Roger Wayne Ausmus went to be with the Lord on November 16, 2018 at the Logan County Hospital in Oakley. He was born April 15, 1939 in Holcomb, KS in their home to Fred and Anna (Hadley) Ausmus.

Roger attended school in Garden City, Russell Springs and Winona, but had to drop out his senior year to help run the farm after his mother had a heart attack. He married Margie Denning on June 6, 1959.

He helped his father run his feed yard and farm from the age of 9. His parents encouraged him to start living his dreams, so he drove cattle truck for Earl & Bob Gates. In 1966, Roger and Margie went to Topeka in a thundersnow to purchase Gates’ trucking authority. He trucked for Les Keller (late, 2015) and many others hauling cattle, grain, hay, and other commodities. In 1974 he ordered a new Freightliner Cabover. Ausmus and Son, Incorporated was formed in 1978 and he dispatched Glen Repshire, Larry Thacker, Terry Thrasher and others.

Roger was an honest, hardworking farmer and truck driver known by everyone in the area. He was a jack of all trades and enjoyed helping Dewey Council, Jr. (late, 2000) with his carpentry. He spent many hours with Bob Bartell (late, 2001) visiting and mechanicing. Ernie Denning (late, 1991) spent his vacation helping Roger with wheat harvest. He mentored many nephews, friends, and grandsons. If Roger told you something, then it was true. He said, “If you aren’t going to tell the truth, don’t tell me anything.”

At the same time they were in Topeka buying the trucking authority Margie went to file for adoption and at Christmas time they had their Christmas Angel, Melissa. Immediately they put in for another adoption and July 1968 they had a happy sweet baby boy, Randy. Five months later Marge found out she was pregnant, and Michele was born in March 1970.

He was preceded in death by his parents: an infant son; brothers Glen, Al and Richard and sisters Dorothy Peitz and Norma Straub.

He is survived by his wife, Margie, of the home; children Melissa (Eugene) Haffner, Overland Park, KS, Randy Ausmus, Phoenix, AZ and Michele (Larry) Werth, Brewster, KS; sister, Beth Lamb-Duff; grandchildren, Wyatt (Alexis) Werth and Layton Werth and Chase, Caden and Cole Haffner and great grandchildren, Brenna and Everly Werth and Maycee Williams.

Roger was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Oakley, then WaKeeney. He served on the Winona City Council. Roger loved KU Basketball, his family and children.

Visitation is 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at the Winona United Methodist Church and 9:00am until service on Wednesday. Funeral Service is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2018, also at the church. Interment will take place at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Oakley. Memorials are suggested to Winona Chamber of Commerce or Logan County EMS -Winona in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Joetta B. Nevins, age 85, died on Friday, November 16, 2018, surrounded by family at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

From her birth in Graham County, Kansas on November 19, 1932 to her death on Friday, she nourished people around her with love, support and a caring heart.

Joetta was a lifelong resident of Graham County. She was born on a farm near Nicodemus, Kansas to Andrew and Cordelia (VanDuvall) Alexander and was one of 10 children. She graduated from Bogue, Kansas high school and worked at the Hill City airport. As a child she loved to ride horses on her family’s farm. She enjoyed farming and was a sports enthusiast. As a young lady, she participated in sports such as basketball, softball, and bowling. Joetta won numerous state championship bowling titles. She was a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan and loved to converse with her family and friends about her favorite team.

In 1953, she married her husband, Leroy Nevins. To that marriage were born: Eric, Rhea, Janille and Jon.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; her parents; 5 sisters, and 2 brothers.

Left to mourn her passing are her four children: Eric Nevins and Rhea Darnell both of Hill City, Janille Edwards of Salina, Jon C. Nevins of Overland Park; seven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; two sisters: Naomi Hurst of Denver, Colorado; Janille Edwards of Salina, Kansas and many nieces and nephews.

She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She was loved dearly by all of her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Click HERE for service details.

Robert L. Lowen, 82, of Hays, KS, passed away Friday, November 16, 2018, at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, KS.

Bob was born June 18, 1936 to Andy and Irene (Dwyer) Lowen in Wellington, KS. He married Beverly Arwood on October 4, 1953.

Following graduation from Wellington High School, Bob was employed as a surveyor for Sumner County. Six years later he entered college at Emporia State University where he earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Journalism.

