins were married
in Russell, Kan. They established their first home in Great Bend, Kan., and in 1974 they moved to the Newkirk area where they have since resided. Ida Mae enjoyed working with people and was employed for 48 years in insurance agencies in Kansas and Oklahoma. At the time of her death she was employed as a commercial lines insurance producer for the Larry Murphy Insurance Agency in Ponca City. A member of the First Christian Church of Newkirk, she enjoyed working with flowers in her yard. She and her husband raised horses and enjoyed riding. They also treasured the time they spent camping. She is survived by her husband Lloyd; two sons, Earl Watkins of Hays, Kan., and Bill Watkins of Howard, Kan.; and five grandchildren. A memorial fund has been established with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for Rheumatoid Arthritis research. Contributions may be made in Mrs. Watkins' memory through Eastman National Bank, P.O. Box 468, Newkirk, OK 74647-0468. Funeral arrangements provided by Miller-Stahl Funeral Service 200 S. Main - P.O. Box 461 Newkirk, OK 74647-0461
Charles E. Short
1920 - 2004
DODGE CITY - Charles E. Short, 84, died Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004, at Manor of the Plains, Dodge City. He was born June 21, 1920, at Kinsley, the son of Norval Earl and Fannie Felgner Short. He was a 1939 graduate of Kinsley High School after which he worked at a service station for a short while. A lifetime area resident, he was a self-employed floor covering mechanic for 30 years and later was a parts supervisor at National Beef, Liberal, retiring in 1986. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the Liberal Friends church, Liberal, and a life member of Howard Gotschall Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1714, Dodge City. On July 14, 1940, he married
Vera Ann Simmons at Kinsley. She survives. Other survivors include: three daughters, Delilah Winkler and husband Edward of Hoisington, Carole Racy and husband Jules of Ensign, and Judy Kaye Stevens and husband Donald D. of Wichita; a brother-in-law, Louis Rosproy of WaKeeney; 10 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lauren and Lowell Short; and a sister, Delilah Rosproy. Funeral service will be at noon Friday, Sept. 3, at Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel of Dodge City, with the Rev. Dick Robbins presiding. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Burial will be at the Kansas Veterans cemetery at Ft. Dodge with military rites by Ft. Riley. The family suggests memorials to Hospice of the Prairie or Manor of the Plains, both in care of the funeral chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel 1901 N. 14th Ave. Dodge City, KS 67801
Ione Julian
1922 - 2004
HUTCHINSON - Ione Julian, 81, died Aug. 30 at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson. She was born Oct. 29, 1922, on the family farm in rural St. John, the daughter of Leslie and Lucille Jones Francis. She married
Clinton Julian on March 22, 1942, at St. John. A longtime Hutchinson resident, she was a school secretary and homemaker. Mrs. Julian was a member of Carey Park Womens Golf League and numerous bridge clubs. Survivors include her husband of the home; two daughters, Janice Stone of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Marsha Murphy of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; one brother, Thaine Francis of Great Bend; three sisters, Lorraine Procelli of Sparks, Calif., Beverly Jones of Hutchinson and Donna McAfee of Omaha, Neb.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Vaughn Francis; one sister, Imogene Means; and a grandson, Michael Julian Stone. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Elliott Chapel in Hutchinson, with the Rev. Gary Salmans officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park cemetery in Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral chapel, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Elliott Mortuary 1219 North Main Hutchinson, KS 67501
Sharon Mendenhall
1942 - 2004
LA CROSSE - Sharon S. Mendenhall, 62, La Crosse, Kan., died Aug. 31, 2004, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kan. She was born Aug. 5, 1942, in Rush Center, Kan., the daughter of Jerry S. and Edna M. (West) Liggett. A lifetime resident of Rush County, she was a law enforcement 911 dispatcher for Barton County. From 1964 to 1966 she served as Rush County Sheriff. Mrs. Mendenhall was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Gamma Zeta Sorority, Eastern Star and was the Republican Party Chairwoman for Rush County. She received a 20-year service award from the Barton County Communications. On September 16, 1960, she married
