Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Howard A. Stoltenberg (1912-2005)
LAWRENCE — Howard A. Stoltenberg, 93, of Lawrence died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, at Presbyterian Manor. Mr. Stoltenberg was born Jan. 12, 1912, at Holyrood to Gustave and Hanna Ohlemeier Stoltenberg. Since 1941, he had lived in Lawrence, where he was chief chemist in the environmental laboratory at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. He retired in 1975. He also was an assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of Kansas from 1946 to 1970. He was a graduate of Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina; and KU. He was a member of several fraternities and water associations. He married Clara Jilka in 1938. She died in 1986. His second wife was Alwilna Thiry Burris in 1989 at Lawrence. She survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Ellen Thompson of Wichita and Elaine Balazs of Garden City; a step-daughter, Shirley Henson of Livermore, Calif.; two sons, David H. Stoltenberg of Downers Grove, Ill., and Gerald A. Stoltenberg of Topeka; a step-son, Bruce Burris of Irvine, Calif.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The funeral was at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Plymouth Congregational Church. Inurnment will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Ellsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Plymouth Congregational Church, Lawrence Presbyterian Manor Good Samaritan Fund or Hospice Care of Douglas County in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence 66044.
Evert Wayne Bratton (1911-2005)
LYONS — Evert Wayne Bratton, 93, Lyons, died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005. Mr. Bratton was born Nov. 16, 1911, at Luray. He was a farmer, stockman and building contractor. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth, in 1994. Survivors include his wife, Marceline, of the home; three step-sons, Melvin Behnke of Wichita, Myron Behnke of Lyons and Meredith Behnke of Bushton; two step-daughters, Marilyn Welkens of Overland Park and Myretta Bell of Carrolton, Texas; and a sister, Joyce Applegate of Luray. The funeral was Monday at Sillin Funeral Home, 214 S. West Ave., Lyons 67554. Burial was in Lyons Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Sunflower Estates or the Ebenezer United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home.
Vit ‘Pete’ Janda (1921-2005)
WICHITA — Vit “Pete” Janda, 83, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at Wichita. Mr. Janda was born Dec. 29, 1921, in Ellsworth County. He was a retired welder for Boeing Aircraft. He married Rosada Janda, who survives. Other survivors include three sons, Pat of Kansas City, Mo., Jack of Wichita and Steve of Erie, Colo.; a daughter, Marty McFarland of Arusha, Tanzania, East Africa; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A graveside service was Saturday in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery, Wilson, with military honors by members of Msgr. John F. McManus American Legion Post 262. Father David Metz officiated. Memorials may be made to the American Red Cross in care of Foster Mortuary, 610 24th St., Wilson 67490-0205.
Pauline B. Kratzer (1911-2005)
LYONS — Pauline B. Kratzer, 94, died Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, at the Lyons District Hospital. Mrs. Kratzer was born April 12, 1911, at Lincoln to Victor and Elsie Kent Lewick Hedrick. In 1991, she moved to Lyons from Geneseo, where she was a homemaker and school teacher. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Geneseo and a former member of the Baptist Church of Frederick. She married George Kratzer May 5, 1934, at Frederick. He died in 1983. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Marlyn K. Coleman. Survivors include two sons, Gary and Don, both of Geneseo; and four grandchildren. The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at the United Methodist Church of Geneseo, the Rev. Lyndelle Linde officiating. Burial will be in the Geneseo Cemetery. Visitation is from 2 to 7 p.m. today (Thursday) at Sillin Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Geneseo United Methodist Church or the Geneseo Cemetery Association.
Maxine C. Marbut (1926-2005)
KANOPOLIS — Maxine C. Marbut, 79, Kanopolis, died Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Mrs. Marbut was born Aug. 6, 1926, at Great Bend to Lydia and Frank Wheeler. She had lived in Kanopolis since 1956. She was a certified nurses aide at the Good Samaritan Retirement Village, Ellsworth. She married Jesse Marbut June 23, 1947, at Harrison, Ark. He died in 1983. Survivors include a son, Delbert Wheeler Sr. of Ellsworth; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. The funeral was Wednesday at Parsons Funeral Home, Pastor Stephen Holmes officiating. Burial was in Kanopolis Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation.
Rudolph Neuman (1920-2005)
Rudolph Neuman, 84, Ellsworth, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Mr. Neuman was born Sept. 19, 1920, in Ellsworth County to Joseph and Frances Borecky Neuman. He was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where he served as county clerk for 38 years and also was a farmer-stockman. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Northwest Clerks Association and State Clerks Association, American Legion Post 174 and VFW Post 6483. He married Elena Lambott April 4, 1947, at Kanopolis. She survives. Other survivors include a son, Paul Neuman of Ellsworth; two grandsons; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Harry and Dale; a daughter, Betty, in 2000; and a son, Larry Dean, in 1958. The funeral was Saturday at Parsons Funeral Home, Pastor Linda Toms officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery with military graveside rites. Memorials may be made to Ellsworth’s United Methodist Church.
