Irvin John “Smokey” Felke, 93, died March 22, 2016, at the Ellinwood District Hospital.
Born March 13, 1923, in Hudson, he was the son of Joseph and Paulina (Elsen) Felke. On June 6, 1944, he married Anna Mae Shank in Ellinwood. She died on July 24, 1998. A Great Bend resident since 1944, growing up on a farm near Hudson, he was an oilfield driller and later a truck driver and a farrier.
Mr. Felke was a United States Navy veteran, serving aboard the USS Bunker Hill as a barber in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a member of B.P.O. Elks Lodge #1127 and Great Bend Saddle Club.
Survivors include three sons, Joseph Felke and his wife Elaine, Greg Felke, and Matthew Felke and his wife Mary Jane, all of Great Bend; a daughter, Patty Kalberloh, Great Bend; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, two sisters, and a grandson, Brad.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home with the Rev. Cathy Cole officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Healing Hearts Ranch or Golden Belt Humane Society, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
                     
Funeral arrangements provided by   
Bryant Funeral Home*         
1425 Patton Road       
Great Bend, KS, 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 24, 2016