Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
David J. Clarke 1914-2003
ELLINWOOD - David J. Clarke, 88, died May 21 at Galichia Heart Hospital at Wichita. He was born June 26, 1914, in Stafford County, the son of Wade H. and Julia Clarke. He married
V. Marie Corkins Sept. 20, 1941, at Rawlins, Wyo. A resident of Ellinwood since 1952, he was a truck driver, a welder and a mechanic. Clarke was a member of AA at Ellinwood since 1985. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Jerry Clarke of Hutchinson; two daughters, Marilyn Sherman of Lyons and Darlene Oglesbee of Palatka, Fla.; one brother, Fred Clarke of Moreno Valley, Calif.; one stepson, Jim Clarke of Ellinwood; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Wade Clarke; and four sisters, Elma Clarke, Dora Delker, Molly Lovell and Ollie Pickerill. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel in St. John with the Rev. Richard Foster officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 1 to 8 tonight at the chapel, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association, both in care of the funeral chapel.
Clarence V. Brack 1921-2003
HOISINGTON - Clarence V. Brack, 81, died May 22 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. He was born July 15, 1921, at Otis, the son of David E. and Mollie Schneider Brack. He married
Charlotte Muzzall Curtis April 11, 1955, at Tucumcari, N.M. She died Dec. 23, 2002. A Hoisington resident since 1955, coming from Otis, he was a truckdriver and toolpusher in the oilfield and a self-employed welder. Brack was a member of United Methodist Church of Otis. Survivors include one daughter, Melissa Nech of Hoisington; one stepson, William A. Curtis of Valley Center; one sister, Helen Krug of Great Bend; and one step grandson. He was preceded in death by one brother, Ervin Brack. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Revs. Marilyn Christmore and Kathy Bannister officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Methodist cemetery in Otis. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or Otis Senior Center, in care of the funeral home.
Peter G. Smith 1916-2003
CONCORDIA - Peter G. Smith, 86, died May 20 at Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit. He was born June 20, 1916, at rural Concordia, the son of Benjamin and Nellie Peterson Smith. He married
Margaret J. Fitch May 10, 1942, at Salina. He was a farmer in the Macyville area most of his life and was a millwright for Dressler Engineering. Smith was a member of St. John's Lodge 113 AF and AM, Leah Chapter O.E.S., First United Methodist Church and Kansas Explorers Club. He served on the Jamestown School Board, Jamestown cemetery Board and was a Buffalo Township Tax Assessor. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, David Smith of Scottsville; one daughter, Susan Haver of Concordia; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia with the Rev. Tim Harlan officiating. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery in Concordia at a later date. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Concordia Animal Shelter and Teens for Christ, all in care of the funeral home.
James 'Ed' Abel 1908-2003
JETMORE - James 'Ed' Abel, 94, died May 19 at Manor of the Plains in Dodge City. He was born Dec. 1, 1908, at Lyndon, the son of Joseph and Maude Webb Abel. He married
Mabel E. Beckley Aug. 9, 1931, at Hoisington. She died July 19, 1995. A resident of Dodge City, coming from Denver, Colo., and Hoisington, he worked for Gates Tire Company of Denver for 36 years. Abel was a member of the Christian Church. Survivors include two nieces, Rowena Wilson of Jetmore and Carol Hinote of Paola; and several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one son, Dennis Abel; two brothers, Lloyd Abel and Claude Abel; three sisters, Mae Sorem, Helen Giesick and Maxine Webb; and one nephew, Jim Sorem. The body was cremated and burial will take place at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Manor of the Plains in care of Beckwith Funeral Home of Jetmore.
Milton J. Gruber 1921-2003
LINWOOD, N.J. - Milton J. Gruber, 81, died April 17 at Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, N.J. He was born May 22, 1921, in Elkhart, Ind., the son of William G. and Nellie B. Westover Gruber. He received a bachelor's degree from St. John's University. He was a self-employed certified public accountant. Gruber was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served from 1941 to 1948 as chief petty officer. He received the World War II Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, American Defense Medal with (A) European-African-Middle Eastern Theater (3) Star Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Survivors include two sons, Milton Gruber Jr. of Switzerland and John Gruber of Northfield, N.J.; two daughters, Jeannie Price of Galloway, N.J. and Linda Raub of Linwood; one brother, Art. C. Gruber of Norman, Okla.; three sisters, Louise Reed and Thelma Brack of Hoisington, and Lucille Hester of Valley Center; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Glenn W. Gruber and Eugene E. Gruber; one sister, Pauline and one grandson. Graveside services were held April 23 in New Jersey. Adams-Perfect Funeral Home, Inc., of Northfield, N.J. was in charge of arrangements.
