Wilmetta “Willie” Irene Gideon, 76, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
Wilmetta was born on April 22, 1942, in WaKeeney, Kansas, the daughter of John W. and Pauline (Rohn) Dietz. She grew up in the Trego County and WaKeeney area and graduated from Trego Community High School in the class of 1960. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Glenn Gideon on September 09, 1960, in Hays, Kansas, and they moved to Russell, Kansas, in 1962. From this union Wilmetta and Glenn were blessed with 3 daughters Donna, Doris and Cheryl. She worked at Baxter Labs, United Telephone and worked as a bank teller at the Russell State Bank and United National Bank (Southwind Bank) for 23 years and retired in 2005. Her favorite job was fulltime wife, mother and homemaker for her loving family. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and volunteered at the Russell Hospital Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, cake decorating and catering, flower gardening, bingo and working with crafts. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and watching them play in sporting events.
Surviving family include her husband of 58 years Glenn Gideon of the home, three daughters Donna Bauer of Burlington, Kansas, Doris Jackson & husband Keith of Topeka, Kansas and Cheryl Prester & husband Brad of Russell, Kansas; brother Delmar Dietz and wife Diane of WaKeeney, Kansas; 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ernest and Alvin Dietz, sister Frieda Mohr and son in-law Bill Bauer.
A celebration of Wilmetta’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis Officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A. M. to 8 P.M. on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at the mortuary with the family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Tuesday evening. Memorials may be given to St John Lutheran Church or Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Joseph Michael (Joe) Stroemel passed away on December 20, 2017 in the hospital following complications of open heart surgery. He was 58.
Joe was born December 1, 1959 in Wichita, Kansas to his parents, Julius T Stroemel and Rose Ann (Lies) Stroemel. Shortly after, Joe’s family moved to Oklahoma City where Joe grew up. He attended Bishop McGuiness High School, graduating in 1978. Following high school, Joe attended Oklahoma State University graduating in 1982 with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He worked in Oklahoma City at Doyle Willis prior to moving to Denver.
In 1985, Joe moved to Denver, Colorado and began working as a Landscape Architect for Randall Blake, Inc. (now known as American Civil Contractors). Later he moved to Hamon Construction where he worked to help develop a landscape division. He left Hamon to pursue opportunities at T2 Construction. Following this, he began working at Rocky Mountain Environmental Construction. Then, in 2006, Joe started his own landscape maintenance company, Arbor Landscape Management, which he owned until 2015. He joined Designs By Sundown and then in 2016, Joe moved to Consolidated Division Inc., at which he enjoyed working until his death.
In 2008, Joe met his soulmate Caroline Goldberg Asbury. The two married in July of 2010 in a ceremony in Castle Rock, Colorado. It was a fairytale romance. The couple was perfectly matched. And, Joe very much enjoyed having a family and loved Emilie and Ross very much.
Joe loved farming, skiing, hiking, golfing, camping, fishing, hunting, playing softball, watching baseball, watching football, campfires, working in the yard, happy hours, going out to dinner, attending the theater, traveling, and anything related to Oklahoma State University. As long as he was spending time with friends and family, Joe was happy.
Active in his church, Joe served on the landscape committee, and he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and always enjoyed working the Friday night fish fry during Lent and the Tootsie Roll Drive.
Joe is survived by his wife, Caroline Stroemel (Goldberg Asbury) of Parker, Colorado. Caroline’s two children, Emilie Asbury and Ross Asbury of Parker, Colorado; three sisters, Ann Johnson (Jack) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; Mary Hauk (John) of Arlington, Texas; and Susan Stroemel of Tampa, Florida. He also is survived by two brothers, Mathias Stroemel (Bonnie) of Walla Walla, Washington and Ben Stroemel of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also has several nieces and nephews and one great niece. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Joe donated his corneas to give sight to two different people. Joe has now been cremated. A funeral mass and celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018. A rosary is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM, a funeral mass at 11:00 AM and a celebration of life at 12:00 PM. In addition, a funeral mass and another celebration of Joe’s life will be held in Walker, Kansas with internment to follow at St. Anna’s cemetery in Walker, Kansas on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 1:00 PM. Everyone is invited to attend either or both masses and/or celebrations.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking people to donate blood. Please use code #7391 or let the facility know the donation is for Joe Stroemel. In addition, donations may be made to The Knights of Columbus Chapter #7880.
