Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Grace Copeland 1914-2003
ST. JOHN - Grace Copeland, 88, died Aug. 3 in St. John. She was born Oct. 6, 1914, at Stafford, the daughter of Henry M. and Flora M. Fort Fox. She was a graduate of Liberal High School. She married
Jack Copeland May 14, 1938, at Lawrence. He died in July of 1973. A longtime resident of St. John, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Copeland was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Tuesday Afternoon Bridge Club and Kill Kare, all of St. John. Survivors include one son, Stanley J. Copeland of Sugarland, Texas; one daughter, Nancy Lou Halbgewachs of Albuquerque, N.M.; one brother, Leonard P. Fox of Elmhurst, Ill.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe Fox, Earl Fox and Henry Fox; and two sisters, Helen Forsmann and Jessie Heimiller. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Robbie Fall officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel in St. John. Memorials are suggested to the church or donor's choice, all in care of the funeral home.
Kathryn Zimmerman 1907-2003
Kathryn Zimmerman, 95, of Great Bend, died Aug. 4 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center of Great Bend. She was born Sept. 13, 1907, at Gorham, the daughter of Joseph and Katie Dechant Rupp. She married
John Zimmerman Oct. 14, 1930, at Ness City. He died in 1997. A resident of Great Bend for six years, coming from Ness City, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Zimmerman was a member of Sacred Heart Church and Altar Society, both of Ness City, and Daughters of Isabella of Ransom. Survivors include two sons, Wilbur Zimmerman of Westwood and Gerald Zimmerman of Concord, Calif.; two daughters, Viola Barnard of Cody, Wyo., and Betty McCoy of Great Bend; three brothers, Mike Rupp and Paul Rupp, both of Garden City, and Adam Rupp of Fort Dodge; five sisters, Pauline Kaiser of Garden City, Mary Eggers of Tulsa, Okla., Julia Stoecklein of Hutchinson, Elvira Billinger of Scott City and Rita Riebel of Minneola; 14 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John Rupp and Frank Rupp. Parish vigil will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Revs. Gregory LeBlanc and Gilbert Herrman officiating. Burial will be at Sacred Heart cemetery in Ness City. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, all at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City, and until service time Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart School, in care of the funeral home.
Loraine Esther Searls 1913-2003
MACKSVILLE - Loraine Esther Searls, 89, died Aug. 3 at South Wind Hospice Guest House in Pratt. She was born Oct. 28, 1913, at Lewis, the daughter of Joseph Victor and Lulu Mae Derley. She attended nursing school for two years at Halstead. She married
Earl Barney Searls May 30, 1935, at St. John. He preceded her in death. A resident of Macksville since 1942, she worked at Bell Memorial Hospital in Kansas City, now KU Medical Center. Mrs. Searls was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church of St. John. Survivors include one sister, Opal Tenbrink of Albuquerque, N.M. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl Otis Derley and Cecil Lee Derley; and two sisters, DeEtta Bernice Gaston and Fern Idress Hartman. Rosary will be at 7 tonight at Minnis Chapel in St. John. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Rene Guesnier officiating. The casket will be closed. Burial will be at Farmington cemetery in Macksville. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to South Wind Hospice in Pratt.
Adolph Baumgartner 1922-2003
WAKEENEY - Adolph Baumgartner, 80, died Aug. 2 at Trego-Lemke Memorial Hospital. He was born Dec. 21, 1922, the son of Albert and Elizabeth Aschenbrenner Baumgartner. He was a 1941 graduate of Brownell High School. He married
Marcella Bollig May 8, 1947. A resident of Wakeeney, coming from Brownell, he was a former cattle and wheat farmer and accomplished cabinetmaker for Deines Construction of Wakeeney. Baumgartner was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Buckovina Society, Fraternal Order of Eagles 3774, Big Creek Golf Association and Sunflower Polka Club. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944- 1946, including the European Theatre of World War II where he was a baker and cook with a T-5 rank. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, David Baumgartner; two daughters, Betty and Janet; one sister, Mary Wyman of Brownell; one grandson; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul Baumgartner and Joe Baumgartner; and one sister, Joan Brehmer. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at Schmitt Funeral Home in Wakeeney. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery with military rites by Fort Riley. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, Catholic Church Building Fund or Big Creek Golf Association, all in care of the funeral home.
