Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Hettie Silvernagel
1917-2005
Hettie Silvernagel, 88, died Feb. 4 at Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was born Feb. 1, 1917, in King City, Mo., the daughter of Oliver and Leola Helms Hutchcraft. She married
Clarence Silvernagel Sept. 26, 1987, in Junction City. She was a homemaker, and a resident of this area for most of her life. Silvernagel was of the Episcopal faith. Survivors include her husband, Clarence, of their home here; a son, Jim Reichard of Great Bend; two daughters, June Gabbard of Holyrood and Roberta Waldron of Junction City; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Art and Edward Reichard, a daughter, Judy Reichard, and two sisters, Pauline Decker and Oranna Carlise. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Claflin cemetery, with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Senior Center. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Erma Jean (Luerman) Kilian
1935-2005
RUSSELL - Erma Jean (Luerman) Kilian, 70, died Feb. 3 at Hays Medical Center, Hays. She was born Jan. 21, 1935, on the Luerman family homestead near Dubuque. She was the second daughter of Edward and Alvena (Dick) Luerman. She attended grade school while living on the farm near Dorrance. She graduated from Russell High School with the Class of 1952. She married
Richard Carl Kilian Jan. 12, 1953, at Muskogee, Okla. They lived in Russell their entire married
life. She worked at Nickerson Farms, Michael Decorating and Laura's Creative Connections, and she also had her own jewelry business. Kilian was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, VFW Post 6240 and The American Legion Auxiliary, all of Russell. She was once nominated for 'Man (person) of the Year' honors in Russell. Survivors include her husband, of the home; two sons, Randall Kilian and his wife Terry of Hays, and Rick Kilian and his wife Robin of Russell; a daughter, Renae Kilian-Baker and her husband George of Boca Raton, Fla.; a sister, Virginia Bitter and her husband Gene of rural Hoisington; and four grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John Lutheran Church, Russell, with the Rev. Henry J. Hartman officiating. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary in Russell, where the family will receive friends from 4 to 5:30 p.m. today. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John Lutheran Church or to the Dream Theater and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Pohlman-Heise Mortuary 610 North Maple Russell, KS 67665
Mathilda 'Tillie' J. Kramer
1921-2005
Mathilda 'Tillie' J. Kramer, 84, died Feb. 4 at Central Kansas Medical Center. She was born Jan. 9, 1921, in Odin, the daughter of Alois and Regina Hermann Prosser. She married
Joe D. Kramer on May 27, 1941, at Great Bend. He died July 8, 1952. She was a nurse aide for CKMC and home health for more than 30 years. She was a resident of Barton County most of her life. Kramer was a member of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community, Altar Society and VFW Auxiliary. Survivors include three sons, Dennis W. Kramer of Winfield, Harold A. 'Tony' Kramer of St. Charles, Mo., and Joe D. Kramer of Pratt; three brothers, Joe Prosser of Hoisington, Bill Prosser of Ellinwood, and Julius Prosser of Odin; three sisters, Mary Birzer of Hutchinson, Helen Kaiser of Hoisington and Catherine Schremmer of Hays; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by four brothers; Tony Prosser, John Prosser, John Prosser, Louie Prosser and Leonard Prosser and four sisters; Anna Steiner, Jean Rome, Cecelia Tieperman and Eleanor Kingston. Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home, with vigil service at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend cemetery. Visitation will be today from 1-9 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice or Great Bend Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Rd. Great Bend, KS 67530
Gary D. 'Big Dog' Mawhirter
1943-2005
