Bruce G. Ward, age 78 of Seguin, Texas, passed away on March 22, 2019. Visitation will begin on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. with Rev. Cathe Evins and Rev. Ron Welborn officiating. A reception will follow in Hierholzer Hall. Private interment will take place at a later date. Bruce was born on February 3, 1941 in Covert, Kansas to Linden and Blanche (Heffernan) Ward.

Bruce attended school in Covert and Waldo, KS and graduated from Natoma High School, Natoma, KS. Proud high school moment was playing on a high school basketball team that took two state championships. He graduated from Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS and went on to receive a Master’s Degree. He held many roles with his education profession; teacher, coach, principal, superintendent. He retired from the education field in 1998 after being a superintendent for 11 years. In his retirement years, he enjoyed fishing, watching basketball, horse racing, and most of all spending time with his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Donny Ward and Dean Ward. Survivors include his loving wife Charlotte Ward; his children, Michele Eiland and husband Darrell, Bryan Ward and wife Jill, Bradley Ward and wife Toni, and Charlotte’s children; Joey Cook and wife Barbara, Laurie Berry and husband Doyle, Lisa Reeh and husband Vernon; 15 grandchildren; siblings, Earl Ward and wife Jean, Lynn Richardson and husband Gary, Steve Ward and wife Edie and Kathy Rogers; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving family members and many friends. Bruce would also like to offer respect to Lynda Koelling as mother to Michele, Bryan and Brad.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Coley, Brad Roland, Brek Blair, Darrell Eiland, Joey Cook, Doyle Berry, Vernon Reeh and John Landis. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Tanner Eiland, Cooper Eiland, Shea Ward, Rylan Ward, Mack Berry, Houston Berry and Mason Berry; along with the Sharers Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 710 N Austin St, Seguin, TX 78155 or to the American Cancer Society, c/o Jeanette Siltmann, 196 Townesend Rd., Seguin, Texas, 78155.

Marie Mermis, 97, passed away March 24, 2019, at Catholic Care Center, Bel Aire. She was born September 12, 1921, at Catherine, to Leo and Sophie (Staab) Pelzel. Marie married Clarence Mermis Nov. 11, 1941, at Walker. He died May 15, 1990.

Marie, a homemaker, had been a Great Bend resident since 1953, coming from Walker. She was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Altar Society and the Daughters of Isabella.

Survivors include two sons; C.J. Mermis and wife Patricia of Great Bend and Ronald Mermis of Fla.; three daughters, RoseAnn Burkhart and husband Gerald of Wichita, Ruth Maneth and husband John of Golden, Col. and Kathy Richards of Wichita; one daughter-in-law, Susan Sayson of Manhattan; nine grandchildren, Robbie Mermis, Brett Mermis and wife Kory, Bryan Mermis and wife Ellen, Dawn Reed, Anjie Weidman and husband Jamie, Jeremy Burkhart and wife Joni, Johnny Maneth and wife Angie, Kim Lambertson and husband John and Kenzie Richards; 19 great grandchildren and four great grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Pelzel of Hays and James Pelzel and wife Valeria of Wichita. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Leo Pelzel and Alfonse Pelzel; and six sisters, Beatrice Haas, Alice Brungardt, Clara Hetzel, Edna Goetz, Frances Koster and Irene Bollig.

The Funeral Mass has been arranged for 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, 2019, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father Ted Stoecklein officiating. Interment will follow at the Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, March 28, with an Altar Society Rosary at 4:00 p.m., and Vigil with a Daughters of Isabella Rosary at 7:00 p.m. all at Bryant Funeral Home.

Memorial funds have been designated to the Holy Family School Endowment Fund or Catholic Care Center, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Marjorie Eileen Elias, 87, passed away on March 23, 2019 at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. She was born on July 27, 1931 in McCracken, Kansas the daughter of Patrick and Sarah (McGaughey) Casey.

