Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Lillian Margaret Schlegel 1972-2003
NESS CITY - Lillian Margaret Schlegel, 99, died Dec. 5 at Ness County Hospital. She was born Sept. 17, 1904, at Rush County, the daughter of Adam and Amelia Hanhardt Hinkel. She married
Wesley Schlegel Nov. 24, 1925, at La Crosse. He died Oct. 24, 1972. A resident of Ness City since 1957, coming from Beeler, she was a nurse's aide at Ness County Hospital. Mrs. Schlegel was a member of United Methodist Church and Martha Circle, both of Ness City. Survivors include one daughter, Shirley Holmes of Ness City; one granddaughter; three step grandsons; two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. She was preceded in death by one son, Wayne Wesley Schlegel; one daughter, Sharon Kay Schlegel; four brothers, Roy Hinkel, Ralph Hinkel, Elmer Hinkel and Irvin Hinkel; and one sister, Mabel Wagner. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City, with the Rev. Sue Talbot officiating. Burial will be at Ness City cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Ness County Hospital, in care of the funeral home.
Frank Hertach 1914-2003
CLAFLIN - Frank Hertach, 89, died Dec. 6 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born June 4, 1914, in Rice County, the son of Joseph and Louise Oberle Hertach. He married
Amelia Reichuber April 29, 1946, at Bushton. She died Feb. 24, 1998. A lifetime resident of Rice County, he was a retired farmer and stockman. Hertach was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Bushton, a lifetime member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 1500 and Ralph B. Prager Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8668, both of Claflin. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Sicily, Rome, France, Rhineland and Tunisia during World War II, with the grade of corporal. Survivors include one son, Frank Hertach of Claflin; two daughters, Joelene Debes of Hutchinson and Mary Ann Werner of Wichita; one sister, Frances Reichuber of Ellinwood; four grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Joe Hertach Jr. Parish rosary will be at 7 p.m. today followed by Knights of Columbus rosary, both at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Steven Scheier officiating. Burial will be at Holy Name cemetery in Bushton, with military graveside rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Ruth Maye Parks Black 1920-2003
HUMBOLDT, Ariz. - Ruth Maye Parks Black, 83, died Dec. 6 at Cottonwood, Ariz. She was born Aug. 22, 1920, at Lucas, the daughter of Orville and Martha Hendrich Parks. She was a 1939 graduate of Sylvan Grove High School and completed her registered nurses training at Asbury Hospital in Salina in 1942. She married
William D. Noble Jr. May 7, 1942, at St. Louis, Mo. He died April 1, 1979. She married
Norman 'Norm' Lee Black June 17, 1983, at Phoenix, Ariz. She was a resident of Humboldt since 1988, coming from Phoenix. Mrs. Black was a member of Mountain View Baptist Church of Dewey, Ariz. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, William D. Noble III of Cottonwood, Robert C. Noble of Snowflake, Ariz., and Raymond D. Noble of Glendale, Ariz.; one brother, Earl Parks of Hutchinson; two sisters, Marie Marcum of Great Bend and Jane Ellyson of Bixby, Okla.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister. Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 20 at the church, with the Rev. Chako Varghese officiating. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Family Care, 100 E. Sheldon, Prescott, AZ 86301 or Northern Arizona Hospice, 269 S. Candy Lane, Cotton, AZ 86326.
Raymonde Victor Brown 1910-2003
LARNED - Raymonde Victor Brown, 93, died Dec. 6 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. He was born Feb. 28, 1910, at Gate, Okla, the son of Roy Lee and Alberta Jones Brown. He married
Donna Belle Avary June 22, 1934, at Larned. She died May 27, 2000. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, he was a retired postal clerk. Brown was a member of First United Methodist Church of Larned. Survivors include one son, Robert Brown of Elkhart, Ind.; two brothers, Vernon E. Brown of Portland, Ore., and Virgil Dean Brown of Dallas, Texas; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Gerald Brown; a daughter, Betty Coleman; two brothers, Lawrence Brown and Jack Brown; and three sisters, Ruth Burns, Norma Rainbolt and Mary Lou Brown. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Charles Grant officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary in Larned.
Leona Margaret Williamson 1926-2003
HUDSON - Leona Margaret Williamson, 77, died Dec. 5 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Feb. 2, 1926, at Stafford, the daughter of Charles and Carrie Lichte Hildebrand. She was a 1944 graduate of Stafford High School and a 1947 graduate of United States Cadet Nurses Corps program at Grace Hospital School of Nursing in Hutchinson. She married
Robert Williamson Oct. 16, 1947. A resident of Hudson since 1952, she was a registered nurse and homemaker. Mrs. Williamson was a member of Stafford Church of the Nazarene. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Dale Williamson of Nampa, Idaho, Keith Williamson of Sublette and Gary Williamson of Dodge City; one daughter, Linda Williamson of Oklahoma City, Okla.; one brother, Chester Hildebrand of Stafford; three sisters, Irma Eisenhower of Tahlequah, Okla., Elsie Hildebrand and Marjorie Hildebrand, both of Hutchinson; and nine grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford with the Rev. Ron Moser officiating. Burial will be at Stafford cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to Kansas District Nazarene Children's Camp in care of the funeral chapel.
