City of Hays
Beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, the 1200 block of Commerce Parkway will be closed to through traffic for pavement repairs. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of the same day.
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. Motorists should use caution in this area.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, call the city of Hays Public Works at 785-628-7350.
Jan Dirk Heyns, aka Jan Du Bruyn, beloved son of Izak Johannes and Isabella Margietha (Steinmann) Du Bruyn, was born May 1, 1950 in Lichenburg, South Africa. One of Jan’s biggest dreams was to come to the United States. On July 10, 2019, at the age of 69, Jan passed away at the Norton County Hospital in Norton, Kansas.
Jan met Elmarie at the end of 1973. They fell in love and married in 1975 and to this union four loving children were born. Jan was working with his son in Lenora as a rancher.
Jan was a very loving and compassionate person. He loved to play practical jokes amongst his family and make others laugh. He also enjoyed telling stories and helping people wherever he went. Jan would give his last cent to help someone who was in need. He also enjoyed being outdoors and taking walks. His greatest love was his family, especially his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Jan was a wonderful man who will be missed by anyone who knew him.
Left to mourn his passing are four beloved children, Elmar Du Bruyn; Izak Du Bruyn; Anina Du Bruyn; Willem Du Bruyn; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his beloved, Elmarie; one brother, Izak; one sister, Sarie; several other relatives and friends.
Jan is now rejoicing in heaven with his parents and one brother, Pite.
Jan will be taken home to George Western Cape, South Africa where his family will celebrate and honor his life.
Mary Ann (Holste) Oelke was born June 28, 1929 to Herman and Mary (Hoffbauer) Holste near Ludell, Kansas. She passed away on July 13, 2019 at the Hays Medical Center at the age of 90. Mary Ann was baptized on July 7, 1929 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ludell and confirmed on April 18, 1943. After attending grade school at the parochial school in Ludell, she attended Rawlins County High School. After graduation she worked at the Rawlins County Extension office.
On February 24, 1952 Mary Ann was united in marriage to Paul G. Oelke at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ludell. They were blessed with four children, Donald, Janet, Duane and Robert. They lived in Hoxie for a short time after they were married and she worked for the Extension Office in Sheridan County. In 1953 they purchased a farm north of Hoxie. One of the most important things to Mary Ann was raising her family to be open, loving Christians. She enjoyed working in her garden and attending to her many flowers. Faith in God was an important part of her life and she was involved in all church activities. She served as church secretary for over 30 years. Paul and Mary Ann enjoyed traveling. After Paul’s retirement, when the fall harvest was over they would take an extended vacation to enjoy the warmer climate, always taking time to visit family and friends along the way.
In 2006, Paul and Mary Ann purchased a house in Hoxie. Mary Ann enjoyed living in town and visiting with her neighbors.
Mary Ann is survived by her husband Paul, son Donald and wife Kaylene of Hoxie, KS, daughter Janet Meitl and her husband David of Dresden, KS, daughter-in-law Pam Bellew of North Platte, NE, son Robert of Rapid River, MI and family friend Tim Harvey; brothers Herb of Ludell, KS and Robert and wife Betty of Florida; sister-in-laws Barbara Holste of Detroit, MI, Louise Oelke of Hoxie, KS, Clarice Hyde of Sacramento, CA, JoAnn Oelke of Ottawa, KS, Alice Oelke of St. Francis, KS, and Carol Junge of Sun City West, AZ; Grandchildren, Jennifer Spresser (Curt), Jason Oelke, Ben Meitl (Angela), Christy Juenemann (Mathew), Devin Oelke (Jalene), and Brett Oelke (Leslea); Great-grandchildren, Avery Aspegren, Zachary Spresser, Dawson Spresser, Dylan Spresser, Andrew Meitl, Carsen Meitl, Ava Meitl, Alivia Meitl, Rowen Meitl, Hadley Juenemann, Brady Juenemann, Miles Juenemann, Charley Jo Juenemann, Bella Oelke, Lilliann Oelke, Emma Schamberger, Caleb Oelke and Lauren Oelke.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Mary Holste, son Duane Oelke, brothers John and wife Velma, Clifton and wife Irene, Gerhard and wife Lorna, Arthur and wife Doris, and Herman; sisters Laurine, Dorothy and husband Jack and Edith and husband Gilbert.
