Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Minnie Lang 1910-2003
HAYS - Minnie Lang, 92, died Jan. 25 at her home in Hays. She was born May 25, 1910, at Catherine, the daughter of Carl. W. and Anna Walters Staab. She married
Victor Lang Sr. on May 27, 1929 in Catherine. He died Nov. 28, 1997. Mrs. Lang was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Daughters of Isabella. Survivors include one son, Vic Lang of Hays; two daughters, Norma Buckler of Springfield, Mo., and Cindy Stillwagoner of Great Bend; three sisters, Lydia Yunker of Hays, Charlotte Ludes of Salina and Alice Oaks of Wichita; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by seven brothers, Jack Staab, Felix Staab, James Staab, Robert Staab, Eddie Staab and Elmer Staab; one infant brother, Donald Staab; and one sister, Irene Minter. Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6 tonight followed by a parish vigil service at 6:30 tonight at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Kevin Weber officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 today and from 9:30 a.m. until service time, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Masses in care of the funeral home.
Carla Jean Krause 1966-2003
Carla Jean Krause, 36, died Friday, January 24, 2003, surrounded by her family, after a courageous struggle with cancer. Services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, at Salem Lutheran Church, 9143 Haskins, Lenexa, KS. Burial will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bethel cemetery, Concordia, MO. Visitation will be Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., at the Amos Family Chapel of Lenexa, 10113 Lenexa Dr. Carla was born in Columbia, MO and raised in Great Bend and Hays, KS. Although her father was an MU alum and her brother a great fan, Carla chose KU, where she completed a journalism degree and became a devoted Jayhawks' fan - a situation that spurred great debate in the Krause household every March. Following graduation, Carla worked as an editor, most recently at Thomson Veterinary Healthcare Communications. She was a consummate editor and mentor who infused each project with wit, intelligence, and balance - Friday sushi orders often celebrated a hard week's work. Carla loved old Tracy Hepburn movies, New Yorker cartoons, good books, needlework, and art. She enjoyed ski trips with friends sometimes taking them all down the hill with her and she delighted in reconnecting with old friends via her laptop computer. She enjoyed transforming her house into a home, artfully painting and arranging each room - coworkers knew by the paint color in her hair each Monday which room Carla had most recently attacked. But mostly Carla loved people - her family, her friends, and her cat, Millie, to whom she dutifully gave insulin shots with the skill of a seasoned veterinarian. Her independent spirit, her quiet smile, her gestures of love - in recent days a thumbs up, a smile, a touch to her heart - will remain with us forever. Those of us privileged to walk with Carla through this past year will be forever changed by her courage, her grace, and always, no matter how tough the day, her quiet wit. Our great sadness in her death is surpassed only by our gratitude for her life. Survivors include her father and mother, Earl and Doris (Mitzi) Krause of Hays, KS; her brother, Brett Krause and his wife, Robin, Lee's Summit, MO; aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Carla's name to the KU Cancer Center or a charity of your choice.
Joleen T. Hammeke 1929-2003
Joleen T. Hammeke, 73 of Great Bend, died Jan. 25 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. She was born Oct. 17, 1929, at Ellinwood, the daughter of Conrad and Viola Liebl Feist. She married
Norman J. Hammeke Feb. 3, 1948, at Scott City. A lifetime resident of Barton County, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Hammeke was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and St. Rose Altar Society. Survivors include her husband of Great Bend; six sons, Allan Hammeke and Mike Hammeke, both of Wichita, David Hammeke of Houston, Texas, Colin Hammeke of Great Bend, Curtis Hammeke of El Dorado and Joe Hammeke of Hutchinson; three daughters, Colleen Rychlec, Mary Jeffrey and June Sloan, all of Great Bend; one brother, William Feist of Great Bend; one sister, Norma Lee Berscheidt of Yakima, Wash.; 23 grandchildren; and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, John J. Feist; and two granddaughters. Altar Society rosary will be at 3 today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Vigil service will be at 7 tonight at the church. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the church with the Revs. Gerald Hammeke and Angel Dy officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter and Paul cemetery north of Ellinwood. Friends may call from noon to 6 today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment Fund or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, both in care of the funeral home.
Carla Jean Krause 1966-2003
LENEXA - Carla Jean Krause, 36, died Jan. 24 at University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born Dec. 4, 1966, in Columbia, Mo., the daughter of Earl and Doris 'Mitzi' Krause. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism. A resident of Lenexa, coming from Great Bend and Hays, she was an editor of Thompson Veterinary Healthcare Communications. Survivors include her mother and father of Hays; and one brother, Brett Krause of Lee's Summitt, Mo. Memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Salem Lutheran Church in Lenexa. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bethel cemetery in Concordia, Mo. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Amos Family Funeral Home in Lenexa. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in Carla's name to the KU Cancer Center or donor's choice, all in care of the funeral home.