Marjorie was a homemaker. She graduated from Bazine High School in 1949 and was a lifelong resident of McCracken, Kansas. She also worked in the LaCrosse Furniture Factory as well in the County Clerk’s Office. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in McCracken, Kansas, and was a member of the Altar Society. She married Claude Elias on Thursday, September 15th, 1949, in McCracken. He died on February 6, 1988.

Survivors include her sons, Dale Elias of Oakley, Kansas, and Doug Elias of Hudson, Florida; her daughter-In-law, Jeannie Elias of McCracken, Kansas; grandchildren, Travis Elias and wife Tina, Tyrel Elias, Thomas Chase Gomez, Nathial Gage Elias, Magdelene Rose Johnson; great-grandchildren, Tanner Elias, Katrina Elias, and Quintin Elias. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, her son, Dennis, and several brothers and sisters.

Rosary and Parish Vigil will be on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:00 P.M., with family present at 6:00 P.M. Funeral service will be on Thursday, March 28, 2019, 10:30 A.M., at the St. Mary’s Heritage Church, McCracken, Kansas with Father Eric Gyamfi officiating. Her burial will be in the McCracken Cemetery. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Marjorie Elias Memorial Fund.

Kendall Mae Ottley, age 75, of rural WaKeeney, Kansas, died Friday, March 22, 2019, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Ks. She was born July 19, 1943 in Garden City, Kansas to Kenneth Durant and Ollie Mae (Slawson) Durant.

Kendall attended schools in Holcomb, Russell Springs, and graduated with her senior class in Monument, Kansas from Monument Consolidated High School in 1961. On April 20, 1963, she was united in marriage to William (Bill) A. Ottley at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley, Kansas. Bill and Kendall’s married life began in Oakley, where Kendall worked as a telephone operator. They moved to Scott County when Bill found a job working for a farmer/rancher there and eventually they owned their own farm in Scott County.

In 1974, Bill, Kendall, and their family moved to WaKeeney. There they owned and operated their own farm operation raising crops and cattle. Kendall was involved in day to day farm operations and decisions, calving season was one of her favorites, as was summer wheat harvest. Kendall was a bus driver for USD 208 for many years and enjoyed meeting the children every morning and afternoon. Kendall & Bill owned/operated the Sprint Mart store for 14 years where she made many friends and loved the public. One of Kendall’s favorite hobbies was to read. She could sit and read for hours. She also loved to sew, and made all of her daughter’s clothes and clothing for her granddaughters. Kendall was involved in the Catholic Church and the alter society for many years. She worked part-time at the hospital auxiliary, the public library, and enjoyed working at the WaKeeney Livestock Sale Barn. Kendall’s proudest moments were of her children and her grandchildren. She followed her kids’ events and lives in just about everything they did.

Kendall’s grandchildren were so special to her. She spent time with them helping them to learn to sew and bake for 4-H, and hardly ever missed a sporting event. Teaching life lessons on the farm was where you would usually find her. Her favorite saying was “Hard work never hurt anyone”, and you had better pitch in or she would hand deliver you to a chore that needed done.

Her family includes two children, Tamera Mae (Ottley) Riedel & Glenn of WaKeeney, Ks., William John Ottley & Laura of Wichita, Ks.; five grandchildren, Courtney (Riedel) Berning & Braxton of WaKeeney, Ks., Cindy (Riedel) Hilgers & Ricky of Ogallah, Ks., Catie Riedel, Hays, Ks., Clayton Riedel, WaKeeney, Ks., Nicole (Ottley) Sherfick & Dylan of WaKeeney, Ks.; three great-grandchildren, Briant Berning, Brodie Berning, and Colton Sherfick all of WaKeeney, Ks. and identical twins due in June; two sisters, Kathy Wessel of Scott City, Ks., Janet Smith of Yukon, OK., two brothers, Bob Durant, Oakley, Ks., and Steven Durant, Omaha, NE. Many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews that she dearly enjoyed.

Kendall was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth Hand Durant and Ollie Mae (Slawson) Durant.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Schmitt Funeral Home, in WaKeeney, Ks.

