Kenneth “Kenny” Hilmes, age 66, of WaKeeney, passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney, Kansas. He was born April 23, 1951, in Ransom, Kansas, to Henry J. and Armella (Luetters) Hilmes.

Kenny was a 1970 graduate of Ransom High School. On May 30, 1997, he was united in marriage to Brenda Deines in WaKeeney. They enjoyed 20 years of marriage together. He spent thirteen years of his working life as a farmhand for Louis Rosproy, then went on to work for Trego County Road and Bridge as a heavy equipment operator for 17 years, until retirement. He was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Kenny loved to take time for a good fishing trip, or sit down to watch his favorite basketball team, the KU Jayhawks. He was also a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. Usually, if you saw Kenny, you’d see his dog “Buddy” somewhere nearby. His kind heart will leave a lasting impression on many.

Survivors include his wife, Brenda of WaKeeney; two brothers, Fred (Gladys) Hilmes of Ness City, Kansas, and Dan (Ninfa) Hilmes of Othello, Washington; brother-in-law, Shawn (Kerah) Deines of WaKeeney; sister, Karen (Larry) Interman of Dodge City, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Carol Hilmes, Renea Williams, and Janelle Deines of WaKeeney; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Donald, Larry, and Alan; and sister, Sandra.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30, Monday, April 9, 2018, at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home in WaKeeney. There will be a parish vigil service immediately following at 7:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. Donations to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Mildred Ann Boyer was born August 27, 1928, in rural Reno County, KS. She passed away Thursday, April 6, 2018, in the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital at Wakeeney, KS at the age of 89.

Education was important to Mildred. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Emporia State Teacher’s College and her Master’s Degree from Fort Hays State College. Mildred’s first teaching assignment was in Wakeeney, KS following the devastating tornado June 1951. She had a class of 50 students her first year.

It was in Wakeeney where she met and later married Richard L. Hladek on February 6, 1954 in Hays, KS.

After a few years, Richard and Mildred moved to Great Bend, KS for a brief period where she continued her teaching. Then they returned to Wakeeney. Mildred took a break from teaching while she raised her young children. When she returned to teaching, Mildred taught in Ogallah, KS before returning to the Wakeeney School District until retirement.

Mildred enjoyed time with family, cross stitching, antiques, flowers, quilts and her KU basketball.

Those left to mourn her passing are: a son, Mark Hladek, of Collyer; two daughters, Cindy (Charles) Nussbaum, of Topeka; Christy (Larry) Schmitz, of Reading, KS; two grandchildren, Carissa (Kirby) Eads of Bel Aire, KS; and Brannon Schmitz of Reading; and two great grandchildren, Grace and Nash Eads, of Bel Aire.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband and an infant daughter, Merri Ann Hladek; and her parents.

The grief we feel today is a powerful and universal feeling, but in time will be survivable. We bid Mildred farewell today, but we’ll always have precious memories to hold in our hearts.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.  Burial will be in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday evening, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Gove County Medical Center Long Term Care. Donations to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Joyce J. Banbury, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, April 03, 2018, at her home in Russell.

Joyce was born on August 24, 1934, in Holton, Kansas, the daughter of Charles and Loreda (Godsey) Raymond. She grew up in Smith Center, Kansas and graduated from High School in Topeka, Kansas in the class of 1952. After high school she attended Ft. Hays State University for 3 years and later received her B.A. from Kansas State University. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Conrad Banbury on August 20, 1969 in Smith Center, Kansas. From this union they took great joy in raising Joyce’s two sons Martin and Michael.

Joyce owned and operated Banbury Cross in the 1970’s, Wheatcraft in the 80’s and worked as a sales specialist for EBay from the 1990’s to current. With EBay she also worked as an education specialist teaching people how to buy and sell goods on EBay. With EBay she won several sales awards and was a well known presenter for EBay Live across the United States. She was a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She took great pride in helping raise her granddaughter Dannie’ll Heaton. She enjoyed painting, wheat weaving, gardening, growing flowers and power walking. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving family include her two sons Martin Heaton (Suzann) of Salina, Kansas, and Michael Heaton (Linda) of Winfield, Kansas; 5 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Judy Berridge and husband Conrad.

