March 16, 1931 – December 20, 2018

An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

Click HERE for service details.

Joan M. Dreher, 81, La Crosse, Kansas, died Thursday, December 20, 2018, at Locust Grove Village, La Crosse, Kansas.

Mrs. Dreher was born May 15, 1937, in Larned, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Skolaut) Haberman.  She was a lifelong resident of Pawnee County, Kansas, and Rush County, Kansas.  A 1955 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, Kansas, she was a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone, La Crosse, Kansas.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and St. Michael’s Altar Society, both of La Crosse, Kansas.  Joan was dedicated to her faith, and her church, she was an OPA (Dominican Sisters of Peace) Associate since 2013, church Eucharistic Minister, church sacristan for 47 years, past parish council member and president, past church finance committee member and chairperson, bible study member, past Liturgy commission member and chairperson, past religious education teacher, past altar society chairperson, and past choir member.

Joan was also very active in her community serving as a past South Wind hospice volunteer, past Food Bank volunteer, past The Second Chance volunteer, past SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging member, past BPW member and president, past Golden Belt Community Foundation board, past Kansas Silver Haired Legislature member, past Ellis County Relay for Life member, past Rush County Relay for Life member, past Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care volunteer.

Joan loved to travel visiting China, the Holy Land, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, and Holland. 

On November 8, 1955, she married Larry Dreher at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.  He preceded her in death March 19, 1997.

Survivors include:  two brothers, Joe Haberman (Helen), Larned, Kansas, and Henry Haberman (Betty), Timken, Kansas,; and one sister, Esther Brack, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and one brother, Melvin Haberman.

Visitation will be Wednesday, December 26, 2018, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. 

Church visitation will be Thursday, December 27, 2018, from 9:30 A.M. to 10:20 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Thursday, December 27, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Father Eric Gyamfi officiating.  Interment will be in the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.

Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.charterfunerals.com/locations/janousek-lacrosse.php.

Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.

December 16, 1921 ~ December 19, 2018

An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home, Goodland.

Donations may be made to Wallace County Ambulance Service and may be left at the service or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main, Goodland KS 67735.

Click HERE for service details.

John Clifford Burnside, 84, died November 15, 2018, at home in Katy, Texas. He was born on October 31, 1934, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of John Ralph and Imogene (Hill) Burnside.

John spent his formative years in Garden City, spending much time working on his grandfather, John Homer Burnside’s ranch. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1952. He married Barbara LaVerne Baker August 29, 1954. He received a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 1958. After graduation, John went to work for Pan American Petroleum Company, which later became Amoco Oil Company before it’s current acquisition by British Petroleum (BP). John established himself within the oil industry and he and his family spent 14 years living overseas in England, Iran and Egypt. Upon return to the United States, he lived and worked in Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. John retired after 35 years in 1993 as Senior Vice President of Drilling and Manager of Special Operations. He was a longtime member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and several other domestic and international petroleum related organizations. John remained actively involved with his family even as his health declined. He thoroughly enjoyed his grandchildren.

John is survived by his wife Barbara of Katy, Texas; 3 children, John M. Burnside and wife Samantha of Vancouver, Washington, Jeffrey Burnside and wife Angelique of Houston, Texas, Julie Burnside Sullivan of Houston, Texas; sisters Judy Henderson of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jane Alsop of Salina, Kansas; brother Joe Burnside of Garden City, Kansas; and nine grandchildren, Aundra Zimburean, John B., Alec, Blake, Alyssa, Riley and Brent Burnside, and Jack and Scott Sullivan; great-grandchildren Alexa and Jonas Zimburean. He is preceded in death by his parent and brother James H. Burnside.

Funeral service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Garden City, Kansas on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. with Mike Collins presiding. Interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to Make A Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana and Dementia Society of America in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home; 620 N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.

Kenneth Morris Pryor, 77, passed away December 18, 2018, at Harry Hynes Hospice, Wichita. He was born January 1, 1941 at Great Bend and was the Great Bend Tribune’s “New Year Baby of 1941”. He was the son of M.F. “Hap” Pryor and Wanda (Morris) Pryor.

Kenneth graduated from Great Bend High School in 1959. During high school he was a member of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. He attended Fort Hays State University and St. Mary of the Plains Junior College. He was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Elks (BPOE). He worked for Petro Exploration in Oklahoma as an oil exploration crew member and later worked for GeoSearch, Inc. for many years. He then became a caregiver for his mother in her later years and worked as a carrier for the Great Bend Tribune.