Shirley Mae Schindler Breeden passed away on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 82. She was born on September 5, 1935 in Damar, Kansas to the late James and Jessie (Malone) Trible. She grew up in Damar and attended local schools. She was united in marriage to Abraham “Junior” Schindler on Feb. 26, 1952 in Hays, Kansas. They were blessed with two children Delores and Steven. She was happily married to Abe until his death on June 6, 1998. Later she met Kenneth Breeden at a singles dance. They began courting and on June 3, 2000 the Lord gave her a very happy second marriage at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton, Kansas.
Shirley was a faithful member of St. Thomas Church and the Altar Society. She enjoyed dancing, working in the yard, and tending her garden. She loved cooking for her family, and in her younger years became quite an accomplished seamstress. A woman of sincere love and gentle sweetness, she lived every day of her life loving others even more than she loved herself. Always putting the needs of her family, friends, and neighbors ahead of her own, she was a woman with a heart of gold who lived a life of simplicity, grace, and beauty.
Shirley is survived by her husband Kenneth Breeden of the home in Stockton; son Steven Schindler and wife Joyce of Topeka; son-in-law Joe Wageman of Omaha, NE; step-son John Breeden and wife Debbie of Rocky Mountain, MO; step-daughters Rebecca Rhea of Colby, and Leona Breeden of Hays; brothers James Trible and wife Marlene of Beverly, and Paul Trible and wife Gloria of Topeka; sister Kathy Trible of Stockton; grandchildren Shawn Schindler and Michelle Schindler; 6 great-grandchildren; 9 step-grandchildren; and 1 step-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents James and Jessie Trible; husband Abe Schindler; daughter Delores Wageman; sister Helen Pearson; and step-son Scott Breeden.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am, Friday, June 8, 2018 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow in Stockton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm on Thursday at the funeral home with a Prayer Vigil and Rosary at 7:00pm. Memorials are suggested to the St. Thomas Catholic Church and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. First Street, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences may be left at www.plumeroverlease.com
Shirley was a constant source of strength for her family and friends, just as they were for her. Having gone home to the Father, even now her spirit-filled heart continues to walk with us on this side of heaven. For we know our circle of strength was founded on faith, united in love, and kept by God, so that we will be together forever.
According to Ryan Hagans, interim fire chief, “consumer fireworks may be only sold within the city limits July 2, 3 and 4 unless the city commission suspends the sale and use of fireworks for safety reasons.” Fireworks may be sold in Hays during all hours on those dates.
All consumer fireworks legal for sale and use in Kansas are permitted to be sold and used in the Hays city limits. Bottle rockets and skyrockets are prohibited by state law.
Despite a statewide drought, late spring rains in Hays have made conditions favorable for Fourth of July fireworks.
The hours for discharging fireworks within the city limits are 10 a.m.-11 p.m. July 2-4.
“Persons using fireworks are responsible for cleaning up all the debris,” Hagans added. “Those who are found in violation of that may be fined up to $500 and 30 days in jail.”
The Ellis County Commission Monday gave the go-ahead to Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers to draft a resolution approving the discharge of fireworks within the unincorporated areas of Ellis County.
Myers recommended the dates and times fireworks are allowed as the same as the city of Hays.
In Ellis, city ordinance allows fireworks to be sold June 27-July 5 and discharged July 3-5.
In early May, Fort Hays State University held a news conference to help announce and celebrate a deferred gift to speech-language pathology programs from retired FHSU professor and department chair Dr. Marcia Bannister.
What an amazing impact story.
Here is an excerpt:
The initiator of the speech-language pathology program and its rich heritage was Geneva Herndon, a farm girl from western Kansas who came to Fort Hays State for her undergraduate degree in the 1920s. After teaching in western Kansas and obtaining a master’s at the University of Colorado, she came to a faculty position here in the 1940s hoping to teach theatre and direct productions. Later, while on leave to earn a Ph.D. in theatre at Northwestern University, she discovered the emerging profession of “speech therapy.” To our good fortune, she combined study in that area with her theatre studies.