Hershel I. Rush (1925-2005)
Hershel Ira Rush, 79, Marquette, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005, at Riverview Estates Nursing Home following a short battle with lung cancer. Viola Alta “Nonie” Sjogren of Irving, Texas, Carol Lee Ragland of Summerville, Ga., and Martha Jean Ritter of rural Marquette; 13 nieces; nine nephews; 46 great-nieces and nephews; and 47 great-great-nieces and nephews. Graveside services were Tuesday in the Marquette Cemetery, north of Marquette. Memorials may be made to the Marquette United Methodist Church or the Marquette Education Fund. Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg, handled the arrangements.
Amos M. Nienke (1929-2005)
WICHITA — Amos M. Nienke, 76, Wichita, died Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005. Mr. Nienke was born Feb. 28, 1929, in Ellsworth to Fredrick William and Meta Amelia Erhardt Nienke. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and three brothers. Survivors include his wife, Doris; sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Vickie Nienke of Peck, and Richard and Sandy Nienke of Hollister, Mo.; brother and sister-in-law, Ervin and Shirley Nienke of Holyrood; a sister, Lola Vidricksen of Salina; a sister-in-law, Nadine Nienke of Salina; grandchildren, Angela Reyes of Wichita, Scott Nienke of Peck, Thomas and Jennifer Nienke of Lenexa and Todd Nienke of Mulvane; step-grandson, Buck Maple of Lodi, Calif.; and a great-grandchild, Makenzie Reyes. The funeral was Saturday at the Bethany Lutheran Church, Wichita. Memorials may be made to the Bethany Lutheran Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. Resthaven Mortury, Wichita, was in charge of arrangements.
Emil A. Bohata (1918-2005)
CARNEIRO — Emil A. Bohata, 87, of Carneiro, died Oct. 6, 2005, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita. Mr. Bohata was born Sept. 10, 1918, in Ellsworth County to Frank and Mary Frances (Vodraska) Bohata. He was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County and a semi-retired farmer. He was a member of the Gideons International, Carneiro United Methodist Church and past Carneiro Township treasurer. He was an Army World War II veteran. He married Ruth “Jody” Fletcher July 14, 1963 in Salina. She preceded him in death Feb. 20, 1995. Survivors include one son, Bob of Carneiro; one daughter, Ruth Penner of Bluemenort, Manitoba, Canada; and three grandchildren. Services were Oct. 11 at the Parsons Funeral Home with Pastor Stephen Homes officiating. Interment was in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Gideons International. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, was in charge of arrangements.
Leroy George Geyer (1917-2005)
LINCOLN — Leroy George Geyer, 88, of Lincoln died Sept. 27, 2005, in Lincoln. He was a farmer and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific. Mr. Geyer was born March 28, 1917, to Emil and Olga Block Geyer in Shady Bend. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sisters, Helen Geyer and Marguerite Tiemann. Survivors include his spouse, Doris; sons, David of Lawrence, Greg of Beloit and Mark of Salina; daughter, Patricia Schultz of Ellsworth; brother, Roland Geyer of Salina; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services were Saturday at Hall Chapel with Rev. Gary Wolf officiating. Interment was in the Lincoln City Cemetery. Hall Funeral Home, Lincoln, was in charge of arrangements.
Frances ‘Marie’ Long
LITTLETON, Colo. — Frances “Marie” Long, 89, of Littleton, Colo., passed away Aug. 27, 2005. Mrs. Long, a former Ellsworth resident, worked at Arapahoe High School, was a member of PEO, Sister Cities and 1st Presbyterian Church of Littleton. Preceded in death by husband, George “Donald” Long. She is survived by two daughters, Marilee Saxe of Estes Park and Susan Long of Littleton; and two grandchildren. Memorial service was Monday at the First Presbyterian Church, Littleton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Inter Faith Task Force, GILL Foundation or Heifer Project International. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery.
Alice Phillips (1912-2005)
SALINA — Alice Phillips, 92, of Salina died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005. Mrs. Phillips was born Alice Elizabeth Chegwidden Dec. 1, 1912, in rural Dorrance. She was a school teacher. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin; her parents, Harry and Carrie Essig Chegwidden; her brothers, John and Wesley Chegwidden; and her sisters, Bernice Oeser and Marion Swart. Survivors include a son, Tom of Salina; a daughter, Ferol Thielen of Olathe; one grandson; three granddaughters and four great-grandchildren. The funeral was Oct. 6 at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, Salina, with burial in Wilson City Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Wilson Presbyterian Church or Sunrise Presbyterian Church, Salina. Ryan Mortuary, Salina, was in charge of arrangements. For information and to send condolences, visit www.ryanmortuary.com.
