March 14, 2010

Miller 90th

Carlos Miller will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Central Baptist Church, Lakin and Harrison, in Great Bend.

Carlos was born on March 12, 1920, in Great Bend. He married Mary Downey on Sept. 28, 1941. She passed away on Sept. 24, 1994, just days short of their 53rd anniversary.

A resident of Great Bend since birth, Carlos became an apprentice in a print shop at the age of 14, which he purchased in 1945 and named it Miller Printers. The location was later moved to its current place of business at 1010 Grant. He served in World War II with the 36th Field Artillery. He has been active in Kiwanis for more than 60 years. He has been involved in church activities and served in several capacities at Baker Avenue Baptist Church, and then at Central Baptist when a new church was built at its present location. Carlos has also been commander of the American Legion, involved with the Barton County Historical Society, and served on the Cemetery Board.

He has five children, Phil and Maribeth Miller and Lisa and Ken Edgett, all of Great Bend, Jill and Tom Pletcher of Wichita, Lorrie and Shane Kromka, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and the late Doug Miller, who passed away in 1976; nine grandchildren, Alicia Courtright, Angela England, Amy Pletcher, Lisa James, Jared Disney, Jasmine Kromka, Brandon Kromka, Derek Miller and Danielle Miller-Hevner. He also has 10 great-grandchildren and counting.

Family and friends are invited. Cards and notes are welcome, but the family requests no gifts.

March 7, 2010

Keith 90th

Mayette Keith will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 13 at her home, 501 Crestview Dr. in Hoisington. Friends and family are invited. Hosts for the event are her children, Debbie Reif, of Hoisington, and Karen Schwartz, of Omaha, Neb., along with her grandchildren, Sarah and husband Mark Bricker, of Oberlin, Shane Reif, of Lindsborg, Cadet Capt. Adam Schwartz, of West Point, N.Y., Haley and Katie Schwartz, of Omaha, Neb., and Dana Schwartz, of Overland Park.

Mayette was born March 10, 1920, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Henry Olin Graham and Sarah Margaret (Hunter) Graham. She married Malcolm S. Keith on July 24, 1942, in Kansas City. They moved to Hoisington in 1945 where they made their home and raised their family. He passed away on Dec. 28, 1997.

No gifts, please. Cards may be sent to her at 501 Crestview Dr., Hoisington, KS 67544.

Marker 70th

Larry Eugene Marker will celebrate his 70th birthday on March 11. He was born on March 11, 1940, in Nickerson to Lloyd and Sylvia Marker. He married Charlene M. Turpin (deceased) on Aug. 30, 1963. He is blessed with one daughter, Kim Unruh, who resides in McPherson with her husband Tim and their three children, Taylor Krier, Paige and Abbigail.

Larry graduated from Sterling College with a Business Administration degree. He has worked in the financial field most of his career. He served in the Air National Guard from 1962-1968. He now enjoys fishing, hunting, attending grandkids sporting activities, riding his Harley Davidson and traveling with his significant other, Janet Warkentine of Salina. He is a member of The American Legion Riders and the Kansas Patriot Guard.

Cards may be sent to him at P.O. Box 509, Wilson, KS 67490.

Miller 90th

Carlos Miller will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. on March 14 at the Central Baptist Church, Lakin and Harrison, in Great Bend.

Carlos was born on March 12, 1920, in Great Bend. He married Mary Downey on Sept. 28, 1941. She passed away on Sept. 24, 1994, just days short of their 53rd anniversary.

A resident of Great Bend since birth, Carlos became an apprentice in a print shop at the age of 14, which he purchased in 1945 and named it Miller Printers. The location was later moved to its current place of business at 1010 Grant. He served in World War II with the 36th Field Artillery. He has been active in Kiwanis for more than 60 years. He has been involved in church activities and served in several capacities at Baker Avenue Baptist Church, and then at Central Baptist when a new church was built at its present location. Carlos has also been commander of the American Legion, involved with the Barton County Historical Society, and served on the Cemetery Board.

He has five children, Phil and Maribeth Miller and Lisa and Ken Edgett, all of Great Bend, Jill and Tom Pletcher of Wichita, Lorrie and Shane Kromka, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and the late Doug Miller, who passed away in 1976; nine grandchildren, Alicia Courtright, Angela England, Amy Pletcher, Lisa James, Jared Disney, Jasmine Kromka, Brandon Kromka, Derek Miller, and Danielle Miller-Hevner. He also has 10 great-grandchildren and counting.

Family and friends are invited. Cards and notes are welcome, but the family requests no gifts.

McFann 80th

June Arlene Rogers McFann will celebrate her 80th birthday on March 8 with a card shower. She was born March 8, 1930, in Barton County to Calvin and Elsie ( Sayler) Rogers. She has spent most of her life in Barton County, Albert, and then Great Bend after she retired.

June’s love for people was visible in her employment for her parents at the family gas station in Pawnee Rock and then later for the Otis-Bison School District as a bus driver and a janitor for many years.

She was known by all that rode her bus, and the students that attended the schools she made sparkle. Since retiring she has been doing volunteer work for the Barton County Museum and reads at the grade schools in Great Bend, along with other volunteer duties throughout the town.

June goes to the Health Club, and seldom misses a day at the spa with her friends, who have become her extended family.

June is mom to a large family of seven children, with 20 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren and counting.

Cards to help celebrate her birthday may be sent to her at 5210 W. 10th St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

February 28, 2010

McFann 80th

June Arlene Rogers McFann will celebrate her 80th birthday on March 8 with a card shower. She was born March 8, 1930 in Barton County to Calvin and Elsie ( Sayler) Rogers. She has spent most of her life in Barton County, Albert, and then Great Bend after she retired.

June's love for people was visible in her employment for her parents at the family gas station in Pawnee Rock and then later for the Otis Bison School District as a bus driver and a janitor.

She was known by all that rode her bus, and the students that attended the schools she made sparkle. Since retiring, she has been doing volunteer work for the Barton County Museum and reads at the grade schools in Great Bend, along with other volunteer duties throughout the town.

June goes to the Health Club, and seldom misses a day at the spa with her friends who have become her extended family.

June is Mom to a large family of seven children, with 20 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren and counting.

Cards to help celebrate her birthday may be sent to her at 5210 W. 10th St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Folk 80th

Max Folk, of Holyrood, will celebrate his 80th birthday on March 3 with a card shower.

Max was born to Harry and Carrie Droegemeier Folk in Lorraine. He participated in and excelled in all sports while in school and graduated from Lorraine High School.

After serving overseas during the Korean Conflict, Max and his brother Roy owned and operated Folk Oil Company in Holyrood. Max also owned and operated Folk Well and Lease Service and is currently owner and operator of Folk Oil Company. Max enjoys watching all sporting activities and hunting with his dog Copper.

Max has five children, Debbie Oeser and husband Chris, Sherry DeWerff and husband Jeff, Mike Folk and wife Cherie, Mark Folk, Vicki Miller and husband Butch. He has 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Cards and birthday wishes may be sent to him at 205 N. County Road, Holyrood, KS 67450.

Bell 80th

Keith Bell, formerly of Great Bend, now residing in Brownsville, Texas, will celebrate his 80th birthday on March 4. He was born in Oil Hill on March 4, 1930, the second child of Wade and Bernice (Shockley) Bell, and spent most of his life in Great Bend before retiring to Brownsville.

In honor of this special occasion a family gathering at his daughter’s home in Spring, Texas, is planned for the weekend of March 12, hosted by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A card shower is requested to help him celebrate his special birthday. Cards can be sent to Keith at Riverside RV Park, #11 Rio Bravo, Brownsville, TX 78520.

February 21, 2010

Nettleingham 80th

Gladys Nettleingham will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 28 at Concordia Lutheran Church, West Highway 4 in Hoisington. Friends and family are invited. Hosts for the event will be her children, Kent Nettleingham and Kevin Nettleingham, both of Galatia, Steve and Coleen Bilyew, of Claflin, and Ray and Colette Keeler, of Great Bend. She has eight grandchildren, three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. The family requests no gifts.

Gladys was born on Feb. 27, 1930, in rural Susank, to Manual and Alma Ehrlich. On May 17, 1948, she married LaVerne Nettleingham. They have lived on a farm near Galatia for more than 60 years.

Cards may be sent to her at 1788 N.W. 80th Ave., Olmitz, KS 67564.

February 14, 2010

Tinkel 90th

Laura Tinkel, of Claflin, will celebrate her 90th birthday with a reception from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center, 110 E. Williamson in Claflin. Everyone is welcome. Hosts for the event will be her children Louis and Janice Tinkel, of Hays, Arlene and Doug Friedly, of Bonner Springs, and Alvita and Bob Cates, of Claflin. She has six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

Laura was born on Feb. 19, 1920, to Joseph and Mathilda Birzer. She married Albert Tinkel on Nov. 27, 1945. He died on Jan. 31, 2006. The couple farmed near Claflin.

Cards may be sent to her at 1788 NE 110 Ave., Claflin, KS 67525.

Long 90th

Margie Long, of Ellinwood, will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Immanuel United Church of Christ, 7001 N. Fritz, in Ellinwood.

She was born Feb. 11, 1920 and has lived her entire life in the Ellinwood community. On Sept. 21, 1937 she married Frederick Long. He died in Aug. 1999. Her children are Dennis and wife Laurie and the late Lana Walton. She has six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Christiansen 80th

Imogene Christiansen of Great Bend will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest, Great Bend.

She was born on Feb. 17, 1930.

Cards may be sent to her in care of Kim Christiansen, 4715 SW Cedar Crest, Topeka, Ks. 66606.

Postlethwaite 80th

Arlon Postlethwaite, of Great Bend, will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. Hosts for the event will be his children, Bonnie Postlethwaite, of Overland Park, Jerry "JP" Postlethwaite and wife Debbie, of Great Bend, Darrell Postlethwaite and wife Susan, of Lawrence, and Mike Postlethwaite and wife Brenda, of Lindsay, Okla.; grandchildren, Joel Postlethwaite and wife Jeri, of Park City, Dena Popp and husband Rick, of Great Bend, Travis Postlethwaite, of Overland Park, Keelia Postlethwaite of Norman Okla., Kyle Postlethwaite, of Lawrence, Kalli Postlethwaite, of Lindsay, Okla.; and great grandchildren, Lance, Trey and Kelci Popp, of Great Bend, and Jace and Brody Postlethwaite, of Park City.

Arlon was born Feb. 24, 1930 in Minneapolis. He married Eleanora (Maier) Postlethwaite on Aug.13, 1950. Arlon was a service manager at Marmie Motors for 34 years before retiring in 1994.

February 7, 2010

Smith 80th

Dona J. Smith, of Albert, will celebrate her 80th birthday with a card shower requested by her family. Dona was born in Trego County, on Feb. 11, 1930. She has four children, Sheila DeWald, of Otis, Charles Smith, of Buhler, Bobby Smith, of McPherson, and Kenny Smith Jr., of Great Bend. Dona is a grandmother to eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 11, Albert, KS 67511.

January 31, 2010

Schwilling 80th

Floy Schwilling will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 6 at the First Congregational Church, 12th and State in Emporia. Hosts for the event will be her children and their spouses, Jerry and Lori Schwilling, of Cottonwood Falls, Karen and Brad Searle, of Great Bend, Gary and Chris Schwilling, of Houston, Texas, and Cherylen and Brian Fletcher, of Emporia. She has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Floy was born on Feb. 4, 1930 in Rosston, Okla. to Jack and Edna Lynn. She married Marvin Schwilling in Fort Collins, Colo., on Sept. 17, 1950. They have lived in Kansas most of their married life, living in Great Bend for 16 years and in the Emporia area since 1978. Floy worked at Emporia State University in the Biology Department from 1979 until her retirement in 1990.

Cards may be sent to her at 1407 College Drive, Emporia, KS 66801. The family requests no gifts.

Hickel 80th

Bob and Betty Hickel of Claflin will celebrate their 80th birthdays with a family dinner today.

Bob (Robert E.) Hickel was born Feb. 30, 1930. Betty Jean Lawrence was born Oct. 15,1929. The couple have nine children, Steve and Dorian Hickel, Janell and Doug Hubbard, Rick and Dawnya Hickel, Doug and Karen Hickel, David and Cheryl Hickel and Kyle Hickel, all of Claflin, June and Jeff Halliwill of Beaumont, Calif., Curtis Hickel, of Great Bend, and Janine and Kirby Dutton of El Dorado. They have 22 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to them at 123 7th Street, Claflin, KS. 67525.

Grubbs 80th

Robert Grubbs, of Larned, will celebrate his 80th birthday with a family dinner and surprise card shower.

He was born Feb. 15, 1930, on the family farm in Young County, Texas, near Jean. The youngest of seven children, he was born to Ida Pearl (Brooks) and George Grubbs. He attended school in Jean and Graham where he was in the class of 1948. In 1947, he married, and in 1956, he moved his family to Larned. He owned and operated several oilfield servicing companies including Lone Star Tank Truck Service and Bobs Well Service during the ’50s and ’60s. In 1969, he sold out to start a farm and cattle operation in the Garfield area. In his retirement, he enjoys reading Western and history books.

