Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Jean E. Gray 1914-2003
Jean E. Gray, 89, of Great Bend, died June 26 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 7, 1914, at Little River, the son of Percy Fredrick and Vera D. Frankenberger Gray. He was a 1932 graduate of Great Bend High School. He married
Vonnie Vernelle Jones Nov. 14, 1945, at Olathe. She died May 20, 1992. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he worked with a team of mules laying the brick on Washington Street, the pipeline at Greensburg, the pipeline at Oklahoma City and building the highway at Ranson. He was a lifetime truckdriver. Gray was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreigh Wars Post 3111 of Great Bend, National Rifle Association and a supporter of Boys Town. He was an Army veteran of World War II, having served in the 485 Quarter Master Refrigeration Co. Mobil as a Heavy Truck Driver under General Patton, stationed in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. Survivors include three daughters, Sherly Gray of Great Bend, LaVerne Price of Hutchinson and Marta Taylor of Inman; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Keith Gray. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Charter Funeral Chapel in Great Bend with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery with full military honors. Friends may call from1 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.
Regina R. Wondra 1908-2003
ODIN - Regina R. Wondra, 94, died June 26 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born July 1, 1908, at Barton County the daughter of John and Rosa Lamatsch Kirmer. She married
Alfred V. Wondra June 18, 1929, at Odin. He died May 5, 1989. A lifetime resident of Claflin and Odin areas, she was a homemaker. Wondra was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Odin. Survivors include four sons, Bernard Wondra of Hoisington, Ambrose Wondra and Jerome Wondra, both of Odin, and Norbert Wondra of Erie, Pa.; five daughters, Mary Rose Oberle and Ann Oberle, both of Claflin, Lee Canfield of Great Bend, and Theresa Schremmer and Doris Morgan, both of Wichita; 35 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Leo Wondra; one grandson, Richard Oberle; and 14 brothers and sisters. Vigil will be at 7:30 tonight followed by Altar Society and Knights of Columbus rosary, all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at Holy Family cemetery in Odin. Friends may call from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Cystic Fibrosis Research or American Diabetes Association, all in care of the funeral home.
Carmen Kaiser 1935-2003
ELLSWORTH - Carmen Kaiser, 68, died June 26 at Salina Regional Health Center. She was born April 29, 1935, at Great Bend the daughter of Walter and Anna Heinz Kaiser. She was a resident of Ellsworth since 1963. Survivors include three brothers, Melvin Kaiser and Gerald Kaiser, both of Great Bend, and Jack Kaiser of Pratt; and one sister, Mary Lou Ehrlich of Colorado Springs, Colo. She was preceded in death by one brother, Royce Kaiser. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Ellsworth with the Rev. Jim Newkirk officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m. at Claflin cemetery. Friends may call from 4 -8 p.m. today at Parsons Funeral Home in Ellsworth and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Ellsworth.
Billy B. Quincy 1923-2003
WICHITA - Billy B. Quincy, 80, died June 24. He was a retired tool and die maker for Boeing in Wichita. Survivors include two sons, William C. Quincy and James A. Quincy; one daughter, Shelley J. Quincy; one brother, Rodney Quincy; one stepbrother, Daylon Rankin of Great Bend; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Dawson United Methodist Church. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of Watson Funeral Home in Wichita.
Thomas Lucas 'Tom' Tempero 1947-2003
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Thomas Lucas 'Tom' Tempero, 56, died June 20 at Season Hospice House in Rochester. He was born May 23, 1947, at Lyons, the son of Benjamin W. and Marion R. Lucas Tempero. He was a 1965 graduate of Hoisington High School and received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Nebraska University. He married
Terilyn Chase Sept. 4, 1971, at Long Beach, Calif. A resident of Rochester, he was a software design engineer. Tempero was a member of Evangel United Methodist Church and NAIC, both of Rochester. He was a U.S. Navy pilot from 1970-1978. Survivors include two sons, Nathan Tempero of Rochester and Ben Tempero of Kasson, Minn.; one daughter, Jennifer Tempero of Rochester; stepmother, Geraldine Callaway of Great Bend; one brother, Scott Tempero of Great Bend; three sisters, Kathryn Anstaett of Warsaw, Mo., Susan Payne of Berrien Springs, Mich., and Debra Lewis of Great Bend; and two grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Hoisington, with the Revs. Jack Callaway and Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. The family will receive friends from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the church parlor. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society, Seasons Hospice House or Edward Kroesch Scholarship Fund, all in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington.