ST. JOHN - Gary D. 'Big Dog' Mawhirter, 61, died Feb. 3 at Veterans Hospital. He was born June 27, 1943, at St. John, the son of Kenneth H. and Ardena Florence Eidson Mawhirter. He was a farmer/stockman. Mawhirter was a member of the VFW in St. John and was a U.S. Navy veteran. Survivors include his father, Kenneth H. Mawhirter of St. John; three brothers, Terry Mawhirter of St. John, Brent Mawhirter of Stafford and Randall Mawhirter of South Dakota; and five sisters, Shirley Aumiller of Great Bend, Janice Willinger of Hudson, Deanna Porter of Hutchinson, and Judy Tanner and Leanna Lutz, both of St. John. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John, with the Rev. Rodney Lyons officiating. Memorials are suggested to the VA Hospital in Wichita or the American Heart Association. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Funeral Chapel, Inc. 526 E. 4th St. John, KS 67576
Lillian Winifred Pierce
Lillian Winifred Pierce, 84, a resident of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005. She is survived by her son, Paul Pierce and his wife, Nadine Scala of Tome, N.M.; a daughter, Linda Kay Hamm and her husband, A.J., two grandchildren, Brian Hamm, and Rebecca Sutton and her husband, Troy, all of San Diego; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elva Petz of Kansas City, Kan., and Fern Walden of Chugiak, Alaska; and three brothers, John W. Nairn of Palo Alto, Calif., and Loren Nairn and Gene Nairn, both of Great Bend. Mrs. Pierce was preceded in death by her husband, Phil E. Pierce. She was born the fifth child of 10 children to Blanche and John Nairn. Mrs. Pierce was an accomplished organist and composer, receiving several awards for her voice. She was also a published poet. Mrs. Pierce was a member of the Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church. Services will be held on Monday at 10:30 a.m. MST, at French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel, Albuquerque, N.M. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. Friends may visit French Mortuary, University Blvd. Chapel on Sunday, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Presbyterian Kaseman Hospice Inpatient Unit, P.O. Box 26666, Albuquerque, NM 87125 or American Heart Association, NM Affiliate, P.O. Box 90790, Albuquerque, NM 87199-0790. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
William F. Prosser
1915-2005
ELLINWOOD - William F. Prosser, 89, died Feb. 5 at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood. He was born July 12, 1915, at Odin, the son of Alois F. and Regina Herrman Prosser. He married
Matilda M. Birzer on April 15, 1941, in Odin. A lifetime Barton and Rush County resident, he was a retired farmer/stockman and carpenter. Prosser was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Ellinwood, and a former member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church of Dubuque; and a member of Knights of Columbus, Odin. Survivors include his wife, Matilda, of the home; two sons, Gerald J. Prosser of Great Bend and Frederick E. Prosser of Ellinwood; four daughters, Louetta M. Haynes of Liberal, Wilma J. Stroud of Overland Park, Elaine J. Trantham of Sharon and Charlotte K. Schartz of Kingman; two brothers, Joe Prosser of Hoisington and Julius Prosser of Odin; three sisters, Mary Birzer of Hutchinson, Helen Kaiser of Hoisington and Catherine Schremmer of Hays; 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Louie, Anthony, John and Leonard, and five sisters, Eleanor Kingston, Cecilia Tiperman, Jean Rome, Ann Steiner and Tillie Kramer. An Altar Society service will be at 3 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., both Monday, followed by a K of C rosary, all at Kimple Funeral Home, Ellinwood. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood with the Rev. John Maes officiating. Burial will be in Lakin-Comanche District cemetery, Ellinwood. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph School Living Legacy Campaign or to the Ellinwood Area Health Care Foundation. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Nancy Hickman
CLARKRIDGE, Ark. - Nancy Hickman, 48, died Jan. 28. Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Hickman of Clarkridge; two sons, Michael Hickman of Branson, Mo., and Joshua Hickman of Clarkston, Wash.; two daughters, Annetta Mermis of St. John, Kan., and Krystal Fisher and her husband Tony of Palco, Kan.; her parents, Kenneth and Nancy Pack, of Kansas; a brother, Kenneth Pack Jr., of Willow Springs, Mo.; two sisters, Patricia Ellington and her husband William of Pomona, Mo., and Barbara Guerra and her husband Roberto of Great Bend, Kan.; and nine grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today at KirbyBoaz Funeral Home in Mountain Home, Ark. Interment will be in Thacker cemetery.
