Archive By Section - Obituaries
Robert Wendell Smith 1945 - 2011
WICHITA - Robert Wendell Smith, son of Gertrude Virginia Strong-Russell and Robert Galloway Smith, died Feb. 2 at the Robert J. Dole Veterans Center in Wichita. He was born Nov. 7, 1945, in Great Bend. Survivors include a brother, Preston Zeller Russell, Pea Ridge, Ark.; a son, Robert Strong Smith, Lawrence; two daughters, Jessica Nicolet Smith, Wichita, and Adrienne Moore Clem, San Francisco, Calif.; and two granddaughters, ...
Casey Ann Goodwin 1985 - 2011
Casey Ann Goodwin, 26, of Great Bend, died Feb. 2 in Barton County. She was born Jan. 23, 1985, at Great Bend, the daughter of Mark and Donna (Jean) Goodwin. Miss Goodwin was a lifetime resident of Great Bend. Survivors include her father, Mark Goodwin of Wichita; mother, Donna Goodwin of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.; two daughters, Shaylene Vogt of Hillsboro and Addyson Gray of Great Bend; and three sisters, Megan Goodwin ...
Joseph L. Lapka Sr. - 1928 - 2011
Joseph L. Lapka Sr., 82, died Jan. 30, 2011, at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. He was born March 14, 1928, at Timken, the son of Frank J. and Catherine (Bouchal) Lapka. Lapka married Dolores Gutierrez June 28, 1951, at Great Bend. They were later divorced.
Charles “Terry” Eatherly - 1954 – 2011
Charles "Terry" Eatherly, 56, died Jan. 31, 2011, at Great Bend Regional Hospital. Born July 7, 1954, at Great Bend, he was the son of Charles T. and Dorothy (Davis) Eatherly. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a roughneck for Bigheart Drilling and an avid golfer.
Barbara M. Schmidt - 1948 - 2011
MANITOWOC, Wis. – Barbara M. Schmidt, 62, died Jan. 29, 2011, at Holy Family Memorial Medical Center, Manitowoc, Wis. She was born March 15, 1948, at Dighton, the daughter of August and Bertha Lee (Schanfeldt) Stremel. On May 17, 1974, she married Doug Schmidt at Larned. He survives.
Elvira M. Kerr - 1922 - 2011
NESS CITY - Elvira M. Kerr, 88, died on Monday, Jan. 31, at Ness County Hospital in Ness City. Born on May 10, 1922, on a farm Southwest of Bazine, she was the daughter of John Gotleib and Bertha Krug Schneider. She attended a country school, graduated from Bazine High School, and then attended Venus Beauty School where she earned her beautician license. She was a lifetime resident of Ness County. On March 24, ...
Elvira M. Kerr 1922 - 2011
NESS CITY - Elvira M. Kerr, 88, died on Monday, Jan. 31, at Ness County Hospital in Ness City. Born on May 10, 1922, on a farm Southwest of Bazine, she was the daughter of John Gotleib and Bertha Krug Schneider. She attended a country school, graduated from Bazine High School, and then attended Venus Beauty School where she earned her beautician license. She was a lifetime resident of Ness County. On March 24, ...
Gayle M. Hopkins Slack 1919-2011
Gayle M. Hopkins Slack, 91, died Jan. 19, 2011, at Sterling House of Great Bend. She was born May 20, 1919, at Happy, Texas, the daughter of Henry and Alice (Edwards) Murdock. She married Arthur Hopkins in 1944. They later divorced. She then married Ethmer Neil Slack in 1992 at Great Bend. He died Feb. 18, 2002.
Walter “Wally” Straub 1931 - 2011
Walter "Wally" Straub, 79, died Jan. 19, 2011, at Kaye Pogue Hospice Center, Salina. Born Aug. 4, 1931, at Claflin, he was the son of Tony and Mary (Kimpler) Straub. He married Barbara Jane Schartz Dec. 27, 1952, at Wichita. She died May 13, 1973. He then married Elizabeth L. R. Hickey May 31, 1974, at Hoisington.
Virginia R. Musser 1924 - 2011
Virginia R. Musser, 86, of Great Bend, died Jan. 31 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Feb. 3, 1924, at rural Lahoma, Okla., the daughter of Albert and Anna (Brackage) Decker. She married Charles J. Musser on Dec. 24, 1943, at Hondo, Texas. He died Aug. 27, 2006. A Great Bend resident since 1983, coming from Enid, Okla., she was a bookkeeper for Everitt Lumber. Mrs. Musser ...
Joseph L. Lapka Sr.