Clinton Richard 'Clint' Flegler 1987-2003
Clinton Richard 'Clint' Flegler, 15, of Great Bend, died Jan. 25 at Great Bend. He was born Dec. 6, 1987, at Great Bend, the son of Richard L. 'Rick' and Susan 'Sue' Block Flegler. A lifelong resident of Great Bend, he was a freshman at Great Bend High School and an equipment operator for Dakota Dirt Inc. Flegler was a member of National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Harley Owner's Group, GBHS freshman football team and a former member of Great Bend Middle School track, wrestling and football teams. He was a hunter and a fisherman. Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one sister, Fanisha Flegler of Great Bend; and grandparents, Dean and Barbara Flegler of Russell, and Lillian Block of Dunlap, Iowa. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church in Great Bend with the Revs. William F. Johnson and Dick Ogle officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery in Great Bend. Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Great Bend High School Athletic Department, in care of the funeral home.
Della G. Pfenninger 1914-2003
LARNED - Della G. Pfenninger, 88, died Jan. 26 at Hutchinson Hospital. She was born Oct. 21, 1914, at rural Pawnee County north of Rozel, the daughter of John J. and Alma Joesfiak Eilts. She married
Charles L. Pfenninger on March 1, 1941, at Yuma, Ariz. A resident of Larned since 1945, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Pfenninger was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and F&M Sewing Club, all of Larned. Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Charlene Giles of Wichita; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Martha Blattner and Irene Rodie. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Larned with the Rev. Charles Grant officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight at Morell Funeral Home in Larned, and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Santa Fe Trail Center in care of the funeral home.
Leslie Layne Stein 1957-2003
Leslie Layne Stein, 45 of Great Bend, died Jan. 24 at his residence. He was born Feb. 21, 1957, in Great Bend, the son of Bernard Henry and Mary Gladys Borges Stein. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a veterinary assistant at Countryside Veterinary Associates and a painter at Bud Stein Body Shop. Stein was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church of Great Bend. Survivors include his father of Great Bend; one daughter, Mallory Christine Stein of Galatia; one brother, Gary Stein of Great Bend; and one sister, Renee Tatman of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Gabriel Stein. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Angel Dy officiating. Burial will be in the Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, both at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society's Great Bend Relay For Life in care of the funeral home.
Lester Sell 1926-2003
TIMKEN - Lester Sell, 76, died Jan. 24 at his residence. He was born June 28, 1926 in Schafer, the son of William and Clara Panek Sell. He married
Patricia Ann Koochel on April 19, 1948, in Timken. She died June 8, 1999. A lifetime area resident, he was a farmer and former school bus driver for USD 403. Sell was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Timken. Survivors include two sons, Stephen Charles Sell and Anthony Harrison Sell, both of the home; three daughters, Kathryn Clara Sell of Dallas, Texas, Mary Patricia Sell of Wichita, and Charlotte Ann Stos of Great Bend; two brothers, George Sell of Stilwell and Richard Sell of Wichita; two sisters, Irene Lichter of Centralia, Ill. and Ethel Litzenberger of Denver, Colo.; and two granddaughters, Heather Stos and Mandy Stos. He was preceded in death by one brother, Lee Sell. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Charles Mazouch officiating. Burial will be in the Holy Cross cemetery of Timken. Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home.
Maurice John Redetzke 1935-2003
HOISINGTON - Maurice John Redetzke, 67, died Jan. 24 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. He was born Oct. 18, 1935, in Great Bend, the son of Leo and Cecilia Schauf Redetzke. He was a 1953 graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy and a 1957 graduate of St. Benedict College. He married
Patricia Rydstrom on April 30, 1966, in Omaha, Neb. A lifetime resident of Barton County, he was a farmer. Redetzke was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus, both of Hoisington, a member of the Susank City Council for many years and a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Michael Redetzke and Kevin Redetzke, both of Hoisington, and Matthew Redetzke of Wichita; one daughter, Kristie Kaiser of Hoisington; two brothers, Clarence Redetzke and Norman Redetzke, both of Hoisington; five sisters, Marilyn Redetzke of Hoisington, Cecilia Monaghan of Clearwater, Fla.; Jeanne Reilly of Pittsburg, Calif.; Eileen Larkin of Spring, Texas, and Bernadette McCay of Colorado Springs, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one brother, Leo Redetzke. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today, followed by Knights of Columbus Rosary at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home of Hoisington. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will at the St. John cemetery of Hoisington, with flag presentation by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kans For Kids or Redetzke Seminary Burse, both in care of the funeral home.