Rosemary Flakus 1914-2003
ELLINWOOD - Rosemary Flakus, 89, died May 19 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 8, 1914, at Hutchinson, the daughter of William J. and Marie Zimmer Hines. She married
Joseph A. Flakus June 10, 1946. He died Nov. 3, 1994. A longtime resident of Barton County, coming from Wichita, she was executive secretary for Earl Wakefield Independent Oil Producers in Wichita until 1946, a bookkeeper for Home Lumber and Supply in Ellinwood, and a homemaker. Mrs. Flakus was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Ellinwood. Survivors include one son, Stephen Flakus of Ellinwood; two daughters, Virginia Shults of Webster, N.Y., and Mary Ann Spangler of Scott City; one sister, Caroline Reichuber of Larned; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Leo Hines. Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. today and vigil will be at 7 tonight, all at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. John Maes officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Commanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 1 to 8 today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Central Kansas Medical Center Foundation in care of the funeral home.
Loree Gayle Achenbach 1942-2003
LINWOOD - Loree Gayle Achenbach, 60, died May 18 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. She was born May 31, 1942, in Great Bend, the daughter of Donald and Vera Bressler. She graduated from Hoisington High School in 1959. She received a bachelor's degree in English, French and Russian from Emporia State University and a master's degree in Slovic area. She married
Rick Achenbach of Kansas City, Mo., March 18, 1989. A resident of Linwood, she was retired from the Social Security Administration, a teacher of English at ESU and of Russian at the University of Kansas. Mrs. Achenbach was a pianist, a published author, a volunteer for the Agricultural Hall of Fame, a Sunday school teacher and a member of First Christian Church of Bonner Springs. Survivors include her husband of the home; one brother, Troy Bressler of Hoisington; and one sister, Ramona Becker of Wichita. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m Thursday at Alden -Harrington Funeral Home in Bonner Springs. Friends may call from 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home or Edward Kroesch Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 480, Hoisington KS 67544.
Thomas L. Schremmer 1948-2003
CLAFLIN - Thomas L. Schremmer, 54, died May 16 at his home in Claflin. He was born Oct. 29, 1948, at Great Bend, the son of Frank Jr. and Irene Driscoll Schremmer. He married
Jane A. Hekele June 7, 1969, at Claflin. A resident of Claflin since 1972, he owned and operated Schremmers Plumbing, worked at S&H Lumber and was a custodian at the Claflin schools. Schremmer was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, past grand knight of Knights of Columbus Council No. 1500 and past commander and quarter master of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8668, all of Claflin. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam War. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, James Schremmer of Columbia, Mo.; one daughter, Kristi Greene and her husband Jerome of Garden City; five brothers, Wayne Schremmer of Wichita, Marvin Schremmer of Great Bend, Leonard Schremmer of Aurora, Colo., Melvin Schremmer of Phillipsburg and Dick Schremmer of Derby; one sister, Dee Volpert of Great Bend; and three grandchildren, Aleasha Greene, Katelyn Greene and Emily Greene. He was preceded in death by an infant son and by a brother, Alvin Schremmer. Funeral was Monday at the church, with the Rev. John J. Maes officiating. Burial was at Claflin cemetery in Claflin with full military rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to Claflin Knights of Columbus, Claflin VFW, Claflin USD 354 Education Foundation or Beaver cemetery Tree Fund, all in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home of Hoisington.
Benjamin Nuss 1918-2003
OTIS - Benjamin Nuss, 84, died May 18 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. He was born July 31, 1918, at Bazine, the son of Fred and Charlotte Meier Nuss. He married
Janet Moore May 19, 1940, at Russell. She died May 1, 1996. A longtime resident of Otis, he was a former owner of the pool hall in Otis and a retired insurance agent for Lutheran Mutual and CUNA Insurance. Nuss was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lions Club and former member of the city council, all of Otis; American Legion, Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fort Hays Shrine Club and past board member of Clara Barton Hospital. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Survivors include three sons, Larry Nuss of Great Bend, Scott Nuss of Otis and Steve Nuss of Plains; two brothers, Rudy Nuss of Jetmore and Herb Nuss of Wichita; a companion, Lorraine Krug of Russell; seven granddaughters; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Edwin Nuss, Solomon Nuss and Albert Nuss; and two sisters, Elma Kindsvater and Clara Nuss. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, with Larry Frank officiating. Burial will be at Otis Methodist cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Otis Fire Department or Otis Ambulance Service, both in care of the funeral home.