There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Christ the King Church (for building improvements) or WaKeeney Public Library.

Donations made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th St., WaKeeney, Kansas 67672.

Grace Marguerite (Lesher) Glassman, Hays, died peacefully Sunday, March 24, 2019 at the age of 97.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Thursday, March 28th at St. Joseph’s catholic Church in Hays. Burial will follow in Mt. Allen Cemetery, Hays.

Visitation will be Wednesday 4 PM – 8 PM and Thursday 9 AM – 9:30 AM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

A parish vigil service will be at 6:15 PM on Wednesday followed by a rosary service.

Contributions are suggested to TMP-Marian, Holy Family or Catholic Charities.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapel.com or by email at [email protected]

April 3, 1961 – March 22, 2019

An obituary is pending with Pauls Funeral Home.

Click HERE for service details.

Joseph Alois Koerner of St. Louis collapsed at home on March 14, 2019, and died after being transported to Barnes Jewish Hospital.

He leaves his wife, Maria Allen-Koerner, together 30 years; his daughter, Vanessa Enloe and her husband Paul Enloe who are parents of his two grandchildren, Neve and Brendan Enloe all of Dallas, TX; his youngest daughter, Kendra Bockius and husband Jeff Bockius of St. Louis; Brothers Tom Koerner and Randy Koerner of Hays, KS; and many close friends.

Born on January 28, 1939, and raised in Hays, he was the son of Joseph Koerner, Sr. and Bertha (Miller) Koerner, and was the oldest of four brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents and his youngest brother, Myron “Skip” Koerner. Proud of his family heritage, he learned to speak German. He held a paper route as a youth and attended high school at St. Joseph’s Military Academy, as did his father and three brothers. He graduated in 1957 and was that year’s Battalion Commander, the highest-ranking cadet. Later employment in Hays included Central Kansas Power and Gilmore Construction.

After a year a Fort Hays State, he entered the Jesuit Seminary in Florissant in 1958 and earned his BA at St. Louis University (SLU). He taught a year at SLU High in the subject of Latin and was the director of the Glee Club and a theater play production. In 1967, post seminary days, he graduated from SLU with a master’s in philosophy. He remained a regular member of SLU St. Francis Xavier College Church and a faithful friend of his Jesuit buddies.

His early career included teaching Latin at St. Mary’s University in Leavenworth but the majority of his work focused on marketing research consulting for Maritz, as owner of The Qualis Company, and for the Salvation Army. The last several years he spent teaching Latin at Webster University and SLU, bringing his career full circle and fulfilling his life’s passion, which is teaching and his love of language and philosophy. In his words, “I’ve always had a great reverence for and interest in ancient times.”

Joe was talented musically and was known for singing and playing his guitar with friends and family, and for nursing home residents. He also performed in several community theater productions where he is most fondly remembered as “Daddy Warbucks”. A highlight was being a member of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Choir, during which time he was able to perform in Rome and Austria.

Joe was a life-long learner of the sciences, the classics, and continued to be intrigued by philosophy and theology. He had frequently contributed his thoughts and perspectives on issues in letters to the editor printed in St. Louis Post Dispatch. Having a most recognizable and happy laugh, he was well known and loved by his community and he generously gave back to society. Such an outgoing human being, he would meet and engage with all groups of people. One friend said, “If I were like Joe and was sitting in any coffee shop, I would know all of those people sitting over there!” Per his wishes, his body was donated to science.

Family was precious to Joe as he was the most caring, supportive, and proud father and grandfather “Poppa Joe”, and likewise, was their hero. His final day was spent with his love, Maria, doing the things enjoyed: coffee club, exercising, volunteering in the local food pantry, completing the NYT crossword puzzle, and reading the newspaper – most importantly, the comics (AKA the philosophy page).

His memorial service will be held at SLU St. Francis Xavier College on May 20th at 10 a.m.

