Florence, Kansas — Rose Marie Vinduska, age 84, passed away Sunday, November 11, 2018, at Newton Medical Center, Newton.

Rose was born May 23, 1934, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Stika) Vlk. She grew up and attended schools in Marion Graduating in 1952.

On May 25, 1954, she was united in marriage to Harold Vinduska at Marion. To this union five children were born, Gregory, Susan, Sharon, Debra, and Rebecca. In addition to being a homemaker and mother, Rose worked in the District Court of Marion.

She was a member of the Holy Family Parish, St. Patrick Catholic Church at Florence and the church altar society. She enjoyed sewing, crafts, and games.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son Gregory, a Brother Wencel Vlk, and a son in law Lester Henrickson.

She is survived by her husband Harold “Bud” Vinduska of Florence, daughters Susan Henrickson of Hays, Ks., Sharon (William) Hess of Marion, Debra (Don) Shipman of Florence, Rebecca (Ron) Savage of Florence, nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

The funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 19th at the Holy Family Parish, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Florence. The rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m. before mass. The committal will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery at Florence.

In lieu of the flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Florence Ambulance in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm St., Marion, Kansas 66861.

WaKeeney – Bob L. Critser, 91, passed away November 12, 2018 at his home in WaKeeney, KS.

Bob was born July 24, 1927 in Coffeyville, KS, the first son of Kenneth Marion and Audrey Lorine (Kuder) Critser. On August 2, 1946 he married Ruth May Nuss in Great Bend, KS. Bob was a United States Navy Veteran serving in WWII.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, John Eric and Marion Douglas Critser and an infant daughter, Pearl M. Critser.

Bob is survived by his wife Ruth Critser of WaKeeney; four daughters, Lorine (James) Kuhn of Kingsland, TX, Connie (Ron) Herdt of Smith Center, Nancy (Ron) Nichol of Hill City, Audrey (Edward) Macke of WaKeeney; one sister, Gloria Marsh of Pratt, 18 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 17, 2018 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, WaKeeney, with Pastor Randy Gibbs officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Burial will take place in the WaKeeney City Cemetery, WaKeeney, with military honors provide by the U.S. Navy. Memorials may be given to the VFW or Bethlehem Lutheran Church, both of WaKeeney and can be sent in care of All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS 66967.

Larned – Wendell D. Griffin, 84, passed away November 12, 2018 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.

He was born December 19, 1933 in Lyons, the son of David C. and Elsie E. Ford Griffin. A lifetime area resident; he worked for Roth Equipment, Morrill Hay Company, City of Larned and Larned State Hospital.

He was a member of the New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene, Larned and the American Legion of Great Bend. He served in the United States Army.

On June 20, 1954 he married Leona Sucht; then married Tenny R. Vincent October 21, 1988 in Larned. She survives.

Other survivors include; three sons, David (Theresa), Byron and Bruce (Elizabeth) all of Larned; a daughter, Brenda (Brian) Reed, Larned; a step-son, Jack Braley, Bosier City, LA; two step-daughters, Maggie McIntosh, Smith Center and Amy Hansen, Texas City, Texas; a sister, Connie Griffith, Wakeeney; seven grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place. A family memorial graveside service with military graveside rites will be at a later date in the Larned Cemetery, Larned, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the New Beginnings Church of the Nazarene, Larned or Medicalodges of Great Bend, both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Longtime Kanorado resident Luella Pearl (Rohr) Richardson, age 83, passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland.

Luella was born October 10, 1935 in Goodland to Reinhart A. and Alice P. (Nester) Rohr. She graduated from Sherman County High School in 1953.

On October 4, 1953, Luella married Doris Richardson at the Goodland United Methodist Church.

Luella was a devoted farm wife and mother. She enjoyed sewing and spending time with her family. She was a member of the Kanorado United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, and the Grant Homemakers EHU Club.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Doris; daughter, Linda; and infant brother.

She is survived by her son, Roger Richardson of Kanorado, KS; daughter, Connie Jo (Lowell) Coon of Goodland, KS. She is also survived by two granddaughters, Jessica and Sarah Johnson; two great grandchildren, Charity and Jaxon; and two step-grandchildren Amanda and Trent Coon.

Funeral service will be Monday, November 19, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. MT at Bateman Funeral Home, 211 East 11th Street in Goodland. Interment will follow the service at the Kanorado Cemetery in Kanorado. Visitation will be Sunday, November 18, 2018 from 4 to 6 p.m. MT at Bateman Funeral Home, 211 East 11th Street in Goodland from 4 to 6 p.m. MT. Memorials will be designated by the family later and may be left at the services or mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and information www.batemanfuneral.com

Angela Marie Stecklein Friess, age 99, passed away on November 11, 2018 at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas. She was born on January 17, 1919 in Ness County, Kansas the daughter of Paul and Cecilia (Klaus) Gabel.

At the young age of 13 she entered the Adorers of Precious Blood Convent in Wichita on August 25, 1932. She served as a nun for 32 years before leaving on June 3, 1964. She received her Masters in Education from Creighton University in 1961. She taught in many schools in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas. She ended her teaching career at Sacred Heart School in Ness City. She played the organ for Sacred Heart Church and was a member of the Altar Society.

