Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Vernon A. Groff
Vernon A. Groff, 84, of Seneca, died Sunday, January 18, 2004, at the veterans' hospital in Topeka.
He was born June 24, 1919, on a farm at Woodsiding, NE, near Auburn, the son of Aubrey D. and Stella Mae Allen Groff. He attended Locust Grove School there and graduated from Auburn High School in 1936. He worked on the family farm and broke horses. His parents contracted to put on rodeos so Vern became involved at an early age. He became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and continued this member ship for 35 years. “Blackie” Groff started out riding steers and then at 16 began riding bucking broncos. In 1938 he moved to Seneca where he worked for Frank Kuckelman for 20 years and also worked at Seneca Implement where he was a parts man and did mechanical work on farm equipment. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1944 in the 115th Cavalry.
On October 17, 1941, while stationed with the Army at Fort Lewis, WA, he married
Susan Mohlman, of Seneca, at Olympia, WA. They returned to Seneca in 1945. Vern retired from the rodeos in 1947 and began auctioneering. By the 1960s he was running five sale barns a week and working in the four corner states. He worked with Gene Toby for 51 years and auctioned everything from real estate and antiques to commercial items and livestock. In 1951 he started Rail Realty selling real estate in the Seneca area. His last sale was in March of 2001.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, the St. Joseph Society, and the Knights of Columbus, where he had been a past Grand Knight. He was also a member of the Kansas Real Estate Association and the Seneca Saddle Club.
Survivors are his wife Susan of the home; four sons, Mike, and his wife Carolyn of Aurora, IL, David and his wife Jane of Topeka, Dan, and his wife Kathy of Bloomington, IL, Kent, and his wife Meg of Solsberry, IN; four daughters, Kay Vondenkamp and her husband Tom, and Vicki Haverkamp and her husband Glenn, all of Tecumseh, KS, Judy Strathman and her husband Larry, of Seneca, Michelle Luebbe and her husband Randy, of Topeka; 29 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Sherri Strathman on March 27, 1968 and Greg Strathman on July 6, 1975, and a brother, Ralph.
A memorial mass will be offered at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, January 22, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery, with military honors by the Seneca American Legion Post #21 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7458. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home at 2 and 7 P.M. Wednesday.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School and sent in care of the family.
Andrew H. Grollmes
Andrew H. Grollmes, 84, of Netawaka, Kansas, died Friday, March 1, 2002, at his rural Netawaka home.
He was born November 14, 1917, on a farm north of Centralia, Kansas, the son of Henry A. and Clara Reinecke Grollmes. His mother died in a flu epidemic when he was about four years old. He grew up there, helped on the family farm, and attended Sherman School near his home. On April 20, 1942, during World War II, he was inducted into the US Army. He served with Battery B, 3rd Field Artillery Observation Battalion in France and Germany. He was discharged November 25, 1945. He returned to Kansas and lived on a farm west of Corning.
On November 14, 1951, he married
Mary Ann Stallbaumer at St. Patrick's Church at Corning. They farmed near Netawaka and also operated a dairy. She survives of the home in Netawaka. Besides farming, "Andy" worked for Rockwell International at Atchison, Kansas from 1963 to 1967, and in construction for E&R and D&L Construction Companies in Wetmore from 1968 to 1982.
He was a member of St. James Church at Wetmore.
Survivors besides his wife, Mary Ann, are five sons; Gary Grollmes, Linus Grollmes, and Lynn Grollmes, all of Netawaka, Victor Grollmes of Holton, Kansas, Mark Grollmes of Circleville, Kansas; four daughters, Donna Toman of Olathe, Kansas, Clara Child of Whitting, Kansas, Jane Bailey of Lawrence, Kansas, Karen Gudenkauf of Seneca, Kansas; a sister Delores "Peg" Niehues of Goff, Kansas; 14 grandchildren and a step great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by a son, Edward Leo Grollmes on May 9, 1986. He was also preceded in death by four sisters Elizabeth Graney, Mary Smith, Katherine Duryea, and Leona "Bobbie" Grollmes.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10 A.M. Monday at St. Patrick's Church in Corning. The burial will be in the Wetmore Cemetery, Wetmore, Kansas, with full military honors by the Levick-Barrett Post #282 of the American Legion in Wetmore. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Saturday at 7 P.M. and on Sunday at 2 and 7 P.M. He will lie in state at the funeral home after 4 P.M. Saturday.
Memorials may be given for St. James Church or the Jackson County Hospice and sent in care of the family.
