Archive By Section - Obituaries
Sandra L. “Sandi” Simmons 1944 - 2011
Sandra L. "Sandi" Simmons, 67, died Nov. 11 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born May 14, 1944 in Great Bend she was the daughter of Gerhardt LaVern and Delora Jean (McCullough) Nuss. She was married to Gary Simmons for 35 years. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, she was the owner and operator of Great Bend Floral for 38 years.
Willie Edwin Schultz 1932 - 2011
LITTLETON, Colo. - Willie Edwin Schultz, 78, died on July 7, 2011 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. surrounded by his wife, children and grandson.
Diana Marie (Dian) Walters 1950-2011
LITTLETON, Colo. - Diana Marie (Dian) Walters, 60, passed away at Minnequa Medical Center in Pueblo, Colo., on Oct. 5 after being ill for a number of years. Diana was born Oct. 21,1950, in Great Bend, the daughter of Cleat and Virginia Walters. She graduated from Great Bend High School and moved to Denver in 1972.
Dorothy Lucile Brining 1917-2011
Dorothy Lucile Brining, 93, died peacefully on Nov. 9 in her son and daughter-in-law's home in Waddington, N.Y. For the last 12 months, Don and Cher lovingly cared for her in their home where she often got to spend time with her granddaughter, Danielle and her husband, Ronnie Plumadore and share in the joy of the upcoming birth of their first child–her first great grandchild!
Marie Krug 1914 - 2011
BAZINE - Marie Krug, 97, passed away Nov. 9, 2011, at Crossroads Hospice in Lakeview Village, Lenexa. She was born on July 4, 1914, the daughter of John F. and Elizabeth Keil Wittman in Russell.
LaVera F. Schuckman
HAYS - LaVera F. Schuckman, 77, Hays died Nov. 7 at St. John's of Victoria. She was born Feb. 16, 1934.
Judith E. “Judy” Espinosa
STAFFORD - Judith E. "Judy" Espinosa, 71, Stafford, passed away Nov. 6 at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. Born Aug. 16, 1940 in Ponca City, Okla., she was the daughter of Bob and lola Mae (Graves) Snow. On April 4, 1992 she married Jose A "Joe" Espinosa. He survives. She worked as a cook in nursing homes at Moline and St. John, and at the hospital in Hoisington and was also a homemaker.
Donna Jean Adney 1947-2011
GREAT BEND - Donna Jean Adney, 64, of Great Bend, passed away at her home Nov. 3, 2011.
John Roy Van Cleave 1912 - 2011
LARNED - John Roy Van Cleave 99, died Nov. 6 at the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned. He was born Aug. 11, 1912, in Toronto, the son of Roy C. and Nellie Stump Van Cleave. On July 15, 1934, he married Gertrude Unruh at Larned. She died Feb. 14, 2005. A longtime area resident, he was a farmer.
Leo Schinstock 1945-2011
LARNED - Leo Schinstock, 66, died Nov. 4 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.
Helen Mae Berscheidt Tomberlin 1917-2011
ELLINWOOD - Helen Mae Berscheidt Tomberlin passed away Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 at Sterling House in Great Bend after a long life filled with love for her family and devotion to the land from which she came.
Larry Mann Hesed 1945-2011
NEWTON - Larry Mann Hesed, 66, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 at his Newton residence.
Hugh E. Snyder 1937-2011
LARNED - Hugh E. Snyder, 74, died November 3, 2011, at Promise Regional Medical Center, Hutchinson.
Willie Edwin Schultz 1932 - 2011
LITTLETON, Colo. - Willie Edwin Schultz, 78, died on July 7, 2011 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz. surrounded by his wife, children and grandson.
Travis Aaron Keil 1977 - 2011
SALINA - Travis Aaron Keil, 34, of Salina, passed away Oct. 29, 2011 in Atchison.
Articles by Section - Obituaries
Eileen B. Wittman 1927 - 2014
ELLIS - Eileen B. Wittman, 86, died Feb. 25 at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell. Born June 27, 1927, in Ellis, she was the daughter of George and Bernice (Coleman) Matteson. She attended school in Ellis, graduating from Ellis High School in 1945. She also attended Colorado Women's College in Denver for one year. On Nov. 7, 1948, she married Lawrence Wittman. He died on March 26, 2009. A resident Great Bend from 1973 to 1977, residing in Ellis most of her life, she was employed in the Ellis drugstores, as a dental assistant for Dr. Davis, as librarian ...
Kevin Thompson
WICHITA - Kevin Thompson, 56, died Feb. 22, 2014. He was employed by Hawker/Beechcraft as a Tool and Dye Maker for over 25 years.