His children are Tommy of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Carol and Gary Carlson of Larned, and the late Robert. He has five grandchildren, Cory and wife Lisa Grubbs, Gastonia, N.C., Elizabeth and husband Jeremy McDonald, Larned, Brent Grubbs, Grand Prairie, Texas, Michelle and husband Ronald Castaneda, Dallas, and Amanda Grubbs, Mansfield, Texas.; and seven great-grandchildren, Lacie, Abbie and Savannah Grubbs, Gastonia, NC., Caleb McDonald, Larned, Logan and Madison Castaneda, Dallas, and Jayden Grubbs, Mansfield, Texas.

Cards for the surprise shower can be mailed to Robert Grubbs, in care of Carol Carlson, 533 W. 3rd Street, Larned, KS 67550.

Bender 95th

Ernest (Ernie) Bender will celebrate his 95th birthday on Feb. 5 with a card shower. He was born on Feb. 5, 1915, on Bender Hill in Russell County. He was a farmer in Russell County until 1961 when he moved to Great Bend and worked for USD 428. His wife Helen died in 2008. He has two children, Gary Bender, of Wichita and Judy McGreevy, of Great Bend; three grandchildren, Heidi Martin, Dr. Jeremy Bender and Coy McGreevy; five great-grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at 3007 27th St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Stejskal 85th

Matilda Stejskal, of Larned, (formerly of Burdett) will be celebrate her 85th birthday with her family. She was born Feb. l, 1925, in Great Bend. On April 10, 1947, she married Edward Stejskal. He died July 17, 1976. She is recently retired from farming.

Her children are Mary and John Perez and Janice and Stephen Heit, both of Larned, Don and Donna Stejskal, of Burdett, and Carol and Mike Loose, of Vienna, Va. She has 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Cards may be sent to her at 714 W. 9th #1, Larned, KS 67550

Godfrey 100th

James R. (Jim) Godfrey will celebrate his 100th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Prince of Peace Community Center, 4100 Broadway in Great Bend. Hosts for the celebration will be his daughters and sons-in-law, Jean and Bill Wegner and Pat and Bill Horn and his son and daughter-in-law, Dick and Helen Godfrey. Also present will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jim was born to William and Rose Godfrey in Bushton on Feb. 1, 1910. On July 16, 1934 he married Katherine (Katie) Gabel in Great Bend. Throughout his life he worked on the pipeline and in auto parts business in Hutchinson, Russell, and Great Bend where he retired in 1975. His community service included serving in the National Guard during World War II, coaching basketball and softball, various offices in the Knights of Columbus, including District Deputy, and serving as the Director of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce 1977 to 1979. He was appointed District Commissioner in 1950 for the Amateur Softball Association and, with the help of 16 business people and the Chamber of Commerce, he brought the State Fast Pitch Softball Tournament to Great Bend for the first time in 1950 and thereafter for 13 years, along with two Four-State Regional Fast Pitch Tournaments. Jim became State Youth Softball Commissioner and later the State President of the Board for the ASA and became known throughout the state as Mr. Softball. In 2000, the city of Great Bend dedicated the Jimmy Godfrey Sports Complex in the new Veterans Park for his work, which he said would not have been possible without the help of his wife, Katherine, who passed on in January 2001.

Jim keeps in contact with his many friends in softball and in the state. He looks forward to visiting with all at the open house.

January 24, 2010

Wagner 90th

John A. Wagner, of Great Bend will celebrate his 90th birthday on Jan. 20. He was born on Jan. 20, 1920 in Wichita to John and Carrie Wagner. He graduated in 1939 from East High in Wichita. During World War II he served as an Aviation Engineer for four years. He was employed for Pickrell Drilling Company for 45 years. He married Marge Giltner. The had nine children. He and Marge later divorced and he married Viola Tobias on April 17, 1970.

January 17, 2010

Sohm 80th

Lowell Sohm will celebrate his 80th birthday on Jan. 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Senior Center in Otis. Hosts for the event will be his children, Ronda and David Ranker, of Hays, Steve and Evy Sohm and Mike Sohm, all of Otis, Susan and Ron Mohr, of Allentown, Pa., and Diane Rexwinkle and Mike Ward, of Great Bend. He has 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The public is invited. The family requests no gifts.

He was born on Jan. 18, 1930, to Frank and Grace Sohm in Otis. He married Lois Jean Winkler on Nov. 26, 1955. She died on April 22, 2004.

Frick 80th

Alma Mae Frick, of Larned, will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from 2-4 p.m. today at “Glory Be,” 7th and Broadway in Larned. Hosts for the event will be her children, Kent and Karen Frick, of Larned, and Kim and Terry Fairchild, of Overland Park, and her grandchildren Kurtis Frick Maxwell and Dr. Christina Frick and her husband Brent, all of Larned, Melissa Frick, of Fontana, Calif., and Audra and Dustin Geiger, of Topeka .

Alma was born on Jan. 16, 1930, to Albert and Olivia Debes. She attended Valley View Country School and graduated from Larned High School. She married Raymond George Frick on Dec.5, 1951. They farmed and ranched south of Larned. Raymond died on Feb. 7, 1999. She is a homemaker and is active in the family farm.

Cards may be sent to her at 915 West 6th, Larned, KS 67550.

January 10, 2010

Frick 80th

Alma Mae Frick, of Larned, will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from at 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 17 at “Glory Be,” 7th and Broadway in Larned. Hosts for the event will be her children, Kent and Karen Frick, of Larned, and Kim and Terry Fairchild, of Overland Park, and her grandchildren Dr. Christina Frick and husband Brent and Kurtis Frick Maxwell, all of Larned, Melissa Frick, of Fontana, Calif., and Audra and Dustin Geiger, of Topeka .

Alma was born on Jan 16, 1930, to Albert and Olivia Debes. She attended Valley View Country School and graduated from Larned High School. She married Raymond George Frick on Dec.5, 1951. They farmed and ranched south of Larned. Raymond died on Feb. 7, 1999. She is a homemaker and is active in the family farm.

Cards may be sent to her at 915 West 6th, Larned , KS 67550.

Sohm 80th

Lowell Sohm will celebrate his 80th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 17 at the Senior Center in Otis. Hosts for the event will be his children, Ronda and David Ranker, of Hays, Steve and Evy Sohm and Mike Sohm, all of Otis, Susan and Ron Mohr of Allentown, Pa., and Diane Rexwinkle and Mike Ward, of Great Bend. He has 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The public is invited. The family requests no gifts.

He was born on Jan. 18, 1930, to Frank and Grace Sohm in Otis. He married Lois Jean Winkler on Nov. 26, 1955. She died on April 22, 2004.

Row 90th

Thelma Bayless Row will celebrate her 90th birthday on Jan. 16, with a reception hosted by her family at “Glory Be” in Larned. She has one daughter, Anita Graves, of Larned, and three grandchildren: Amy Graves, of Overland Park, Brian Graves, of Hood River, Ore., and Gina Graves, of Boynton Beach, Fla., as well as three great-grandchildren of Hood River, Ore.

Cards are welcome and may be sent to 720 W. Fourth, Larned, KS 67550.

January 3, 2010

Jordan 80th

Robert “Bob” Jordan will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception hosted by his children from 1 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Fireside Room at Maple Gardens Village, 10200 W. Maple in Wichita. Family and friends are invited. No gifts please.

Robert “Bob” Jordan was born on Jan. 5 in Claflin to Elmer and Georgia (Houska) Jordan. He met Elda Jean Clothier at Great Bend High School and they married 60 years ago. She passed away on April 16 of this year. Bob was the storeroom keeper and purchasing director for the electric company in Great Bend for 48 years. He was also active in PTA and 4-H, and attended the Church of Christ.

Cards or notes may be sent to him at 10200 W. Maple, #D330, Wichita, KS 67209.

December 27, 2009

McIntosh 70th

Larry McIntosh of Great Bend will celebrate his 70th birthday on Jan. 1. His family is requesting a card shower for his special day.

Larry was born in Hays on Jan. 1, 1940, and grew up on a farm near Collyer. He graduated from Collyer High School in 1958 followed by enlistment into the United States Navy. After his military service, he worked 38 years and retired from employment with Southwestern Bell.

Larry and his wife Connie have three daughters, Cindy and husband Randy Clark and Sandy and husband Mic Huddleston, all of Great Bend, and Tammi and husband Kevin Schreiner of Austin; and four grandchildren, Seth and Sharon Burress and Cody and Kade Huddleston, all of Great Bend.

Cards and birthday wishes may be sent to him at 2526 20th, Great Bend, KS 67530 .

December 20, 2009

Hickel 80th

Joe Hickel of Ellinwood will celebrate his 80th birthday on Jan. 2. He was born near Elllnwood, the son of Louis and Katherine Hickel, and is a lifetime resident there. On Dec. 29, 1954, he married Helen McPherson. Their 55th anniversary will be included with a family gathering over the holidays. Hosts for the double celebration will be their children, Diana and Paul Zecha and Pam and Rich Koester, of Hoisington, Greg Hickel, of Ellinwood, Scott and Deb Hickel, of Denver, Colo., and Kevin and Angie Hickel, of Manhattan. The coupled has 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Hickel served overseas during the Korean Conflict with the 45th Infantry Division and the Pacific Stars and Stripes newspaper. He is also a retired teacher, coach and principal of 37 years for USD 355 in Ellinwood. After retirement he supervised student teachers in this area for Newman University for many years.

A former 12-year mayor of Ellinwood, he was recognized when leaving office as the Grand Marshal for the first Barton County Appreciation Day with all nine mayors and five county commissioners present on that occasion at Jack Kilby Square. Joe has also hosted “Focus on Ellinwood” for 15 years on Great Bend Eagle Radio KVGB. He was a recipient of Rotary’s Distinguished Citizen Award as well as being named as the Grand Marshal of an After-Harvest Festival Parade.

Cards may be sent to 622 Isern St., Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Fish 80th

Charles Fish, of Raymond, celebrated his 80th birthday on Dec. 19. He was born on Dec. 19, 1929, in Radium. He owned and operated Fish Service in Raymond for 37 years until his retirement. He continued to work there part time until its closing. Charles and his wife Arletta have three children, Craig and Ashley Fish, of Great Bend, Kirk and Tammy Fish, of Raymond, and Karyn and Kurt Schemm, of Rose Hill; and six grandchildren.

December 6, 2009

Roberta Keil 80th birthday

Roberta Keil of Galatia will celebrate her 80th birthday on Dec. 13 with a card shower. She was born on Dec. 13, 1929, in El Dorado to Hiram and Dilla Ramsey. On Sept. 8, 1950, she married Leland B. Keil in Great Bend. They have five children, Mike and Barb Keil, of Topeka, Barb and Leroy Menninga, of Wichita, David and Becky Keil, of Russell, Becky and Andy Money, of Lee’s Summit, Mo. and Kristy and Lloyd Scheck, of Great Bend; eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was the office manager at the Galatia Co-op for more than 20 years.

Cards may be sent to her at 210 W. Newcombe Ave., Galatia, KS 67565.

Molly Freeman 100th birthday

Molly Freeman will celebrate her 100th birthday from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 12 at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ellinwood. Friends and family are invited to attend. No gifts please.

November 15, 2009

Coldwater 80th

Robert Coldwater of Chase will celebrate his 80th birthday with a card shower.

Born on Nov. 14, 1929, he has lived all of his life in Chase. He married Joan Nearhood on Nov. 25, 1950, in Lyons.

He is a retired farmer and owner and operator of Ace Welding and Backhoe Service.

His children are Cindy and Hal Hollembeak of Great Bend, Elizabeth Coldwater, of Chase, and Tammy and Kirk Fish, of Raymond. He has four grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at P.O. Box 426, Chase, KS 67524.

November 8, 2009

Joan and Jean 75th

Joan Milene and Jean Swanson will celebrate their 75th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Leon Senior Center on Nov. 21 with a reception hosted by their children. Friends and family are invited to share cake, punch and memories about the twins.

Cards may be sent to them at P.O. Box 187, Leon, KS 67074.

October 18, 2009

Burris 80th

Helen Burris of Hoisington will celebrate her 80th birthday on Oct. 22nd. Helping her celebrate will be her husband Marion who will turn 81 on Oct. 21 and her six children, Tom and Susan Burris of Kansas City, Mo, Donna and Pete Ash of Blanchard Okla., Kathy and Ed Burke of Antelope, Calif., Kerry and Pat Underwood of Montgomery, Texas Mark and Sonja Burris of Lexington, S.C. and Troy and Cindy Burris of Bushton. Helen and Marion also have 15 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.

Cards can be sent to couple at 1223 N. Clay St. Hoisington, Ks. 67544.

October 11, 2009

Reif 80th

Dorothy Reif, of Beaver, will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house for friends and family from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 18 at the Beaver Fire Station. Hosts for the event are her children, Gary and Karen Reif and Karen and Tim Winkelman, all of Great Bend, Duane and Debbie Reif of Hoisington, Eldon Reif of Beaver, and friend, Karla Kraft of Holyrood, Father Marvin Reif of Haviland, and Nancy and Mark Jensen of Ellsworth.

A lifetime resident of northern Barton County, she was born Oct. 25, 1929, on a farm near Odin, the daughter of Hugo and Mathilda Frenzl. She married Albert Reif on April 16, 1952. He died Sept. 11, 1970. She has been engaged in farming all of her life.

Whelan 90th

Don Whelan will celebrate his 90th birthday on Oct. 19.