Leonard H. Grollmes
Leonard H. Grollmes, 94, of Seneca, Kansas, died Monday, September 11, 2000, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca. He was transferred there from Country View Estates Care Home where he had been a resident since July of 1998.
He was born July 17, 1906 on a farm southwest of Seneca the son of Joseph T. and Frances Meyer Grollmes. He grew up there and attended Sts. Peter and Paul School. After school he worked on farms in the area. He worked for Blaugh's Café in Seneca as a cook for several years. In 1928 he went to work for Nemaha County where he operated a caterpillar for road construction.
On October 26, 1936, he married
Mary Olberding at Loveland, Colorado. They lived in Seneca. In 1943 he went to work for Union Pacific in Laramie, Wyoming, as a fireman on the 4000 series of large locomotives. In the spring of 1946 they returned to Seneca. Leonard and Howard Ford operated a hardware store in Axtell, Kansas, for a year before he began work for Bauer Meade Agnew International as a mechanic in Seneca. In 1949 they purchased the Gilford Hotel in Seneca and operated it until 1952. He and his wife, Mary, built the Linda Motel in Seneca and operated it until 1965. He worked for Love & Osterhaus construction as a carpenter for several years before returning to operate the motel in 1968. His wife, Mary, died May 14, 1969.
On April 12, 1975 he married
Hazel Van Verth Cook at Perry, KS. They lived in Seneca. She died September 8, 1985. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church and St. Joseph's Society at Seneca. Leonard was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting, and training and caring for his hunting dogs.
Survivors are a daughter, Linda Loveall of Maple Hill, Kansas, a son James Grollmes of Perry, Kansas, a brother, Louis Grollmes of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and five grandchildren.
Three brothers, Walter, Paul, Lawrence, and a sister Celesta Gudenkauf preceded him in death.
A memorial mass will be offered Wednesday, September 13, at 10:30 A.M. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given for St. Ann's Altar Society, the Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or the donor's choice and sent in care of the family.
Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca is in charge of arrangements.
Florence Ann Gudenkauf
Florence Ann Gudenkauf, 93, Seneca, died Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at a Seneca care home.
She was born September 12, 1910, on the Tanking homestead 3-1/2 miles east of Seneca, the daughter John and Emma Luckeroth Tanking. Before she was married, she helped at home and did domestic work in Seneca homes. On February 21, 1933, she married
Raphael “Ray” Gudenkauf at Seneca. They farmed for six years near Corning and other farms in the Nemaha County area before moving to their farm east of Seneca. They celebrated their 25th and 40th wedding anniversaries. Ray died June 18, 1981, and she moved to Seneca in November of 1981.
Mrs. Gudenkauf was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Altar Society and the Church Quilting Group, all in Seneca. She crocheted and made Afghans for her 38 grandchildren.
Survivors are six daughters and spouses, Mary Grace and Hank Elder of Overland Park, KS, Gladys Koelzer of Seneca, Marilyn and Dave Carlson of Seneca, Elsie and Glenn Stueve of Hiawatha, KS, Phyllis and Cletus Broxterman of Baileyville, KS, Joyce and Gene Klingele of Basehor; 38 grandchildren; 71 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two great-grandchildren, Marie Stueve on March 10, 1991 and Robert (Beau) Myer on November 25, 1990; a son-in-law, Melvin Koelzer; two brothers, Alfred and Anthony Tanking; and three sisters, Clara Burdick, Lorene Gress and Rose Gudenkauf.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Friday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. Thursday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca where she will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Thursday.
George E. Gudenkauf
George E. Gudenkauf, 80, of Seneca, died Sunday, August 17, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. He had previously had open-heart surgery and developed congestive heart failure.
He was born April 29, 1923, at Onaga, KS, the son of William J. and Florence Becker Gudenkauf. He attended schools at Onaga, Frankfort, and graduated from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in Seneca in 1942. In his younger years, he worked with his father and brothers at their meat market and grocery store in Seneca.
On April 24, 1945, he married
Virginia Lueb at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. She survives of the home. They celebrated their 50th anniversery in 1995 and had been married
for 58 years.
He was the founder and owner of Gudenkauf Rendering Service in Seneca until they sold it in 1974. He and his wife, Virginia, also built and operated the Windmill Inn Restaurant in Seneca. They retired in 1994.
He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, where he served on the school board for seven years, and the St. Joseph Society at the church. He served two terms on the Seneca City Council and was a past president of the Seneca Golf Club.