Coming back to Hays with the coveted degree in 1948, she discovered that the Institute of Logopedics, a residential therapy program in Wichita, had just worked out an agreement with the college to offer services to the Hays community using a small portion of the basement of Picken Hall. Aha! To Dr. Herndon, that meant that if Fort Hays State could develop a degree in speech therapy, there would be a place for a practicum.
Three years later, in 1951, Fort Hays State approved Herndon’s proposal to develop a curriculum in speech therapy. Her first two graduates – in 1955 – devoted their entire careers to clients and students.
Speech-language pathology programs in the ‘50s, as now, had to have both academic and clinical faculty. Our first clinical instructor was Velma Wooster, who had become the wife of President Lyman Wooster. That marriage occurred sometime after he took his developmentally delayed grandson from Russell over to Picken Hall to be evaluated for speech therapy services.
Bannister
Herndon and Wooster were great models of professionalism. Geneva was my professor and mentor; Wooster my clinical instructor. Immediately after earning a bachelor’s degree in May 1961, I enrolled in the master’s program in speech therapy. Discovering that discipline was life changing for me!
After receiving my master’s degree in 1962, I spent five years in western Kansas schools helping students correct speech sounds, develop their language skills and become less fearful of their stuttering. Those were great years working with students and their caring parents.
In 1969, when Herndon retired, I had a Ph.D. well underway and was offered an opportunity to join the FHSU faculty. Over the next 35 years there were moments of blood, sweat, and tears, but we were ever striving forward.
From having essentially no program space initially, Malloy Hall was built in the mid-‘60s allocating four tiny rooms to the program. Our first expansion was accomplished in about 1974 by subdividing a classroom into small rooms. What an improvement but, continuing to grow, we were soon quite crowded again!
In 1981 radio, TV, and film departed Malloy Hall – and we got the space! Even though none of those rooms had windows, and using the piano elevator to get immobile clients to second floor was a challenge, we made it work! Then in 2000, faculty and students excitedly made many trips across the street carrying books and clinical materials to our new digs in the newly reconstructed first floor of Albertson Hall.
But no matter how limited our space and resources had been, we persisted with program improvement, benefiting from talented, motivated and caring students. In 1986, two significant events occurred: First, we became nationally accredited and, secondly, the Board of Regents approved a request to name our clinical service component the Geneva Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic.
It was 1994 when we became a free-standing academic department. Financial resources were limited, but we benefited from an endowment gift made many years before. The program stands today as the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Program space and status have grown!
I think you can see that my career as a speech-language pathologist has touched my heart and soul – and now my pocketbook! I want to help the program educate students in an exceptional manner. Very recently, this graduate program was recognized by SpeechPathologyGraduatePrograms.org as offering exceptional quality and value.
I am proud of the work being done by faculty to maintain that status. I know our students must be the most personable and remarkable on campus! I am thankful for our partnerships with the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the Scottish Rite Masons in making clinical services available to more adults and children.
The speech-language pathology program will continue to touch many lives in the future! It will prepare students for careers in assisting clients – young and old. It will benefit from additional financial resources. Thus my gift! With the continued support of the FHSU administration, our quality will shine out!
From my perspective, Dr. Bannister epitomizes all that Fort Hays State stands for – from discovering her passion and vision as a student, then practicing her skills and serving communities as an alumna, to returning to Fort Hays State as a professor who mentored and inspired the next generation of speech-language pathologists while building a highly respected program and, finally, making a significant deferred gift to sustain the department beyond her years. Amazing!
Her passion for speech pathology, her drive to “pay it forward” and her deep gratitude make up one of the many stories that weave together an incredible tapestry of the people and community of Fort Hays State University.
KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect who allegedly set fires inside Kauffman Stadium early Wednesday.
Depriest -photo courtesy KCPD
Just before 5a.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to Kauffman Stadium at 1 Royal Way in regard to an EMS call, according to Darin Snapp with KCPD.
A stadium security officer told police that just after 4:30 a.m. he made contact with a woman later identified as 31-year-old Bridget L. Depriest who had unlawfully entered the stadium.