Warren J. 'Buddy' Wetzel 1956-2003
Warren J. 'Buddy' Wetzel, 47, of Great Bend, died Dec. 4 at Radium. He was born June 14, 1956, at Dodge City, the son of Carl T. and Erna L. Dierolf Wetzel. He married
Marlene Eining June 6, 1975, in Spearville. A resident of Great Bend, formerly of Kinsley, he was a laborer. Wetzel was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Offerle. Survivors include one son, Travis of Kinslely; and one daughter, Amy Wetzel of Kinsley; his father and mother of Spearville; three sisters, Joyce Orebaugh and Nita Winfrey, both of Dodge City, and Joleen Stein of Spearville. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Andrew Becker officiating. Burial will be at Zion Lutheran cemetery in Offerle. There are no call times or vigils. Memorials are suggested to Buddy Wetzel Children's Education Fund in care of McKillip Memorial Funeral Home in Kinsley.
Dorothy M. 'Dottie' Hass 1930-2003
LYONS - Dorothy M. 'Dottie' Hass, 73, died Dec. 4 at Hutchinson Hospital. She was born June 6, 1930, at rural Rice County the daughter of Dallas W. and Geneva Hardwick Bundy. A longtime Lyons area resident, she was a retired janitor for Enron Corp. and housekeeper for Rice County Council on Aging. She was a member of First Christian Church of Lyons. Survivors include two daughters, Linda Nicholas of Geneseo and Dana Hardcastle of Las Vegas, Nev.; one step-son, Jim Evan Stookey of Westerville, Ohio; two step-daughters, Jayne Coleman of Geneseo and Julie Miller of Welling, Okla.; three sisters, Betty Rickard of Sterling, Eleanor DeArmond of El Dorado and Janice Potter of Merriam; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Eric Neal Hass. Memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Tom Eastman officiating. Memorials are suggested to the church or Rice County Council on Aging in care of Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons.
Hazel Helen Baker 1915-2003
Hazel Helen Baker, 88, of Great Bend, died Dec. 4 at Great Bend. She was born Jan. 3, 1915, at Bruno, Ark., the daughter of William O. and Ola Adkins Gray. She married
Ancil W. Baker Aug. 14, 1935, at Bruno. A resident of Great Bend since 1991, coming from Mountain Home, Idaho, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Baker was a member of First Southern Baptist Church, Order of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile and Beauciant. Survivors include her husband of the home; and one sister, Juanita Breece of Ft. Worth, Texas. She was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Moulder. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Dr. Doyle Smith officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Fund or First Southern Baptist Church, all in care of the funeral home.
Eva Arlene Pittman 1918-2003
MCPHERSON - Eva Arlene Pittman, 85, died Dec. 6 at The Cedars in McPherson. She was born Feb. 5, 1918, at Gorman, Texas, the daughter of Joseph John and Winnie Ona Lane Brown. A resident of McPherson, formerly of Great Bend, she was a homemaker. She married
Ardeth 'A. D.' Pittman, May 14, 1939. He died August 25, 2001. Mrs. Pittman was a member of the First Baptist Church in Gorman, Texas. Survivors include one daughter, Patricia Jane Anderson, Great Bend; one brother, Eldon Neal Brown, Kankakee, Ill.; six grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Neal Ray Pittman, one daughter, Julia Ann Belgau and one brother, J. W. Brown. Funeral will by held Friday at 2 p.m. at the church with the Rev. Bill Campbell officiating. Burial will be at Gorman cemetery. Friends may call from, noon - 9 p.m. Tuesday, at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend and from noon - 9 p.m. on Thursday at Higginbottom Funeral Home in Gorman. Memorials are suggested to The Cedars, 1021 Cedars Drive, McPherson, 67460.
Sandra Lee Countryman 1963-2003
Sandra Lee Countryman, 40, died Dec. 4 at Hutchinson Hospital. She was born Oct. 24, 1963, at Medicine Lodge, the daughter of Kenneth C. Coley and Patty Black Parks. A resident of Great Bend for 25 years coming from Arizona, she worked as a home health caregiver. She was a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend. Survivors include her mother of Great Bend and father of Pratt; one son, Scott Howard Countryman, of the home; one daughter, Ashley Patricia Countryman, of the home; one step-daughter, Christina Countryman, LaCrosse; one brother, Charles Otis Coley, St. John; three sisters, Donna Sue Richard, Ness City, Robin Ann Lee, Hudson and Kathryn Kay Coley, Great Bend. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Monday at the church with Rev. Robert Castile officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Friends may call 1 - 9 p.m. today, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the family in care of funeral home.