He was born on Oct. 19, 1919, in Medicine Lodge. He is an Army Air Force veteran of World War II, where he was stationed at Wright Patterson Field in Dayton, Ohio. He met his wife, Phyllis there. They were married in Great Bend. She passed away on Feb. 10, 2008. He was vice president and chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Great Bend before his retirement. After retirement he was a representative for the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce for 10 years.

Don resides at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center and would enjoy hearing from friends.

September 27, 2009

Crist 90th

Walt Crist will celebrate his 90th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 3 with an open house at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave.

Walt was born on Oct. 3, 1919, in Scott City. He married Grace Carr on Jan. 7, 1944, in Bentonville, Ark. She died May 27, 2002. His daughter Sandra Newkirk (Frank) died on July 7, 2004. A resident of Barton County since the early 1950s, he was a contractor and finish carpenter in the Great Bend and Dighton areas until his retirement. After retiring, he started making wood crafts, and would take them to craft shows in surrounding towns and also to the State Fair. He is an active member in the Community Christian Church.

Hosts for the event will be his eight children and their families: John W. Carr and Norma, and Jan Flint, all of Great Bend, Dale Carr Jr., of Pawnee Rock, Karen Gilkey and Jerry, of Hutchinson, Gloria Callaway and Scott, of Pratt, Ed Crist and Rayetta, of Bunker Hill, Tonya Appel, of Larned, and Gordon Crist and Diane, of Dayton, Ohio.

Family and friends are invited. The family requests no gifts.

September 20, 2009

Koochel 95th

Esther Koochel will be celebrating her 95th birthday on Sept. 19 with a card shower.

Mrs. Koochel was born Sept. 19, 1914, in Timken. She married Lester Koochel Sept. 22, 1938. He passed away Oct. 11, 1990.

She has two daughters, Nancy Leimer and husband Del of Perryton, Texas, and Janice Castle and husband Mark of Great Bend; five grandchildren, Van Leimer, Cristin Leimer, Joel Leimer, Diane Castle and Dedra Castle-Roraback; and two great-grandsons, Matthew Castle and Nathan Roraback.

Cards and birthday wishes may be sent to her at 1219 Hoover St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

September 13, 2009

Wilson 99th

Lela Wilson will celebrate her 99th birthday on Sept. 20 with her family.

Lela Wilson was born on Sept. 18, 1910, in Trousdale. She married Tom Wilson. He died on July 6, 2004. A resident of Trousdale, Pratt and Great Bend, she is a housewife. She enjoys cooking and gardening and to be with family and friends. She has a daughter, Donna Thill of Great Bend; three grandchildren, Kristie Thill and David and Shellie Thill, all of Great Bend, and Michelle Doll of Fort Collins, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren, Sean Doll of Fort Collins, Colo., and Emilie, Ashlie and Thomas Thill of Great Bend.

Cards may be sent to 1206 Patton Road, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Grandys to celebrate

Iva Mae Grandy of Larned, and Grace Grandy of Rozel will celebrate their birthdays from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Jordaan Room in Larned. Iva Mae will be celebrating her 90th and Grace her 88th. Friends and family are invited to attend.

Bateman 80th

Sally Bateman will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19 at her home at 2812 26th St. in Great Bend. Hosts for the event will be her children, Jim Bateman and Kelley Witmer, both of Lawrence, Joe Bateman of Atlantic, Iowa, and Karen Reddig of Great Bend.

Sally Bateman was born on Sept. 20, 1929, in Essex, Iowa, to Reuben and Alma Peterson. She has been a resident of Kansas since 1998, moving from Iowa. She was a resident of Lawrence until 2006 when she moved to Great Bend.

Friends and family are invited to attend.

September 6, 2009

Wright 90th

Lonnie D. Wright of Albert celebrated his 90th birthday on Aug. 30 with a family celebration at his home, Stone Bridge Farm, in Albert. He was born Aug. 30, 1919 in Cuthan, Texas. He was enlisted at Offut Field in Omaha. He served at Hickam Field in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and was there on the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack. He served one year of combat in the South Pacific. He received the Silver Star, the distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, an Air Medal and the Pearl Harbor Medal.

Lonnie and his wife Alberta have two sons, Dr. Alvin J. Wright of Payallup, Wash. and John Lee Wright of Colorado Springs, Colo.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Bateman 80th

Sally Bateman will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. at her home at 2812 26th St., in Great Bend. Hosts for the event will be her children, Jim Bateman and Kelley Witmer, both of Lawrence, Joe Bateman of Atlantic, Iowa and Karen Reddig of Great Bend.

Sally Bateman was born on Sept. 20, 1929 in Essex, Iowa to Reuben and Alma Peterson. She has been a resident of Kansas since 1998, moving from Iowa. She was a resident of Lawrence until 2006 when she moved to Great Bend.

Friends and family are invited to attend.

Marcellus 70th

Donna Marcellus will celebrate her 70th birthday on Sept. 9.

Her family is requesting a card shower for her special day. Cards may be sent to her at 408 N. Main, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Fuhr 90th

Kurt H. Fuhr will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 11, at the Highland Hotel south poolside

Kurt Fuhr was born on Sept. 11, 1919 in Bromberg, Poland to Fredrick and Hattie Fiege Fuhr. He has been a Barton County resident since he was eight months old.

Hosts for the celebration will be his wife Beverly, son Scott of Claflin, step children, Bunny and Jim Bennett and Spencer Howell, all of Alvin, Texas., eight step-grandchildren, and five step-great- grandchildren.

He served in World War II. He operated Kurt's Line Cleaning and, after retiring, he drove a bus for the Senior Center and Integrated Health Services. He was a volunteer for 30 years for the Claflin Fire Department

Family and friends are invited. The family requests no gifts.

August 30, 2009

Schneweis 80th

Vernon Schneweis will celebrate his 80th birthday with an open house from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Dodge House, 2408 W. Wyatt Earp in Dodge City. Hosts for the event will be his children and their spouses. Friends and family are invited to attend.

Cards may be sent to 2006 Park St., Dodge City, KS 6780l.

August 23, 2009

Bird 80th

Ted Bird of Albert celebrated his 80th birthday with a family reunion in Portland, Ore., at the home of Stefan and Valerie Bird. Hosts for the celebration were Stefan and Valerie Bird, Thomas and Gah Bird and Carolyn Bird. He has three grandchildren, Sam and Zach Bird of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Nicholas Bird of Portland, Ore.

Ted Bird was born on Aug. 17, 1919, in Independence. He married Ingrid Neumann on Oct. 15, 1961.

An “After Birthday Cheer” is planned from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the home of Ted and Ingrid Bird, 773 B. NW 110 Ave., Albert. Friends and family are invited to share in wines and cocktails. No gifts are requested.

Osborn 80th

Imogene Osborn will celebrate her 80th birthday from 3 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2500 Kansas in Great Bend. There will be a special speaker at 4 p.m. Friends and family are invited.

Imogene Osborn was born on Sept. 1, 1929, in Colorado. She married James Osborn in December 1993. A resident of Great Bend for most of her life, she cared for the elderly in their homes. She has four children, Pattie Sanders of Great Bend, Albert Hatten of Pawnee Rock, Debbie Radenberg of Claflin and the late Robert Hatten; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 602 Albro Street, Apt. #8, Claflin, KS 67525.

August 16, 2009

Gates 95th

Lillian Gates will celebrate her 95th birthday on Aug.18 with a card shower. She was born on Aug. 18, 1914, in Bloomington, Ind. to John and Laura Baxter Wampler. Lillian's husband, Walter Gates, died on Oct. 13, 1989.

Lillian's love of cooking is shown in her employment record in public food service. She worked at the middle school level, the Wiley Tea Room, supervised the Great Bend Hospital canteen, and was the food service director for Barton Community College.

Her children are Michael Gates of Houston, Texas, Wendy Gates of Great Bend, and Diana Frohardt and spouse, Lou, of Salina. She has six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 5209 Eisenhower, Great Bend, KS 67530.

August 2, 2009

Thompson 90th

Lelia Adele (Turner) Thompson will celebrate her 90th birthday on Aug. 5 with a family dinner.

Adele married Norman Thompson on March 26, 1938. They moved to Great Bend from Oklahoma in 1952. They were married 63 years until his death in 2002. Adele has four children: Curtis Thompson and wife Bernice of Sterling; C. David Thompson of Bowling Green, Ky.; Betty Anderson and husband Duane of Winfield; and Karen Barefield and husband Bruce of Minneapolis; 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She was employed at the Great Bend High School lunchroom for many years and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She moved to Sterling January 2008.

Cards may be sent to 428 N. 8th, Sterling, KS 67579.

Tuzicka 80th

Clarence Tuzicka of Otis will celebrate his 80th birthday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Otis City Hall.

Hosts for the event will be his children and their spouses, Diana and Gary Hertel of Great Bend and Linda and Myron Wagner of Otis.

He has four grandsons, Matthew Hertel of Minn., Darin Hertel of Great Bend, Cory and Jatim Wagner of Olmitz and Jason and Julie Wagner of Texas; and a great-grandson, Logan Wagner of Olmitz.

Clarence was born on Aug. 4, 1929, in rural Bison to John and Frances Tuzicka. On Jan. 10, 1951, he married Doris Suchy.

Cards may be sent to 3763 Avenue G., Otis, KS 67565.

He requests no gifts.

Feldman 90th

Harold Feldman will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest, in Great Bend. Friends and family are invited. Hosts for the celebration will be his children, Richard and Jackye Feldman and Tom and Deanna (Feldman) Thomas; and his seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Feldman was born on Aug. 13, 1919, in Kinsley. He married Clara Mae Kurth 66 years ago on July 2, 1943.

July 26, 2009

Wondra 90th

Teresa Wondra of St. John will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Catholic Witt Center, 609 E. 4th in St. John. Hosts for the event will be her children and their spouses, Denis and Nancy Wondra, Harold and Sharon Wondra, Vernon and Nancy Wondra and Eugene Wondra, all of Great Bend; Kenny and Carol Wondra of Enterprise; Judy and Larry Griffith of Nickerson; Jim Wondra of Pratt; Richard Wondra of Hudson; Diane and Lonnie Staub of St. John; and Marilyn and Todd Grizzel of Macksville. The public is invited to attend.

She was born on July 30, 1919, in Odin, to Hugo and Matilda (Hoeffner) Frenzl. On May 15, 1946, she married Edward A. Wondra in Odin. He died Aug. 14, 2000. She is a homemaker and worked part time for USD 350 schools for 25 years, retiring in 1996.

Cards may be sent to her at 712 N. Exchange, St. John, KS 67576.

Messicks to celebrate

Jack and Leila Messick will celebrate their birthdays from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the Elks Lodge, 1120 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend. Hosts for the celebration will be their family. The public is invited to attend. Jack will celebrate his 75th birthday and Leila will celebrate her 80th birthday. Cards only are requested.

July 19, 2009

Postlethwaite 80th

Eleanora Postlethwaite will celebrate her 80th birthday with a family gathering at her daughter’s home in Overland Park.

She was born on July 19, 1929, and married Arlon Postlethwaite on Aug. 13, 1950. They have four children, Bonnie Postlethwaite of Overland Park, Gerald “J.P.” Postlethwaite and wife Debbie of Great Bend, Darrel Postlethwaite and wife Susan of Lawrence and Mike Postlethwaite and wife Brenda of Lindsay, Okla.; six grandchildren, Joel Postlethwaite and wife Jeri of Park City, Dena Popp and husband Rick of Great Bend, Travis Postlethwaite of Overland Park, Kyle Postlethwaite of Lawrence, Keelia Postlethwaite of Norman, Okla., and Kalli Postlethwaite of Lindsay, Okla.; and four great-grandchildren, Jose Postlethwaite of Park City, and Kelci, Trey and Lance Popp of Great Bend.

Bugner 80th

Gene Bugner will celebrate his 80th birthday on July 21. A family reunion on July 18 is planned to honor him.

Cards may be sent to 2233 Cleveland, Great Bend, KS 67530.

July 12, 2009

Stucky 80th

Ramona Stukey will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 13 with a card shower. She was born July 13, 1929 and is a retired homemaker. She was employed by the Dairy Queen, Coast to Coast and is a substitute driver for USD 428. She married Morris E. “Joe” Stukey on April 18, 1948. He passed away on March 14, 2008.

A family lunch is planned with her children and their spouses, Morris L. and Joyce Stukey, Dale and Brenda Petersilie, and Larry and Linda Stukey; her seven grandchildren; and her 12 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 2502 Williams, Great Bend, KS. 67530.

Schneweis twins 80th

Dolores Schneweis and Sister Lawrance will celebrate their 80th birthday on July 13.

Day 80th

Edwin Day will celebrate his 80th birthday on July 17 with a card shower.

He was born on July 17, 1929 in Pacific Grove, Calif. A resident of Great Bend most of his life, he married Carley Day. He worked at First National Bank of Great Bend, now Bank of the West, retiring as the senior vice president after 46 years. He has two children, Pam and Edd Jackson of Great Bend and Mike and Joan Day of Pratt; and five grandchildren, Chris and Jenn Short and their children, Matthew, Christine and J.T. of Andover, Daylin Short and his children, Claire and Halle of Firestone, Colo., Jeff Jackson of Eureka, Amanda Day of Derby and Shanda Day of Goddard.

Cards may be sent to him at 308 S. Washington, Great Bend, KS., 67530.

Mills 80th

Merna Mills will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 12. They celebrated her birthday early with a family dinner.