A Funeral Service is planned for Thursday, July18, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hoxie, Kansas. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 from 1:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas. Interment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to The Lutheran Hour or Sheridan County Benefit Walk. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com
Louene McBride, 104, Overland Park, formerly of Hays, died Monday, July 15, 2019 at Homestead of Overland Park.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Myrtle Marie “Myrt” (Cline) Oswald, 93, of Russell, Myrtle Marie Kansas, and formerly of Luray, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2019 at the Health Care Resort of Wichita, Kansas.
Myrtle was born on April 16, 1926 on the Cline farm east of Bunker Hill, Kansas and was the daughter of John Marion and Marie T. “Daisy” (Sechtem) Cline. She grew up in Bunker Hill and graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1943 and attended one year at Ft. Hays State University and one year at Brown Mackie College of Salina.
Myrtle was united in marriage to Ralph Laverne Oswald of Luray on February 16, 1947 in Salina, Kansas. The union was blessed with four children; John, Cheryl, Roger and Janis. They made their home in Luray until moving to Russell in 2016. Myrtle was a devoted wife and homemaker for her children and also worked part-time at the People State Bank as a teller. She wrote articles for the Natoma/Luray Independent and served on the Russell County Election Board. While her boys were young, she was a Cub Scout Den Mother. She was a member of the Luray United Methodist Church and enjoyed square dancing, gardening, quilting, crocheting and scrapbooking. For more than 28 years she and Ralph enjoyed RV traveling as “snowbirds” in Texas and Yuma, Arizona.
Myrtle’s surviving family include her husband of 72 years, Ralph; daughters, Cheryl Gibson of Pittsburg, Kansas and Janis Kelley of Frontenac, Kansas; sons, John Oswald (Judith) and Roger Oswald (Sue) all of Wichita, Kansas; sister, Phyllis Hampl (Eldon) of Luray, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Nathan Moore (Anita), Jordan Moore (Gary), Joshua Barr (Kristin), Jared Barr (Natalie), Jordan Barr (Elba), Morgan Douglas (Allan), Alicia Simon (Michael) and Grant Kelley; and 11 great grandchildren.
Myrtle was preceded in death by her parents, sister Lois Crissman, half-sister Bessie Phillips and son-in-law Neil Gibson.
A Celebration of Myrtle’s life will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at the Luray United Methodist Church with Pastor Les Rye officiating. Burial will follow at the Luray City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, July 16 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
A memorial has been established with Luray United Methodist Church. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler, Russell, Kansas
Garry Lyle Roberts passed away July 12th, 2019 at the age of 78, at the St. Joseph/National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
Garry was born February 1st, 1941 in Ransom, Kansas to Lyle Leicester and Ila Mendenhall Roberts. He attended a one room school house his first few years of school. When his parents bought their farm north of Quinter in 1947, he finished his schooling in the Quinter Public school system, graduating from high school in 1959. During this time he enjoyed competing in 4-H. One of the teams he competed on earned a trip to the National Livestock Judging competition in Chicago, Illinois. He often told the story of watching a baseball game on that trip, where Mickey Mantle was thrown out of the game and came walking up through the stands, passing right by him.
On September 30th, 1962, he and Deanna Sterrett were married at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Quinter. It was officiated by Deanna’s uncle, June McElroy. They began their married life working for Charlie Hockersmith on a farm south of Quinter, but later moved to the family farm where they resided together for the next 58 years, enjoying raising their children, crops, and livestock.
Garry is survived by his wife Deanna, a daughter Denise Coberley and her husband Mark of Nevada, Iowa, another daughter, Kimberly Roberts of Quinter, a son Darrin Roberts and his wife Tania, also of Quinter, and by his sister Sharyl Cass and her husband Doug of Hoxie, Kansas. Garry is also survived by 6 grandchildren, Mackenzie and Beau Coberley, and Caleb, Nathan, Jordan, and Anna Roberts. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Ila Roberts, as well as several Aunts and Uncles on both sides of the family.