A memorial service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held at 11 A.M. on Thursday, April 12, 2018, at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Ezekiel Koech officiating. A reception will be held at the Trinity Fellowship Hall immediately follow the church services. Visitation with the family will take be from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at the family home at 212 North Main Street in Russell. Memorials can be made out to the mortuary and sent in care of the mortuary. A memorial will be determined by the family at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Lois Maxine Summers Glenn, followed her true love to heaven on Dec. 4, 2017. She was born Feb. 6, 1925 to Ralph and Courtney (Mitchell) Summers in Kansas City, KS. At age 7 she moved to Salina, KS, where she attended Salina High School and met the love of her life, Arthur Glenn. She attended Kansas State University and Marymount College before marrying Art in 1946. They moved to Memphis where she worked for the phone company to support them while he attended optometry school. After moving to Russell, KS in 1950, she was a homemaker for their family of five.

Lois was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell and Lakeview United Methodist Church in Sun City, AZ. She was a member of the Russell Hospital Auxiliary, Russell Arts Council, and Ladies Auxiliary of the Kansas Optometric Association. She worked with the Girl Scouts and volunteered with Meals on Wheels as well as other local causes. Lois enjoyed golfing with Art and loved to sing and dance.

She sang in the 1950’s with a female quartet, the Better Half Notes, and traveled with them to compete in a national competition. Carrying on her father’s legacy as a Shrine clown, she donned his costume and makeup and performed countless times at different events, one of the most memorable being at the state optometric convention as the Master of Ceremonies. Lois didn’t know a stranger and made friends wherever she went. What a truly one-of-a kind fun lady with a laughing spirit and always a positive outlook – we will miss those times when you broke out in dance steps, Mom!! Lois and Art were dearly loved by all who knew them. In the Brookdale community, where they last resided, everyone marveled at their blessing of a 72-year marriage and referred to them as a true love story. There’s some dancin’ going on in Heaven now! And a rooty-toot-toot!

Survivors include her 3 children, Mark Glenn (Melissa); Marilyn Staab (Lyle); and Wade Glenn; and 3 grandchildren, Justin Glenn (Katrina); Evan Glenn (Alex); and Lily Staab (Sean Cedillo); and 1 sister, Edna Young.

Celebration of the Glenn’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 13, 2018 at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with Pastor Ron Wedel officiating. Family will greet guests from 9:30 A.M. to service time the day of the service. Burial of ashes will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. No visitation will be held. A Memorial has been established with the Shriners Children’s Research Hospital or Kansas City Hospice. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Arthur Dale Glenn, 92, passed away peacefully on Nov. 7, 2017 in Overland Park, KS. He was born Novovember 21, 1924, to Arthur and Della Mae (Wilvers) Glenn in Salina, KS. He graduated Salina High School in 1942, and attended Kansas University before enlisting to serve our country in the Army Air Corp during WW II. He later attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, graduating in 1949.

In June 1946, Art married Lois Maxine Summers and they shared 72 years of marriage and were blessed with 3 children. He practiced optometry for 52 years in Russell, KS. He served as president of the Kansas Optometric Association and was on the State Board of Examiners. He traveled to Mexico with VOSH, a humanitarian project to provide eye care. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell and Lakeview United Methodist Church in Sun City, AZ. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and Isis Shrine as well as a lifetime member of the VFW and Elks. His passions included boating, hunting, fishing and golf. He truly valued good friendships. In retirement, he and Lois loved to travel by motorhome and spent many winters in Arizona and Mexico. In 2000, they settled in Sun City, Arizona, where he loved being in his “little paradise” and orchard until 2013, when they moved to Overland Park, KS. We so enjoyed having them back in Kansas and will greatly miss this kind, generous man who truly had a heart of gold.

He is survived by his 3 children, Mark Glenn (Melissa); Marilyn Staab (Lyle); and Wade Glenn; and 3 grandchildren, Justin Glenn (Katrina); Evan Glenn (Alex); and Lily Staab (Sean Cedillo).

Celebration of the Glenn’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 13, 2018 at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with Pastor Ron Wedel officiating. Masonic Rites will be conducted by the Russell Masonic Lodge. Family will greet guests from 9:30 A.M. to service time the day of the service. Burial of ashes will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. No visitation will be held. A Memorial has been established with the Shriners Children’s Research Hospital or Kansas City Hospice. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.