Archive By Section - Obituaries
Dennis Ray Hunt
LARNED - Dennis Ray Hunt, 46, died Jan. 8 at his home in Larned. Services are pending with Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned.
Beulah M. White
PAWNEE ROCK - Beulah M. White, 95, died Jan. 10 at Life Care Center in Andover. Services are pending with Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Kenneth R. "Mert" Straub
OTIS - Kenneth R. "Mert" Straub, 67, died Jan. 8 at his home in Otis. Born April 27, 1943, in Claflin, he was the son of Raymond and Helen (Zecha) Straub. On Dec. 21, 1968, he married Doris Bartonek in Olmitz. She survives. A longtime resident of Otis, he was the owner of Straub Construction and an employee of BOC gases of Otis for 25 years. After retirement he was a custodian for Otis-Bison High School.
James L. Keller
GARDEN CITY - James L. Keller, 81, died Jan. 7. Born April 29, 1929, in Seward, he was the son of Charlie and Lucille Keller. He grew up on a farm south of Great Bend. He attended Catholic school in Seward, before graduating from Great Bend High School in 1947. He attended the University of Kansas where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Fraternity. After college, he served as a Corporal in the United States Army and was stationed in Sasebo, Japan, during the Korean War. He was employed at Keller Leopold Abstract and Insurance. He would go on ...
Charles Davidson
CLAFLIN – Charles Davidson, 89, died Thursday, Jan. 6, at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. Services are pending and will be announced by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.
Marilyn L. Hoyt 1925-2011
HOISINGTON – Marilyn L. Hoyt, 85, died Jan. 4, 2011, at Country Place Living Center, Hoisington. Born April 25, 1925, at Grenola, the daughter of George A. and Mary Westling Warner, she was a long-time Hoisington resident. She married Robert Hoyt Sept. 13, 1959, at Hoisington.
Lenora E. Brack
Lenora E. Brack, 78, of Great Bend, died Jan. 3 at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood. She was born May 4, 1932, at Tulsa, Okla., the daughter of George Wellington and Alice Julia (Miller) Foster. A Great Bend resident since 1998, coming from Hoisington, she was a homemaker.
Genevieve Scalzi Hull
ST. JOHN - Genevieve Scalzi Hull, 75, died Jan. 1 at her home in St. John. She was born Apr. 25, 1935, in Syracuse, N.Y., the daughter of Giovani Batist and Caroline (Santel) Scalzi. On Feb. 27, 1954, she married William Don Hull in Alhambra, Calif. A cooking supervisor for 25 years at St. John Schools, she had been a resident of St. John since 1962. She attended a dental trade school in California and Fort Hays State College, Hays.
Robert L. "Bob" Bader
Robert L. "Bob" Bader, 78, died Jan. 4 in his home at Great Bend. He was born June 7, 1932, in Osborne County, the son of Fredrick Robert and Addie Mae (Clemans) Bader. He married Joan Habiger Sept. 1, 1955, at Hoisington. He was a commercial salesman for Becker Tire and Treading, Great Bend, for 50 years. He was a Great Bend resident since 1959, coming from Osborne.
Sadie E. (Bachman) Feil
RUSSELL - Sadie E. (Bachman) Feil, 92 of Russell, died Jan. 2 at the Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. She was born Nov. 17, 1918, southwest of Dorrance on the family farm, the daughter of Peter and Adella (Klusener) Bachman. She grew up in the Dorrance area and graduated from Dorrance High School. She married Jacob Feil, after he returned from the war, on Nov. 30, 1945, in Dorrance. They lived in Russell until 1954 when the family moved to Wichita. The family returned to Russell in 1959. Jacob preceded her in death on Aug. 9, 2004. She lived her ...
Maye Pechanec
TIMKEN - Maye Pechanec, 87, died Jan. 3 at Rush County Nursing Home in La Crosse. Born Oct. 10. 1923, she was the daughter of Mart and Jennie (Watkins) West. A lifelong resident of Rush County, she was a 1941 graduate of Alexander High School. On Aug. 8, 1944, she married Edward F. Pechanec at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Timken. He died Dec. 3, 2005. She was a homemaker.
Myrtle Katherine Pitts
Myrtle Katherine Pitts, 89, died Jan. 3 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born June 23, 1922, in Beaver, she was the daughter of John and Pearl (Hinderliter) Christians. She graduated from Hoisington High School in 1940. On March 16, 1941, she married Herbert L. Pitts in Beaver. He died Feb. 23, 2007. She was a homemaker and helped establish a family farm near Beaver with her husband, where they lived for 54 years before making Great Bend their home the past 18 years. She loved sewing and quilting.
Virgil C. Wagner
RUSSELL - Virgil C. Wagner, 87, of Russell, died on Jan. 3 at the Trego County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care facility in WaKeeney. He was born Dec. 3, 1923, on the family farm in rural Walker, the son of Christopher and Margaret (Robben) Wagner. He grew up and attended school in the Walker area. For a short time he attended school in Gorham until it was closed. He then had to transfer to Victoria and graduated from Victoria High School in 1943. A few years later he met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Alberta (Geist) Hammerschmidt ...
Clifford M. Bellinger
Clifford M. Bellinger, 84, of Great Bend, died Dec. 30 at Cherry Village in Great Bend. Born Aug. 6, 1926 in Fort Scott, he was the son of John Semple and Bonnie Gretchen McCargar Bellinger. He married Sallly Fox in 1955 in Wichita. She died in 1972. A resident of Barton and Rush counties for 21 years, residing in Great Bend, Otis and Denver, Colo., he was a retired engineering draftsman after working 35 years with Boeing.
Clarence A. Redetzke
HOISINGTON - Clarence A. Redetzke, 80, died Jan. 3 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. He was born April 24, 1930, at Hoisington, the son of Leo C. and Cecelia C. (Schauf) Redetzke. He married Martha A. Hawes Nov. 3, 1951, at Fort Smith, Ark. She died Oct. 22, 2010. A lifetime Susank/Hoisington resident, he was a retired farmer/rancher.
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.