Jack N. Mendenhall in Wichita, Kan. Survivors include her husband, Jack Mendenhall of La Crosse; two daughters, Cheryl L. Moeder and her husband Kevin of La Crosse, and Jody L. Mendenhall of Victoria, Kan.; two brothers, John Liggett and Donald 'Donnie' Liggett, both of Rush Center; two sisters, Doris Witthuhn and Judy McCoy, both of Hays; and two grandsons, Matthew Moeder and Marcus Moeder, both of La Crosse. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Duane 'Jake' Liggett and an infant brother, Vernon Liggett; and an infant sister, Lorna Liggett. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 at the Janousek Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse. Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at the United Methodist Church, La Crosse, with the Rev. Marilyn Christmore officiating. Interment will be in the La Crosse City cemetery, La Crosse. Memorials may be made to the Rush County Amusement Association. Funeral arrangements provide by The Janousek Funeral Home 719 Pine - P.O. Box 550 La Crosse, KS 67548
Frank Ryan Vondra
1979 - 2004
Frank Ryan Vondra, 25, died Aug. 28 at his home in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 17, 1979, at Ellsworth, the son of Frank D. Vondra and Carolyn Campbell Johnson. A long-time Great Bend resident, he was a laborer. Vondra enjoyed playing guitar and playing pool. Survivors include his mother and step-father, Carolyn and Mike Johnson of Great Bend; father and step-mother, Frank D. and Jeri Vondra of Little River; brother Darrick Vondra, Great Bend; half-brother, Travis Campbell of Denver, Colo.; step-brother, Joshua Scripsick of Larned; stepsister, Cindy Spreier of Larned; grandparents, Frank W. and Mary Jane Vondra of Geneseo, and Jack Campbell of Larned; step-grandfather, William Johnson, Ellinwood; and special friend Terra Dacarlis. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Sept. 1, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Reggie Urban officiating. Following a luncheon, burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice in lieu of flowers. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Verlyn Eldon Rosenberg
1921 - 2004
Verlyn Eldon Rosenberg, 83, died Oct. 28 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 17, 1921 in Phillips County, the son of Eldon F. and Myrtle M. Burton Rosenberg. He married
Lillian R. Williams on June 22, 1945, at Jewell. He was the owner of Rosenberg Engine Service, Inc. and co-owner of B & R Oil Co., Inc. Rosenberg was a member of First Assembly of God in Great Bend. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and served with the 85th Division, 339th Infantry. He was a member of the Polar Bear Association of World War II. Survivors include wife, Lillian; four sons, Rex W. Rosenberg, Douglas D. Rosenberg and Mark A. Rosenberg, all of Great Bend, and Neil E. Rosenberg of Fraser, Colo.; three daughters, Barbara J. Casey and Joyce A. VanCamp, both of Great Bend, and Kay E. Cook of Tulsa, Okla.; 16 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Melvin Rosenberg and one sister, Lola Broyles. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Monday at First Assembly of God in Great Bend, with the Rev. Dwight D. Dozier officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery in Great Bend, with full military honors. Family and friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home and 9 a.m. until service time on Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer's Foundation in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Billy Gene 'Bill' Going
1922 - 2004
Billy Gene 'Bill' Going, 82, died Oct. 28 at Centennial Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. He was born Feb. 5, 1922, at McPherson, the son of Vera and Pearl Sullivan Going. He married
Ella Louisa Bridgman on Oct. 27, 1947, at Topeka. A lifelong resident of Great Bend, he was a retired carpenter and had worked for Lindholm Construction Co. Going was a member of the First Christian Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving with the 11th Armor Division. He was a life member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star and Cheyenne Twisters Square Dance Club, all of Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, Ella, of the home; one son, Norris Going of Reston, Va.; one daughter, Marla Brack of Ft. Oglethorp, Ga.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday at First Christian Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Entombment will be at Calvary Garden Mausoleum in Ft. Oglethorp. Family and friends may call from 5-9 p.m. on Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church building fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Rachel Gilliland
1916 - 2004
Rachel Gilliland, 87, died Oct. 28 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. She was born Dec. 19, 1916 in Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Martin and Antonnette Deutsch Nufer. She married
Alvin T. Herzberg in 1937. He died in 1952. She married