On August 1, 1964 she married Isadore Stecklein in LaCrosse, Kansas. He preceded her in death on January 4, 1984. She then married Lewis Friess on August 31, 1985 in Ness City. He preceded her in death on August 8, 2011.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Louis, Sebastine, Pete, Mike, Emanuel, and Joe; and ten sisters, Adeline, Regina, Rose, Francis, Pauline, Irene, Louise and two infant sisters.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Ness City followed by burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Rosary and Parish Vigil will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018, 6:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home. Viewing will be on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given toward masses or to the Sacred Heart School.

Floris R. Weiser, 95, of Oakley, died Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at the Logan County Manor, Oakley. He was born December 29, 1922, in Loretta, KS to Hugo and Barbara (Urban) Weiser. Floris graduated from Healy High School in 1941 and was a veteran of WWII. He married Viola Weber on January 8, 1946. Together they owned and operated the Dairy King, in Oakley, for 26 years. Floris was an avid relic hunter for over 40 years. His collection is housed at the Fort Wallace Museum, Wallace, KS. Floris also enjoyed collecting stamps, coins, hot wheels and pens.

Floris was preceded in death by his wife, Viola; parents, Hugo and Barbara Weiser and sisters, Viola Seifried and Violet Weber.

He is survived by his children, Lonnie (Leta) Weiser, Randy (Carol) Weiser, Mickey (Brenda) Weiser and Sherry (Paul) Schwartz; brother-in-law, Ron Weber; sisters-in-law, Mary Garnhart and Kathy Weber; sixteen grandchildren and thirty five great grandchildren.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, November 16, 2018, at Baalmann Mortuary, Oakley, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 17, 2018, at St. Joseph Church, Oakley. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Fort Wallace Museum, St. Joseph Church, or the Logan County Manor in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Willetta Sprenkel, age 96, of Quinter, passed away, Thursday, November 1, 2018 in Levittown, PA.

(Obituary from Willetta’s daughter, Kathy’s perspective)

Mom will be known for her beautiful smile and the way she made people feel… her smile making a lasting impression, especially these last few years. As one of her Quinter friends recently wrote, she was “… one of a kind and a light that shone every day on someone.” I’ll remember her as my mother, and I feel very fortunate to have had her in my life for so long—long enough to have developed a close, supportive relationship.

Willetta Mae was born on July 30, 1922, to Vernon and Daisy Blickenstaff. She was one of five children, and she spent her first eighteen years living on a farm near Quinter, Kansas. She met the man who would become her husband in first grade—if not before. His name was Marvin Sprenkel, and they went through school together in the same class until they graduated in 1940. They married shortly after they graduated from high school, and then Daddy enlisted in the service. He was gone for three years.

After he returned, they eventually started a business in Quinter called Sprenkel Home and Auto Supply. It was located on Main Street, and they lived in a small house behind the store. They had two children… Kathy (that’s me) and my sister Libby. Mom was a homemaker who was involved in the church and in a few local clubs. Her family—both near and far away– was always most important to her. She organized our family reunions, couldn’t wait for everyone to arrive, and cried when it was time to say good-bye. We moved to a bigger house in 1954, and that’s where they lived until Daddy died in 2014.

My mother continued to be involved In the Methodist Church for the rest of her life. She was committed to the Mexican American Ministries in Garden City, the Clothes Like New store that supported the golf course and then the library, and she volunteered in the elementary school. She was known for her organizational skills, for her good nature, and for her wit and sense of humor. She was also known as a great cook—especially her skill at baking pies. Mom was fiercely proud of Quinter and all it stood for, never really understanding why anyone (including me) would want to live any place else.

My parents suffered a tremendous loss on June 16, 1964, when their daughter Libby died in a freak accident at the pool. Their strong faith helped them survive this tragedy, and even though their hearts had broken, they chose life. Eventually, both would come to say that they’d lived very good lives.

I write about both Mom and Daddy, even though this is Mom’s obituary. I do that intentionally, because their marriage was so close that at times it was hard to know them separately. They were married for 72 good years, and they truly adored each other. They had three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren—Mindy and Andy Sloaf with children, Daisy, Torin and Lila; David and Katey Frankel with children Reilly Marvin and Wyatt Quinter; and Susan and Jon Schimpf with children Addison, Carter and Jonathan. My parents loved and developed close relationships with each and everyone of them!

Mom lived the last four years of her life in Yardley, Pennsylvania, even though she often thought she was in Quinter, and we certainly never told her differently. She was content and happy, and her smile made all of us feel better for having seen it. During the last few hours of her life, one of her caregivers came in to see her, saying, “My heart is breaking. I really loved your Mama. She was my favorite. I could be having a rough day coming to work, but I knew as soon as I’d see Miss Willetta, and she’d smile, I’d know everything was going to be okay. Her smile just made us all feel good.” Her words made me cry, but also made me feel incredibly proud. We are going to miss Mom, but she made the world a better place, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her, is richer for the experience.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 15, 2018, at Quinter United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Baker Township Cemetery, Quinter.
There will be a short visitation at church from 9:00 to service time, Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to the United Methodist Church or the Jay Johnson Library of Quinter, or to Girls Unlimited, 102 W. Maple Ave., Langhorne, PA 19047. Donations made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.