Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Vernon Ray Phillips 1940-2003
ANAHUAC, Texas - Vernon Ray Phillips, 62, died March 24 at his home in Anahuac. He was born Sept. 13, 1940, near Saxman, the son of Claude and Clarice North Phillips. He was a graduate of Alden High School. He married
Nancy Manwarren in 1959. A longtime resident of Kansas, he was a dental lab technician. Phillips was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and National Association of Dental Labs. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Medical Corps. Survivors include one son, Anthony Phillips of Manhattan; one daughter, Lenora Engel of McPherson; his mother of Sterling; three sisters, Lillian Spradley of Liberty, Texas, Sarah Seitz of Ellinwood and Wanda Doran of Sterling; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Timothy Phillips; one brother, Leon Phillips; and one sister, Mary Hite. Inurnment will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Alden cemetery. The body has been cremated. Fellowship for family and friends will follow at Veteran's of Foreign Wars, 1012 W. Main St., Lyons. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Epilepsy Foundation, 4351 Garden City Drive, Landover, Md. 20785-7223 in Phillip's name.
Mary Louise Brungardt Sack 1913-2003
ELLINWOOD - Mary Louise Brungardt Sack, 90, died April 6 at Missouri Valley, Iowa. She was born Feb. 14, 1913, south of Victoria, the daughter of Mike J. and Agatha Bollig Brungardt. She married
Casper G. Sack June 12, 1935, at Hays. He died Sept 26, 1999. A longtime Ellinwood resident, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Sack was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella, all of Ellinwood, and Fraternal Order of the Eagles of Hays. Survivors include one son, Marvin E. Sack of St. Louis, Mo.; one daughter, Evelyn M. Lynch of Missouri Valley; one brother, Edwin Brungardt of Aurora, Colo.; and one sister, Neva Kolb of Lincoln, Neb.; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Rosary will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood, followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. at the church. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Jack Maes officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Commanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Grace Hospice in Omaha, the church in Ellinwood or Macular Eye Degeneration Foundation, all in care of the funeral home.
Carol Jean Robinson Phillips 1927-2003
HAYSVILLE - Carol Jean Robinson Phillips, 75, died April 4. She was born Dec. 24, 1927. She married
Randall Phillips. He preceded her in death. She was a homemaker. Survivors include three sons, Gary Phillips of Latham, Larry Phillips and Tom Phillips, both of Wichita; one daughter, Debbie Rouse of Great Bend; one brother, Bobbie Joe Robinson of Wichita; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Denny Phillips; and three sisters, Lois Wood, Coralee Robinson and Betty Ann Robinson. Funeral will be at 3 this afternoon at Resthaven Mortuary in Wichita. Burial will be at Resthaven cemetery in Wichita.
Herbert Lewis Phillips II 1926-2003
HEIZER - Herbert Lewis Phillips II, 77, died April 7 at his home. He was born Jan. 24, 1926, at Dawson, N.M., the son of Herbert Lewis and Bertha M. Shuff Phillips. He married
Cecil Marie McCullough Sept. 21, 1944, at Wichita. She died May 24, 2001. A Great Bend area resident, coming from Augusta, he was a carpenter, salesman, hearing aid dealer and pawn broker, all of Great Bend. Phillips was a member of Masonic Lodge, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, a life member of National Rifle Association and American Motorcyclist Association. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include two sons, Herbert L. 'Herb' Phillips III of Great Bend and William C. Phillips of Derby; one sister, Vivian Redburn of Phoenix, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three sisters. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Feed the Children, in care of the funeral home.