Leo Norcross Jr. 1924-2003
LARNED - Leo Norcross Jr., 78, died Jan. 23 at Larned Healthcare Center of Larned. He was born Dec. 20, 1924, in Springfield, Mo., the son of Leo T. and Marie Norcross. He married
Joan House on Oct. 7, 1999, in Pratt. A longtime resident of Hoisington, later moving to Larned, he was a truckdriver for Bates Water Service and a roughneck in the oilfield, retiring in 1986. Norcross was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post of Hoisington. Survivors include his wife of the home and one sister, Joan Armagnac of Tucson, Ariz. There is no visitation or funeral service. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home of Hoisington.
Charles E. Aldrich 1912-2003
GARFIELD - Charles E. Aldrich, 90, died Jan. 22 at the Great Bend Health & Rehabilitation Center in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 22, 1912, in Pawnee County, the son of Charles J. and Ellen Anderson Aldrich. He married
LaVergne E. Appel on Sept. 5, 1937, in Hays. She died Sept. 21, 1997. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, he was a farmer and stockman. Aldrich was a member of the United Methodist Church, Co-op Board and school board, all of Garfield, and the Masonic Lodge. Survivors include two sons, Charles Phillip Aldrich of Winter Park, Colo. and Stanley D. Aldrich of Garfield; one daughter, DeAnne Schumacher of Scottsbluff, Neb.; two sisters, Ruth Hentz of Dallas, Texas and Gladys Makas of Rockford, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one brother, Dean Aldrich, and two sisters, Ruby Free and Louise Pence. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel of Larned, with the Rev. Ken Walker officiating. Burial will be in the Garfield cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until service time Monday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the mortuary.
Pauline Faye Crowley 1923-2003
DIGHTON - Pauline Faye Crowley, 79, died Jan. 23 at the Lane County Long Term Care Unit in Dighton. She was born Oct. 28, 1923, in Stafford County, the daughter of James Pleasant and Leah Elizabeth Keesling Lofland. She attended school in Great Bend and was a graduate of Great Bend High School. She married
Elmer 'Jiggs' W. Crowley on Dec. 7, 1945, in St. John. He died July 8, 2002. A resident of Dighton, coming from Barton County and Great Bend, she was a cook at Dighton High School. Mrs. Crowley was a member of the United Methodist Church of Dighton and American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include four sons, Ellsworth Crowley of Amarillo, Texas, W. Leon Crowley of Mobridge, S.D., and Gary Crowley and Kim Crowley, both of Dighton; one daughter, Doris Lee Iarossi of Topeka; one brother, James Lofland of Great Bend; four sisters, Alice Biskeborn of Bremington, Wash., Letha Luther of Hays, Darlene Unruh of Liberal, and Mamie DuBois of Almeda; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur Lofland, and one sister, Elsie Hiss. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Lennie Maxwell officiating. Burial will be in the Dighton Memorial cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. today at Boomhower Funeral Home of Dighton. Memorials are suggested to the church maintenance fund in care of the funeral home.
Jill Renee Southern 1955-2003
WICHITA - Jill Renee Southern, 47, died Jan. 21 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born June 21, 1955, at Kearney, Neb., the daughter of Jack M. and Nita Frank Horner. She graduated from Kearney High School in 1973 and Kearney State College in 1977. She married
Stephen Southern Feb. 3, 1989, at Honolulu, Hawaii. A resident of Wichita, she was a homemaker and a volunteer at Magdalen School, St. Thomas School and the Boy Scouts. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Scott Southern and Jeffrey Southern, both of the home; father and step-mother, Jack and Kay Horner of Kearney; mother-in-law, Marian Southern of Ellinwood; one brother, Jack Horner of Kearney; twin sisters, Jody Horner and Judy Salisbury, both of Ft. Collins, Colo.; two stepbrothers, Sam Sidner of Sidney, Neb., and Dan Sidner of Edwards, Colo., one stepsister, Susan Carlebach of Park City, Utah; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Nita. Memorial service will be Monday, Jan. 27 at Church of the Magdalen in Wichita. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Lord's Diner, 502 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214, Church of the Magdalen, 12626 E 21st St. North, Wichita, KS 67226, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265, all in care of Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Downing and Lahey Mortuary of Wichita was in charge of arrangements.
Donald Lynn Pitts 1952-2003
HUTCHINSON - Donald Lynn Pitts, 50, died Jan. 14 at his residence in Hutchinson. He was born June 22, 1952, at Perryton, Texas, the son of J.M. and Geneva Elleman Pitts. He was a resident of Hutchinson since 1993, formerly of Wichita. Survivors include his parents of Great Bend; one brother, Kenneth D. Pitts of Lancaster, Penn.; and one sister, Pamela K. Chambers of Great Bend. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hutchinson Friends Church with the Rev. Gary Getting officiating. The body was donated to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of Johnson and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory in Hutchinson.