If you care to make a memorial donation, Joe was active in the following organizations:


Microfinancing Partners in Africa

949 Columbia Ave.

St. Louis, Mo. 63139

Trinity Episcopal Food Pantry

600 N. Euclid Ave.

St. Louis, Mo. 63108

St. Louis Cremation is handling arrangements.

May 6, 1923 – March 23, 2019

Born – Stephens County, Oklahoma, May 6, 1923, and Passed – March 23, 2019, in Bryan, Texas.

Bill graduated from High School in Velma, Oklahoma. Following graduation he entered the 8th Army Air Force and served from 1943 to 1945 with the 453rd Bombardment Group, 2nd Airborne Division. He was involved in the North France Campaign, the Ardennes Campaign, the Rhineland Campaign, and the Central Europe Campaign, completing 35 missions in a B-24.

Bill was employed by Halliburton Services for 37 years, retiring in 1984 in Pampa, TX. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge #177 in Russell, KS, a member of the V.F.W. Post #1657 in Pampa, TX, and the Pampa Senior Citizens.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Blake Wood and Willie V. Wood, as well as by two brothers, V.B. Wood and F.B. Wood, all from Duncan, OK.

Survivors include: wife, Fern A. Wood; daughter, Barbara Dale and husband Owen; son, Randy Wood and wife Juanell, all living in Texas. Additionally he had, 5 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Claflin Cemetery, Claflin, KS, with Pastor Diane Webster presiding. Friends may call 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Military honors will be conducted by the McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at donate.lls.org or in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Stephen “Wayne” Bump was born October 7, 1934 to Stephen C. and Alice L. (Abbott) Bump in Ainsworth, Nebraska. He passed away March 15, 2019 in the Graham County Hospital at the age of 84.

The family moved frequently due to work with trucking, farming and construction. Some of the places they lived were Ellinwood, Healy, and Ness City, Kansas before moving to Hill City in 1952.

Wayne graduated from Hill City High School in 1953. After graduation Wayne and three buddies went to Idaho where they joined the forestry service and fought fires during the summer of 1953. When the season was over they traveled to California where one of the group had family before returning to Hill City in January of 1954.

Wayne went to work for his father in construction. He started dating Janette Jackson and they were married August 2, 1954. They resided in Hill City for a short while before moving to Hoxie. They were living in Hoxie when the first two of their children were born; Stephen Lee in 1955 and Gail Diane in 1956. They moved to Elkhart, Kansas for a short while before returning to Hill City. Their youngest son, Lance Melvin, was born in WaKeeney in 1959.

Wayne began working for the United States Post Office in 1960 and worked there for 30 years. After retiring from the Post Office he worked for HUD housing in maintenance for 13 years.

Wayne was an avid golfer and enjoyed many rounds with fellow golfers.

His greatest love and passion was his love for Jesus. He spent many hours studying for Sunday school classes. When he stopped teaching he studied just for the love of it.

He was very active in community activities including Elks (where he was Exalted Ruler for the local chapter and District Deputy for Northwest Kansas), Mason and Shrine. He regularly took a turn at delivering Meals On Wheels and other church projects. He was an active member of the Graham County Easter Cantata and loved to sing, especially songs that glorified God. He was a member of the Hill City Christian Church.

Wayne was very proud of his children and their accomplishments. He was able to spend many enjoyable hours of golf with them as they all followed him in his passion for golf. His family was very important to him and he loved each one very much.

He loved animals and always had a dog as a companion (even taking them golfing with him). He leaves a very much loved Jack Russell Terrier, Jackie to mourn his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Steve and Alice Bump and a son Lance.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Janette of 64 years; son Stephen Lee (Trish) of Richland, Washington; daughter Gail Longstaff of Shawnee, Kansas; daughter-in-law Caryl Bump of Madison, Ohio; nine grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; brothers: Jerry (Nola) of Hays and Bill (Marcy) of Lawrence; sister Jean (Bill) Richardson of Junction City and many nieces and nephews.

Wayne donated his body to science so there will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.