In 1965, Bob became the Sports Information Director and an Instructor of Journalism at Fort Hays State University. During his 33-year career at FHSU, Bob attained the rank of Professor of Journalism. He also served as the Director of University Relations and coached Tiger Golf. He was best known as “The Voice of the Tigers” announcing games for the Department of Athletics.

In 1998, Bob retired from FHSU. It wasn’t long before he knew he wasn’t ready for retirement. The following year, he became the Foundation Director at Hays Medical Center. After 8 years with Hays Med he retired once again. Two years later, duty called and he came out of retirement and was honored to become the first Director for the new Heartland Community Foundation, a position he held for 4 years. Bob enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He spent his last years caring for his beloved wife Beverly “Woody” Jean and entertaining his great granddaughter, Kiefer.

Bob was an avid golfer and sports fan, he supported all Tiger athletics, Kansas Jayhawk athletics, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Wellington Crusaders.

Survivors include his wife Bev of Hays, and his children: Bob Lowen Jr. (Grace) of Allen, TX; Deanna Aguilar (Carlos) of Ogden, UT, Steve Lowen (Shelley) of Colorado Springs, CO, Debra David (Skip) of Sharon Springs, KS, Doug Lowen of Winter Park, FL, and Donna Lowen of Huntsville, AL, and his sisters Marge Mohney (John) of Shelbyville, IN, Peggy Wallace, Wellington KS, and Barbara Lowen, Wichita, KS, and brother Darold Lowen (Loretta) Columbus, OH.

Survivors also include grandchildren: Carlos Aguilar III (Heather), Miguel Aguilar (Courtney), Ryan Lowen (Pam), Corey David (Lace), Kiel Lowen (Kate), Christy Kuhn (Jared), Melinda Aguilar, Kaitlyn Lowen (Trent Wagner), Kelsie Lowen, Koby Lowen, Shaun Lowen, and also include great grandchildren: Jess Bair, Ava and Mia Aguilar, Erikson and Violet David, Athan Arteaga, Ethan and Everett Aguilar, and Kiefer Kuhn, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andy and Irene Lowen, and brothers Gene, Don, and Vernon Lowen.

Family will receive friends from 1:30 pm until 4:30 on Friday, November 23, 2018 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays. A celebration of Bob’s life to be held next spring.

Memorials are suggested to the FHSU Foundation for the Bob “Vince” Lowen Golf Scholarship or HaysMed Oncology, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences and memories of Bob may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Bernice Teresa Christopher, 86, died November 17, 2018, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born February 18, 1932, on the family farm near Beaver, Kansas, the daughter of Frank and Marie (Klug) Beck. Bernice graduated from Odin High School in 1950.

A lifetime Hoisington resident, she was a bank teller at First Kansas Bank retiring after 38 years.

Bernice was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Altar Society, and a longtime member of the Hoisington and Great Bend AL-NON.

She was the Labor Day Queen in 1951 and then the Valentine Queen at Country Place Senior Living last year.

Bernice loved doing puzzles, playing cards, especially pitch and pinochle, and dancing. Mel and Bernice often led the grand march at weddings. She was an amazing cook and her kids all cherish the cookbook she made for them. But most of all she loved spending time with her family.

On June 6, 1955, she married Gary L. Christopher in Beaver, Kansas. To this marriage five children were born. They later divorced in 1978. In 1989 she met Mel Meier and he was her longtime companion until his death on January 8, 2014.

Survivors include; her five children, sons, Rick A. Christopher and wife Mira of Great Bend, Craig Christopher and wife Mary of Silver Lake, twin daughters, Karen Boese of Wichita and Karla Willis of Houston, and son, Brent Christopher and companion Kelly of Shawnee; daughter-in-law, Shanna Bolton of Shawnee; six siblings, Gene Beck of Hoisington, Helen Urban of Ellinwood, Kathy Thompson of Conroe, TX, Elmer Beck of Olathe, Elma Stricker and Betty Steiner both of Hoisington; 12 grandchildren, Amy Christopher, Miranda Brown, Olivia Vanvactor and husband Darrin, Michael Christopher and wife Jamie, Andrew Christopher and fiancé Taylor, Kristin Wemmer and husband Paul, Audrey Boese and fiancé John, Samantha Boese, Jacob Bratton, Allie Bratton, Lindsey Christopher and Brayson Christopher; and 13 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law, Lil Beck.

Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., and Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Anselm Eke MSP. Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Clara Barton Foundation, Kans for Kids, or St. John Altar Society, all in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

1975 – 2018

An obituary and service details are pending with Enfield Funeral Home.

March 3, 1928 – November 18, 2018

An obituary is pending with Plumer Overlease Funeral Homes.

Click HERE for service details.

Wayne Carl Larson was born to his Swedish father Carl Larson and his Austrian-Hungarian mother Ida (nee Tongish) Larson on August 12th, 1923, in Rawlins County at their farm near Ludell along present-day highway 36 (two miles west of Midway). As the couple’s second child, he joined older sister Bernice, and was followed by his younger sister Lorraine. The family moved to the Larson farm seven miles southwest of Oberlin along the north fork of Sappa Creek when Wayne was two years old. Wayne grew up in hard times when the severe drought of the 1930’s led to the dust storms of the Dirty 30’s and lack of resources during the Great Depression. His parents survived by raising hogs and hanging on year by year until things got better.

He attended country school for eight years at nearby Prairie Temple. Wayne boarded in the town of Oberlin while he attended school at Decatur County High School for his first three years. During his senior year he drove a 1935 Ford to school from the family farm and graduated from DCHS in 1941.

Following high school, Wayne helped his father with their farming operation until he was drafted into the U. S. Army in August 1944. He completed his basic training at Camp Roberts in California and shipped out from there in a troop ship called the Sea Snipe for the Philippines. There he was part of the 108th Infantry campaign on the islands of Lahte, Mindinao, and Hane until the surrender of Japan which ended World War II. Wayne then served in the Korean occupation for one year until he was honorably discharged. He returned to the United States in 1946.

Upon his return from military service, Wayne resumed farming with his dad and lived a mile down the road from his parents’ farm on the Sappa Creek. At the wedding of his army buddy in Pratt County, he was introduced to his buddy’s sister, Lois Haas. With God’s blessing, they wed at her home church, St. Paul Lutheran in Natrona on May 6, 1951. Although Wayne was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church at Herndon as an infant, he became a Lutheran by rite of Confirmation in 1953 at St. John’s Lutheran and was an active communicant member at St. John’s throughout his adult life.

Along the way, Wayne and Lois were blessed with five children during their marriage: twins Suzanne and Joanne, Craig, Bonnie, and Brad. The family enjoyed camping and fishing trips together “happily” cramped into his homemade pickup camper. They also enjoyed 4H and scouting activities through the years, as well as travel to Sweden and Europe and hosting foreign visitors. Together Wayne and Lois worked hard to build their farming and ranching operation. It is remarkable what they, along with son Craig, accomplished with their grain and livestock operation.

Wayne and Lois celebrated 60 years of marriage in May 2011 and continued to enjoy their life together on the farm until God called Lois home on March 18, 2012. Wayne lived on the farm after the passing of Lois where he helped oversee the farming operation, checking on cattle regularly, and enjoying the companionship of his trusty cattle dog, Blaze. He also went to local dances, fed the trout in his fishing pond (so others could enjoy catching them), attended church services, and participated in family get-togethers. On occasion he visited the Golden Age Senior Center making a point to go on the days they served their delicious mashed potatoes. God granted him the best of health throughout his life for which he was most thankful. He boasted in his later years, “I feel like forty!” As he slowed down in his farming, one of his greatest joys was running the combine saying, “This is the most fun I’ve ever had.” His greatest pride was to be a Kansas farmer from Decatur County. His greatest hope was that the Larson family farm, which began with his Swedish grandfather who homesteaded and lived in a dugout in the late 1880’s, would continue for generations to come.

After three and a half years residing in nursing homes, Wayne was called to his eternal rest on November 16, 2018. Besides his wife, Wayne’s parents and two sisters, Bernice Webb and Lorraine Dole, preceded him in death as well as son-in-law Norman Wendelin.
Wayne is survived by son and daughter-in-law Craig and Karen Larson, son and daughter-in-law Brad and Lesia Larson, and daughter Joanne Wendelin, all from Oberlin; daughter and son-in-law Bonnie and Bill Condit of Winfield and daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Jay Cooper of Wichita. Wayne is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Monica Larson, Carl Larson, Marissa Robinson, Colby Larson, Ladd Wendelin, Greta Perel, Rory Wendelin, Ian Crane, Eowyn Crane, Erin Lofgreen, Jordan Condit; four step-grandchildren: Brock Cooper, Justin Cooper, Kimberly Wickersham, and Ryan Duysen; and fourteen great-grandchildren in addition to other relatives and friends.

