Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Linda Schuessler
Linda Krutsinger Schuessler, 54, Overland Park, Kan., formerly of Joplin, died at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 1997, at her home after a four-month illness.
Mrs. Schuessler was born Nov. 13, 1942, at Joplin.
She lived in Joplin most of her life.
She moved to Overland Park in 1993.
She and her husband were owners of Evan and Associates Machine Shop, and Combustion Corner, both in Joplin.
For the last four years, she was an accounting manager with C.B. Commercial Real Estate Group, Overland Park.
She married Evan Schuessler on July 3, 1974, at Miami, Okla.
He died May 27, 1987.
Survivors include two stepsons, Pete Schuessler, Joplin, and Kipp Schuessler, Wichita, Kan.; two stepdaughters, Tena Schuessler, Wichita, and Keri Jones, Rose Hill, Kan.; her father and stepmother, Raymond and Julia Krutsinger, Joplin; and a brother, David Krutsinger, Overland Park.
The body has been cremated. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary, Joplin. Ricky Creel, minister, will officiate.
Burial will be in Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, Joplin, at a later date.
Bill Karrle
CHETOPA, Kan. - W.D. "Bill" Karrle, 89, Chetopa, died at 12:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, 1997, at a local nursing home after a short illness.
Mr. Karrle was born Aug. 28, 1907, at Emporia.
He moved at age 7 to a rural Chetopa farm.
He attended Piety Hill grade school, south of Chetopa.
He worked for a heating and cooling company at Tulsa, Okla., and later worked for Sinclair Oil.
He was also a construction worker.
He worked for the U.S. government shipyards for several years in the state of California.
He moved in 1946 to Chetopa from the state of California.
He was a member of First Baptist Church, Chetopa, and Chetopa Masonia Lodge for more than 50 years.
He was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner.
He married Janiel LaTurner on Aug. 30, 1944, at Reno, Nev.
She died Nov. 15, 1987.
Surviving are a foster daughter, Roberta Plummer, Chetopa; a brother, Fred Karrle, Crown Point, Ind.; and a sister, Lil Smith, Chetopa.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church.
The Rev. Dallas Martin will officiate.
Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Chetopa.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Bath Funeral Home, Chetopa.
Contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Chetopa, or the Hospice program at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo.
Eldon Blackledge
CHETOPA, Kan. - Eldon B. Blackledge, 79, Chetopa, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997, at a local nursing home after a short illness.
Mr. Blackledge was born Nov. 23, 1917, in rural Chetopa.
He lived his entire life in the Chetopa area.
He was a retired farmer.
He married MaeBelle Gilbert on Feb. 12, 1940, at Neosho, Mo.
She survives.
Other survivors include a son, Steve Blackledge, Chetopa; a daughter, Patty Clayborn, Welch, Okla; a brother, William "Bill" Blackledge, Chetopa; a sister, Naomi Kay, Pryor, Okla.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bath Funeral Home, Chetopa, with the Rev. Ron Frazier officiating.
Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, rural Chetopa.
Contributions may be made to the Chetopa Manor nursing home or St. John's Hospice, in care of the funeral home.
Jack Nagel
BAXTER SPRINGS, Kan. - Jack Thomas Nagel, 91, Manassas, Va., formerly of Baxter Springs, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 1997, at a Manassas nursing home after an illness.
Mr. Nagel was born Aug. 11, 1905, in the state of Arkansas.
He was manager of the J.C. Penney Co. of Baxter Springs from 1943 to 1952.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Baxter Springs.
His wife, Isabel Cunningham Nagel, died in 1982.
Survivors include a daughter, Ann Sturm, Great Falls, Va.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Baxter Cemetery, Baxter Springs.
The Rev. Christine Iannucilli will officiate.
Arrangements are under the direction of Derfelt's Baxter Chapel, Baxter Springs.
Birdeva Allen
McCUNE, Kan. - Birdeva L. Kuhlman Allen, 75, McCune route 1, died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997, at her home from injuries resulting from a house fire.
Mrs. Allen was born Aug. 30, 1921, in Jackson County, Minn.
She was graduated from Spirit Lake (Iowa) High School.
She attended Methodist College at Kansas City, Mo.
She was a member of Nazarene Church, McCune.
She married Wilmer Allen on Jan. 5, 1951, at Girard. He died July 19, 1978.
Survivors include a daughter, Bette Mead, Mound City; four sisters, Marjorie Waltz and Doris Peterson, both of Brainerd, Minn., Darlene Frey, Anderson, Ind., and June Delaney, Rodney, Mich.; a brother, Bill Kuhlman, Concord, N.H.; and a grandson.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today at Murdock Funeral Home, McCune, with the Rev. David Warren officiating.
Burial will be in McCune Cemetery.
The body has been cremated.
Kenny Ballenger
COLUMBUS, Kan. - Kenneth C. "Kenny" Ballenger, 84, Columbus route 2, died at 7:22 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 1997, at Maude Norton Hospital, Columbus, after a sudden illness.
Mr. Ballenger was born Dec. 26, 1912, in the state of Missouri.
He attended school in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
He and his wife moved to Columbus in 1945.
He worked as a truck farmer in Texas and Oklahoma for several years.
He also worked in the lead and zinc mines near Picher, Okla.
He retired in 1976.
He was a member of First Christian Church, Columbus.
He married Erma Jane McDowell in 1936 at Harlingen, Texas.
She survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Kenneth David Ballenger, Sierra Vista, Ariz., Glen Ballenger, Columbus route 2, and Derrill W. Ballenger, Alexandria, Va.; a sister, Edna Meador, Oklahoma City, Okla.; a brother, Robert E. Ballenger, Paoli, Okla.; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus, with the Rev. Garland Bohn officiating.
Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Columbus.
Michalla Getman
HALLOWELL, Kan. - Michalla Nichole Getman, infant daughter of Jack and Anita Getman, Hallowell, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 1997, shortly after birth at Freeman Hospital West, Joplin.
The infant was born Jan. 14, 1997, at Joplin.
Additional survivors include a brother, Tyler Getman, Hallowell; maternal grandparents, Willis and Gale Laurie, Scammon; paternal grandmother, Dollie Getman, Hallowell; maternal great-grandmother, Laura Hurley, Hallowell; and paternal great-grandmother, Mabel McCormick, Columbus.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Edgmand Cemetery, northwest of Columbus, with the Rev. Eric Hurd officiating.
Friends may call at the home of Jack and Anita Getman.
Arrangements are under the direction of Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus.