George W. Stauth
1921 - 2005
ST. JOHN - George W. Stauth, 83, died Feb. 2 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. He was born Feb. 22, 1921, at Dodge City, the son of Vernon G. and Anna Belle Imel Stauth. He married
Helen Marie Kimberly on April 14, 1944. She died April 5, 2002. He was a resident of St. John since 1953. He worked as a plant operator at Northern Natural Gas Co., sexton at Fairview Park cemetery, St. John, carpenter/cabinet maker and cowboy. Stauth was a member of Masonic Lodge 254 and First United Methodist Church, both in St. John. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include a companion, Pat Cullett of Macksville; one daughter, Patty Stauth Cravens of Yukon, Okla.; one sister, Marlene M. Vance of San Antonio, Texas; and two grandsons. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Marie Stauth; four brothers, Dale E. Stauth, Vernon T. Stauth, Samuel K. Stauth and Billy A. Stauth; and one sister, L. Blanche Shelhamer. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in St. John, with the Rev. Roberta Fall officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Visitation will be today from 1-8 p.m. at Minnis Chapel, Inc. in St. John. Memorials are suggested to Masonic Lodge 254 or to First United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel, Inc. 526 E. 4th St. John, KS 67576
Thecla Tauscher
1915 - 2005
HAYS - Thecla Tauscher, 90, died Feb. 2 at St. John's of Victoria Nursing Home. She was born Jan. 20, 1915, at Walker, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Brockelman Frietag. She married
Robert Tauscher on Feb. 22, 1944, at Schoenchen. He died May 1, 1983. She worked in the laundry department of Asbury Hospital for many years. Tauscher was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and the Daughters of Isabella, both of Hays. Survivors include one son, Charles Tauscher and his wife Jeanette of Hays; three daughters, Geraldine Phillips and her husband Ed of Lecompton, Vera Hintz and her husband Tom of Manhattan and Janet Kirmer and her husband Ron of Great Bend; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Theodore Frietag, John Frietag and Lawrence Frietag; and five sisters, Anna Frietag, Loretta Hertel, Mary Scheck, Viola Dreher and Marcella Scheck. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be in the St. Anthony's cemetery in Schoenchen. There will be a Daughters of Isabella rosary at 6 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m. today at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. Friends may call at the funeral home today from 4-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Memorials have been established with the St. Anthony's cemetery Fund at Schoenchen. Funeral arrangements provided by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 20th and Pine Hays, KS 67601
Vivian H. Anschutz
1914 - 2005
DORRANCE - Vivian H. Anschutz, 90, died Jan. 31 at Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was born May 16, 1914, at Dorrance, the daughter of John P. and Ida Garrett Thielen. She attended schools in Dorrance. She married
Louis G. Anschutz Aug. 19, 1935, at Russell. He died Feb. 5, 1994. A lifelong Dorrance-area resident, she was a homemaker and a nursing assistant. Mrs. Anschutz was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Dorrance, and of the church's Altar Society. Survivors include a son, Norman Anschutz of Russell; three daughters, Joyce Barker and Eileen Keenan, both of Great Bend, and Ellen Spaulding of Andover; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. tonight at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Dorrance, with the Rev. David Metz officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Catholic cemetery, Dorrance. Friends may call at Foster Mortuary in Wilson from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. today. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Dorrance, in care of the mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary, Inc. 610 24th St. Wilson, KS 67490
Franices Z. Dean
1925 - 2005
HUTCHINSON - Franices Z. Dean, 79, died Feb. 2 at Golden Plains Health Care Center in Hutchinson. He was born Feb. 28, 1925, at Riverton, Neb., the son of Frank and Ruth Dean. He married
Ruby I. Browning Lea on Dec. 23, 1967, at Great Bend. She died Aug. 19, 1994. A resident of Hutchinson, formerly of Great Bend, he was a farm hand working for Harms Farms until he retired. He attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Great Bend. Survivors include one stepson, Melvin Lea of Great Bend; one stepdaughter, Norma Gray of St. John; 10 stepgrandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Gilbert, Floyd and Don Dean; and two stepchildren, Jimmy and Marvin Lea. Cremation has taken place. Funeral service will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory. Funeral arrangements provided by PenwellGabel Funeral Home and Crematory 300 E. 30th Ave. Hutchinson, KS 67502