The security officer noticed her on the field with a flashlight and made contact with her.
Depriest told security she had been in the park since approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday and had entered through a gate on the southeast side of the stadium.
She stated she had been there all day and had walked the field and stadium.
The security officer stated there was what appeared to be trash and a bag out on the field. He told the woman to collect it and leave. After collecting the items and putting them in a bag she left them by the south side dugout.
The security officer showed police where debris had been left on the field. When checking the field it was discovered that Depriest had set three small fires on the field causing small burn marks in the grass.
During an area canvass, authorities located Depriest outside the stadium on the south east side near a vehicle gate. She was taken into custody and transported to East Patrol for booking. She was issued a summons for trespassing and openly burning resulting in property damage, according to Snapp.
Officials will review security footage to determine how long Depriest had been in the stadium.
The Royals played in Anaheim, California Tuesday. They lost to the Angels 1-0.
Please be advised that seal coating continues on various streets throughout the city of Hays. The map below shows the work schedule for completing the project by Tue., June 12, 2018.
Seal coat is a spray applied in two coats with a dry time of 2 to 3 hours per pass, so the streets being sealed will be temporarily closed during this time.
On the date scheduled for treatment, all cars need to be moved from the street by 8:00 am. Streets being sealed will be closed from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Access can be achieved in cases of emergency.
Parking on adjacent streets is recommended during the daytime. Parking in driveways is okay if you DO NOT plan on moving the vehicle between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The seal coat treatment should not be driven on until it has set up (dried). It will stain surfaces such as concrete, carpet, or flooring if tracked from construction areas.
Please have all lawn watering devices turned off the evening before the scheduled date.
Please help keep the streets clean and dry for a smooth and lasting project. Traffic control will be set in areas of work being completed and picked up by the end of the work day.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Circle C Paving, at 316-570-4652.
SALINA — Alysia Starkey, associate dean of academics at Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus, will serve as interim CEO and dean of the campus while a national search for a new leader is conducted.
Starkey was appointed by April Mason, Kansas State University provost and senior vice president, following an all-university search process. She will begin her new duties on July 1.
Starkey will replace Verna Fitzsimmons, who is retiring from the position at the end of June. Fitzsimmons has served as CEO and dean of Kansas State Polytechnic since July 2012.
“Dr. Starkey’s 10 years of progressive administrative experience at Kansas State Polytechnic make her highly qualified to serve as its interim leader,” Mason said. “She has in-depth experience in the leadership, management and support needs of all academic programs at Kansas State Polytechnic. She has worked with faculty closely on a variety of issues, including curriculum development, workload and budgetary matters. She also has been involved in developing an inclusive and diverse campus and helping ensure the recruitment of diverse, high-quality students.”
As the interim CEO and dean, Starkey will report to the provost and serve on the Deans Council. She will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of the Kansas State Polytechnic Campus. She also will have full responsibility for providing leadership, management and support for all academic programs offered on the campus; all administrative units; high-quality undergraduate and graduate experiences; continued excellence and growth in research programs; recruitment and retention of high caliber, diverse students; effective fiscal stewardship and fundraising efforts on behalf of the campus; and more.
“I am humbled to serve as the interim CEO and dean for the Kansas State Polytechnic Campus,” Starkey said. “The campus has positive momentum in the areas of curricular enhancement, facilities improvements, research initiatives and industry training. The commitment from our faculty and staff to create quality learning experiences grounded in practical, real-world applications is inspiring. I am excited to continue the work with faculty, staff, students and alumni in leveraging the polytechnic approach to learning, growing enrollments in new and existing degree programs, and fostering an inclusive environment that supports the growth and development of students and employees.”
Joining Kansas State Polytechnic in June 2002 as a technical services/automation coordinator and assistant professor, Starkey was promoted to library director and associate professor in 2007, and to assistant dean of academics and distance education and director of libraries in 2010. She served as assistant dean of continuous improvement from 2012-2014 before being named associate dean of academics/undergraduate studies and promoted to full professor in 2014. She gained the additional duties of acting director for the School of Integrated Studies in June 2016. In October 2017, Starkey was named associate dean of academics and acting director of professional education and outreach.