Helen Leona Kimpler 1909-2003
Helen Leona Kimpler, 94, of Great Bend, died April 5 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 6, 1909, at Claflin, the daughter of August and Mary Knorr Ehly. She married
Omar B. Kimpler June 20, 1932, at Claflin. He died Aug. 9, 1990. A resident of Great Bend for 19 years, coming from Claflin, she was was co-owner of Kimpler Cleaners and later worked for Suburban Cleaners, Sweetbriar, Gunn's Clothing and Licheskeys. Mrs. Kimpler was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Daughters of Isabella, Altar Society, AARP, RSVP and Dio. Survivors include one daughter, Carmelita Kwaiser of Saginaw, Mich.; one stepson, Omar Kimpler Jr. of Hutchinson; one stepdaughter, Carolyn Ward of Evergreen, Colo.; one brother, Walter Ehly of Claflin; two sisters, Beatrice Jarchou of Wichita and Joleen Walden of Apple Valley, Calif.; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Altar Society rosary will be at 4 today and vigil will be at 7 tonight, with Daughters of Isabella rosary following, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Warren Stecklein officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 3:30 to 9 tonight, with family receiving friends from 5 to 8 tonight, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Willie R. Osburn 1924-2003
PEABODY - Willie R. Osburn, 78, died March 6 at Evans, Ga. He was born April 28, 1924, at Hackett, Ark., the son of Garland and Leslie Hamby Osburn. He married
Dorothy S. Tiede Dec. 28, 1948, at Herington. She died April 4, 2002. He was a retired machinist. Osburn was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include one son, Gary L. Osburn of Evans; one daughter, Jeanie Grippin of Great Bend; and five grandchildren. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Peabody, with the Rev. Robert Kloth officiating. Private family burial will be at Prairie Lawn cemetery in Peabody. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of Baker Funeral Home in Peabody.
Kathleen Marie McKittrick 1946-2003
LARNED - Kathleen Marie McKittrick, 56, died April 5 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born Oct. 11, 1946, in Great Bend, the daughter of Martin and Dorothy Murphy Ochs. She married
Carl R. McKittrick at Hoisington March 31, 1979. A Larned resident since 1979, coming from Hoisington, she was a certified nurses aide and homemaker. Mrs. McKittrick was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Altar Society, Fort Larned Lions Club and FCE, all of Larned. Survivors include her husband of the home; one brother, Michael T. Ochs of Weld County, Colo.; and three sisters, Judy Pauli of Columbia, Mo., Joan Esparza of Denver, Colo., and Susan Lear of Hiawatha. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at St. John's Catholic cemetery in Hoisington. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, both at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Ft. Larned Lions Club, in care of the mortuary.
Randall K. 'Randy' Evans 1951-2003
ROSE HILL - Randall K. 'Randy' Evans, 51, died April 6. He was born Sept. 21, 1951, at Hays, the son of Virgil and Dee Evans. He married
Jan on June 11, 1971. He lived most of his life in western Kansas, growing up in Gove. He received both a bachelor and masters degree from Fort Hays State University. A resident of Rose Hill, coming from Hoisington, he was superintendent of schools at Rose Hill. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Trever Evans of Stillwater, Okla., and Brandon Evans of Manhattan; two brothers, Ryan Evans of Dallas, Texas, and Rod Evans of Allen, Texas; and one sister, Rachelle Evans of Garden City. He was preceded in death by one brother, Ricky Evans. Funeral will be at 10 a.m.Thursday at Rose Hill United Methodist Church. Private burial will be at a later date. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Smith Mortuary in Derby, with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Rose Hill Education Foundation and Hoisington Education Foundation, both in care of the funeral home.
Annette I. Rothe 1912-2003
WICHITA - Annette I. Rothe, 91, died April 5 at William Newton Hospital in Winfield. She was born March 27, 1912, at Rush County, the daughter of Frank and Katie Jones. She married
Wilbur W. Rothe in Rush County. He died July 13, 2000. A resident of Wichita for 15 years, coming from Salina, she was an officer manager in the health care industry before her retirement. Mrs. Rothe was a member of First United Methodist Church of Wichita, a lifetime member of Harmony Chapter No. 2 of the Order of Eastern Star of Salina and Century Book Club. Survivors include one son, Dennis R. Rothe of Chico, Calif.; one daughter, Deanne F. Jamison of Wichita; one brother, Harold P. Jones of Kansas City; one sister, Ruth Sites of Buena Vista, Colo.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Fred T. Jones; and two sisters, Elizabeth Burger and Vera Linn. Funeral will be at 11 this morning at United Methodist Church in Otis, with the Rev. Marilyn Christmore officiating. Burial will be at Otis Methodist cemetery. Friends may call from 9 to 10:45 this morning at the church and the family will receive friends at that time. Memorials are suggested to Good Samaritan Village in Winfield, in care of Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse.