Ted Harry Tammen 1943-2003
Ted Harry Tammen, 60, of Great Bend, died June 23, at his home. He was born June 20, 1943, at Great Bend, the son of Carl Herman Franz and Hilda Anna Folkerts Tammen. A lifelong resident of the Great Bend and Albert area, he was a farmer and a former employee of ABLT alfalfa pellet mill. Tammen was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Albert and Fraternal Order of Eagles of Great Bend. He was a veteran of Kansas Army National Guard. Survivors include two sons, Troy Tammen of Russell and Travis Tammen of Wichita; one sister, Sharon Kay Mauler of Great Bend; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Charles Lee Tammen. Prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Jack D. Russell officiating. Burial will be at Peace Lutheran cemetery in Albert. Memorials are suggested to the Ted Tammen Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Emma Jane Zutavern 1916-2003
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Emma Jane Zutavern, 86, died June 21 at Manor Care Sandia in Albuquerque. She was born Nov. 11, 1916, at Claflin, the daughter of John and Alberta Grubb. She was a graduate of Great Bend High School and attended the University of Kansas for two years. She married
Fred Zutavern in 1938. He died Nov. 4, 1997. She resided in the Claflin and Great Bend areas for 60 years. More recently she lived in Rogers, Ark., Albuquerque, Edmond, Okla., and Oklahoma City, Okla. Mrs. Zutavern was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Bend and actively served the community through many organizations. Survivors include one son, Fred J. Zutavern and wife Vicki of Albuquerque; one daughter, Mary Ann Sells and husband Dennis of Moore, Okla.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant daughter and two sisters, Dorothy Zelenka and Donna Straughn. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Great Bend cemetery with the Rev. Diana Coberly officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church in Moore, Okla., which was recently destroyed by a tornado, in care of Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Douglas E. Polzin 1955-2003
PHOENIX, Ariz., - Douglas E. Polzin, 48, died June 17 at Banner Hospice in Phoenix. He was born Feb. 19, 1955, at Great Bend, the son of John and Kathleen Schommer Polzin. He was a graduate of Emporia High School and University of Kansas in Lawrence. He married
Judy Keller Oct. 19, 1990, at Sedona, Ariz. A resident of Phoenix for 17 years, he was a self-employed contractor at Emporia and an employee of Pillar Communities of Arizona in Glendale, Ariz. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Danna Grammer of Lawrence and Devon Elmer of Eudora; his mother of Emporia; three brothers, Daryl Polzin, D'Owen Polzin and Dirick Polzin, all of Emporia; one sister, Denise Stauffer; and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be today in Glendale. A second memorial service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. July 10 at Sacred Heart Church in Emporia. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Banner Hospice, 1325 N. Fiesta Blvd. No. 1, Gilbert, Ariz. 85223. Science Care Anatomical of Phoenix is in charge of arrangements.
Morgan Lee Gunn 1983-2003
ELLINWOOD - Morgan Lee Gunn, 20, died June 20 at Alva, Okla. He was born April 9, 1983, at Great Bend, the son of Frederick Sr. and Jackie Baldwin Gunn. He attended Ellinwood public schools, was a 2002 graduate of South Barber High School in Kiowa, and attended Barton County Community College. A resident of Ellinwood most of his life, living for a short time in Kiowa, he was a laborer for Venture Inc., Great Bend, as well as Tucker Tire and OK Co-op Grain, both at Kiowa. Gunn was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ellinwood. He was president of Industrial Arts Club at South Barber High School. Survivors include his father and stepmother, Frederick Sr. and Cynthia Gunn of Kiowa; his mother of Ellinwood; one brother, Fred Gunn Jr. of Lenexa; one sister, Victoria A. Forrestt of Great Bend; one stepbrother, Bradley Rose of Ellinwood; one stepsister, Kayla Rose of Ellinwood; and friend, Komari Ruiz of Hazelton. Funeral was Monday at the church with the Rev. Larry Young officiating. Burial was at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Grade School Nature Center, in care of Kimple Funeral Home.
Opal Ford Evers 1910-2003
Opal Ford Evers, 93, of Great Bend, died June 21 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend. She was born April 20, 1910, at Lyons, the daughter of Carey and Myrtle Chewning Griffin. She married
Ora Ford Nov. 11, 1930, at Lyons. He died Sept. 29, 1980. She married
Harley Evers Jan. 25, 1990, at Great Bend. She was a sales clerk and worked for Duckwalls, Lischesky's, Reisbigs and Sears. Mrs. Evers was a member of First Christian Church, Mothers Club, Birthday Club and Central Kansas Medical Center Auxiliary. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Marvin Ford and Rocky Ford, both of Great Bend, and Arlin Ford of Boulder, Colo.; one daughter, Ellen Sparks of Great Bend; two stepsons, Delton Evers and David Evers, both of Great Bend; one stepdaughter, Delores Piper of Houston, Texas; one brother, Allison Griffin of Lyons; three sisters, Bessie French of Great Bend, Aline Castell of Lancaster, Mo., and Loleta Schill of Geneso; eight grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and several step-grandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10:30 this morning at the church in Great Bend, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the church or Great Bend Senior Center, both in care of the funeral home.