Survivors include, one sister Connie Strobel and husband John of Pueblo, Colorado, a niece, a nephew and several cousins.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Bryant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 9:30 a.m., a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 10:00 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., all Friday, December 21, 2018, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Father Don Bedore will preside and interment will follow in the Great Bend Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Prince of Peace Parish, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Glorietta “Alvena” Alexander, 90, passed away December 17, 2018 at Dawson Place Nursing Home, Hill City.

She was born November 11, 1928 to Alvin Theodore and Ada (Williams) Bates. She married Ordral Alexander on March 30, 1946 in her fathers home near Bogue. He passed away September 26, 1992.

Survivors: sons, Dale Alexander of Topeka, Robert (Angel) of Bellaire; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and brother, Bernard Bates (Ava) of Hill City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sons; one brother and one sister.

Click HERE for service details.

Valerie Allene Cook, 88, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at the Main Street Manor in Russell, Kansas.

Valerie was born on May 28, 1930, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Bert William and Aimee Grace (Wood) Vanderbur. She grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in the class of 1948. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Elson Eugene Cook on January 28, 1951, in Russell. This union was blessed with four children: Rebecca, Carolyn, Kevin and Keith. They made their home in Russell.

Valerie considered herself a “domestic engineer” and took pride in being a homemaker taking care of her husband and children. She attended Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell and enjoyed playing with several bridge clubs over the years. She enjoyed croquette, ping pong, and horseshoes. She also enjoyed canning, cooking, baking, camping at Lake Wilson, water aerobics, making Christmas candy and entertaining guests with her jokes and stories. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Surviving family include daughters, Rebecca Finnegan and husband Jon of Russell, Kansas and Carolyn Toalson and husband David of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; sons Kevin Cook and wife Tammy of Wichita, Kansas and Keith Cook and wife Denise of Spring, Texas; brothers Dennis Vanderbur and wife Bengi of Marysville, Tennessee and Gary Vanderbur and wife Christine of Ft. Myers, Florida; sister, Barbara Westerman and husband Byron of Branson, Missouri; ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elson on June 16, 2014, and two sisters Judy Weis and Jeanne Dale.

Celebration of Valerie’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, December 22, 2018, at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with Pastor Michael Eurit officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. Friday, December 21, 2018, at the mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Friday evening.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established with Otterbein United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Thomas L. “Tooty” Schumacher, age 67, of Hays, Kansas passed away Tuesday, December 18, 2018, in Hays.

He was born October 7, 1951, in Hays, Kansas to Marvin “Shorty” and Mildred (Dreher) Schumacher. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1969. On June 9, 1973, he married Debra Inman at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hays.

Tom owned and operated Fort Hays Auto Sales for 41 years. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was a veteran of the Army National Guard and he enjoyed traveling and collecting memorabilia.

He is survived by his wife Debbie of Hays; two sons, Chris Schumacher and wife Dana and children Gavin and Griffin all of Hays and Chandler Schumacher and wife Jacqueline and children Giana and Mia all of Hays and two sisters, Gloria Schumacher of Hays and Tammy Parmer and husband Sheldon of Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Bonnie Schenk.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Saturday, December 22, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays. Private family burial will be in Mt. Allen Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday 5 PM – 8 PM and Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

A parish vigil service will be 7 PM Friday at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions are suggested to TMP-Marian and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

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

Stanley James “Stan” Werth, 56, died Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at HaysMed.

He was born November 20, 1962 in Hays the son of Frank and Rosie (Pfannenstiel) Werth. In 1981, he graduated from TMP-Marian High School and was in the Kansas Army National Guard. He was united in marriage to Rochelle Einsel.

He was a successful business man and was owner/operator of Werth Heating Plumbing and Air Conditioning.

He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. He loved fishing in Alaska and boating and spending time at Wilson Lake with friends and family. He loved his work, helping others and enriching the community.

Survivors include his wife Rochelle of the home, two daughters; Sabrina Werth and Hannah Werth of the home, his parents; Frank and Rosie Werth of Hays, his mother-in-law; Carol Einsel of Hays, a brother; Keith Werth and wife Coleen of Hays, three sisters; Brenda Benoit and husband Tim of Damar, Glenda Leiker and husband Rick of Sylvan Grove, and Chris Werth and husband Phil Younie of Hays, a sister-in-law; Roxy Einsel of Hays, and 13 nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, with Fr. Barry Brinkman, Fr. Alvin Werth, and Fr. Earl Befort officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Thursday and from 9:00 am until service time on Friday, all at the church. A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 5:30 pm, followed by a parish vigil service will be at 6:30, both on Thursday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to Holy Family Elementary School or Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays. Condolences and memories of Stan may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.