Maurice “Dutch” Esfeld, 81, of Great Bend, died Aug. 22 at the Kansas Soldiers’ Home in Fort Dodge. He was born Sept. 7, 1928, at Great Bend, the son of Fred and Frances (Monger) Esfeld. He married Joan L. Murry on July 6, 1949, at Great Bend. She died Feb. 14, 1998. He was owner and operator of Esfeld Trucking.
Mr. Esfeld was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose, VFW Post 3111 and American Legion Argonne Post 180. He was a lifetime resident of Great Bend. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include two sons, James D. Esfeld and wife Cynthia of Pawnee Rock and Robert L. Esfeld and wife Michele of Great Bend; two sisters, Agatha Reeves of Malvern, Ark., and Catherine Birzer of Ellinwood; one brother, George Esfeld of Great Bend; and four grandchildren, Shane Esfeld, Brent Esfeld, Lori Shomber and Karly Esfeld. He was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Esfeld, a daughter, Mary Jo Esfeld, and two brothers, Fritz and Joe Esfeld.
A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose, Great Bend, with Father Peter Fernandez officiant. Interment will be at Great Bend Cemetery with military honors conducted by a Fort Riley honor guard. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Donations to memorial funds for the American Diabetes Association or for the Kansas Soldiers’ Home may be made 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
620-793-3525
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 24, 2005