Thomas E. Shauers 1922-2003
NESS CITY - Thomas E. Shauers, 81, died Dec. 3 at Hodgeman County Long Term Care Home in Jetmore. He was born April 17, 1922, at Ness County, the son of Fred J. and Marian Curtiss Shauers. He married
Wilma B. Prose Oct. 7, 1947, at Dighton. She died Feb. 14, 2002. A lifetime resident of Ness County, he was a farmer and a rancher. Shauers was a member of American Legion and Walnut Valley Masonic Lodge, both of Ness City, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of Ransom. Survivors include two sons, Peter T. Shauers of Buffalo, Texas, and Steve Shauers of Lenexa; one daughter, Tana Fehrenbach of Haven; one brother, Charles Shauers of Ness City; one sister, Virginia Wilson of Great Bend; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Nikki Griffith; one granddaughter, Trina Shauers; five brothers, Fred Shauers, Bob Shauers, Mike Shauers, Delbert Shauers and Lee Shauers; and two sisters, Jeanne Miller and Vada Reinert. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church of Ness City, with the Rev. Sue Talbot officiating. Burial will be at Buda cemetery near Beeler with military graveside rites by Frank Stull American Legion Post No. 152 of Ness City. The casket will be closed. Friends may call to sign the book from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City. Memorials are suggested to American Legion Post No. 152 of Ness City, in care of the funeral home.
Kenneth Schartz 1923-2003
Kenneth Schartz, 80, of Great Bend, died Dec. 2 in Ellinwood. He was born Sept. 9, 1923, in rural Great Bend, the son of Nicholas A. and Aileen Kimpler Schartz. He married
Treva Saunders Aug. 23, 1946, at Emporia. He later married
Lillian Deem in 1983. She died in 2000. A resident of Great Bend, formerly of Topeka, Sacramento, Calif., Hutchinson and Baguio, Philippines, he retired from the U.S. Air Force as a major on May 1, 1970. Schartz was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church of Great Bend, 4th degree Knights of Columbus No. 862 of Great Bend and a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include three daughters, Stephanie Schartz of Loomis, Calif., Monica Couch of Horseshoe, N.C., and Connie Schartz of San Leandro, Calif.; five brothers, Vernon Schartz of Grants Pass, Ore., Norbert Schartz of Sutter Creek, Calif., Gerald Schartz of Hays, Thomas Schartz of Phoenix, Ariz., and Patrick Schartz of Ellinwood; two sisters, DeSales Feist and Mary Bowes, both of Ellinwood; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Michael Schartz; three brothers, Charles Schartz, Leon Schartz and Loren Schartz; and one sister, Celesta. Altar Society rosary will be at 3 p.m. Monday and Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 7 p.m. Monday, both at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Ted Stecklein officiating. Burial will be at Mount Calvary cemetery in Topeka. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Martin B. Birzer 1911-2003
HUTCHINSON - Martin B. Birzer, 92, died Dec. 3 at Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson. He was born Nov. 11, 1911, in Ellinwood, the son of John B. and Anna Polzine Birzer. He attended Ellinwood schools and Emporia State University. He married
Mary J. Prosser May 17, 1938, at Odin. A resident of Hutchinson since 1944, he farmed in Osbourne and Reno counties, was a former Hutchinson business owner, insulation installer for Decker & Mattison, 30-year union painter working for Schmitt Painting and Walter W. Pohl painting companies, and independent painting contractor for many years. Birzer was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church of Hutchinson, Knights of Columbus Council No. 612 and former member of Loyal Order of Moose Lodge No. 982. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Glenn Birzer of the home and Gary Birzer of Des Moines, Iowa; two daughters, Barbara Kostner and Diane McKinney, both of Lakewood, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by 13 brothers, John Birzer, Joseph Birzer, William Birzer, Paul Birzer, Frank Birzer, Nicholas Birzer, Anthony Birzer, Edward Birzer, Leonard Birzer, Raymond Birzer, Ernest Birzer, Leo Birzer and Matthew Birzer; two sisters, Ann Marie Zink and Inez Birzer; and two grandsons. Parish rosary will be at 7 tonight at the church. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Joe Eckberg officiating. Graveside service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Peter and Paul cemetery in Ellinwood, with the Rev. John Maes officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the mortuary.
Alphonse 'Al' D. Prusa 1920-2003
CLAFLIN - Alphonse 'Al' D. Prusa, 83, died Dec. 4 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 18, 1920, at Claflin, the son of Joseph and Mary Holechek Prusa. He married
Lorena M. Mater Jan. 14, 1947, at Olmitz. A lifetime resident of Claflin and Dubuque area, he was a retired farmer and stockman. Prusa was a former member of St. Catherine Catholic Church of Dubuque, and a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council No. 2630, both of Odin. He was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II as a staff sergeant in the African and European theaters. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Steve Prusa of Coldwater, Anthony Prusa of Ulysses and Kenneth Prusa of Ames, Iowa; one daughter, Cathy Kooser of Cleveland, Mo.; one brother, Joseph Prusa of Salina; 10 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by one brother, Edward Prusa; and one sister, Cecilia Schneweis. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. today followed by Knights of Columbus rosary, both at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Dubuque, with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. Catherine cemetery in Dubuque, with military graveside rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Claflin Ambulance Service or Dubuque Heritage Association, both in care of the funeral home.