Alice 'Miss Alice' Bailey 1916-2003
GREENSBURG - Alice 'Miss Alice' Bailey, 87, died Aug. 4 at Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg. She was born May 29, 1916, at Sun City, the daughter of Luther Christopher and Ethel Dean Moores Hinkle. She grew up in Wilmore community and was a graduate of Wilmore High School. She married
Charles Oscar Bailey March 1, 1935, at Greensburg. He died June 21, 1984. Alice lived with her husband and family on the Briggs Ranch, south of Mullinville, from 1935 until she moved to Greensburg in 1966. Alice was a member of The First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and youth fellowship in Mullinville and Greensburg, United Methodist Women, Smiling Seamers Club, Hour Club and Golf Club, where she was the only lady with a hole-in-one. From 1986 to 2000, Alice was a preschool teacher in Greensburg, where she was lovingly 'Miss Alice.' During those years she drove to Great Bend for Red Cross certification. She is survived by one son, Jack Bailey and wife, LaDean, of Great Bend; one daughter, Nita Kilgore and husband, Robert, of Greensburg; three brothers, L.C. 'Bud' Hinkle of Pratt, Phillip Hinkle of Temple, Texas, and Francis Hinkle of Wichita; three sisters, Luella Bailey and Viola White, both of Coldwater, and Florence Bailey of Greensburg; six grandchildren, Ron Bailey of Franklin, Ind., Alicia Bragg of Alamosa, Colo., Wendy Howe of Castle Rock, Colo., Jeff Kilgore of Ozawkie, Karla Johnston of Kiowa and Kayla Queen of Manhattan; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Delsie Dean Hinkle. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Greensburg with the Rev. Gene McIntosh officiating. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery in Greensburg. Friends may call from 5 to 8:30 p.m. today at Fleener Funeral Home in Greensburg. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home at Box 763, Greensburg 67054, or in care of Greensburg State Bank and Mullinville State Bank.
Margaret Degenhardt 1903-2003
HOISINGTON - Margaret Degenhardt, 100, died Aug. 2 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born Jan. 15, 1903, at Pfeifer, the daughter of George and Katherine Rothamel Appelhaus Meier. She married
George Degenhardt June 10, 1930, at Pfeifer. He died Dec. 29, 1978. A lifelong resident of Ellis and Rush counties, she was homemaker. Mrs. Degenhardt was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and St. Michael's Altar Society, both of La Crosse. Survivors include two sons, Leroy Degenhardt of Great Bend and Donald Degenhardt of Hoisington; one daughter, Lillian Weber of Hays; 12 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Harold Degenhardt; three brothers, Adam Meier, George Meier and Boniface Meier; one half-brother, John Appelhaus; two sisters, Elizabeth Stramel and Regina Degenhardt; and two half-sisters, Mary Schmidt and Kathrine Schmidtberger. Funeral service will be at 10:30 this morning at the church, with the Rev. Ultan Murphy officiating. Burial will be at La Crosse City cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Cheyenne Meadows Living Center, in care of Janousek Funeral Home of La Crosse.
Emma Jane Hudson 1923-2003
PAWNEE ROCK - Emma Jane Hudson, 80, died Aug. 2 at Larned Healthcare Center, Larned. She was born Jan. 13, 1923, at Cottonwood Falls, the daughter of Samuel and Anna E. Hulett Bruce. She married
Ora Kenneth Hudson July 22, 1939, at Cottonwood Falls. A resident of Pawnee Rock since 1996, coming from Hanston, she was owner and operator of Emma Lou's Cafe in Hanston. Mrs. Hudson attended Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall in Larned. Survivors include her husband of the home; and one sister, Dora Stout of Kansas City. She was preceded in death by four brothers, John Bruce, Alvin Bruce, Charlie Bruce and Bill Bruce; and one sister, Alma Lawrence. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned with T. Butch Espinosa officiating. Burial will be at Pawnee Rock cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, both at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Relay for Life or the church, both in care of the funeral home.
John David Richards 1964-2003
LARNED - John David Richards, 39, died Aug. 3 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born June 2, 1964, at Kinsley, the son of Ronald and Mary Keesler Richards. He married
Karen Kinzie. They divorced. A lifetime Larned resident, he was a concrete finishing man for Eakin Enterprises Inc. of Larned. Richards attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Survivors include two sons, Gregory Richards of Great Bend and Jeremy Richards of Oklahoma; one daughter, Taylor of Oklahoma; his father; one sister, Sheila Harman of Pawnee Rock; and one half-sister, Jessica Richards of Missouri. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral chapel. Memorials are suggested to John Richards Memorial Fund, in care of the mortuary.
Marjorie Lee Phillips 1924-2003
EL CAJON, Calif. - Marjorie Lee Phillips, 79, died Aug. 1 at her home. She was born May 27, 1924, at Idaho Falls, Idaho, the daughter of Clyde I. and Perle E. Pelton Shulz. She married
Glenn E. Phillips Aug. 18, 1973, at Lawrence. He died Aug. 14, 1990. A resident of El Cajon for five years, coming from Derby and Great Bend, she was an owner and operator of a gift shop. Mrs. Phillips was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Great Bend. Survivors include two sons, Dale Smith of Derby and Greg Smith of El Cajon; and six grandchildren. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John, with the Rev. Keren Lemon officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Salvation Army of Great Bend, in care of the funeral home.