Cards may be sent to her at 709 E. 3rd St., Hoisington, KS. 67544.

June 5, 2009

Adee 85th

Richard G. Adee will celebrate his 85th birthday in July with a family dinner in Salina. Hosts for the event will be his children, Sharon Adee of Truchas, N.M., Julia Jilek of White Bear Lake, Minn., and Lynne and Don Weiser of Salina. He has four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Born July 11, 1924, near Lamar, he married Betty Krueger Adee. He was employed by Thies Packing Company and HydroChem, both in Great Bend.

Cards may be sent to him at 2915 22nd St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Bollig 90th

Richard Bollig celebrated his 90th birthday on June 21, with dinner and a day visiting with his family. Hosts for the event were his children, Sylvia and Pete Billinger of Great Bend and Dale and Connie Bollig of Moore, Okla.

Richard Bollig was born on June 20, 1919, in Ellis County, to Jacob and Eva Bollig. He married Edith Herrman in 1949. A resident of Great Bend since 1950, he was employed as production manager at Dr. Pepper Bottling Company for 13 years and later at Marlette Coach Company until his retirement. He has five grandchildren, Alicia Billinger of Topeka, Charles Billinger of Phoeniz, Ariz., and Jacob Bollig, Justin Bollig and Terra O’Steen, all of Moore, Okla.; and two great-grandchildren, Lane and Rylie O’Steen of Moore, Okla.

Cards may be sent to him at 1908 Harrison, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Beck 80th

Eugene Ferdinand Beck will celebrate his 80th birthday with an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on July 11, at 170 South Main in Hoisington. Hosts for the celebration will be his children and grandchildren. Family and friends are invited. The family requests no gifts.

June 21, 2009

Klepper 90th

Norman Klepper will celebrate his 90th birthday today, June 21, with a family dinner.

Norman Klepper was born on June 23. He has five children, Larry Klepper and wife Jean, Richard Klepper and wife Connie, and Diane Nemnich and husband Ed, all of Ellinwood, Joyce Ware and husband Jerry of Wichita, and Marlene Panning and husband David of Great Bend; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with a seventh due in August.

Cards may be sent to him at 344 NE 130 Ave., Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Brack 85th

Magdalene Brack of Otis will celebrate her 85th birthday on June 27.

Magdalene was born to Adolph and Minnie (Mater) Tuzicka. She married Eudale Brack on Sept. 12, 1945. They have one son, Roger Brack and wife Sharon, and one daughter Darla Hanks and husband Terry, all of Otis; three grandchildren, LaChelle Fitzmorris and husband Ryan, and Shawna Hanks, all of Hays, and Shannon Brack of Great Bend, and one great-grandchild, Declan Fitzmorris of Hays. Magdalene has one sister, Irene Brack and husband Merle, and one niece, Ravonda Hess and husband Roger, all of Hutchinson.

A card shower is requested to help her celebrate the occasion. Cards may be sent to her at PO Box 112, Otis, KS 67565.

Bollig 90th

Richard Bollig will celebrate his 90th birthday today, June 21, with dinner and a day visiting with his family. Hosts for the event will be his children, Sylvia and Pete Billinger of Great Bend and Dale and Connie Bollig of Moore, Okla.

Richard Bollig was born on June 20, 1919, in Ellis County, to Jacob and Eva Bollig. He married Edith Herrman in 1949. A resident of Great Bend since 1950, he was employed as production manager at Dr. Pepper Bottling Company for 13 years and later at Marlette Coach Company until his retirement. He has five grandchildren, Alicia Billinger of Topeka, Charles Billinger of Phoeniz, Ariz., and Jacob Bollig, Justin Bollig and Terra O’Steen, all of Moore, Okla.; and two great-grandchildren, Lane and Kylie O’Steen of Moore, Okla.

Cards may be sent to him at 1908 Harrison, Great Bend, KS 67530.

June 14, 2009

Bloodworth 90th

Gladys Bloodworth will celebrate her 90th birthday on June 18. A celebration, hosted by her family, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Broadway and Patton. The honoree requests no gifts.

Mrs. Bloodworth has been a resident of Great Bend for 58 years. She is retired from Marlette Homes where she made drapes for the mobile homes. Her husband, Orval, died in 1978 and her daughter, Virginia, died in 2002. She has two granddaughters and two great-granddaughters, as well as a very large extended family. She currently resides at Sterling House in Great Bend.

Cards may be sent to 3112 Stone St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Beagley 95th

Ressa Otte Beagley will celebrate her 95th birthday with a card shower. She was born June 20, 1914, in Barton County to Mervin and Mary Barrett. She married Walter Otte who passed away in 1963 and she later married Roy Beagley. Ressa, a homemaker, raised four daughters on a farm west of Great Bend while Walter farmed and raised registered Milking Shorthorn Cattle. Ressa and Walter were co-leaders of the Walnut Valley 4-H Club for 20 years.

In the ’50s Ressa started her cooking career at Countryside School. She later cooked at Harrison Junior High and Barton County Community College. She also worked as a receptionist for Barton County Community College’s Center for Adult Education. She has been a life-long resident of Barton County.

Her children and their spouses are: Marilyn and Doug Klug of Anchorage, Alaska; Janet and Gary Stratton of Hays, Barbara and Ron Price of Manhattan and LaVonne Gerritzen of Great Bend. She has nine grand-children, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Cards may be mailed to her at Great Bend Health & Rehab, 1560 K-96, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Schuetz 90th

Dorothy Schuetz will celebrate her 90th birthday today with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Friends and family are invited to stop by and visit Dorothy and her extended family.

Dorothy Schuetz was born on April 28, 1929, in Great Bend. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1937 and attended the University of Kansas. On June 26, 1938, she married Glen Schuetz. A resident of Great Bend, Dorothy has been active in her church and a community volunteer. She has two children, Perry Schuetz and wife Nancy and Sally Jensen and husband Jeffrey, all of Great Bend; four grandchildren, Jennifer Graves of Hood River, Ore.; Amy Hurley of San Diego, Calif., John Schuetz of Salina, and Justin Jensen of Great Bend; and four great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to 1919 McKinney Drive, Great Bend, Kansas 67530.

Stuart 83rd

Calista Stuart will celebrate her 83rd birthday with a card shower.

Calista Stuart was born on June 13, 1926, in Barton County. She is a lifetime resident of Hoisington and Great Bend. She was employed by Van Jo Dairy, Dr. Moore’s of Hoisington, Kotwitz Motor, Bob Ritter Chevrolet, Lindholm Construction, and is currently employed part-time by M&F Plumbing. She has a daughter, Gloria Larkin and husband Ray, of Hoisington, three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 701 Odell, Great Bend, KS. 67530.

May 24, 2009

Graves 90th

Velma Graves will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 27 with a family dinner and a card shower.

She was born on May 27, 1919, in Horace. She married Lloyd Graves. He died in 1975. A resident of Hoisington, she was a nurse aide at the Clara Barton Hospital for several years. She has four children, Donna Ritchie of Ninety-Six, S.C., Darleen Demel and Allen Graves of Hoisington and Jimmy Graves of Herculaneum, Mo.; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 253 South Center, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Allen 80th

Betty J. Allen will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 30 at the First Southern Baptist Church Annex, 3301 19th in Great Bend. Hosts for the event will be her children, Robert S. Allen of Denver, Colo., Marcia Kimbley of Stafford, and Denise and David Simon of Mooresville, N.C., and granddaughters, Chelsea Simon of New York City, N.Y., and Sarah Simon of Mooresville, N.C.

Betty J. Allen was born on May 29, 1929, in Shamrock, Okla. She graduated from Russell High School and Sterling College with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She married Robert W. (Bud) Allen. She taught for eight years at Park and Morrison elementary schools in Great Bend and is a homemaker. She has been an active member of the First Southern Baptist Church for 53 years.

Cards may be sent to her at 2715 Dry Creek Road, Great Bend, KS 67530.

May 17, 2009

Quinley 90th

Betty J. Quinley will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 22. She was born on May 22, 1919, in Salina. She married Philip S. Quinley in 1955. A resident of Great Bend most of her life, she is retired from Centel. She has two children, Phil and Sue Quinley of Carmichael, Calif. and Peg and Bud Beck of Russell; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 510 W. 7th, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Mason 80th

Dolores Mason of Great Bend, will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on May 24 in the community room at Cedar Park Place, 3910 Cedar Park Place. She looks forward to seening family and friends. She requests no gifts.

She was born May 31, 1929 ,to Walter and Lilly Schultz in Ellsworth, growing up in the Ellsworth area. On Jan. 4, 1948, she married Johnnie Mason Jr. After marriage they lived in the Colby, Ellsworth and Salina areas before calling Great Bend home in 1967. She and Johnnie were actively involved in the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps in the late 60s and early 70s. She was well known as the mom of the Corps. She has three children, two sons, Steve Mason of Barry, Ill., and Dan Mason and wife Donna, Ellinwood, and a daughter, Bonnie Jeffers and husband Dan of Paola. She retired July 1, 2002, from CKMC after 31 years of service.

Cards may be sent to her at 3910 Cedar Park Place 7D, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Morgan 80th

Ray Morgan will celebrate his 80th birthday on May 21 and his friends and former co-workers are being invited to join in with a card shower.

Ray was born May 21, 1929, in Arkansas City. His parents were Nathan and Allie Morgan.

Ray and his wife, Irene, have 10 children: Kenny and Jody Morgan, Dan and Joan Morgan, Orlena and Skip (Robert) Alan, Nona and Chuck Smith, Rose and Bob Barton, Rusty and Ronda Morgan, Kim and Patty Morgan, Lisa and Stan Allison, David and Angel Morgan, and John and Kayleen Morgan. They also have 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Ray worked for several years at the Great Bend Park Department.

A family celebration is being planned.

Cards may be sent to Ray at: 1301 Morphy, Great Bend, KS 67530

May 10, 2009

Fox 90th

Mary M. Weltmer Fox will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 16. Mary was born May 16, 1919, in St. John, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Howard. She has been a resident of Great Bend for 70 years. She has a son, Kent H. Weltmer; a stepdaughter, Carmen Tam Miller; two grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.

April 26, 2009

Deutsch 90th

Viola Deutsch will celebrate her 90th birthday on May 1 with a card shower. Cards can be sent to her at Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation Center, 1560 State Road 96, Great Bend KS 67530.

April 12, 2009

McKown 80th

Martha Johnson McKown will celebrate her 80th birthday on April 16 with a card shower. She was born April 16, 1929, in Booker, Texas. She was employed by DaMac Drilling Inc. in Great Bend and was the executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She has four children, David McKown of Great Bend and Maui, Hawaii, Bill McKown of Great Bend, Charles McKown of Arkansas City and James McKown of Stillwell; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Cards may be sent to her in care of Cherry Village, 1501 Cherry Lane, Great Bend, KS 67530.

April 5, 2009

Maneth 80th

Marcella Maneth will celebrate her 80th birthday on April 11 with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Olmitz. She was born April 12, 1929, to Edward and Charlotte Riedel. Her husband Leonard is deceased. She has seven children, Diana and Mike Wilson of Kansas City, Mo., Jolene and Greg Dozier of Independence, Mary Kay and Gary Harbert of Kingman, Edward and Kelly Maneth of Olmitz, David Maneth of Great Bend and the late Lennie; 25 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

March 29, 2009

Birzer 90th

Pearl Birzer will be celebrate her 90th birthday on April 4th with a family dinner in Cody, Wyo.

She was born Pearl Everleigh on April 3, 1919 at Hoisington. She married Leonard Birzer on August 11,1943. They were married for 53 years until his death in 1995. She has two children, a daughter, Janice Fisher and her husband Kent of Oklahoma City, Okla. and a son, David and wife Karen of Cody, Wyo. She has five grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Pearl has lived most of her life in the Great Bend, Barton County area and worked for a number of years for Dowell, Inc. and Rice Engineering of Great Bend and the State Employment Office before her retirement. She currently resides in Lovell, Wyo.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 2241, Cody, Wyoming 82414,

Bley 90th

Sophia Bley will celebrate her 90th birthday on April 9 with family and friends. She was born at the family farm near Rozel on April 9, 1919. A retired school teacher, she taught for 38 years in various school districts in Kansas. The last 18 years of her teaching career were spent in Wichita. She is currently active in the Pawnee County Extension Unit and is a member of the Retired Teachers Association.

Cards and notes are welcome and may be sent to her at 219 East 17th Street, Larned, KS. 67550.

March 22, 2009

Gordon 90th

Enid “Peggy” Gordon will celebrate her 90th birthday with a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 25 at the Shorey Villa Apartments, 2200 NW Polk in Topeka. Friends and family are invited.

She was born on March 25 , 1919, in South English, Iowa. She has two sons, Allan Hoover of Great Bend and Roger McCauley of Topeka; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. During her life she has lived in Richland Center, Wis., Rockford, Ill., Hays, Dodge City and Great Bend and is currently in Topeka.

Cards may be sent to her at 2200 NW Polk E-17, Topeka, KS 66608.

Smith 90th

Lewis H. Smith will celebrate his 90th birthday from 2 to 5 p.m. on April 4 at the Salina Church of the Cross, located at 1600 Rush Street in Salina. The celebration will be hosted by his six children, 14 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. No gifts, please.

Lewis H. Smith was born in Burdett on April 4, 1919. Lewis is a graduate of Burdett High School. He married Phyllis Jean Rucker, also of Burdett. They were married for 54 years until her passing in March 1998. He farmed at Burdett for 45 years until 1985, and has resided in Salina since.