Joseph L. Lapka Sr., 82, of Great Bend, died Jan. 30 at Cherry Village Nursing Home. Services are pending with Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Alfred L. Richardson 1936 - 2011
HOISINGTON - Alfred L. Richardson, 74, died Jan. 29 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. Born June 1, 1936, at Long Island, Kan., he was the son of Herbert and Mae (Lockwood) Richardson. On March 24, 1958, he married Georgia Seigler at Hoisington. A lifetime resident of Hoisington, he worked as a roughneck in the oilfield, and after retiring was an animal control officer in Hoisington and did various other jobs. <p ...
Theo M. Bear 1921 - 2011
Theo M. Bear, 89, died Jan. 30 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. Born Sept. 4, 1921, in Lucas, she was the daughter of Walter O. and Blanche B. (Barr) Nichols. On Sept. 19, 1942 she married Myrl Bear in Junction City. He died Dec. 7, 1996. A resident of Great Bend since 1970, coming from Wichita, she was a bookkeeper at Great Bend Manor and an elementary school teacher ...
Tanner Joseph Hlavaty 2003 - 2011
OLMITZ - Tanner Joseph Hlavaty, 7, died Jan. 29 at his home in Olmitz. Born May 8, 2003, in Great Bend, he was the son of Kevin L. and Cambria A. (Bahr) Hlavaty. A lifetime resident of Olmitz, he was a second-grade student at Otis-Bison Elementary School. Tanner was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Olmitz. Survivors include his parents, Kevin and Camie Hlavaty of Olmitz; a sister, ...
Dorothy M. (Wilson) Hannah 1917 - 2011
WICHITA - Dorothy M. (Wilson) Hannah, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Reflection Living Center in Wichita, at the age of 94. Dorothy was born Oct. 26, 1917 in Jetmore, the daughter of Roscoe H. and Dollie (Raser) Wilson. She was Valedictorian of her high school class and received her bachelor's degree from Southwestern College in 1941. She married John T. Hannah on Oct. 30, 1953. Dorothy was a paralegal for many years and was ...
Articles by Section - Obituaries
Jane Anne (Fisher) Engleman 1920-2013
Jane Anne (Fisher) Engleman, 92, passed away peacefully at her home in Lawrence, June 6, 2013. She was born Sept. 17, 1920 in Wichita Falls, Texas, daughter of William L. and Valeria Belle (Astin) Fisher. She married the love of her life, Dale Engleman on Nov. 21, 1944 in Wichita Falls, Texas. He died Oct. 17, 2005.
Gerald A. Zimmer 1954 - 2013
HAYS - Gerald A. Zimmer, 58, Hays, died June 5 at the Hays Medical Center. Funeral arrangements are by Hays Memorial Chapel in Hays.
Judy Mershon Huber Wolfenbarger 1935 - 2013
MINNESOTT BEACH, N.C. - Judy Mershon Huber Wolfenbarger, 77, of Minnesott Beach, N.C., passed away June 4. Born in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 4, 1935, she was the daughter of Andrew B. and Dorothy Mershon Huber. Her family moved to Mt. Carroll, Ill., in 1942. An accomplished pianist, guitar player and percussionist for Mt. Carroll High School, music was an important part of her life. Her quick wit and love of ironic humor lasted throughout her lifetime.
Marilyn J. (Korf) Davis, 1948-2013
HOISINGTON – Marilyn J. (Korf) Davis, 65, died June 4, 2013 at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan.
Daniel J. Maes 1953 - 2013
PAWNEE ROCK - Daniel J. Maes, 59, was born Aug. 12, 1953 to Joseph and Ellen (Phelan) Maes. He passed away May 26, 2013 in Topeka, with his loving family by his side. He was employed as a water well driller in the Great Bend area. Dan served in the United States Air Force. Survivors include, a daughter, Tammy Maes of Pawnee Rock; two sons, Jessie and Chance, both of Great Bend; Ginger Maes, mother ...
Colleen Ann Houser
NEW HOPE, Pa. - Colleen Ann Houser of New Hope, Pa. passed away at home, surrounded by family, on Dec. 27, 2012.
Wilma Fay Creed 1913 - 2013
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Wilma Fay Creed, 99, died peacefully on May 22 at Flagstaff, Ariz. She was born June 24, 1913, in Ash Valley.
Sonja Karen Swanson-O’Connor 1942 - 2013
PAONIA, Colo. - Sonja Karen Swanson-O'Connor, 71, passed away May 31, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colo. Born Feb. 3, 1942 in Paonia, Colo., she was the daughter of Henry R. and Martha Ellen (Hallar). She married Maurice Guy O'Connor. They moved to Montana where they made their home in the Lolo Creek Valley for the next 25 years where she raised her family, later divorcing in 1985.
Della Hurd 1939-2013
Della Hurd, 74, died June 2 at home in Great Bend. Born May 8, 1939 at Mansfield, La., she was the daughter of Willie and Ruth (Jamison) Jackson.
John Baker 1927-2013
John Baker, 85, died June 2 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born Sept. 11, 1927 at Wichita, he was the son of Oscar and Lottie (Frasier) Baker.