Graveside service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter. There will be no public visitation or viewing.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Sheridan County Benefit Walk or Garry Roberts Memorial Fund (to benefit his grandchildren’s education). Donations to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.
Everyone is invited, after the graveside, to a luncheon at 920 Lincoln in Quinter.
In lieu of Pallbearers, Garry’s family would like to take the opportunity to thank all of you for your prayers, thoughts, and support over the past several months. Your kindness and caring has meant so much to the family and has lightened the burden in more ways than can be counted. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
Merle D. “Dean” Ellner, age 89, died Sunday, July 14, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.
Services are 11:00 A.M. Saturday, at The First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall Street, Hays, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, at The First Presbyterian Church.
The family suggests memorial to the Good Samaritan Society of Hays.
Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or left at guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com
A full obit will follow.
BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for an alleged sex crime.
On Monday, police arrested36-year-old Scottie Ketch on a warrant for aggravated criminal sodomy by force, according to the Barton County sheriff’s department booking report. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Authorities have released no additional details and the Barton County Attorney has not been available to answer questions in the case.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have released a description of the suspect.
Just before 10:30p.m. Monday, police responded to a robbery at a gas station in the 3800 Block of West 21st Street in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 23-year-old female employee told police she had been robbed at gunpoint. While she was outside the business, an unknown suspect approached her with a gun, pointed the weapon at her and ordered her back into the store where he demanded cash.
The suspect described a white male in his late teens, 5-foot-6 inches tall, thin build, blonde hair and wearing silver framed glasses, took cash and fled the business on foot.
The suspect also wore a black hoody, grey sweat pants, white gloves, black shoes and a rubber mask duct-taped to his face, according to Davidson.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact police.
HANSTON – Lee Ross Salmans, 83, passed away July 14, 2019 at Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore, Kan.
He was born Jan. 7, 1936 in Larned, Kan., the son of Otha Truman and Sylvia May Clifton Salmans.
He graduated from Baylor University and was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant. His duties while in the Air Force included test pilot and physicist.
In 1963, he married Francie Stinnett and together they had four children, before her passing in 1982. Lee was blessed to be happily married to Karen Rufenacht for over 34 years.
After his retirement, Lee returned to Hanston where he served at Faith Fellowship Church and faithfully served his community. Additionally, Lee worked with his brothers, Larry and Walt, on their family farm.
Other survivors include: children, Nancy Salmans, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Gary (Kim) Salmans, San Antonio, Texas, Brian (Kristin) Salmans, Lawrence, Kan., Jill (Bob) Miller, Waco, Texas; two brothers, Larry (Marilyn) and Walt (Gwen) Salmans, both of Hanston, Kan.; two sisters, Sylvia Ann (BJ) Barron, Ft. Myers, Fla., Jana Jordan, Hays, Kan., eight grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Elaine Keeten.
Lee’s greatest legacy that he passed on to his children and grandchildren was not material things, but rather a legacy of character and faith. Lee was an extraordinary man who modeled exemplary integrity, and he will be greatly missed.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Faith Fellowship Church, Hanston, with Pastor Doug Ellison presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore. Burial will be in the Hanston Cemetery, Hanston with military graveside rites.
Memorials may be sent to Faith Fellowship Church in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 67854.
Judith Lynn “Judi” Morse was born Saturday, Nov. 22, 1952. She died Sunday, July 14, 2019 in Atwood, Kan.
Judy Younger was born Friday, April 26, 1963, and she died Monday, July 15th, 2019.
Services are pending with Baalmann Mortuary.
LOUISBURG, Kan. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas says President Donald Trump’s suggestion that four Democratic congresswomen of color “go back” to where they came was inappropriate because the women are Americans.
At a town hall meeting Monday in Louisburg, Moran says he disagreed with the congresswomen targeted in Trump’s tweets on many policies. But he said there is “nothing to be gained” by personal attacks on elected officials or Americans.
The president on Sunday said on Twitter that the four congresswomen hate America and should go back to their countries, and he continued his attacks Monday and Tuesday. All the women are American citizens.
Moran said “It is inappropriate to suggest they go home to any place – they are home.”