Cards may be sent to 2452 Robin Road Salina, KS 60401.

March 15, 2009

French 80th

Luanne French will celebrate her 80th birthday on March 20, with a card shower. She was born in 1929, to William and Marie Lebsack, in Otis. She married LaVon Scheuerman, in 1951, and graduated with a degree in secondary education from Fort Hays University. She lived in Tucson, Ariz., from 1956 to 1966, and achieved master’s degrees in secondary education and library science at the University of Arizona. She moved to Wichita in 1966, and taught at West High School until 1989.

She married Leonard French on Jan. 25, 1991, and they moved to Great Bend, where she has enjoyed retirement, writing magazine articles, short stories and a novel. She has also enjoyed volunteer work. She has one daughter, Christine Hawkins, of Wichita, and two grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 1310 Taft, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Meyer 95th

George A. Meyer will celebrate his 95th birthday on March 20. George was born in Ramona, attended high school in nearby Tampa and graduated from business school in Wichita. He is a World War II veteran and met his bride of 62 years (Anna) Millicent Noel, a teacher, at the roller skating rink in Great Bend. They made their home in Ellinwood and raised five children: Madeline and Frank Gabriel of Studio City, Calif., Elaine and Peter DeTour-Spronken of Tucson, Ariz., Natalie and Kenny Windholz of Gorham, and Edward and Barbara Meyer and Richard and Nikki Meyer, all of Wichita. He has 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr. Meyer worked for Isern Drilling until he retired but also owns a farm in Ramona-Tampa, where he is well-known across the country for his registered Hereford cattle. He is still an active member of St John’s Lutheran Church in Ellinwood and often reads the lessons on Sunday morning. You will see him on his daily walks or working in his garden nurturing his flowers and tomatoes.

There will be a family gathering to celebrate the occasion. Cards, including any memories, pictures or just best wishes for a fabulous 95th birthday, may be sent to George A. Meyer, P.O. Box 5, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

March 8, 2009

Bohannon 90th

Leathel Bohannon will celebrate her 90th birthday on March 17 with a card shower.

She was born March 17, 1919, in Mountain View, Ark. She was married to Virgil Bohannon. He died in November 2006. A resident of Hoisington from 1946 to 2004, she was a nurse aide at the Hoisington hospital from 1967 until she retired in 1981.

She has four children, Gerald and Georgina Bohannon of Houston, Texas, Lois and Dick Kean of Denver, Colo., Lloyd Bohannon of Newhall, Calif., and Reta Wynne of Great Bend; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Cards may be sent to her at 5844 Aspen, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Mausolf 80th

Herman J. Mausolf will celebrate his birthday with a family gathering planned by his children.

Herman J. Mausolf was born on March 11, 1929, on a farm south of Albert. He lived there until 1969, when he moved to Larned with his wife, Waneta, and their four children. Mr. Mausolf was a farmer and worked part-time for Albert Lumber and Hardware and drove a school bus for the Otis-Bison School District for six years. He worked for Larned State Hospital from 1968 until his retirement in 1991. There he was the Chief of Security and Safety for 10 years. He enjoys woodworking, playing pitch and golf.

His children are Craig and Kristie Mausolf of Garfield, Cheryl and Curt Rasmussen of Jetmore, Linda Mausolf of Liberal, and Amy and Scott Kemp of Panhandle, Texas. He has eight grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren and three great-grandsons.

Nuss 80th Birthdays

Earlin Nuss and Eugene Nuss, of Russell, will celebrate their 80th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 15 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Russell.

Cards may be sent to Earlin at 121 Cindy Dr., Russell, KS 67665. Cards may be sent to Eugene at 933 East 1st St., Russell, KS 67665. They request no gifts.

Bernice Koch 95th

Bernice Koch will celebrate her 95th birthday on March 16 with a card shower.

She was born March 16, 1914, in Alden. She was married to Harry Koch. He died April 3, 1994. A resident of Ellinwood, she was a secretary/insurance agent for Farmers Mutual Insurance, a housewife and a mother.

She has five children, Marvin Koch and Barbara Hoar, both of Ellinwood, Gloria Roberts of Hutchinson, Twila Bartels of Olathe, Ron Koch of Great Bend and the late Fred Koch; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 510 West 7th St., Room #15, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

March 1, 2009

James (Jim) Carson 75th

James R. (Jim) Carson of Hoisington celebrated his 75th birthday on Jan. 31 with a surprise party hosted by his wife, children and their spouses. The celebration took place at Grace Community Church in Great Bend and lunch was served. Attending the celebration were his children, their spouses, grandchildren, their spouses, great-grandchildren, extended family and many friends.

James Richard Carson was born Feb. 4, 1934, in Smith Center to Robert and Myrtle (Conn) Carson. Jim has one sister, Elaine Hamilton of Smith Center. Jim married Mildred Willson-VanScyoc on July 6, 1963. They have three sons and three daughters, Larry VanScyoc and wife Irma of Wichita; Leland VanScyoc, Lonnie VanScyoc and wife Sandy, and Luann Gutierrez, all of Hoisington; Ladonna Wallace and husband Dennis of Wichita; and Leilani Schenkel and husband Scott of Great Bend. Jim has 14 grandchildren, Joel Gutierrez, Timothy VanScyoc and wife DeeAnn, Brandon Wallace and wife Dalena, Aaron Wallace and wife Kristy, Ryan Wallace and wife Brie and Sheryl VanScyoc, all of Wichita; Casey Elliott and husband JB of Lawrence; Ashley VanScyoc of Manhattan; Tonya Jones and husband Patrick, Lashon VanScyoc and wife April, and Brittany VanScyoc, all of Hoisington; Clinton VanScyoc of Topeka; Evan Schenkel of Great Bend; and Cory Schenkel of Fort Scott. He is also blessed with 19 great-grandchildren and one due this year.

Jim managed the JM McDonald Store in Hoisington for many years. From 1978 to 1989 Jim and Mildred owned and operated Carson’s Department Store in Hoisington. Jim has worked for the Hoisington Police Department since 1989 and has been an emergency medical technician for the Hoisington Ambulance Service since 1991.

Dorothy O'Connell 95th

Dorothy O’Connell will celebrate her 95th birthday on March 10 with a card shower.

Dorothy O’Connell was born on March 10, 1914, in Bison. He husband Earl O’Connell died in 2001. She has two children, Kay and husband Skip Durheim of Overland Park and Janet and husband Alan Schremmer of Great Bend; four grandchildren, Mike Durheim, Kathy Durheim, Lori Schremmer and Denise Anderson; a great-grandchild, Melissa Terryberry; and a great-great grandchild, Austin Terryberry.

Cards may be sent to her at 3820 Broadway, Apt. 1, Great Bend, KS 67530.

February 22, 2009

Norman Apel 80th

Norman Apel will celebrate his 80th birthday with a come-and-go reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Senior Center, located at 2005 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend.

The reception will be hosted by his wife Gladys; his children, Gary and David Apel, and Gerilyn Hoard of Salina, Briana Ernst of Henderson, Nev., and Amy Astrab of Derby; and step-children Mike Price of Haysville, Eddie and Terry Price of Great Bend, Bob Price of Cushing, Okla., and Sherri Cox of Derby.

Phyllis Bates 90th

Phyllis Bates will celebrate her 90th birthday on Feb. 23 with a family dinner and larger family get-together later in the year.

Phyllis was born Feb. 23, 1919, on a farm north of Duluth, in Pottawatomie County. She has been a resident of Great Bend since May of 1953. She was employed by Dr. Robert Polson and Dr. Perry Schuetz and is now enjoying retirement. She has two children, Jim Bates and wife Jennifer of Denver, Colo., and Shelley Bates of Great Bend.

Cards are welcome.

February 8, 2009

Elfrieda Mantz 90th

Elfrieda Mantz will celebrate her 90th birthday with a reception for friends and family from 2 to 5 p.m. on Feb. 15 at Immaculate Conception Parish Hall in Claflin. Hosts for the celebration will be her daughter, Gloria Mantz Christison, and husband Richard J. of San Francisco, Calif., and niece Deborah Krier and nephew Jack Schlessiger and wife Jan, all of Claflin.

Elfrieda Mantz was born on Feb. 18, 1919, in Claflin. She was employed by Elkan and the Fuller Brush Company. She has two children Gloria Mantz Christison and husband Richard J. of San Francisco and Henry and Diana (Zorn) Mantz of Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Aliease Dougherty 80th

Aliease Dougherty, of Great Bend, will celebrate her 80th birthday on Feb. 11. A family get-together is planned for a later date.

Born on Feb. 11, 1929, on a farm north of Benton, she has been a resident of Great Bend since 1947. She keeps busy by being involved in many organizations including 4-H, CASA, Golden Belt Humane Society and the Cemetery Board. Her children are Mary Robinson of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Dick and Reva Dougherty and son-in-law Ron Miller, all of Great Bend. She has eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 5524 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530.

February 1, 2009

Viola Eggers 80th

Viola Eggers will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception for friends and relatives from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Ellinwood Heritage Center, 103 N. Main in Ellinwood. Hosts for the celebration will be her children.

Viola Eggers was born on Feb. 9, 1929, in Catherine. She was married to Gene Eggers. She has three children, Rick Eggers of Great Bend, and Julia Clemons and Gordon Eggers, both of Ellinwood; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 113 S. Kennedy, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

January 25, 2009

Doris Tuzicka 80th

Doris Tuzicka will celebrate her 80th birthday on Jan. 25. In honor of the occasion, a reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Otis Grade School in Otis. Hosts for the event will be her children and their spouses, Diana and Gary Hertel of Great Bend and Linda and Myron Wagner of Otis. She has four grandsons, Matthew Hertel of Minnesota, Darin Hertel of Great Bend, Cory and Jatim Wagner of Olmitz, and Jason and Julie Wagner of Texas.

She was born Jan. 24, 1929, to Bill and Lillie Suchy of rural Otis. She married Clarence Tuzicka on Jan. 10, 1951.

Cards may be sent to her at 3763 Avenue G, Otis, KS 67565. No gifts are requested.

Erma Meyer 80th

Erma Meyer will celebrate her 80th birthday on Feb. 1 with a card shower. She was born Feb. 1, 1929, in Campbell, Neb., to Fred and Mary Kimle. She attended Hastings College of Commerce and worked at Kansas Nebraska Gas as a secretary in Hastings, Neb. She married Donald Meyer on Feb. 16, 1958, in Campbell, Neb. They will celebrate their 51st anniversary this year.

The couple moved to Great Bend in 1958 and raised four children, Cindy and John Lee and Mark and Elaine Meyer, all of Great Bend, Mary and Tony McGee of Joplin, Mo., and Denise and Dr. Jeff Thode of Hutchinson. Erma is a homemaker and worked at Great Bend Credit Bureau. She is active in church and community activities. She has seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 3009 Forest Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Helen Templing 80th

Helen Templing of Hoisington will celebrate her 80th birthday on Jan. 31 with a card shower. She was born on Jan. 31, 1929, in Ranger, Texas. She has a daughter, Rhonda Templing of Hoisington.

Cards may be sent to her at 234 B. NW 210 Rd., Hoisington, KS 67544.

January 18, 2009

Janice Schmidt and Joan Rainbolt 80th

Janice Schmidt of Pawnee Rock, and her twin sister Joan Rainbolt of Larned, will celebrate their 80th birthday with an open house from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the Haas Building on the 4-H grounds in Larned.

Janice and Joan were born Jan. 23, 1929, to Ellis and Mabel Flick of Pawnee Rock.

Hosts for the occasion will be their children and grandchildren.

Fern Niedens 80th

Fern Niedens will celebrate her 80th birthday with a family dinner on Jan. 24. Fern was born on Jan. 22, 1929, to Emil and Clara (Nuss) Karst on the family farm in Barton County. She was a tailor for Brentwood Ltd. until her retirement in 1994.

She has two children, Mike Niedens of Great Bend, and Craig Niedens of Raytown, Mo., and three grandchildren, Adam and Cassie Niedens of Great Bend and Josh Niedens, currently stationed in Korea with the U. S. Army Band.

Cards may be sent to her at 2011 32nd St., Great Bend, KS 67530.

January 11, 2009

Zelda Brack 90th

Zelda Brack of La Crosse will celebrate her 90th birthday on Jan. 17 with a card shower. She was born Jan. 17, 1919, in Bazine to Pete and Alvina Maser.

On Sept. 6, 1957, she married Lee Brack in Dighton. They were married for 38 years. He died on Oct. 15, 1995. She taught elementary education for 20 years, four of which were in a private American school subsidized by the oil companies.

Cards may be sent to her at 615 Locust, Apt. 102, La Crosse, KS 67548.

December 28, 2008

Mary Reed 85th

Mary L. Reed will celebrate her 85th birthday on Dec. 31 with a card shower. Born Dec. 31, 1923, she has 14 children, Wilburn and Bobby Bradshaw of Jetmore, Elizabeth Broils of Topeka, Tommy and Lisa Reed of Hays, Abe Jr. Reed of Hugston, Texas, Lannie Reed of Irving, Texas, James and Varna (Bunny) Johnson, Vera Reed, Sebon and Jackie Reed, Betty Underwood, LeRoy and Stella Keith, Willie and Mary Reed, Linda Johnson and Kendale Reed, all of Great Bend, and the late James Emerson; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A family celebration will be held at a later date.