Starkey earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University, a master’s in library science from the University of North Texas; a bachelor’s in psychology from Fort Hays State University; and an associate degree in social work from Colby Community College.
EMPORIA —A bullwhacker turned store-owner and a Kansas newsman with a background in law were inducted Tuesday into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame, according to a media release from Emporia State University.
Bill Kurtis, Contemporary Award Winner, inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame-photo courtesy Emporia State
The late Robert M. Wright and Bill Kurtis were recognized at the KBHF induction ceremony during the 46th annual Team Kansas Awards Banquet at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Lawrence.
The ceremony marks the 30th year of inductions into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame, located at Emporia State University. Business leaders selected for the KBHF are widely known for their contributions to Kansas and are recognized as role models. The KBHF recognizes historical contributors and present-day leaders who have made private enterprise work in Kansas and throughout the country.
At the age of 16, Wright took an overland trip to Denver, Colorado, as a trader, crossing the plains by wagon and coach. Wright was also a contractor for hauling grain and cutting hay and wood during this time. His experiences landed him a job as a post trader and as a representative of Dodge County in the Legislation at Fort Dodge in 1867. By 1872, Wright owned one of the largest commercial empires in the area, a general store in Dodge City.
Kurtis, a Florida native, graduated from The University of Kansas in 1962 with a degree in journalism. While seeking his Juris Doctorate at Washburn University, Kurtis worked as a television reporter in the area. Soon after experiencing and reporting an F5 tornado, Bill Kurtis abandoned his law degree and decided to pursue broadcasting at CBS in Chicago. Giving up his promising law degree proved to be an appropriate decision as he soon gained the respect of viewers, providing him with exceptional opportunities. Best known for hosting shows such as American Justice, Investigative Reports, and Cold Case Files, Kurtis also worked in a few films and television commercials.
Kurtis now resides in Sedan, Kansas, where he renovated old buildings, such as donut shops, gift shops, and convenience stores, into tourist attractions. In 2005, Kurtis founded Tallgrass Beef Co., focusing on the health and environmental benefits of organic, grass-fed beef. Between working with his company and renovating old Kansas towns, Kurtis still manages to appear in some television commercials.
For more information on the Kansas Business Hall of Fame and to read about all the past inductees, please visit https://www.ksbhf.org.
Perry D. Preusch, age 89, passed away on Friday, May 25, 2018 at the Monte Vista Grove Home in Pasadena, California. He was born on August 1, 1928 in Halstead, Kansas, the son of Robert O. & Esther Thone Preusch of Healy, Kansas, the youngest of five children. He attended the Healy schools until his junior year in high school when he transferred to Scott Community High School in the neighboring town of Scott City, graduating in 1946. After three years at the University of Kansas he transferred to the University of Southern California where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree and continued postgraduate work in Finance.
Perry served in the Korean War with the 186th Finance Disbursing Section and spent fifteen months in Kobe, Japan.
He spent his business career as an Investment Counselor and Portfolio Manager. He managed accounts for Trusts, Banks, States and publicly traded mutual funds and managed the Transamerica Casualty Company portfolio. Perry retired from Transamerica in 1993 and continued as a consultant for the Transamerica funds for an additional year.
On June 2, 1953, Perry married Nancy Lee VanAntwerp of Scott City, Kansas. They have made their home in the Pasadena, California area since that time. He was involved with various business organizations, a member of the Presbyterian Church serving as Elder, Trustee and Deacon, and was Treasurer of the San Marino Community Church and President of the church Foundation Board and the Board at Monte Vista Grove.
Perry is survived by his wife of 65 years, three daughters, Lisa Hitchcock, Lori Preusch and Lynn Roach, two son-in-laws Charlie Patterson and Joe Roach, five grandchildren, Michael, Stephen, Nadia, Kathryn, Cameron and one great grandson, Sage. He enjoyed tennis and gardening.
Funeral Services will be held at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 8, 2018 with Rev. John Lewis presiding.
In Lieu Of Flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City.
Wilmetta “Willie” Irene Gideon, 76, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, June 2, 2018 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
