Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Freda C. Jones
1908 - 2005
HAYS - Freda C. Jones, 96, died Feb. 13 at St. John's Nursing Home. She was born July 26, 1908, in Alexander, the daughter of Henry A. and Emma M. Yost. She attended school in Alexander. She married
Alpha L. Jones on Dec. 7, 1945, in Dodge City. He died April 12, 1980. A lifetime resident of Alexander, until 1996 when she moved to Hays, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Jones was a member of the United Methodist Church in Alexander, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary of La Crosse. Survivors include one step-son, Floyd Jones of Newport Beach, Calif.; one daughter, Sharolyn Legleiter of Hays; one stepdaughter, Joan Cooley of El Paso, Texas; and eight grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one step-son, Edgar Jones; one step-daughter, Margaret Phillips; two brothers, Leonard Yost and Lloyd Yost; and one infant brother. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Deb Harvey officiating. Burial will be at the Alexander cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse, and from 1 to 1:50 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church. Funeral arrangements provided by Janousek Funeral Home 719 Pine La Crosse, KS 67548
Donald W. Stout
1942 - 2005
LARNED - Donald W. Stout, 62, died Feb. 8 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. He was born Oct. 21, 1942, in Wynn, Ark., the son of Bert and Ida Lee Brewster Stout. A longtime Larned resident, he was an oilfield worker. Survivors include one son, Donald Stout II of Larned; one daughter, Malissa Battaglear of Hoisington; an ex-wife, Cynthia Davidson; one brother, Roy Stout of Nowata, Okla.; four sisters, Martha Neldon of Wynn, Ark., Doris Moore of Larned, Brenda Evans of Hays and Linda Kaiser of Great Bend; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by five brothers, Bert Stout Jr., James Stout, Lamar Stout, J. C. Stout, and J. E. Stout. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Dan Lundgren officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and until service time Monday, all at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 67550
Richard 'Casey' Lee Casey
The Rev. Dick Ogle will officiate at the funeral for Richard 'Casey' Lee Casey at 2 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Casey died Feb. 9 at his home in Jacob's Creek, Hartford, Kan. Interment will be at Hilltop cemetery at Raymond. Memorial donations are suggested to the Richard Casey Expense Fund.
Cora Schmalian Freeman
1928-2005
WICHITA - Cora Schmalian Freeman, 76, died Jan. 5. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1945 and from Washburn University, Topeka, in 1949. She was a homemaker. Survivors include one daughter, Judy Miller and her husband, Jack, of Glenwood, Iowa; one son, Kent R. Freeman of Wichita; one sister, Eloise McFadden of Oklahoma City, Okla.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert R. Freeman, one brother, Kenneth W. Schmalian, and one sister, Bertha Doris Schmalian. A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 22 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Wichita, with the Rev. Daniel Spexarth and the Rev. Edmond Kline officiating. Burial was at 2:30 p.m. in the Great Bend cemetery with the Rev. Rene Guesnier, O.S.B., officiating.
Clara E. Smith
1918-2005
SALINA - Clara E. Smith, 86, formerly of Great Bend, died Feb. 6, 2005. She was born Clara Eugene Ewalt on Nov. 27, 1918, in Great Bend. She was a homemaker. Survivors include one daughter, Norma Summers and her husband Thomas of Salina; one sister, Julia Bruce of Santa Fe, N.M.; three grandchildren, Ronald D. Summers and his wife Mary of Olathe, Karen S. Couch and her husband Danny of Salina, and Diane K. Cobb and her husband Jeff of Salina; 14 great-grandchildren, Shawn, Bret, Sara, Monica, Thomas and Paul Summers, Joshua, Erika and Rachelle Keller, Leslie Toney, David Miller, Crystal Ellyson, Haley Sreit and Jeffrey Cobb, Jr.; and four great great-grandchildren, Brett Summers, Jr., Dominic and Ryan Toney and Katelin Keller. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Franklin Harvey, a second husband, Leo Davies, and a third husband, Herbert Smith. Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Friday at the Church of Christ in Salina with the Rev. Jimmie Keas officiating. Entombment followed in the Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Church of Christ in care of Ryan Mortuary in Salina. Funeral arrangements provided by Ryan Mortuary 137 N. Eighth Salina, KS 67401
Alice M. Kinsey
1926-2005
HUTCHINSON - Alice M. Kinsey, 78, died Feb. 10 at her home. She was born Sept. 29, 1926, in Otis, the daughter of George and Sophia Kinsfather Freidenberger. She graduated from Bison High School in 1937. She married
Raymond Leroy Paschall; he preceded her in death. She then married