Cards may be sent to her at: 1905 Holland, Great Bend, KS 67530.

December 21, 2008

Claudie Jean Biles 80th

Claudie Jean Biles will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception for friends and relatives from 2 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 27 at the First Church of God, 1224 Baker in Great Bend. Hosts for the celebration will be her daughters, Sherry Smolik, Karla Bruce and Susan Hartsell.

Claudie Jean Biles was born on Dec. 26, 1928, in Gainsville, Mo. She married Roy Biles, who died April 21, 2007. A resident of Heizer most of her life, she is a housewife, mother to seven children, and a retired phone receptionist for a local mortuary. Her children are: Robert Biles and Karla Bruce, both of Great Bend, LaVonna Lick of White City, Susan Hartsell of Wagoner, Okla., Rhonda Suppes of Hutchinson, Sherry Smolik of Heizer and Brenda Johnson of Edgewood, N.M. She has 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 420 Walnut St., Heizer, KS 67530.

Marion Schauf 90th

Marion Wirth Schauf will celebrate her 90th birthday on Jan. 3. She resides at Presbyterian Manor, Assisted Living, in Topeka. Cards may be sent to her at 6441 SW Suffolk Road, Topeka, KS 66610.

December 7, 2008

Starbuck 80th

Bill Starbuck of Great Bend will celebrate his 80th birthday on Dec. 13 with a card shower. He also had an early celebration on Nov. 22 with lunch at The Rack with his three daughters and their spouses, Cindy and Don Popp of Salem, Ill., and Julie and Marvin Urban and Terri and Bob Stapleton, all of Great Bend. He has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

On Oct. 28, 1951, he married Lois Jean Wolf. He retired from the U. S. Postal Service as postmaster in August 1984.

Cards may be sent to him at 2321 Jackson, Great Bend, KS 67530.

November 30, 2008

Clara Seyfert 80th

Clara Seyfert will celebrate her 80th birthday on Dec. 6 with a card shower. She was born to Carl and Emma Friebus in 1928 near Wilson. In 1952 she married Alvin Seyfert. They made their home near Hunter. The couple have three daughters, Ruth Billinger of Wilson, Karen Rabenseifner of St. John and Donna Smith of Coldwater.

Cards may be sent to her at 114 West 1st, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

November 23, 2008

Leonard Goosen 80th

Leonard Goosen of Ellinwood will observe his 80th birthday Dec. 1. Born in Main Center, Saskatchewan, Canada, he married Betty Schmidt on Nov. 9, 1950. They moved to the United States in 1960 and he completed his Bachelor of Theology degree at Tabor College in Hillsboro. Betty died in 1991. Their daughter, Gwen Cooke, is a career nurse in Birmingham, Ala.

Len married Donita Gisick Zoellner on June 17, 1995. He served churches in the Kansas West Conference, United Methodist Church for 33 years, at Moundridge, Alexander-McCracken, Ashland, Elkhart, Udall-Peck, and Ellinwood-Mt. Pleasant, retiring in 1998. He and Donita traveled in a motor home for several years working with Volunteers in Mission and enjoying God’s beautiful creation.

Cards may be sent to him at 116 W. 7th St., Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Opal Miller-Jones

Opal Miller-Jones will celebrate her birthday on Nov. 28 with a family dinner. She married Merle Miller. He died in February 1991. She then married Dale Jones, who died in September 2008. She has two children, Donna Wharton of Great Bend and Angela Miller and husband, Gregg, of Lawrence; two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 3106 17th, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Pauline Oborny 90th

Pauline (Felder) Oborny will celebrate her 90th birthday with family and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Angus Inn Courtyard with a surprise party.

Pauline Oborny was born on Nov. 18, 1918. She married John C. Oborny. He died in 1984. Hosts for the celebration will be her children. She has 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

November 9, 2008

Frankie Kaiser 80th

Frankie Kaiser of Great Bend will celebrate her 80th birthday on Nov. 11 with her family. She was born Nov. 11, 1928, to Frank and Anna Wirtz.

She is retired from Golden Belt Home Health. On May 13, 1952, she married Melvin P. Kaiser. They have five children, Steve and Lynn Kaiser, Jim and Debby Kaiser, Sharon and Greg Feist, all of Great Bend, Marcie and Larry Liebl of Claflin, and Stan and Jana Kaiser of Overland Park; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 4901 Lakin Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Melburn Stude 80th

Melburn Stude of Garfield will celebrate his 80th birthday on Dec. 2. A lifetime resident of the area, he is a farmer. Cards may be sent to him at 1579 C Rd., Garfield, KS 67529.

November 2, 2008

Dietz 90th

Paul G. Dietz of Russell will celebrate his 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the American Legion Hall, 315 N. Main, in Russell. Hosts for the celebration are his daughter, Barb Dietz of Wichita; grandchildren, Shaye and Matt Harris of Manhattan and Brett Dietz of Topeka; and two great-grandchildren, Kaden and Kamry Harris of Manhattan.

Paul Dietz was born Nov. 3, 1918, at the family farm south of Russell. He is a veteran of World War II and recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Honor Flight with other veterans from his local area. On June 22, 1947, he married Hilda Bender in Russell. He is a retired farmer and owned and operated Dietz Meat Processing Plant for many years.

Cards may be sent to him at 537 W. 4th Street, Russell, KS 67665.

McDonald 95th

Marcellene McDonald celebrated her 95th birthday on Oct. 25 with family. She was born Oct. 24,1913, on a farm near Barnard. She graduated from Barnard High School, attended Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, graduated from Sterling College with a teaching degree and from Fort Hays State University with a master’s degree. Most of her career was spent teaching third grade at the Ellinwood Elementary School. She spent a few years teaching adult night classes at Barton County College. She married A.C. McDonald. The couple have two daughters, Donna Evers and the late Rebecca Pryor Ward; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

She would enjoy hearing from friends and past students. Cards may be sent to 5230 Eisenhower, Great Bend, KS 67530.

October 26, 2008

Wilhelm 81st

Leroy Wilhelm of Great Bend will celebrate his 81st birthday on Oct. 26 with a family dinner. Born Oct. 28 on a farm near Susank, he moved to Hoisington after his marriage to Arlene, his wife of 54 years. He retired in 1991, after working at Allen Drilling Co.

He has two children, Laventrice Wilhelm of Denver, Colo., and Laveneia and Kyle Smith of Claflin; and one grandchild, Preston Smith.

Cards may be sent to him at 5504 Apache Road, Great Bend, KS 67530.

October 19, 2008

Marion Burris 80th

Marion Burris of Hoisington will celebrate his 80th birthday on Oct. 22. Born in Mildred, he moved to Emporia as a young child. He retired in August of 1991 after 32 years with Chief Drilling Co.

His children are Tom and Susan Burris of Kansas City, Mo., Donna and Pete Ash of Blanchard, Okla., Kathy and Ed Burke of Antelope, Calif., Kerry and Pat Underwood of Montgomery, Texas, Mark and Sonja Burris of Lexington, S.C., and Troy and Cindy Burris of Bushton. He has 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He celebrated his “almost 80” birthday in July with his family.

Cards may be sent to him at 1223 Clay Street, Hoisington, KS 67544.

August 31, 2008

Irv Gotsche 80th

Irv Gotsche celebrated his 80th birthday on Aug. 24 at StoneRidge Country Club in Great Bend with his family. Hosts for the celebration were his children, Kurt Gotsche of Wichita, Pam Gabel of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Steve and Linda Gotsche and Eric and Carol Gotsche, all of Great Bend. He has five grandchildren.

Irv Gotsche was born on Aug. 24, 1928, in Racine, Wisc. He married Jeanne Gotsche on Nov. 27, 1954. He retired in 1988 from NCRA, where he was the drilling superintendent.

Cards may be sent to him at 5335 Quail Creek Drive, Great Bend, KS 67530.

August 17, 2008

Vernon Steinert 80th

Vernon Steinert will celebrate his 80th birthday with a family dinner. He was born Aug. 18, 1928, in Galatia to Edward and Emma (Tittel) Steinert.

A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a bulk agent for Texaco and owner of Steinert Oil Company. Vernon and his wife Geneva have been volunteers with the Mobile Missionary Assistance Program for the past 22 years. He has three children, David Steinert and wife Sarah of Oregon City, Ore., Mary French and husband Terry and Marty Steinert and wife Kim, all of Great Bend; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at P.O. Box 756, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Joe Clarke 80th

Joseph “Joe” Clarke of Hoisington, will celebrate his 80th birthday with family. Born Aug. 23, 1928, in Norton, he worked in road construction and then in all parts of the oil fields.

On July 22, 1950, he married Carol Humphrey in Jetmore. His children are Alice Clarke of Barnwell, S.C., Iris Clarke of Oklahoma City, Okla., Mary Brewer of Hoisington and the late Joseph Clarke Jr. He has four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him 853 South Main St., Hoisington KS 67544.

August 10, 2008

Leland Keil 80th

Leland B. Keil will celebrate his 80th birthday on Aug. 13. He was born Aug. 13, 1928, near Galatia. He married Roberta Ramsey on Sept. 8, 1950. Employed by the Galatia Co-op/United Ag for 20 years, he is still actively engaged in farming with his son David.

His children and their spouses are Mike and Barb Keil of Topeka, Barb and Leroy (Lee) Menninga of Wichita, David and Becky Keil of Russell, Becky and Andy Money of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Kristy Gerhardt and fiancé Lloyd Scheck of Great Bend. He has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Cards may be sent to him at 210 W. Newcombe, Galatia, KS 67565.

James Rossman 80th

James Rossman will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception for family and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Albert City Building, 2006 Main Street. The family requests no gifts.

James was born on Aug. 29, 1928, at Scipio, in Anderson County. A resident of Albert since 1957, he has been employed in the oil field 51 years. James was also self-employed with a firewood business for 28 years.

James and his wife Betty have four children, Verlyn and wife Kathy of Albert, Illeen Becker of Casa Grande, Ariz., Dianna Cushenbery and husband Rod of Albert and Tammy Rodie of Phoenix, Ariz. He has six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at Box 52, Albert, KS, 67511.

July 27, 2008

Earl Schmidt 80th

Earl Allen Schmidt will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception for family and friends from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 2 at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 2123 Forest, Great Bend.

He was born Aug. 20, 1928, in Great Bend. A lifetime resident of the Pawnee Rock area, he is a retired farmer and school bus driver. Earl and his wife Janice have three children, Michael and wife Janet of Corneleus, Ore., Dennis and his wife Terrie of Athens, Texas, and Brenda Girard of Hays. He has eight grandchildren and one stepgreat-grandson.

The family requests no gifts.

July 13, 2008

Helen Dexter 80th

Helen Dexter of Ellinwood will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 19 with a family dinner. She was born July 18, 1928.

Cards may be sent to her at 204 South Main, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Elsie Clowers 80th

Elsie Clowers of Claflin celebrated her 80th birthday on June 28 at Perkins in Great Bend. Guests included: Rex and Lynn Meek, Alyx and Peyton Bullard, all of Hoisington; Michael Stueder of Claflin; Derrick and Tami Hoch of Great Bend; Debbie Long and Sy Hileman, both of Ulysses; Brenda Campbell of Preston; and Ryan Pozalek of Salina. After dinner the guests had cake at Elsie’s home in Claflin.

June 28, 2008

Tillie Schremmer 90th

Tillie Schremmer of Hoisington will celebrate her 90th birthday July 5 with a family gathering. She was born on July 5, 1918, to Fred and Anna Zom of rural Odin.

She married Walter Schremmer in 1939 and lived in the Beaver/Odin area. He passed away in 1980. They had four children: Kenneth and Rosie Schremmer of Hoisington, Marilyn Stapleton of Greeley, Colo., Eldon Schremmer of Odin, and Jan and Keith Frenzl of Great Bend; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at: 516 Crestview Dr., Hoisington, KS 67544.

Archie Beller 100th

Archie L. Beller, former Great Bend resident, turned 100 years of age on May 16. He and his wife, Jo Beller, and daughter Margaret moved to Great Bend in 1949.

Mr. Beller was in partnership with Charles Hulme of the Southwest Sand & Gravel Co., which was located south of 10th Street and the railroad tracks. In 1958, Mr. Beller formed his own company, the A. L. Beller Construction Co. The company did highway surfacing and built bridges throughout western Kansas, including one of the first series of bridges on the Kansas Turnpike. Mr. Beller retired in 1971, selling his company to the L & M Construction Co. of Great Bend. He moved to Newton in 1998 to be near his daughter’s family and grandchildren. His wife of 74 years died in 2002.

Archie and Jo Beller lived in Great Bend 49 years. They were members of the Great Bend Methodist Church and the Great Bend Petroleum Club. Mr. Beller was a board member of the Petroleum Club for four years and has been a member of the Elks Club for over 50 years. He served as a city councilman from May 1976 to April 1979.

Family and friends celebrated with Archie over the Memorial Day weekend. Cards may be sent to his home at 5423 NW 12th St., Newton, KS 67114.

Ruth Hoard 80th

Ruth Hoard will celebrate her 80th birthday today. She was born on June 29, 1928, in Hoisington.

She married the late Don Pound and the late Richard Hoard. A resident of Great Bend most of her life, she now resides in Tucson, Ariz., where she enjoys gardening and volunteering at UMC, in the NICU, bloodmobiles, flu clinics and admitting. She was a secretary for CRA and Terra Resources.

