Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Jaja Ubanwa Anene Mogbo 1979-2003
Jaja Ubanwa Anene Mogbo, 23, of Great Bend, died Sept. 21 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Nov. 7, 1979, at Chickasha, Okla., the son of Charles Nnmeaka and Coletta Kay White Mogbo. A resident of Great Bend since 1986, he was a line cook at Arby's in Great Bend. Mogbo was of the Christian faith. Survivors include a companion, Lori Lowe of Great Bend; one son, Jevon Mogbo of Great Bend; one daughter, Kyeal Mogbo of Great Bend; his mother of Great Bend; his father of Texas; one half-brother, Brian Porter of Kansas City, Mo.; his grandparents, Anna A. Kraus and Anna Bell Brewer, both of Larned, and Lloyd Ellis White of Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned, with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Children's Education Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Willis L. Feil 1925-2003
RUSSELL - Willis L. Feil, 78, died Sept. 23 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born March 11, 1925, in Russell County, the son of David Jr. and Lydia Steinle Feil. He was a 1942 graduate of Dorrance High School. He married
Georgia M. Mai Sept. 17, 1950, at Dorrance. She died Jan. 30, 2003. A resident of Russell, he did oilfield work for many years and worked for USD 407 as a custodian at Russell High School until his retirement in 1990. Feil was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6240 in Russell, where he had served as past adjutant for 13 years, and former member of Sunflower Polka Club. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include three sons, Alan Feil of Salina, Jim Feil of Russell and Bob Feil of Garwin, Iowa; four grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by one infant daughter, Brenda Kay Feil. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Henry J. Hartman officiating. Burial will be at Russell City cemetery, with full military honors by VFW Post 6240. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary in Russell. Memorials are suggested to the church or VFW Post 6240 of Russell, in care of the mortuary.
Dorothy Marie Novotny 1929-2003
GARFIELD - Dorothy Marie Novotny, 73, died Sept. 23 at her home in rural Garfield. She was born Dec. 8, 1929, at Mannford, Okla., the daughter of Austin R. and Stella Hudson Woodrell. She married
Ed L. Novotny Feb. 14, 1947, at Terlton, Okla. A longtime resident of Garfield, she was a retired paraprofessional for the Fort Larned school district. Mrs. Novotny was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Larned, Eagles Lodge of Great Bend and Jolly Circle Card Club. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Rick Novotny of Great Bend and Brett Novotny of Garfield; four daughters, Kay Abrahamson of Lee's Summit, Mo., Sheryl Gilcris of St. Paul, Minn., Tami Keenan and Toni Novotny, both of Larned; three brothers, Dale Woodrell, Darrel Woodrell and Dwight Woodrell, all of Cleveland, Okla.; 12 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at Garfield cemetery in Garfield. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Southwind Hospice of Pratt, in care of the funeral home.
Daniel R. Trickey 1952-2003
Daniel R. Trickey, 51, of Great Bend, died Sept. 22 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Assembly of God Church in Great Bend. Friends may call from 1 to 8 tonight at Charter Funerals in Great Bend, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
William L. 'Bill' Strong 1939-2003
EUREKA - William L. 'Bill' Strong, 64, died Sept. 22 at his home. He was born July 16, 1939, at Strong City, the son of Truman and Opal Wilson Strong. A resident of Eureka for four years, coming from a farm between Burns and Cassoday, he was a rancher, farmer and stockman. Strong was a member of Wonsevue Church. Survivors include his longtime companion, Lela Hodgens and her children, Omar Hodgens and Kay Tucker, both of El Dorado, and Jole Palmer of Reading; his parents of Great Bend; one brother, Dean Strong of Lindsborg; one sister, Neva Hayes of Castle Rock, Colo.; nine grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Walnut Valley Memorial Park. Cremation will precede the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University, in care of Carlson Funeral Home in El Dorado.
Vella Lorene Dobrinski 1918-2003
GENESEO - Vella Lorene Dobrinski, 85, died Sept. 22 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born Feb. 2, 1918, in rural Ellsworth County, the daughter of Henry Edward and Johanna Amanda Schroeder Janzen. She was a 1935 graduate of Geneseo High School and received a teachers certificate from Emporia Teachers College. She married
Arthur A. Dobrinski Dec. 22, 1940, in Lorraine. He died Nov. 30, 1995. A lifetime resident of Geneseo, she was a farm homemaker and early country school teacher. Mrs. Dobrinski was a member of First Baptist Church of Lorraine. Survivors include two daughters, Dorothy Rolfs of Albuquerque, N.M., and Jean Behnke of Great Bend; five grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Eunice Rathbun. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Donald Decker officiating. Burial will be at Lorraine Baptist cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Ellsworth County Historical Society, both in care of the funeral home.