Vince E. Kinsey in Las Vegas, Nev., in 1976. He died March 14, 1986. A 25-year deli employee at Dillon's and 10-year snack bar employee at Wal-Mart, she was a longtime Hutchinson resident. Kinsey was a member of the Women's International Bowling Conference, and an auxiliary member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. She attended the New Life Church of the Nazarene in Hutchinson. Survivors include four daughters, Lori Hendershot and Alana Paschall of Hutchinson, Deborah Paschall-Glowcki of Malans, Switzerland, and Suzanne Paschall of Saskatoon, Canada; four brothers, Herbert Freidenberger of Dundine, Fla., Richard Freidenberger of Wichita, Alex Freidenberger of Bison and George Freidenberger of Otis; three sisters, Esther Brack and Helen Lorenz, both of Great Bend, and Ruth Ward of Ukiah, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Alma Deines. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Andy Heer officiating. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran cemetery in Otis. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson. Memorials are suggested to the Hospice Care of Kansas or the New Life Church of the Nazarene Youth Program in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Elliot Mortuary 1219 N. Main Hutchinson, KS 67501 620-663-3327
Alvin L. Maneth
1934-2005
SUN CITY, Ariz. - Alvin L. Maneth, 70, died of illness Feb. 5, 2005, in his Sun City, Ariz., home, with his family by his side. He was born June 12, 1934, in Great Bend, Kan., the son of Henry J. & Lena (Hlavaty) Maneth. He graduated from Great Bend High School and Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kan., with a major in industrial arts and a minor in psychology. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany from 1954-1957. He moved to Arizona in 1971. He was known as a hard-working person who was passionate about his work. He was a great entrepreneur, successful home builder, real estate investor, car dealer and business owner of Al's Scooters. Some of the clubs he was a member of are Phoenix Model A Club, Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, board member of Arizona Early Days Gas Engine and Tractor Association and former president of Optimist Club of Wichita, Kan., associated with Soap Box Derby and Boys and Girls Club. Maneth is survived by his wife Jolene (Schremmer) Maneth and three children, Darrin Maneth of Phoenix, Ariz., Tamee Verdone of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Danielle Rolfe of Portland, Ore.; seven grandchildren, Christopher, Tyler, Alexis, Nicholas, Candace, Dylan and Preston; and a sister, Betty Wondra of Great Bend, Kan. He was a very caring person who touched many lives. He'll always be in our hearts and we feel lucky and proud to have had him as our father and husband. Rosary Service will be held at 5 p.m. Feb. 16 at Advantage Funeral Services (11211 Michigan Ave, Youngtown, Ariz.). Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at St. Clement of Rome (15800 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City). Graveside Honors Service will be at 12:30 p.m. at National Memorial cemetery of Arizona (23039 N Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix).
Melva J. Merlau
1934-2005
HOISINGTON - Melva J. Merlau, 70, died Feb. 10 at her home. She was born Dec. 13, 1934, at Hoisington, the daughter of Jerome and Lenora Cromwell Donovan. Melva married
Edson Merlau on Nov. 5, 1964, at Hoisington. He survives. She was a housewife. She was a lifetime resident of Hoisington. She was a former member of Vine United Methodist Church and a current member of First United Methodist Church, in Hoisington. She also volunteered for the Boy and Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and various Drum and Bugle Corps. She was also a coordinator for the Friendship Meals. Survivors include her husband, Ed Merlau of the home; three sons, Rondy Merlau of Wichita and Annette of Hoisington, Virgil Merlau and wife Ginger of Wichita, and Jerry Merlau and wife Chelle of Dallas, Texas; two daughters, Mary Lyne Grandclair and husband Lee of Hoisington and Anita Merlau of Tampa, Fla.; her mother, Lenora Donovan of Hoisington; one brother, Gerald Donovan of Hoisington; one sister, Delora Donovan of Wichita; 10 grandchildren, Matthew Grandclair and wife Amanda, Tyler Grandclair, Wyatt Grandclair, Daphne Stalcup and husband Barry, Evan Merlau, Alaina Merlau, Erin Merlau, Liberty DeFehr and husband Cale, Leighton Merlau, Emily Rose Merlau; and four great-grandchildren, Cole Grandclair, Madison Grandclair, Grace Grandclair and Dakotah DeFehr. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerome Donovan; by one brother, Marvin Donovan; and by one grandson, Ryan Merlau. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial was at the Hoisington cemetery. Contributions are suggested to Kans for Kids or Great Bend Humane Society, in care of the funeral home.