She has two daughters, Donna and her husband R.C. Williams of Great Bend and Shannon and her husband Ron DeHaan of Pawnee Rock; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 5681 N. Camino Del Sol, Tucson, AZ 85718.

Norma Blakeslee 80th

Norma Blakeslee of St. John will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house for family and friends from 1 to 3 p.m. on July 4 at the Community Hall in Hudson. Born July 4, 1928, in rural St. John, she has been a resident of Stafford County all her life.

She married Charles Blakeslee on Aug. 6, 1950, at Peace Church in rural Hudson. A homemaker, she is a piano accompanist for her church. She has three children, Charla and Gary Bornholdt and Emily and Sid Arpin, all of Hutchinson, and Kerwin Blakeslee of Ellinwood; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 411 East 2nd Street, St. John, KS 67576.

June 22, 2008

Willie Creed 95th

Willie Creed will celebrate her 95th birthday from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 24 with a free dance at the Larned Community Center. Music will be provided by Chris Calhoun. Homemade ice cream and cake will be provided. The public is invited to attend.

Lena Wharton 95th

Lena Wharton will celebrate her 95th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 29 at the Highland Hotel Gold Room, 3017 W. 10th.

Born July 5, 1913, she was a resident of the Timken and Bison area for most of her life. She was employed by Thies Packing Company for 20 years. She has four children, Wanda and Jack Luft, Roxie and John Crawford, Nelson and Donna Wharton and Lyle and Connie Wharton, all of Great Bend; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

June 15, 2008

Esther Jenkins 80th

Esther Jenkins will celebrate her 80th birthday on June 17. Her family requests a card shower. Cards may be sent to her at: Cherry Village, 1401 Cherry Lane, Room 415, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Sara Deines 90th

Sara Deines of Otis will celebrate her 90th birthday on June 22 with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Otis. She requests no gifts please.

She was born on June 25, 1918. She married Herman Deines, who died in 1999. A resident of the Galatia/Otis area, she was employed at the Otis elevator.

Mrs. Deines has seven children, Kathryn and Richard Ahlvers of Great Bend, Marcia and Lee Brewer of Edwardsville, Ill., Vickie and Martin Riedl of Woodward, Okla., Jim and Marsha Deines of Wichita, and the late H. Franklin Deines Jr., Robert Deines and Elizabeth Deines; 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

June 8, 2008

Jack L. Merten 80th

Jack L. Merten of Great Bend celebrated his 80th birthday on June 6. Born in Great Bend on June 6, 1928, the son of Ralph and Audra Merten, he attended schools in Great Bend, Rozel and Wichita. He started work in 1949 for the local power company and in 1951 joined the Navy CB's. He was stationed on Adak in the Aleutians and on Guam in the South Pacific. After his discharge from active duty in 1953, he went back to work for the power company, where he retired on Oct. 1, 1991, after 42 years of service. He is married and has two children and five grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at 3121 Meadowlark, Great Bend, KS 67530.

June 1, 2008

Lavon Sessler 90th

Lavon C. Sessler will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 14 at the St. John Lutheran Youth Center, 5th and Wilhelm, in Ellinwood. Hosts for the event will be her daughter, Rosalyn Borchers, and her son Marvin and his wife Karen Sesslor. No gifts are requested.

A lifetime resident of Ellinwood, she was born on June 13, 1918, to Otto and Lydia Soeken. She was to married Charles W. Sessler for 58 years and was actively involved in the family farm operation and excelled in gardening.

Cards may be sent to her at 605 N. Main, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

May 25, 2008

Elnita E. Jezek 90th

Mrs. Elnita E. Jezek of Holyrood will celebrate her 90th birthday with a reception for family and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 31 at the United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, 301 E. Nassau. She requests no gifts.

She was born on May 31, 1918, in Barton County to Elizabeth and Herman Ehler. A 1939 graduate of Kansas State University, she worked as a General Motors accountant until 1947, when she married Charles Jezek, Jr. On April 18, 1961, her husband and parents were killed in a car accident near Topeka. She continued to live in Holyrood, where she served as Worthy Grand Matron of Kansas Grand Chapter of the Eastern Star from 1966 to 1967. She then served as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Chapter for 21 years.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 81, Holyrood, KS 67450.

May 18, 2008

Bernardine Leiker 80th

Bernardine Leiker will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception for friends and family from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 24 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, 1560 K-96 Highway in Great Bend. She was born May 20, 1928.

Cards may be sent to her at the center, 1560 K-96 Highway, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Pearl White 80th

Pearl White will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception for friends and family from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 25 at the Senior Center.

The event is hosted by her children, Becky Carlson, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard White, Mr. and Mrs. Bob (Connie) Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Denney and Mr. and Mrs. Brian (Gladys) Snow. The honoree requests no gifts.

Henry Nordman 80th

Henry Nordman of Albert will celebrate his 80th birthday today with a family dinner. He was born May 17, 1928, to Frank and Margaret Nordman. He married Anna Oberle in 1955.

Helping celebrate are his children, Marlene Coker, Evelyn Brown and husband Roy, and Gary Nordman and wife Pensri, all of Wichita; Alan Nordman and wife Lucinda of Redfield, Iowa; and Janet Liston and husband Kevin of Larned. He has seven grandchildren, Mckayla Nordman, Justin and Jessica Prodromides, James and Kolby Nordman, and Sarah and Patrick Liston; three stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one stepgreat-granddaughter.

Cards may be sent to him at 576 NW 100 Ave., Albert, KS 67511.

May 11, 2008

Harold Walter 80th

Harold L. Walter will celebrate his 80th birthday with an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. on May 17 at the Baltzell Motel, 705 10th Street. Hosts for the event will be his three children and their spouses. They request no gifts.

Born on April 28, 1928, he grew up south of Great Bend in Stafford County. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1946. He attended college in Hutchinson before enlisting in the service in 1948. He joined the Great Bend Fire Department on Aug. 11, 1950. He was elevated to captain in 1957 and became assistant fire chief in 1958. He was appointed to fire chief in 1967. Chief Walter served for 38 years. He married Margaret Darlene Baltzell in 1951. They were married for 56 wonderful years.

May 4, 2008

Nadine Amerine 90th

Nadine (Johnson) Amerine will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on June 1, hosted by her family at River Bend Assisted Living, 3820 Broadway, Great Bend.

She was born May 31, 1918, and grew up in rural Great Bend with two brothers, Cedric and Eldon, and two sisters, Florence and Jean Smith of Hoisington. She graduated from Great Bend High School and, after raising her family, she completed her degree at Fort Hays State University, where she received a teaching certificate. She then taught in a rural one-room school. She married Loren E. Amerine in 1940. He passed away in 1996. They had four sons: Kent (deceased), Marvin and Deanne Amerine of Lake Jackson, Texas, Glen and Pat Amerine of Great Bend, and Clyde and Janet Amerine of Conway Springs; and one daughter, Elaine and Glenn Mull of Pawnee Rock. She has 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Amerine has been active in the Great Bend community and the First United Methodist Church. She loved her work in Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts and has a legacy of hundreds of children and adults that she taught to swim. Whenever the family tells people that this will be her 90th birthday, an interesting thing happens. Each person has a story to share and each story is special. A fun way for everyone to share in these memories is to send an e-mail to namerine90.stories@blogger.com. To view the memories, go to http://namerine.blogspot.com. Photos may be included as an attachment to the e-mail and will appear in the blog alongside the story.

Cards may be sent to her at River Bend Living, 3820 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530.

April 20, 2008

Maxine Heueisen 75th

Maxine Heueisen, of Great Bend, will celebrate her 75th birthday on April 26 with a family dinner. She was born April 23, 1933, to Earl and Jesse Carr of Larned. On Nov. 26, 1955, she married Charles Heueisen. He died April 17, 1979.

She has three children, Debra Hamlin and husband Greg of Wichita, Donna Zimmerman and husband Ray of Great Bend and Dean Heueisen and wife Jackie of Blue Springs, Mo.; and seven grandchildren, Jason, Justin and Joel Hamlin of Wichita, Sara Zimmerman of Wichita, Cory Zimmerman of Manhattan, Rachel and Gage Heueisen of Blue Springs.

Cards may be sent to her at 731 Wilson Street, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Norma McCurdy 80th

Norma Folkerts McCurdy will celebrate her 80th birthday on April 27. She will be celebrating in Keller, Texas, with her daughters, Klela and Zola; granddaughters, Lindsey and Sonja; and great-grandchildren, Emma and Sam.

Cards may be sent to her at 501 Bourland, Apartment 3303, Keller, TX 76248. She misses her friends in Kansas and will be happy to hear from everyone

Maxine Murray 95th

Maxine Murray of Larned, celebrated her 95th birthday with a large family gathering at the Methodist Church in Trousdale.

Born April 19, 1913, on a farmstead near Gentry, Ark., she was the daughter of Ples and Amanda Givens The family moved to Seward when she was 2 years old. She married C. Kenneth Murray in Rozel on May 13, 1933. He died on Jan. 1, 1979. She is a homemaker.

Her children and their spouses are: Barbara and Simon Root of Lyons, Beverly Cornelison of Larned, Bonnie and Clinton Russell of Trousdale, Betty Gardner of Hoisington and the late Gary Murray; 16 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and four step-great-great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 162, Larned, KS 67550.

Lloyd G. Lewis 90th

Lloyd G. Lewis of Larned will celebrate his 90th birthday on April 27. He was born in Jamestown to Minnie and George Lewis on April 27, 1918. He graduated from Jamestown High School.

He served in both Europe and the Pacific during World War II in the Army. After the war, he worked for the Curtis Candy Company and, for many years at A.A. Doerrs in Larned. A member of the American Legion for many years, he enjoys fishing, gardening, playing pool and watching sports. He is a great University of Kansas basketball fan.

He married Naomi Bedwell on July 21, 1939, at Bisbee Ariz. She died in March 2001. He has two surviving sons, Gerald (Gerry) and wife Jewell of Larned and Steven of Roeland Park. His son Richard died in February 2003. Richard's wife Karen lives in Larned. He has two grandchildren, Carla Batten of Larned and Dana McGovern of St. Louis, Mo.

Cards may be sent to him at 117 South Santa Fe, Larned, KS 67550.

April 13, 2008

Luella Mericle 80th

Luella (Truex) Mericle will celebrate her 80th birthday on April 19. Born April 19, 1928, in Great Bend to Adelbert and Ida Marie Truex, she grew up with two sisters, Virginia and Alberta. She graduated from Great Bend High School. Her father was a police officer in Great Bend.

She married Carl Mericle. He died Nov. 9, 1995. A resident of Moravia, Iowa, she was a housewife. She has five children, Russell, Mark, Carla, Curtis, and Daniel; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A son, Mark, is deceased.

Cards may be sent to her at 1415 South B. Street, Lot #31, Albia, IA 52531.

Zorn twins 80th

Elmer Zorn of Hoisington and Alvin Zorn of Smith Center will celebrate their 80th birthday with card showers. The twins were born on April 19, 1928, to Fred and Anna Zorn in the Odin area. They both served in the Army in Korea.

Elmer worked for the Barton County Highway Department for 37 years. He married Emily Podlena on Oct. 7, 1952, in Wilson. They have three sons, Dennis and Brenda Zorn of Denver, Colo., Ron Zorn of Crystal Lake, Ill., and James and Donna Zorn of Great Bend; and five grandchildren. Cards may be sent to him at Country Place Home Plus, 520 N. Vine St., Hoisington, KS 67544.

Alvin worked at and owned Alkar Tire Service in Smith Center. He married Bernice Tinkel on Sept. 16, 1952, in Dubuque. They have three children, Joan and Richard Kuhlman of Derby, Marvin and Robin Zorn of Athen, Ill., and Randy and Julie of Ottumwa, Iowa; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Cards may be sent to him at 206 E. St., Smith Center, KS 66967.

April 6, 2008

Viola Wagner 80th

Viola Wagner of Otis will celebrate her 80th birthday on April 10 with a family gathering in Great Bend. She was born April 10, 1928, to Solomon and Lydia Wegele. On Aug. 15, 1948, she married Ray Wagner in Otis. A homemaker and active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Otis, she enjoys cooking, making quilts and volunteering in various local activities. She has two sons, Dale and wife Marta of Littleton, Colo., and Larry and wife Charlotte of Hutchinson, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at Box 331, Otis, KS 67565.

Isabelle Dumler 85th

Isabelle (Karst Deutsch) Dumler will celebrate her 85th birthday with a family meal on April 12. Hosts for the celebration will be her children, Barb and Roy Nolte of Hoisington, Jo and Paul Hindman of Claflin, and Mel and Di Deutsch of Lawrence. Her step-children are Verna and Al Maier of Great Bend and Larry and Judy Dumler of Dodge City. She has eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, five stepgrandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 1108 Park, Hoisington, KS 67544.

March 30, 2008

Louise Hejny 85th

Louise Hejny of Great Bend, formerly of the Otis/Olmitz communites, will celebrate her 85th birthday with a come-and-go reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 5 at the Great Bend Recreation Center, 1214 Stone.

Hosts for the event will be her daughters and their families, Donna Urban and Phil Feist of Gardner, and Norma and Richard Kraisinger of Otis, and her nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

She requests no gifts.