Jack Duane Urbanek (1924-2005)
WARSAW, Mo. — Jack Duane Urbanek, 81, Warsaw, died Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at Bothwell Regional Health Center, Sedalia, Mo. Mr. Urbanek was born June 26, 1924, at Black Wolf, Kan., to Carl and Anna Krizek Urbanek. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army with service overseas. He lived in Kansas City, Mo., for many years, where he worked for Taylor Homes. He married Betty Norris Feb. 28, 1975, in Clinton, Mo. She survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Jacqualyn Younglove of Overland Park; two brothers, Cliff Urbank of Salina, and Dale Urbanek of Ellsworth; two sisters, Arlene Van Valey of Gig Harbour, Wash., and Blanche Woodmansee of Wilson; three step-daughters, Linda Simsheuser of Clifton, Judy Bagby of Odessa, Mo., and Sandra Stark of Blue Springs, Mo.; two step-sons, David Palmer of Fredricksburg, Va., and Kenneth Palmer of Odessa; and three grandchildren. There was no service. The body was cremated. Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw, was in charge of arrangements.
Leroy George Geyer (1917-2005)
LINCOLN — Leroy George Geyer, 88, Lincoln, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005. Mr. Geyer was born March 28, 1917, at Shady Bend to Emil and Olga Block Geyer. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He was a farmer. Survivors include two sons, David of Beloit and Mark of Salina; a daughter, Patricia Schultz of Ellsworth; a brother, Roland Geyer of Salina; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Helen Geyer and Marguerite Tiemann. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Hall Chapel, Lincoln, the Rev. Gary Wolf officiating. Interment was in Lincoln City Cemetery. The Memorial Book may be signed at the chapel.
Elena May Neuman (1930-2005)
Elena May Neuman, 74, Ellsworth, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita. Mrs. Neuman was born Dec. 13, 1930, at Junction City to Archie and Burnetta Eaton Lambott. She was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where she was a homemaker and self-employed seamstress. She also was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the United Methodist Church, both at Ellsworth. She married Rudolph L. Neuman April 4, 1947, at Kanopolis. He died Aug. 23, 2005. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty, in 2000; and a son, Larry Dean, in 1958. Survivors include a son, Paul Neuman of Ellsworth; two grandsons; and five great-grandsons. The funeral was Saturday at Parsons Funeral Home, Pastor Linda Toms officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church.
Rodney Paul Pittsley Sr. (1943-2005)
KANOPOLIS LAKE — Rodney Paul Pittsley Sr., 62, Kanopolis Lake, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005, at the Riverside Campground. Mr. Pittsley was born June 7, 1943, at Lisle, N.Y. to Earl Elwin and Mable Grace Thornton Pittsley. He was a retired heavy equipment operator who at the time of his death served as a campground host. He married Loretta Garrett June 26, 1964, at Port Byron, N.Y. She survives. Other survivors include: three sons, Stephan Nobles of Avondale, Ariz., Rodney Jr., of Paradise Valley, Ariz., and Kenneth of Geneseo; a daughter, Clarissa Hensley of Lyons; three sisters, Ruth Horner of Bliss, N.Y., Nancy Seamans of Virgil, N.Y., and Gladys Canfield of Marathon, N.Y; a brother, Lonnie of Cincinmatus, N.Y.; 19 grandchidren; and two great-grandchildren. There was no public viewing. Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, was in charge.
Daniel R. Rodriguez (1946-2005)
Daniel R. Rodriguez, 59, Ellsworth, died Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005. Mr. Rodriguez was born Aug. 23, 1946, in Ellsworth to Joe and Jessie Uribe Rodriguez. He was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth, retiring from the Kansas Department of Transportation. He served in the United States Marine Corps — Vietnam. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 174, VFW Post 6485, Purple Heart Association, DAV Association. He also belonged to the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Marc and Rudy; and one sister, Mary Lou Botello. He married Connie Pflughoeft Aug. 3, 1968, in Ellsworth. She survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Angela Ptacek of Carneiro; four brothers, Angel of Manhattan, John of Hutchinson, Joe and Leon, both of Ellsworth; three sisters, Sipriana Bussing of Brazil, Ind., Lupe Lutz of Hutchinson, Frances Jacobo of Salina; and two grandchildren. The funeral was Sept. 19 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Burial was in the Ellsworth Cemetery with military rites. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, American Heart Association or donors choice. Parsons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