Kansa F. Passow 1939-2003
TOPEKA - Kansa F. Passow, 64, died Sept. 20 at her residence. She was born Jan. 29, 1939, in Great Bend, the daughter of Roland and Edna Becker Bauerle. She was a 1957 graduate of Hoisington High School and a 1959 graduate of Colorado Women's College. She married
Richard E. Passow Feb. 25, 1962, in Hoisington. A resident of Topeka, coming from Emporia, she was a sales clerk for Two Hearts gift shop and a homemaker. Mrs. Passow was a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Topeka. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Brad S. Passow and Ryan E. Passow, both of Topeka; one brother, George Bauerle of Simi Valley, Calif.; one sister, Flo Ann Christopher of Topeka; and four grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Inurnment will be at Memorial Park cemetery in Topeka. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of Penwell-Gabel Highland Chapel in Topeka.
Ray Campbell 1930-2003
Ray Campbell, 73, of Great Bend, died Sept. 21 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. He was born Sept. 11, 1930, at Oklahoma City, Okla., the son of H.L. 'Jack' and Hazel Rothell Campbell. He was a 1949 graduate of Hoisington High School. He married
Betty Brown Feb. 17, 1952, at Yuma, Ariz. A resident of Great Bend since 1999, coming from Milo, Okla., he was a retired salesman. Campbell was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Michael Campbell and Billy Campbell, both of Great Bend, and James Campbell of Independence, Mo.; one brother, Weldon Campbell of New Orleans, La.; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill Campbell and Tom Campbell. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Shawn Winters officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery, with military graveside rites by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kroesch Scholarship Fund or donor's choice, both in care of the funeral home.
Herbert C. Woodham 1929-2003
DIGHTON - Herbert C. Woodham, 73, died Sept. 21 at Scott County Hospital in Scott City. He was born Sept. 26, 1929, in Headland, Ala., the son of Arthur Jehu and Robbie Mae Barnes Woodham. He was a graduate of Murphy High School in Mobile, Ala., and Fort Hays State University, receiving bachelor and masters degrees in education. He married
Myrtle Burnett May 21, 1954, in Dighton. She died Sept. 7, 1994. He married
Phyllis Brown Sept. 26, 1995, in Las Vegas, Nev. A resident of Dighton since 1951, he was a retired teacher, coach and owner and operator of Frigid Creme in Dighton from 1960 to 1996. Woodham was a member of First Christian Church and Barney Masonic Lodge 279, both of Dighton. Survivors include his wife of the home; four daughters, Darcy Woodham of Dighton, Danis Sprague of Great Bend, Kelley Gillum of Stillwater, Okla., and Kara Lynch of Lawrence; four stepsons, Sam Brown of Healy, Max Brown and Brad Brown, both of El Dorado, and Barry Brown of Afghanistan; one stepdaughter, Danna Steffens of Scott City; his father of Abbeville, Ala.; two brothers, Hurley Woodham of Byron, Ga., and Bobby Woodham of Ohio; 11 grandchildren; 13 step grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and seven step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one stepson, Dean Brown. Funeral will be at 3 p.m. today at the church, with the Rev. Ben Friesen officiating. Burial will be at Dighton Memorial cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to noon today at Boomhower Funeral Home in Dighton. Memorials are suggested to Lane County Library, in care of the funeral home.
Edith G. Spreier 1906-2003
JETMORE - Edith G. Spreier, 96, died Sept. 21 at Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center, Jetmore. She was born Dec. 21, 1906, at Rozel, the daughter of Earl and Jessie Pruett Tryon. She married
John Spreier Aug. 23, 1928, at Larned. He died Sept. 8, 1984. She was a homemaker. Mrs. Spreier was a member of the Christian faith, Rebekah Lodge 101, past noble grand of the Eastern Star and Grandmother Club, all of Jetmore. Survivors include one son, Marlin Spreier of Jetmore; two daughters, Wanda Henry-Craghead of Dodge City and Bonnie Horacek of Utica; one sister, Fern Bruntzel of Larned; 15 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Gilbert Spreier. Graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Larned cemetery in Larned, with the Rev. Mitch Reece officiating. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Beckwith Funeral Home in Jetmore. Memorials are suggested to Hodgeman County Long Term Care Center of Jetmore, in care of the funeral home.