Dolores Kaiser 80th

Dolores Kaiser is celebrating her 80th birthday on March 30 with a champagne lunch at The Club at StoneRidge. Helping her celebrate this milestone are her children, Paul and Kathy Kaiser and Eldon and Beth Foster, all of Great Bend, and Kent and Mary Kaiser of Bushton; along with her grandchildren, David and Kim Bollig of Topeka, Eric Kaiser and Kayla Kaiser, both of Great Bend, Chad and Keri Suppes of Hays, Brian and Christie Foster and Karl Kaiser, all of Manhattan, and Kyle Kaiser of Bushton; and her great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kale Suppes of Hays.

She was born March 31, 1928, the daughter of Joseph and Marie Zink. Cards may be sent to 365 Avenue B, Bushton, KS 67427.

Bob Littrell 80th

Bob (Shaky) Littrell of Hoisington will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception for friends and family from 2 to 4 p.m. on April 6 at The Lodge Cafe in Hoisington. Hosts for the celebration are his children and their spouses, Mike and Jozet Littrell, Debbi and Mike Davis, Sandy and Jim Ray and Marte Littrell and daughter Shelby, all of Hoisington, and Christa and Jerry Beck of Claflin. He has 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He requests no gifts.

He was born on April 7, 1928, in Hoisington to George and Gladys Littrell. He married Betty Durand on June 20, 1950. She died May 22, 2001. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1947 to 1951 and was an electronic technician aboard the USS Gurkey in the Korean War. An employee of the oil field, he retired from Terra Resources in 1986. He spends his days on the golf course with his friends or in his wood shop making sawdust.

Cards can be sent to him at 344 N.W. 70 Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530.

March 23, 2008

Patricia Burnett 80th

Patricia (Pat) Burnett will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 30 at 2005 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend. Hosts for the celebration will be her children, Mike Burnett, Sue Parks, Barbara Bowers and Patrick Burnett.

Cards may be sent to her at 1208 Baker Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530.

March 16, 2008

Joe Lapka 80th

Joe Lapka celebrated his 80th birthday with a reception on March 15 in Great Bend. Host for the celebration was his daughter, Dina Heier.

Mr. Lapka was born on March 14, 1928. A resident of Barton County for most of his life, he managed Bailey’s Farm Supply Store for 32 years. He has 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at 1401 Tyler, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Mary Ann Wondra 70th

Mary Ann Wondra of Great Bend will celebrate her 70th birthday with a family dinner followed by an open house, from 2 to 4 p.m. today at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave.

The daughter of Anton F. (Tony) and Louise (Maneth) Huslig, she was born on March 12, 1938, near Fowler. She married Arthur A. Wondra on Nov. 14, 1959, in Cunningham. They moved to Great Bend in 1959 and have resided here since then. A graduate of the Dominican School of Nursing in Great Bend, Class of 1959, she is a registered nurse and has worked at Central Kansas Medical Center, Cherry Village Nursing Center and Barton County Home Health and Hospice, retiring in 2000. She is a member of Prince of Peace Parish, St. Rose Church, the Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella.

Mrs. Wondra has five children, Kevin and Teresa Wondra of Great Bend, Kathy and Eric Walsten of Mulvane, Alan and Karen Wondra of Wichita, Korey and Leann Wondra of Hutchinson and David and Valerie Wondra of Derby. She also has 11 grandchildren, Brice, Kyle and Andrew Walsten; Jennifer and Aaron Wondra; Alisha, Lucas and Evan Wondra; and Zachary, Joshua and Emma Wondra.

Cards may be sent to her at 6 NW 50 Road, Great Bend KS 67530.

Dorothy Matlack 90th

Dorothy Lambel Matlack will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. on March 22 at the Methodist Church Education Building in Lyons. Hosts for the event will be her children, Sandy and Ron Atteberry and Wade Lambel, and her grandchildren. She would appreciate cards but no gifts, please.

Leona Klein 86th

Leona M. Klein will celebrate her 86th birthday on March 21. Relatives request a card shower. Cards may be sent to her at 583 NE 100 Ave., Ellinwood, KS 67526-9029.

March 9, 2008

Dixie Ewert birthday

A birthday card shower is requested for Dixie Ewert on March 12. A longtime resident of Great Bend, she recently moved to Missouri to be with her daughter.

Cards may be sent to Dixie Ewert, in care of Linda Heitland, 318 Teston Drive, Ferguson, MO 63135.

Agatha Reeves 89th

Agatha Reeves will celebrate her 89th birthday on March 9. She was born March 9, 1919, in Great Bend. She has three children, Nancy and Larry Perriera of Oceanside, Calif., Joyce and Tom Lewis of Great Bend and Geary and Gaylene Cuzick of Plainville; seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at The Crossing at Malvern, attn: Agatha Reeves, 720 Walco Rd., Apt. 218, Malvern, AR 72104.

Vera Wilkens 90th

Vera Wilkens of Claflin will celebrate her 90th birthday with a family dinner on March 15 at her home. She was born on March 16, 1918, to Coy and Nona Vance of Stafford. They later moved to Coldwater, where she graduated from high school. On May 3, 1939, she married Leo Wilkins. He died June 7, 2000.

Her children are Don Wilkins and wife Jerilyn of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and Carol Carson of Hutchinson. She has four grandsons and four great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 427, Claflin, KS 67525.

February 24, 2008

Peacock 85th

Connie Peacock celebrated her 85th birthday on Feb. 21. She was born on Feb. 21, 1923, in WaKeeney. She married Thomas Peacock in 1941. They moved to Great Bend in 1945, where she has resided for the past 63 years.

She worked alongside Tom at the old Standard Station on 10th and Main and then the Conoco Station at 10th and Grant until she opened Connie’s Yarn Center in 1972. She operated her shop, conducting classes and selling knitting machines and quality yarn, closing the shop in 1995 when Tom passed away. She continues to enjoy knitting and other hand work and meeting with her “knitting” group.

She was a Rebekah Lodge member, and a member of Bissell Point Extension Homemakers Unit until it disbanded. She continues to be active in Pilot Club and is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

She has four children, Claudia Bibber of Carmel Valley, Calif.; Robert Peacock of Midland, Utah; Sheldon Peacock and wife Kristie of Great Bend; and the late David Peacock and wife, Cathy, who lives in Fayetteville, Ark.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 2215 Van Buren, Great Bend, KS 67530.

Beulah Weeks 90th

Beulah Weeks of Great Bend will celebrate her 90th birthday with an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 2 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, 1560 K-96 Highway.

The daughter of Henry Clinton and Lily Ellen Woodyard, she was born March 3, 1918, in Marshall County. She graduated from Luray High School. On Jan. 1, 1941, she married Glenn E. Weeks. He died July 31, 1995. She lived in Russell County on the family farm for 54 years, moved to Hoisington in 1995 and then to Great Bend in 2007. She has two daughters, Lou Ann and Chuck Hinze of Clarkston, Mich., and Ruth and Robert Lanterman of Great Bend; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at 1560 K-96 Highway, Great Bend, KS 67530.

February 10, 2008

Reichuber 97th

Caroline Reichuber will celebrate her 97th birthday on Feb. 16 with a card shower.

Cards may be sent to her at: 1115 Kansas, Larned, KS 67550.

February 3, 2008

Luella Schwager 85th

Luella Schwager celebrated her 85th birthday in the Cardiac Care Unit at Wesley Hospital in Wichita on Dec. 29. All eight of her children, spouses and several of her grandchildren were present to help celebrate this special day.

She was born on Dec. 29, 1922, Luella Pauline Burhenn, to Paul and Bertha (Langrehr) Burhenn at a farm south of Ellinwood in Stafford County. She graduated from Ellinwood High School in 1940 and married George J. Schwager on Nov. 7, 1940, at the St. Rose of Lima Rectory. He died on May 25, 2002. She has eight children; 21 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren, with one more on the way; and six great-great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. One grandson, Jerry Emerson, passed away in 1993.

Mrs. Schwager spent three weeks and two days in the Wichita hospital and is now back at Central Kansas Medical Center for rehabilitation to return home. Cards may be sent to 5924 Birchwood, Great Bend, KS 67530.

January 27, 2008

Watts 80th

Junior Raymond Watts will celebrate his 80th birthday with a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Great Bend Senior Center, 2005 Kansas Ave. He was born on Feb. 3, 1928, in Quincy to Charley and Ruby Watts.

He married Ruth Schwintz on Aug. 10, 1950, in Yates Center. They now reside in Eureka. His children and their spouses are Ron and Connie Watts of Great Bend, Sue and David Stanely of Kinsley and Chris and Kenny Beakey of Great Bend; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

Disque 70th

Wally Disque will celebrate his 70th birthday with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Claflin Community Center. He was born Feb. 7, 1938, to Adam and Margaret Disque. He married Joyce Lindenmuth on May 14, 1961.

A lifetime resident of the Claflin area, he is a substitute bus driver for the Claflin Schools and a lifetime farmer. His hobbies include riding his whizzer motorbike and collecting Crosley cars. Hosts for the reception will be his children, Mark and Kelly Disque of Wylie, Texas, Doug and Jacquie Disque of Great Bend and Sheri and Joey Girard of Claflin. He has seven grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at 1561 N.E. 130 Ave., Claflin, KS 67525.

January 20, 2008

Betty Huenergardt 80th

Betty Huenergardt will celebrate her 80th birthday on Jan. 21 with a card shower. She was born Jan. 21, 1928, in Albert to Otto and Ellen (Arnold) Oetken. She married Maurice Huenergardt. He died May 19, 2004.

Her children and their spouses are Sharon and Ron Fuller and Heidi Huenergardt, all of Wichita, Gwen and Martin Wareham of Calabasas, Calif., and Maureen Huenergardt of Great Bend. She has one grandchild.

Cards may be sent to her at 615 Locust St., Apt. 106, La Crosse, KS 67548.

Ruth H. Nuss 92nd

Ruth H. Nuss of Great Bend will celebrate her 92nd birthday today. She was born on Jan. 20, 1916, in Bemidji, Minn., to the Rev. and Mrs. Otto J. Brauer.

She married Melvin O. Nuss, a Great Bend attorney, in 1941 and moved to Great Bend at that time. Mr. Nuss died in 1998. A homemaker, she has shown a lifetime interest in beauty, trees and anything sweet.

Mrs. Nuss has four children, Kathryn Nuss of Tangier, Morocco, Barbara Nuss of Great Bend, Frederick and wife Candace Nuss of Hoisington and Joanne Nuss of Santa Fe, N.M. She has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Garth and Lamia and a young Youssef of Orlando, Fla.; Christopher Bauer of New York City, N.Y.; Khalil and Halima Soodi and baby Lina, and Abdelaziz Soodi and Yasmina Soodi, all of Tangier, Morocco.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 2080, Great Bend, KS 67530.

January 13, 2008

Kenny Sellens 91st

Kenny Sellens will celebrate his 91st birthday on Jan. 14 with a card shower. He moved with his wife Berdena to Great Bend from Hoisington after the tornado. They now live in Ellinwood. He was employed by Murdy Motors.

His children are Judy Harmon of Austin, Texas, Jim Sellens of Wasilla, Alaska, Jan Westrum of Monument, Colo., Jayne Klir of Denton, Texas, and Jolene Boys of Great Bend. He has seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at Woodhaven Care Center, 510 W. 7th St., Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Anthony Hoffman 80th

Anthony “Tony” Hoffman of Claflin celebrated his 80th birthday with family and friends on Dec. 29. He was born Dec. 9, 1927, in Claflin. He married Caroline Birzer on June 1, 1950, in Hoisington. He was a farmer, stockman and insurance adjuster until he retired.

His children and their spouses are: Linda Hoffman and Robert Hasler of Oakland, Calif., Larry and Chris Hoffman of Shawnee, Pam and Dave Wirth of Ellinwood, Mark and Gina Hoffman of Kempton, Ill., Brian and Bernie Hoffman of Claflin, Keith and Ann Hoffman of Raymore, Mo., Craig and Shelly Hoffman of Wichita, and Brent and Elizabeth Hoffman of Spring Hill. He has 29 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Ruth Aeschliman 97th

Ruth Aeschliman will celebrate her 97th birthday on Jan. 19 with a card shower. Born at Sabetha, she enjoyed a career of teaching in elementary schools in Kansas. The last 27 years of her teaching career were spent in the Great Bend school system.

Cards may be sent to her at 1608 SW 37th, Apt. 202, Topeka, KS 66611.

Ruth Ochs 80th

Ruth Ochs of Otis will celebrate her 80th birthday from 2 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 20 with a reception at the Senior Center, 105 W. Fisher, in Otis.

She was born Jan. 20, 1928, to Wilhelm and Freda Maier in rural Ellis County. She married Wilmer Ochs on June 24, 1951. He died April 7, 1981.

Hosts will be her children and their spouses, Stan and Ann Ochs of Hutchinson and Terry and Sandra Wilkerson of Woodward, Okla. She has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to her at P.O. Box 108, Otis, KS 67565.

January 6, 2008

Robert Boele 80th

Robert L. Boele will celebrate his 80th birthday on Jan. 7 with a card shower. He has lived in and around Great Bend most of his life. He married Nelda Boele. He has three children, John C. Boele of Sterling, Tammula L. Boele of Great Bend and Stacy Trivinio of St. John; and three grandchildren.

Cards may be sent to him at: 1479 NW 80th Ave., Radium KS 67550.