Louise Joann Simpson 1907-2003
OVERLAND PARK - Louise Joann Simpson, 95, died April 5. She was born Dec. 26, 1907, the daughter of Conrad and Hanna Balzer. She married
Ralph B. Simpson Oct. 20, 1928. He died in 1954. She was a homemaker until the 1950s and was employed at Emery Bird, Thayer, Klines Department Store and Wolff Brothers, from which she retired at age 72. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Survivors include two sons, Bob G. Simpson of Bentonville, Ark., and Dan L. Simpson of Hoisington; two daughters, Dorothy Nicely of Overland Park and Peggy Snell of Kansas City, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Conrad Balzer Jr. and Eugene Balzer; and one grandson, Bobby Snell Jr. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Maple Hill Funeral Home in Kansas City. Burial will be at Mt. Hope cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Overland Park Manor, 6501 W. 75th St., Overland Park, KS 66204.
Melvin B. Karst 1918-2003
HAYS - Melvin B. Karst, 84, died April 3 at Hays Medical Center. He was born July 4, 1918, on a farm near Milberger, the son of Alex and Mary Popp Karst. He married
Bridgett Jacobs Aug. 9, 1939, at Olmitz. He was a farmer and stockman in Barton, Rush and Ellis counties. Karst was named Kansas Wheat King in 1953, and founded Karst Water Well Drilling in 1935, retiring in 1984. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Kansas Ground Water Association and National Ground Water Association. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Mel Karst Jr., of Hays; two daughters, Sharron Befort of Hays and Melly Karst Schmidt of Topeka; one brother, Leo Karst of Wamego; two sisters, Joyce Wegele of Galatia and Darlene Mylnar of Hoisington; two stepbrothers, Milton Rein of Branson, Mo., and LeRoy Rein of New Mexico; 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Charlsie, and two grandsons, Clayton Schmidt and Andrew Schmidt. Funeral was Monday at Hays Memorial Chapel of Hays. Memorials are suggested to Thomas Moore Prep-Marian High School, in care of the funeral home.
Helen Leona Kimpler 1909-2003
Helen Leona Kimpler, 94, died April 5 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 6, 1909, at Claflin, the daughter of August and Mary Knorr Ehly. She married
Omer B. Kimpler June 20, 1932, at Claflin. He died Aug. 9, 1990. A resident of Great Bend for 19 years, coming from Claflin, she was was co-owner of Kimpler Cleaners and later worked for Suburban Cleaners, Sweetbriar, Gunn¹s Clothing and Licheskeys. Mrs. Kimpler was a member of St. Patrick¹s Catholic Church, Daughter¹s of Isabella, Altar Society, AARP, RSVP and Dio. Survivors include one daughter, Carmelita Kwaiser of Saginaw Mich.; one step-son, Omer Kimpler Jr. of Hutchinson; one step-daughter, Carolyn Ward of Evergreen, Colo.; one brother, Walter Ehly of Claflin; two sisters, Beatrive Jarchou of Wichita and Joleen Walden of Apple Valley, Calif.; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. Altar society rosary will be at 4 today and vigil will be at 7 tonight, with Daughters of Isabella following, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Warren Stecklein officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 3:30 to 9 tonight with family receiving friends from 5 to 8 tonight, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Schooll Endowment Fund, in care of the funeral home. Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend in charge of arrangements.
Eva M. Smith 1915-2003
LARNED - Eva M. Smith, 87, died April 2 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She was born Sept. 30, 1915, at Hays, the daughter of Ernest and Lou Bucklew Grippin. She married
Walter Raymond Smith March 31, 1934, at Tribune. He died Feb. 4, 2000. A resident of Larned since 1955, coming from Scott City, she was a homemaker. Survivors include: three sons, Raymond Smith of Larned, Lenard Smith of Pawnee Rock, and Warren Smith of Oakgrove, Mo.; one daughter, Marguerite Horn of Great Bend; two sisters, Opal Vandermark of Rickreall, Ore., and Ruby Comer of Holly, Colo.; six grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Leslie Grippin, Harold Grippin and Jimmy Grippin. Funeral will be at 2 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 and Sunday, both at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Presbyterian Church, in care of the mortuary.
Alexander Gene Brown 2003-2003
Alexander Gene Brown, newborn, died April 3 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was the son of Jason L. and Kristal M. Krom Brown. Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one brother, Nicholas Brown of the home; and grandparents, Don and Linda Krom, Darrell Brown and Denise Eaton. A private service will be held. Memorials are suggested to the family, in care of Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend.