Orval E. Weeks
Orval E. Weeks, 86, died Feb. 26, 2014 at Sterling House in Great Bend. Services are pending with Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington.
Lenora Marie Ochs 1916 - 2014
Lenora Marie Ochs, 97, died Feb. 25 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born July 21, 1916, in rural Otis, she was the daughter of Fred and Julia (Schlegel) Stieben. On Oct. 6, 1935 she married Clarence Everett Ochs in Otis. He died on May 7, 1994. A Great Bend resident since 1978, coming from Otis, she was a part-owner, bookkeeper and parts lady at Ochs, Inc., until retirement.
Ellen Nadine Bittner 1932 - 2014
LARNED - Ellen Nadine Bittner, 81, died Feb. 23, 2014 at Great Bend Regional Hospital. She was born Oct. 22, 1932, at Alton, Missouri, the daughter of Claude and Esther Barton Strain. A resident of the Great Bend formerly of Larned, she was a retired nurses aide at Gleason Hospital in Larned. She was of the Christian faith.
Leonard Rex Davis 1929 - 2014
ST. JOHN - Leonard Rex Davis, 84, died Feb. 23 at Leisure Homestead, St. John. He was born Mar. 2, 1929, at Manter, the son of Earl R. and Rosa M. (Kidwell) Davis. He was a farmer/stockman and life-long resident of rural St. John.
Christy Smith 1964 - 2014
Christy Smith, 49, died Feb. 22 at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita. Born May 22, 1964 at Travis U.S. Air Force Base Hospital in Fairfield, Calif., she was the daughter of Wendell H. and Mary (Brocher) Smith. A Great Bend resident since 1971, Christy was employed as a residential home care provider for Rosewood Services. She enjoyed animals, movies, reading, and sharing her wonderful wit and sense of humor. She particularly enjoyed helping others, always identifying with those in need.
Maxine R. Heueisen 1933 - 2014
Maxine R. Heueisen, 80, died Feb. 23 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born April 23, 1933 in Stafford County, she was the daughter of Earl and Jesse (Ballinger) Carr. On Nov. 26, 1955, she married Charles Heueisen in Larned. He died on April 17, 1979. A resident of Great Bend since 1997, coming from Larned. She was employed in the admissions department at Larned State Hospital, previously employed as the activities director at the Great Bend Manor and served as a case worker for the Center For Counselling. She had also previously operated the Meals on Wheels program ...
Mary Ann Gross 1939 - 2014
MUNJOR - Mary Ann Gross, 74, died Feb. 22, at Via Christi-St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Born Aug. 21, 1939, in Hays, she was the daughter of Ignatius and Irene (Werth) Koerner. On April 18, 1959, she married Wilbert Gross in Hays. She was a former licensed hairdresser and spent many years as a homemaker. She loved family gatherings with her children and grandchildren and the special trips she took with the love of her life, Wilbert.
Ellen Nadine Bittner
Ellen Nadine Bittner, 81, died Feb. 23, at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending with Morell Funeral Home in Larned.
Evelyn Anna Hochstatter 1917-2014
Evelyn Anna Hochstatter, 96, died Feb. 22 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, Great Bend. Born Feb. 25, 1917 at Holyrood, she was the daughter of John and Katie A. (Schmitt) Ehler.
Doris J. Nitzel 1927-2014
Doris J. Nitzel, 86 years, longtime Great Bend resident, passed away on Thursday evening, Feb. 20, 2014 at the Great Bend Regional Hospital in Great Bend after a brief illness. Doris was born on Oct. 21, 1927 at Fairbury, Neb. to Moses G. and Grace (Eilts) Williams. She graduated from Endicott High School at Endicott, Neb. in 1946, and was united in marriage to Robert Dale Nitzel on Feb. 9, 1947 at Endicott. Doris was an Accounting Clerk for various businesses for many years prior to her retirement. She was an active volunteer for RSVP, and delivered Meals On Wheels ...
Carl Don Nicholas Bradley, Sr. 1948-2014
TRES PIEDRAS, N.M. - Carl Don Nicholas Bradley, Sr., 65, died Feb. 20 at his ranch in Olmitz, Kans. Born Dec. 6, 1948 at Santa Fe, N.M., he was the son of John Carver and Winifred (Wright) Bradley.
Jerad Lee Bickford
OLATHE - Jerad Lee Bickford, 24, died Feb. 19. Funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Olathe. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the church. To view the full obituary and to leave a message for the family, visit www.PenwellGabelOlathe.com.