Andrew Ralph Gilliland on June 6, 1955, at Carlsbad, N.M. A resident of Great Bend for 47 years, coming from McCook, Neb., she was a homemaker. Gilliland was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Great Bend. She was a lifetime member of the Eagles Lodge. Survivors include husband, Andrew; one son, Willard W. and Irene Herzberg of Chase; one step-son, Benjamin R. Gilliland of Vista, Calif.; three step-daughters, Mary A. Burns and Patsy R. Southard, both of Augusta, and Betty M. Diver of Towanda; one sister, Elsie Verhelst of Emporia; 26 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; and 33 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Dale A. Herzberg; four brothers, Alvin Nufer, Melvin Nufer, Leo Nufer and Elmer Nufer; and three sisters, Leah Harms, Louise Eichman and Edna Ashley. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. on Monday at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. James Strasen officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery in Great Bend. Family and friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the church and the American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Isabelle T. Jacobs
1920 - 2004
Isabelle T. Jacobs, 84, died Oct. 30 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born June 29, 1920, at Redwing, the daughter of August and Louise Tinkel Schremmer. She married
Vincent Jacobs on Oct. 13, 1943, at Beaver. He died Dec. 9, 1988. A resident of Hoisington since 1944, coming from Tulelake, Calif., she was a homemaker. Jacobs was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. She was a member of Altar Society, Daughters of Isabella and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. Survivors include one brother, August Schremmer of Hoisington; and one sister, Dorothy Polzin of Hoisington. She was preceded in death by six brothers, William, Walter, Tony, Lawrence, Edward and John; and by two sisters, Mary and Florentine. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Alter Society Rosary following. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Monday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Hoisington, with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. John cemetery in Hoisington. Family and friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Cheyenne Meadows Living Center or South Wind Hospice in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Joe Lee Wright
1931 - 2004
Joe Lee Wright, 73, died Oct. 29 at his home in Ellsworth. He was born Sept. 10, 1931, in Ellsworth, the son of Joe B. and Olga Black Wright. He married
Ona Bender on April 27, 1952, in Ellsworth. A lifetime resident of the Ellsworth area, he was a farmer and stockman/cowboy. He retired from American Slat Plant in Lyons. Wright was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth. Survivors include his wife of Ellsworth; three sons, Jason Wright of Richland, Mo., Joe L. Wright of Ellsworth and Jon Wright of Lincoln; seven daughters, Jennifer Bates of Lucas, Joleen Dobrinski of Omaha, Neb., J. Leslie Perkins of Great Bend, Jana Arensman of Kanopolis, Judith Reilly of Overland Park, Jeanette Kratzer of Geneseo and Julie Wright of Ellsworth; one sister, Dolores Shively; 23 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Joe Lee Jr. a brother, Harold Wright; and a sister, Gilda Shuck. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, with the Rev. Philip Hoppe officiating. Burial will be at Ellsworth cemetery. Family and friends may call from 1-8 p.m. on Monday at Parsons Funeral Home and 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or Ellsworth County Historical Society Terra Cotta Depot in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Parsons Funeral Home 307 N. Lincoln Ave. Ellsworth, KS 67439
James Donald Ward
1934 - 2004
James Donald Ward, 70, of Great Bend, died Oct. 25 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born Mar. 24, 1934, at Brandon, Colo., the son of William Alios and Iva Faye Kendall Ward. He married
Emily Henning on Apr. 14, 1974, at Springfield, Colo. He was a resident of Great Bend, where he was a retired truck driver. Ward was a member of the U.S. Navy and the Knights of Columbus in Lamar, Colo. Survivors include his wife, Emily Ward of Great Bend; four sons, William Joseph Kathman of Las Vegas, Nev., James Richard Kathman of Great Bend, Richard Joseph Kathman of Garden City, and David Ward of Atlanta, Ga.; five daughters, Jane Berg, Sue Kathman, April Ward, and Misty Ward, all of Great Bend, and Rhonda Machin of Riley; one brother, Gene Ward of Kit Carson, Colo.; six sisters, Mary Kissell of Pubelo, Colo., Helen Sparks of Greeley, Colo., Alta Hubbard of Avondale, Colo., Lila Laughlin of Sequin, Texas, Christina Fulton of Las Animas, Colo., and Carol Merriott of Elkhart; 11 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Ward, and one sister, Juanita Johnson. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. today, Oct. 29, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at Kansas Veterans' cemetery in Winfield at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of Charter Funerals. Funeral arrangements provided by Charter Funerals 2115 Washington Great Bend, KS 67530
