Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Arlyn Edward Bisterfeldt
1938 - 2008
LEAVENWORTH — Arlyn Edward Bisterfeldt, 70, died Jan. 19 at a Leavenworth hospital. He was the son of George
Henry Bisterfeldt and Almeda Viola Hutchins Bisterfeldt. He attended school at Bison. He then worked at various jobs.
He joined the United States Air Force and served there from 1958 to 1962. Upon his discharge he went to work for
Cessna Aircraft until his retirement. He moved to Leavenworth, where he remained until his death.
Survivors include two brothers, Bill Bisterfeldt of Great Bend and Everett Bisterfeldt of Wichita; two sisters, Donna
Mayo of Olathe and Betty Showalter of Great Bend; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his
parents, a sister, Ruth Johnson, and a brother, Henry Bisterfeldt Jr.
Military funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Davis Funeral Chapel, Leavenworth, with Chaplain Samford
officiating. Burial will be at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Marilyn A. Cook
1936 - 2008
DIGHTON — Marilyn A. Cook, 71, died Jan. 19 at Hays Medical Center, Hays. Born Sept. 28, 1936, at Wichita, she
was the daughter of Clarence John and Barbara Ann (Strunk) Metzen. She married Albert Cook on Aug. 28, 1956, at
Wellington. She graduated with the Class of 1954 at Wellington High School. She attended the Venus Academy of
Beauty in Wichita. She lived in Pittsburg for a short time and then moved to Dighton. She started working for Blanche
McKelvy at the Green Bonnet Salon in 1960 as a cosmetologist and at the time of her death, was the owner-operator of
the Green Bonnet. She enjoyed her garden, canning, making jelly and salsa, quilting, sewing and playing bridge. She
had a large collection of bells and Santa figures and enjoyed decorating her home and entertaining for school facility
parties and other school and community functions. She was active in her community; among her projects was being a
leader on the school track resurfacing project. She also enjoyed her casino trips and sporting events.
Mrs. Cook was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church of Dighton and St. Theresa Altar Society, Kansas State
Hairdressers Association, Advisory Board of Garden City Community College Cosmetology Department, past
president of As You Like It Club, and state secretary of G.F.W.C.
Survivors include her husband, of the home; four sons, Randal Cook of Holcomb, Michael Cook of Wichita, Gregory
Cook of Tribune and Mark Cook of Herington; three daughters, Rhonda Cook of Norristown, Pa., Rebecca Daniels of
North Attleboro, Mass., and Marla Porch of Halstead; stepmother, Sis Metzen of Wellington; a brother, Dennis Metzen
of Wellington; two sisters, Betty Lucas of Lawrence and Pat Robinson of Wellington; a stepbrother, John Metzen of
Independence, Mo.; a stepsister, Sheryl Shephard of Anaheim, Calif.; two half brothers, Raymond Metzen of
Wellington and Ronnie Metzen of Mayfield; a half sister, Darlene Colburn of Clearwater; 18 grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren.
Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at St. Theresa Catholic Church. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at
the church with the Rev. Warren Stecklein and the Rev. Benjamin Dande as celebrants. Burial will be at the Dighton
Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today at Boomhower Funeral Home in Dighton.
Memorials are suggested to the Marilyn Cook Cosmetology Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Boomhower Funeral Home*
145 N. Wichita
Dighton, KS 67839
Michael James Dunavan
PAWNEE ROCK — Michael James Dunavan, 27, died Jan. 22, 2008 at his home in rural Barton County. Arrangements are
pending with Morell Funeral Home in Larned.
Gertrude J. Rziha
1915 - 2008
Gertrude J. Rziha, 92, of Great Bend, died Jan. 21 at Alterra Sterling House, Great Bend. She was born Feb. 28, 1915,
at Odin, the daughter of Emil and Josephine Zorn Schneweis. She married Frank H. Rziha on Aug. 23, 1938, at Odin.
He died Aug. 15, 1989. She was a homemaker and had resided at Sterling House for three years and in Great Bend for
18 years, coming from Odin.
She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick and Altar Society of Great Bend.
Survivors include five sons, Leonard Rziha and wife Joan of Hoisington, Jim Rziha and wife Jolene, and Robert Rziha
and wife Nancy, all of Great Bend, Gerald Rziha and wife Jeanne of Tampa, Kan., and Larry Rziha of Ponca City,
Okla.; three daughters, Bernice Kaiser and husband Marvin of Hays, Mary Anne Hammerschmidt and husband Ron of
Topeka, and Cecilia Schreiber and husband Gary of Osborne; one brother, Edwin Schneweis and wife Lucille of Great
Bend; one sister, Leona Jenisch of Odin; 27 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Raymond Rziha; a daughter, Carolyn Rziha; five brothers, John Schneweis,
Wilhelm Schneweis, Father Emil Schneweis, Lawrence Schneweis and Leonard Schneweis; five sisters, Gabriella
Habiger, Anna Schneweis, Sister Pauline Schneweis, Christina Demel and Mathilda Boor, and one granddaughter,
Carrie Rziha.
An Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. Thursday and a vigil service at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home,
Great Bend. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father
Reginald A. Urban and Father Pascal Klein officiating. Interment will be at the Holy Family Cemetery, Odin, at 2:30
p.m. Friday. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Donations to memorial funds for
Holy Family Cemetery Fund, Odin, or Holy Family School Endowment Fund, Great Bend, may be made in care of the
funeral home.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Raymon Keith Harris
1932 - 2008
LARNED — Raymon Keith Harris, 75, died Jan. 20 at Stormont-Vail Healthcare in Topeka. Born April 6, 1932, in
Hammon, Okla., he was the son of Benjamin Franklin and Verda Clark Harris. A resident of Larned, formerly of
Pawnee Rock, he was a retired truck driver.
Mr. Harris was a member of the First Bible Baptist Church in Great Bend.
Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis M. Agee of Pawnee Rock; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was
preceded in death by a son, Ernie Harris; and three brothers, Glenn Hiatt, Reece Harris and Ellis Joe Harris.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned with Pastor Kevin Franklin presiding.
Inurnment will be at a later date at the Pawnee Rock Cemetery. Friends may visit from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at the
funeral home. Cremation will take place after the funeral. Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association
in care of Morell Funeral Home.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Morell Funeral Home
P.O. Box 124
Larned, KS 67550-0124
John Edward Cole
1944 - 2008
SEWARD — John Edward Cole, 63, of Seward, died Jan. 21 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. Born
April 20, 1944, at Great Bend, he was the son of Herbert and Martha (Weers) Cole. On Sept. 19, 1975, he married
Gordonna L. (Amundson) at Denver. She survives, of the home. He was a farmer/stockman and a lifelong resident of
the Seward-Great Bend area. He was a 1962 graduate of Great Bend High School and was a medic in the U.S. Army
during the Vietnam War.
Other survivors include a daughter, Jamie L. Cole, Seattle, Wash.; a brother, Max Cole, Fairbanks, Alaska; three
sisters, Marianne Bohner, Eugene, Ore., Jane Greene, Lynch, Neb., and Judy Bayless, Helena, Mont., and 16 nieces and
nephews. He was preceded in death by both parents and by a son, Daniel H. Cole.
There will be no public services, as the body was cremated. Minnis Chapel, St. John, is in charge of local arrangements.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel
St. John, KS 67576
Michael James Dunavan
1980 - 2008
PAWNEE ROCK — Michael James Dunavan, 27, died Jan. 22 at his home in rural Pawnee Rock. He was born Nov. 8,
1980, at Fort Riley, the son of Robert and Janice Dunavan. He graduated from high school in Larned in 1999, from
Barton County Community College, where he was active in theater and music, and from Fort Hays State University
with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in communications with an emphasis in theater. He
lived at Fort Riley, Camp Zama, Japan, and in rural Barton County. His life was devoted to entertaining people and his
love for animals.
He belonged to the Pawnee Rock Christian Church, where he was a deacon.
He is survived by his parents, of the home; a sister, Diane, and husband Jeffrey Gibson, Larned; a brother, Brian and
wife Karen of San Antonio, Texas; a sister-in-law, Melissa Lloyd, Lawrence; seven nieces and nephews, Zachery, Ian,
Grant, Joshua, Channing, Chloe and Karalyne.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Pawnee Rock Christian Church, with the Rev. Don Paden and the Rev. Tom
Albright officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday at Morell Funeral Home, Larned, with the family
receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Pawnee Rock Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Gideons
International or to the Pawnee Rock Christian Church, in care of the funeral home.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Morell Funeral Home
1021 Broadway/P.O. Box 124
Larned, KS 67550-0124
LaVern F. “Curly” Girard
1942 - 2008
STAFFORD — LaVern F. “Curly” Girard, 65, died Jan. 22 at Stafford District Hospital, Stafford. Born Jan. 23, 1942,
at St. Joseph, he was the son of Alfred T. and Stella Marie LaBlanc Girard. He was a Stafford resident since 1957. He
married Edwina Lou Rogers at St. John on July 15, 1961. She survives. He was the retired city superintendent for the
City of Stafford and was the owner of Girard Repair. He was a member of the Stafford Fire Department and had
coached Pee Wee and Little League baseball.
Survivors, besides his wife, include three sons, Tim Girard and wife Lori of Pratt, Kirk Girard and wife Tammy of
Prairie View, and Joey Girard and wife Sheri of Claflin; a son-in-law, Craig Caley of Stafford; a brother, Ray Girard of
Augusta; a sister, Lucille Trembly of Clifton; seven grandchildren, Ryan Girard, LeAnn Girard, Jordan Girard, Emily
Girard, Michaela Girard, Alyson Caley and Kylee Girard; and one great-grandchild, Allen Ross Skeen. He was
preceded in death by a daughter, Kimberly Caley, a brother, Leland Girard, and a sister, Lorena Ashley.
Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Minnis Chapel, Stafford, with Richard Foster presiding. Burial will be at
the Stafford Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Friday at Minnis Chapel, Stafford, with the family receiving
friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Memorial may be sent to the Stafford Fire Department or South Wind Hospice, both in care
of the chapel.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel*
125 North Main
Stafford, KS 67578