Survivors besides his wife are a son, Stan Gudenkauf, his wife, Nancy of Atlanta, GA; three daughters and sons-in-law, Bev Henry and her husband Mark, of Ozawkie, KS, Marcia Pfannenstiel and her husband, Terry, of Zeeland, MI, Jamie Rettele and her husband Morris, of Seneca; 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Gudenkauf, Jr. and Wilfred Gudenkauf, and a sister, Dorothy Gilmore.
The mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. The burial will be in the church cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca on Tuesday at 7 P.M.
Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul School and sent in care of the family
Virginia Gudenkauf
God came and took a very special lady on June 23, 2014. Virginia A. Gudenkauf, 87, of Seneca is with her eternal family.
She was born to Henry J. and Alvira Leddy Lueb on February 6, 1927 in Seneca. Virg, or Jenny, as she was known to her many friends and family, loved and enjoyed life to the fullest. She attended and graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul High School in 1944.
On April 24, 1945, she married
George E. Gudenkauf at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca and the couple celebrated 57 years of happiness together before George’s death on August 17, 2003. They enjoyed extensive travel together and with their children. They were developers and owners of Gudenkauf Rendering Service until they retired in 1974. Later they built and operated the Windmill Inn Restaurant until they retired in 1994.
Virginia and George were pillars in the community always willing to lend a helping hand. Virginia served on the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Board and served on the interior decorating committee in the development of the hospital. She also was the president of St. Ann’s Altar Society, BPWC of Seneca, and the Ladies Golf Club and served on the Election Board for many years. She loved to play bridge with several groups and was a Red Hat Lady.
Virginia was a loving and wonderful wife and mother, a meticulous house keeper and an amazing cook. She devoted her life to her family. She loved family gatherings, shopping for antiques and playing cards.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters Eleanor Zimmerman and Pat Henry.
She is survived by her children, Stan (Nancy) Gudenkauf of Atlanta, GA, Bev (Mark) Henry of Ozawkie, KS, Marcia Pfannenstiel (Terry) of Zeeland, MI and Jamie (Morris) Rettele of Seneca; a sister, Vivian Heideman of Seneca, 16 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.
A rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2014 at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials are to be determined at a later date.
Roy Y. Gustin
Roy Y. Gustin, 95, Centralia, KS, died Sunday, February 29, 2004, at Crestview Manor Care Home, Seneca, where he had been a resident since August 7, 1990.
He was born October 9, 1908, in the Keats-Manhattan, KS area, the oldest son of Herbert A. and Anna S. Nelson Gustin. He grew up north of Keats and graduated from the Keats High School. Roy played 1st base on the local baseball team and worked at the Keats grain elevator. He was a musician and played guitar, fiddle and drums for barn and house dances. The guitar and fiddle he played were passed along to him by his dad. Drums were his specialty. It was at one of these dances that he met Mary Newman from Centralia, who was to become his wife.
On April 30, 1932, he married
Mary M. Newman at Manhattan, KS. Roy worked for several ranches in the Manhattan area as a cowhand and stockman. In the early 1940s they moved to the Centralia area where they farmed and raised livestock on two farms located west and north of Centralia. During the mid 1940s he was the mowing superintendent at Ft. Riley for eight years. He was a very good welder and also taught welding to returning World War II service men. He built several of his farm implements, a disk, a listed corn cultivator, and several hydraulic hoist wagons. In the late 1970s he worked for Nemaha County driving a rock truck and working on the road crew. He later worked for the Green Thumb Organization, remodeling and repairing homes.
Roy was a man of variable industry. He could do many things and his hands were rarely idle. He continued to play in several dance bands for many years. His wife, Mary, played the piano and his son, Melvin, played the sax with them. He also played the drums with an old time band in Horton and was a member of square dance clubs in Seneca, Corning and Onaga.
His wife Mary preceded him in death on May 15, 1989.
Survivors are a son, Melvin, Seneca; two daughters, Thelma Rose Latta, Marysville, KS, and Kathryn M. Smith, Axtell, KS; nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Besides his wife Mary, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Leo, Lester, and Dale Gustin; three sisters, Adrena Johnston, Nellie Johnson, and Minnie Brown; and a grandchild James Robert Smith, August 8, 1961.
Funeral services will be 2 P.M Wednesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca, where he will lie in state after 8:30 A.M. Tuesday. The burial will be in Centralia Cemetery.
Memorials may be given for the First Congregational Church or the Crestview Manor Care Home both at Seneca and sent in care of the family.