Ida Irene Crotinger 1919-2003
HOISINGTON - Ida Irene Crotinger, 83, died May 17 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born Sept. 20, 1919, at Timken, the daughter of Jacob and Mollie Ickes Reifschneider. She married
Lawrence E. Crotinger April 11, 1939, at Timken. He died July 26, 1999. Aresident of Hoisington since 1997, coming from Rozel and Goodland, she was a homemaker, had owned Mom's Cafe at Rozel and was a seamstress at Mr. Jim's His Shop at Goodland. Mrs. Crotinger was a member of United Methodist Church of Rozel. Survivors include one son, Roger Crotinger of Goodland; three daughters, Pattie Nicholson of Hoisington, Barbara Graber of Goodland and Beckie Chapman of Oswego; two brothers, Harold Reifschneider and Leroy Reifschneider, both of La Crosse; three sisters, Katie McMillan of Great Bend, Esther Murray of La Crosse, and Helen Appel of Rush Center; eight grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and five step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Lawrence E. Crotinger Jr.; two sisters, Marie Reifschneider and Molly Bott; and one stepgranddaughter, Rebecca Nicholson. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today. Memorials are suggested to Cheyenne Meadows Living Center Activity Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Thomas L. Schremmer 1948-2003
CLAFLIN - Thomas L. Schremmer, 54, died May 16 at his home in Claflin. He was born Oct. 29, 1948, at Great Bend, the son of Frank Schremmer Jr. and Irene Driscoll Schremmer. He married
Jane A. Hekele June 7, 1969, at Claflin. A resident of Claflin since 1972, he owned and operated Schremmers Plumbing, worked at S&H Lumber and was a custodian at the Claflin Schools. Schremmer was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; past grand knight of Knight of Columbus Council No. 1500 and past commander and quarter master of VFW Post No. 8668, all of Claflin. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam War. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, James Schremmer of Columbia, Mo.; one daughter, Kristi Greene and her husband Jerome of Garden City; five brothers, Wayne Schremmer of Wichita, Marvin Schremmer of Great Bend, Leonard Schremmer of Aurora, Colo., Melvin Schremmer of Phillipsburg and Dick Schremmer of Derby; one sister, Dee Volpert of Great Bend; and three grandchildren, Aleasha Greene, Katelyn Greene and Emily Greene. He was preceded in death by an infant son and by a brother, Alvin Schremmer. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. John J. Maes officiating. Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary, both at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Burial will be at Claflin cemetery in Claflin with full military rites by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Claflin Knights of Columbus, Claflin VFW, Claflin USD 354 Education Foundation or Beaver cemetery Tree Fund, all in care of the funeral home.
Barbara E. Marple BELLEVUE, Neb. - Barbara E. Marple, 49, died May 9. She was the daughter of Charles and Helen Roth. She was a resident of Bellevue. Survivors include her husband, Phil Marple of the home; two sons, Chris Marple and Brian Marple, both of Bellevue; her mother of Verona, N.D.; and two sisters, Nancy Christensen and Carol Smith. She was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Ann Jones. Funeral was held May 14 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bellevue. She was buried at Bellevue cemetery. Bellevue Memorial Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Robert H. Wells 1931-2003
LEHIGH - Robert H. Wells, 71, died May 14 at Memorial Hospital in McPherson. He was born June 13, 1931, at Cherokee, Okla., the son of Howard and Molly Belle Finner Wells. He married
Margaret Currier Dec. 24, 1950, at rural Grant County, Okla. A resident of Lehigh since 1997, coming from Lamont, Okla., he was a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent of schools at public schools in Kansas. Wells was a member of Hillsboro United Methodist Church, Logan Kansas Masonic Lodge and ISIS Shrine Circus of Salina. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Korean War. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Steve Wells of Springfield, Neb., Jim Wells of Great Bend and Jeff Wells of Chapman; two daughters, Lynn Hilgers of McPherson and Lori Feldkamp of Manhattan; one brother, Richard Wells of Clearwater; one sister, Mary Deardorff of Mulvane; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and four step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Trevor Wells. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Laney Kuhn officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday at McPherson cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of Glidden- Ediger Funeral Home in McPherson.
Tom E. Ayres 1957-2003
PHOENIX,ARIZ. - Tom E. Ayres, 45, died May 7 at Phoenix, Ariz. He was born June 21, 1957, at Smith Center. He was a certified cosmetology instructor. Survivors include one son, Yancy Ayres of Overland Park; and two sisters, Kathy Hansen of Smith Center and Karen Keatley of Bazine. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church in Smith Center. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society in care of Simmons Mortuary of Smith Center.