Nettie Sophia Fritts 1909-2003
RUSSELL - Nettie Sophia Fritts, 94, died Sept. 16 at Good Samaritan Retirement Village of Ellis. She was born July 14, 1909, at Natoma, the daughter of August L. and Emma M. Mollenkamp Feldkamp. She was a graduate of Natoma High School. She married
Everett J. Fritts Sept. 16, 1933, at Phillipsburg. He died April 8, 1980. A resident of Ellis, coming from the Russell, Gorham and Paradise area, she was former owner of Gorham Motel. Mrs. Fritts was a member of Gorham Community Church and several bridge clubs. Survivors include one sister, Ora Erway of Ellsworth. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Benjamin Feldkamp, Walter Feldkamp and Edwin Feldkamp; and four sisters, Anna Goad, Lillie Fetrow, Mabel Steward and Amanda Phifer. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Pohlman-Heise Memorial Chapel in Russell with the Rev. Carl Ellis officiating. Burial will be at Luray cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until service time Friday, all at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 7:15 to 8 p.m. today. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Helen Irene Schulz 1917-2003
Helen Irene Schulz, 85, of Great Bend, died Sept. 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center of Great Bend. She was born Oct. 10, 1917, in Logan Township of Barton County, the daughter of William Henry and Louise Victoria Prosser Schwartz. She attended Larkin Rural School and was a 1934 graduate of Hoisington High School. She married
Leo C. Suellentrop Feb. 21, 1938. He died January 1959. She married
Ray S. Schulz June 26, 1981. A life long area resident, she was chief cataloguer at North Central Library System, from which she retired in 1980. Mrs. Schulz was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church of Great Bend. Survivors include her husband of Great Bend; one son, James Suellentrop of Plano, Texas; three daughters, Nancy Curtis of Hays, Mary MacArthur of Madison, Conn., and Catherine Ronck of Radnor, Pa.; two stepdaughters, Vicki Dyas and Kim Schulz; two brothers, William Don Schwartz of Hoisington and Dr. Eugene Wilbur Schwartz of Topeka; eight grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. Vigil and rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the funeral chapel. Family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Memorials are suggested to the church or Great Bend Public Library, in care of the funeral chapel.
Stephen E. 'Steve' Miller 1916-2003
KANOPOLIS - Stephen E. 'Steve' Miller, 87, died Sept. 14 at Ellsworth County Medical Center. He was born April 3, 1916, at Blackwolf, the son of Stephen E. Sr. and Catherine Cantwell Miller. He married
Sandra Lamb May 6, 1989, at Great Bend. A resident of Kanopolis for the past 60 years, coming from Blackwolf, he was a salt crusher along with several other positions at Independent Salt Company in Kanopolis for 40 years. Miller was a member of United Methodist Church of Kanopolis. Survivors include his wife of Kanopolis; three sons, Johnnie Miller and Gary S. Miller, both of Kanopolis, and James E. Miller of Washington Court House, Ohio; two daughters, Janice K. Miska of Russell and Joan Bunch of Kanopolis; one stepson, David Hoffman of Westville, Ill.; two sisters, Marthe Hill of Ark City and Adeline Vondra of Arizona; 14 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers and six sisters. A private family inurnment will be held at Ellsworth Memorial cemetery with Al Hysom officiating. There is no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the family. Parsons Funeral Home of Ellsworth is in charge of arrangements.
LaVera D. Steinert 1923-2003
HOISINGTON - LaVera D. Steinert, 80, died Sept. 14 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born May 7, 1923, at Barton County, the daughter of Fred and Elizabeth Strecker Steinert. A longtime resident of Barton County, coming from Russell County, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Steinert was a member of First United Methodist Church of Hoisington and P.O.L.K.A. of A. Survivors include one son, Doug Steinert of Hoisington; one daughter, Romona Cousins of Hoisington; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Franklin Steinert; eight brothers, Victor Steinert, Arthur Steinert, Harold Steinert, Arnold Steinert, Clarence Steinert, Edward Steinert, Albert Steinert and Waldo Steinert; and one great granddaughter, Victoria Woods. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Revs. Wayne Flanders and Johnny Spellman officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday, all at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kans for Kids or Clara Barton Foundation, both in care of the funeral home.