Click HERE for service details.

Robert E. Acre, Jr., 91, of Osborne, KS, passed away on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital in Osborne, KS. He was born on April 10, 1927 to Robert Edgar & Martha Hazel (Johnson) Acre, Sr., in a farm house SE of Bucklin, KS. Robert began his schooling at the Liberty Rural Grade School. He graduated from Bucklin High School in 1944. He attended 1 semester at Kansas State College of Manhattan, KS.

Robert enlisted in the U. S. Navy on March 25, 1945. He received an honorable discharge in July, 1946. He continued his college career at Kansas State, where he graduated in January 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He began his working career as a county club agent with Extension Division of Kansas State College in Feb., 950. With further training and experience, he became the County Agricultural agent in Osborne County from 1952-54.

Robert married Ramona A. Dudley in 1954. To this union, 1 daughter was born.

Robert belonged to several organizations throughout his life. Among some of those memberships were, American Legion, Osborne County Farm Bureau, KS Livestock Ass., KS Quarter Horse Ass. and the Osborne County Fair Board. He was a lifetime member of Kansas State University Alumni Ass. He held offices in several organizations, such as Osborne Saddle Club, Osborne Lions Club & Osborne Development, Inc. Robert was a member of the Presbyterian Church and later the Osborne Christian Church.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Kenneth. He is survived by his wife, Romona, of the home; daughter, Melanie Zabel of Smith Center, KS; sister, Lois Kurtz of Bradenton, Florida; 3 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Click HERE for service details.

Demis Kay Cloe Johnson, 72, died Nov. 14, 2018 at her home in rural Atwood. She passed away with her loving husband by her side after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and a recent stroke.

Demis was born to Bernard and Jessie Miner Cloe, Jan. 18, 1946, the youngest of three children, at the Colby hospital. She attended country school with her siblings and cousins at Blakeman. She graduated from Atwood Community High School, class of 1964.

Demis married her high school sweetheart, Dwayne, on May 14, 1966. They spent the next 52 years devoted to each other. Demis loved the fact that Dwayne could always make her laugh.

Demis completed her formal education at Brown-Mackie Business School in Salina. She was meticulous and diligent, taking pride in her ability to craft a perfectly written letter or balance sheet. She was an executive secretary at the State Bank of Atwood, office manager for Williams Brothers Supermarket and medical transcriptionist for Rawlins County Hospital.

Demis was a talented tole painter and had a flair for design, making any home a cozy and inviting place for her family. Demis helped to established the Ol’ Depot antique store by Lake Atwood. She loved living in the country, surrounded by lots of animals, and was a lifelong resident of Rawlins County.

Demis will be remembered for her grace and beauty; her avid faith, which she constantly shared with others; and her deep love for her family, friends, and especially her grandchildren. She went to sleep in death firm in her faith of a resurrection hope, and that Jehovah will reunite her with her loved ones when “death will be no more” (Rev 21:4).

Preceding her in death were her parents and a brother, James Cloe, of Bartlesville, Okla. Left to honor Demis and remember her love are her husband, Dwayne; their three children, Brett Johnson and wife, Mica, of Atwood, Carmen and husband, Rolland Winter, of Hays, and Clay Johnson and wife, Loucinda, of Colby; her sister, Rosemary and husband, William Gordon; and sisters-in-law, Dwilia and husband, Don Argabright, and Linda Cloe.

Her pride and joy were her five grandchildren, Brody Malsom and wife, Chandy, Alexis Winter and Logan, Javan and Titus Johnson; along with many nieces and nephews.

The Johnson family would like to sincerely thank the medical staff at Rawlins County Hospital, University of Colorado Hospital and Hospice Services of Northwest Kansas for the excellent and compassionate care Demis received prior to her death.

The family chose cremation according to her wishes. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Johnson Family for a charity to be determined. Condolences can be sent to Dwayne at 17638 Road S, Atwood, KS 67730 or left online at www.kennedykosterfh.com.