Elmer F. Hofmeister
1912-2005
CLAFLIN - Elmer F. Hofmeister, 92, died Feb. 11 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend. He was born Sept. 23, 1912, at Dubuque, the son of Frank and Minnie Ahrens Hofmeister. He married
Menta Earhart Oct. 12, 1947, at Parsons. A retired farmer and stockman, he had been a lifetime Claflin resident. Hofmeister was a member of the United Methodist Church in Claflin and a former church trustee, 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 420 in Holyrood, and 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge No. 424 in Claflin. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Staff. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Fred Hofmeister of Claflin; three daughters, Betty Ruhlen and Helen Hawley, both of Lawrence, and Phyllis Hofmeister of Hutchinson; one sister, Evelyn Simmons of Claflin; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one great-granddaughter, Emily. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Leo Thorne and the Rev. Sarah deSalazar officiating. Burial will be at the Dubuque cemetery, in rural Dubuque. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or to the American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Frank J. Cikanek
1915 - 2005
WILSON - Frank J. Cikanek, 89, died Feb. 9 at Salina Regional Health Center. He was born Dec. 11, 1915, in Ellsworth County, the son of Rose Jurinka and Joseph Cikanek. He married
Rose Pejsha Mattas on June 17, 1961, in Wilson. A lifetime resident of Wilson, he was a farmer/stockman. Cikanek was a member of Vesmir CSA Lodge. Survivors include a sister, Evelyn Lyons of Denver; two stepdaughters, Wilma Olds and Alma Deutsch, both of Wilson; five nephews, Raymond Fried of Roscoe, Texas, Terry Cikanek of Stockton, Joe Cikanek of Hutchinson, Derald Lyons of Parker, Colo., and Robert Lyons of Corpus Christi, Texas; and two nieces, Donna Lyons of Orange, Calif., and Rose Marie Degenhardt of Wichita. He was preceded in death by a sister, Wilma Fried, and a brother, Harry. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Foster Mortuary Chapel in Wilson, with Sister Diane Wagner officiating. Interment will be in St. Wenceslaus cemetery, Wilson. Friends may call at the mortuary from noon until 8 p.m. Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and 8 a.m. until service time Monday. Memorial donations for the Wilson Opera House Corp. can be sent in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary Inc. 610 24th St. Wilson, KS 67490
Melva Merlau
1934 - 2005
HOISINGTON - Melva Merlau, 70, died Feb. 10 at her home. She was born Dec. 13, 1934, at Hoisington, the daughter of Jerome and Lenora Cromwell Donovan. Melva married
Edson Merlau on Nov. 5, 1964, at Hoisington. He survives. She was a housewife. She was a lifetime resident of Hoisington. She was a former member of Vine United Methodist Church and a current member of First United Methodist Church, in Hoisington. She also volunteered for the Boy and Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, and various Drum and Bugle Corps. She was also a coordinator for the Friendship Meals. Survivors include her husband, Ed Merlau of the home; three sons, Rondy Merlau of Wichita and Annette of Hoisington, Virgil Merlau and wife Ginger of Wichita, and Jerry Merlau and wife Chelle of Dallas, Texas; one daughter, Mary Lynn Grandclair and husband Lee of Hoisington; her mother, Lenora Donovan of Hoisington; one brother, Gerald Donovan of Hoisington; one sister, Delora Donovan of Wichita; eight grandchildren, Matthew Grandclair and wife Amanda, Tyler Grandclair, Wyatt Grandclair, Daphne Stalcup and husband Barry, Evan Merlau, Alaina Merlau, Erin Merlau, Liberty DeFehr and husband Cale, Leighton Merlau, Emily Rose Merlau; and four great-grandchildren, Cole Grandclair, Madison Grandclair, Grace Grandclair and Dakotah DeFehr. She was preceded in death by her father, Jerome Donovan; by one brother, Marvin Donovan; and by one grandson, Ryan Merlau. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today, Friday, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., also visitation 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, all at the funeral home. Contributions are suggested to Kans for Kids or Great Bend Humane Society, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main / P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