Charles Lee Tammen 1936-2003
LARNED - Charles Lee Tammen, 67, died June 22 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born May 29, 1936, at Great Bend, the son of Carl 'Cap' and Hilda A. Folkerts Tammen. He married
Jaunis R. Bose Nov. 27, 1955, at Larned. She died Jan. 29, 1999. He married
Mary Fox Feb. 10, 2001. A lifetime resident of Barton and Pawnee counties, he was a retired farmer and an auctioneer for Keenan Auctioneers and Real Estate salesman. Tammen was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Albert, attended First Presbyterian Church in Larned and was a member of Kansas Auctioneers Association. Survivors include one son, David Lee Tammen of Great Bend; one daughter, Mona Stos of Otis; one stepdaughter, Cindy Grant of Larned; one brother, Ted H. Tammen of Great Bend; one sister, Sharon Kay Mauler of Great Bend; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Darren Dale Tammen; and an infant sister, Donna M. Tammen. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned, with the Rev. Jim Hawthorne officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Peace Lutheran Church cemetery in Albert. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. to service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society Relay for Life, American Heart Association or First Presbyterian Church, all in care of the funeral home.
Esther Spangenberg 1911-2003
HUDSON - Esther Spangenberg, 92, died June 20 at Leisure Homestead in Stafford. She was born March 8, 1911, at Waukegan, Ill., the daughter of Bernard F. and Louise Wuestenfeld Adams. She was a graduate of St. Rose School of Nursing at Great Bend. She married
Elmer Louis Spangenberg April 6, 1938, at Hudson. He died June 5, 1986. A longtime Hudson resident, she was a registered nurse, taught school in a one-room country school and was a homemaker. Spangenberg was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Hudson. Survivors include two sons, Mark Spangenberg of Newton and Norman Spangenberg of Hudson; one daughter, Janeth Staley of Fresno, Calif.; three brothers, Paul Adams of Vandalia, Ill., Harold Adams of Mt. Hope and James Adams of Great Bend; two sisters, Ruth Stone and Margaret Ikerd, both of Newton; eight grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 12 stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Lois Langdon; one grandson, Timmy; and one stepgrandson, A.J. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. this morning at the church. Burial will be at Trinity cemetery in Hudson. Memorials may be sent to the church, in care of Minnis Chapel in Stafford.
Darrel Pettijohn 1926-2003
STAFFORD - Darrel Pettijohn, 76, died June 22 at his home in Stafford. He was born Dec. 28, 1926, at Tetersville, the son of Murel and Cecile Swamm Pettijohn. He married
Clara Lavon Eves May 23, 1948, at Lyons. A resident of Stafford since 1965, coming from Plainville and Palco, he was an oilfield pumper and an employee of the city of Stafford until his retirement in 1988. Pettijohn was a member of First Baptist Church of Stafford, served on the board of directors for Friends of Quivira and a former Boy Scouts of America leader. He was a U. S. Army veteran, serving in World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Rick Pettijohn of St. Francis, Greg Pettijohn of Stafford and Frank Pettijohn of Mayfield, Ky.; one daughter, Darolyn Bullard of Stafford; three brothers, Charles Miller of Beaverton, Ore., Richard Pettijohn of Eucha, Okla., and Jim Pettijohn of Great Bend; two sisters, Lillian Walters of Ulysses and Erma Carmichael of Plainville; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, George Pettijohn; and one sister, Elsie. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Guy Elliott officiating. Burial will be at Stafford cemetery. Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel in Stafford. Memorials are suggested to the church or Southwind Hospice, both in care of the funeral chapel.
Esther Spangenberg 1911-2003
HUDSON ‹ Esther Spangenberg, 92, died June 20 at Leisure Homestead in Stafford. She was born March 8, 1911, at Waukegan, Ill., the daughter of Bernard F. and Louise Wuestenfeld Adams. She married
Elmer Louis Spangenberg April 6, 1938, at Hudson. He died June 5, 1986. She was a resident of Hudson all her married
life. Spangenberg was a graduate of St. Rose School of Nursing at Great Bend and was a registered nurse. She was also a homemaker and taught in a one-room country school where she drove the horse-drawn school bus. Spangenberg was a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Hudson. Survivors include two sons, Mark Spangenberg of Newton and Norman Spangenberg of Hudson; one daughter, Janeth Staley of Fresno, Calif.; three brothers, Paul Adams of Vandalia, Ill., Harold Adams of Mt. Hope and James Adams of Great Bend; two sisters, Ruth Stone of Newton and Margaret Ikerd of Newton; eight grandchildren; four step grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and 12 step great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Langdon; a grandson, Timmy; and a step grandson, A.J. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at the Trinity cemetery in Hudson. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford. Memorials may be sent to the church in care of the funeral home.
