OSBORNE, KS – Carl Wilson Nonamaker, the only son of Wilson and Clista (McCormick) Nonamaker, was born on a farm five miles southwest of Cedar, Kan., on September 28, 1919.  He died at the age of 96 at Parkview Care Center, Osborne, Kan., on May 24, 2016.

In 1920, Carl’s family moved a mile west, onto their own 320 acres that they built a farm and home on.  Carl’s primary education was received a mile north of home, at Pleasant View, District #72.  In 1937 he graduated from Cedar Rural High School.  The next three years he worked the farm with his dad in the summers and held jobs through the winters.

Carl registered for the draft on Oct. 16, 1940 and was with the first group of men that left Smith County on Ground Hog Day, 1941.  Army training began with the 127th Field Artillery, which later became the 195th Field Artillery Battalion.  In Feb. 1944, Carl left America for England and on June 15, 1944, the 195th became the first heavy artillery battalion to land on Utah Beach in France.  The 195th served in five major battles in the European Theater before Carl, a Staff Sgt. in HQ Battery, was honorably discharged on Oct. 21, 1945.

Carl married Laura Williams of Alton, Kan., at the Rooks County Courthouse on August 27, 1948.  For the next 44 years they farmed side by side while raising six children on the Cronn 80, the farm located next to Carl’s parents, which he bought while serving in Germany.

After Laura’s death he remained working on his beloved farm until failing health required a move to Parkview Care Center in January 2008.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, son Arden in 1984, wife Laura in 1993, and his three sisters, Velma Draper, Letha Nedrow and Frieda Hagman Campbell.  He is survived by daughters Sheila (Kenton) Krehbiel, Colby; Deanna (Stan) Roach, Alton; Carla (Van) Dettmer, Agra; sons Thane of Gardner; Gary (Amber), Cedar; 13 grandchildren (Sharon, Theresa, Sherrie, Brenda, Rachel, Jason, Amanda, Amber, Keith, Russell, Renee, Kaitlin and Melissa), 17 great-grandchildren (with one on the way); several nieces and nephews and brother-in-law Bill (Carolyn) Williams, Alton.

Visitation will be held on Monday evening May 30, 2016 from 5PM until 7PM at the Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary in Smith Center.

Celebration of life services will be held at 10:00AM Tuesday May 31, 2016 at the Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary in Smith Center.

Burial will follow in the Cedar Cemetery with military honors.

The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be given to the Bull City Community Foundation in Alton and/or the Cedar Cemetery Fund and can be sent in care of the mortuary.