Patricia Gunn Campbell 1921-2003
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Patricia Gunn Campbell, 82, of San Antonio, died July 28 at her home. She was born June 15, 1921, in Great Bend, the daughter of Leonard and Beulah Benefield Gunn. She married
Leslie J. Campbell, who became a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force, and dedicated herself to her husband's career. A longtime resident of San Antonio, Patty was a graduate of USC. She was actively involved in many community charitable programs and was an art and painting instructor. Her fun loving and witty personality will be greatly missed. Survivors include her sister, Marjorie Stoskopf of Santa Monica, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles Gunn, Maurice Gunn, Richard Gunn and Robert Gunn; and her husband, Leslie J. Campbell. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. George T. Sturch officiating. Burial will follow later in Arlington National cemetery. Porter Loring Mortuary North of San Antonio is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas Richard Taylor 1921-2003
Thomas Richard Taylor, 81, died July 31 at Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Taylor's great grandparents came to the United States from Herefordshire, England, in 1880. They tree-claimed land near Great Bend and raised Hereford cattle there from 1895 to 1957. Tom was born Dec. 17, 1921, in Great Bend. He graduated from Great Bend High School and attended Kansas State University. He married
Clara Ruth 'Clu' Mering of Blue Springs, Mo., in 1947, and they farmed corn, milo, wheat and alfalfa on the family land in Great Bend. Tom and his brother, John, founded Walnut Hill Feed Yard, a 30,000-head commercial cattle feed yard, which they operated until 1987. Tom helped organize Kansas Feed Yard Association and was elected as the first president of that organization. He was a director of People's State Bank in Ellinwood. In 1987, Tom and Clu retired and moved to Prairie Village, where they pursued their hobbies of art collecting, travel and photography. Clu preceded Tom in death in July, 2000. Survivors include daughter Ann Taylor Mueller and her husband, James R. Mueller, of Kansas City, Mo.; son Richard R. Taylor of Great Bend; granddaughter, Jane Mueller Emery and her sons Zachary James Belcher and Samuel Isaac Emery of Overland Park; grandson Jeffrey James Mueller, his wife Angela and their son, Jaedron Taylor Mueller of Kansas City, Kan.; grandson Thomas Martin Mueller of Lawrenceville, Ga., and his fiancee, Amanda King. He is also survived by his brother, John E. Taylor and his wife Elaine of Great Bend. Tom will be remembered fondly as a man who was extremely devoted to his family and to his longtime caregiver and family friend, Lori L. Foster. A memorial service will be held at Second Presbyterian Church, 55th and Oak streets, Kansas City, Mo., at 2 p.m. Sunday. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday. The family requests no flowers and suggests that contributions be made either to Second Presbyterian Church or to Macular Degeneration Research, a program of the American Health Assistance Foundation. Arrangements by D.W. Newcomer's sons Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, (913) 451-1860.
Jess T. Mize Jr. 1920-2003
HOLYROOD - Jess T. Mize Jr., 83, died July 31 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation. He was born July 3, 1920, in Decatur, Ala., the son of Jess T. Sr. and Edna May Farah Mize. He married
Elizabeth Blanche Merrill March 12, 1943, in Denver, Colo. A resident of Great Bend since 2001, coming from Holyrood where he had lived since 1950, he was a retired compressor operator for Northern Natural Gas in Bushton. Mize was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church of Holyrood and a 52-year member of Holyrood American Legion. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Lila M. Sohm and Zella Blanche Mize, both of Great Bend; one brother, George Mize of Dayton, Tenn.; five sisters, Ann Snead, Dorthea Mitchell, Zeta Mize and Martha Dodgson, all of Dayton, and Sadie Patton of Dover, Del.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl Mize, Gene Mize and Clyde Mize; and one sister, Dauzie Fraley. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. John Sharp officiating. Burial will be at Kanopolis cemetery with military honors by Holyrood American Legion. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Parsons Funeral Home of Ellsworth and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Roger E. Dillon 1949-2003
ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Roger E. Dillon, 54, died unexpectedly at 1:28 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at Good Samaritan Hospital. Roger was a corrections officer for the Muskingum County Sheriff 's Department. He was born Feb. 28, 1949, in Coffeyville, the son of Elvin and Viola Dillon. He lived most of his life in Kansas where he graduated from Kansas State University in 1978. He was a corrections officer at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility before moving to Zanesville in 2000. He married
Kris Dunkle October, 2000. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Aaron Dillon and Matt Dillon, both of Hoisington; one brother, John Dillon and wife Coral; one nephew, Bill Dillon and wife, Sarah; one niece, Becky Dillon; one stepdaughter, Mandi Crotzer of Nashport, Ohio; his wife's parents, Jim and Wanda Dunkle; one sister-in-law, Kim Dennis and her husband, Homer; and his beloved pets, Bart, Bailey and Kate. He is preceded in death by his parents. A service was held July 27 in Zanesville. There will be a gathering for friends and family at the Catholic School Hall, 5th and Walnut in Hoisington from 2-5 p.m. Aug. 10, 2003.
