John L. Wehrli passed away on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 92. He was born on June 5, 1926 in Barton County, Kansas, on the family farm just north of Beaver, to the late Rudolph Jacob and Laura Mary (Frederick) Wehrli. He grew up in Barton and Russell counties graduating from Bunker Hill High School with the Class of 1945. On August 14, 1947 he was united in marriage to Geraldine Lantz in Russell, Kansas. They were blessed with two children, Gerald and Dereth.

John was a hardworking man who loved and cared for his family. A “Jack-of-all-trades,” over the course of his life, he drilled water wells, was a cable tool driller, welder, blacksmith, police officer, and deputy sheriff. As an avid outdoorsman, and Lifetime Member of the NRA, he always enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working his birddogs. Well, at least dogs he hoped would be birddogs, even if they hadn’t been raised to be. Although the dogs didn’t always know what they were doing, he loved them and they loved him, and he never missed a chance to take them on every excursion he could think of. For family outings it was not uncommon to spend entire days in search of shark teeth and arrowheads in the countless chalk bluffs and flint hills that make up so much of his beloved Kansas landscape. John was also quite an accomplished dancer in his day. A lover of all types of music, he was just as comfortable with polka or waltzing to Lawrence Welk, or country dancing or two-stepping to his favorites from Hee Haw.

John is survived by his wife Geraldine Wehrli of the home in Stockton; son Gerald Wehrli and wife Pat of Plainville; daughter Dereth “DJ” Claycamp of Goodland; grandchildren Lonnie Claycamp, Christopher Wehrli and wife Jackie, and Adam Wehrli and wife Michelle; and great-grandchildren Savannah Wehrli, and twins Cole and Riggins Wehrli.

He was preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Laura Wehrli, and sister Josie Mae Sellens.

Although denied service in the military because of injuries sustained as a young man, John was a true patriot, a lover of his country, and a supporter of our fighting men and women. With a heart that pumped red, white, and blue until the very last second, he lived a life of love, honor, integrity, and service to his family, friends, neighbors, community, and country. So, with the same grace that God has shed on the country John loved and called “home,” we rejoice, as he is now crowned with eternal goodness and welcomed to his eternal home.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Stockton. Burial will follow at the Stockton City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00pm on Friday at Main Street Christian Church in Stockton with family receiving friends from 6:00-7:30pm.

Carol JoAnn “Jo” (Thummel) Bennett passed away on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 80. She was born on April 1, 1938 in Jewell County, Kansas to the late Greg and Mildred (Ulin) Thummel. She grew up in the Esbon area and graduated from Esbon High School with the Class of 1956. She went on to attend cosmetology school in Kansas City. On May 17, 1958 she was united in marriage to Harold C. Bennett at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Esbon, Kansas. They were blessed with six children.

Jo was not only a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and homemaker but was always an active member of her church and community. She worked for the Rooks County Public Health Department and Home Health Care of Stockton for many years. She also enjoyed taking care of her friends and neighbors as a beautician for the Solomon Valley Manor. She was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church, the Legion of Mary, and the VFW Auxiliary where she served as Chaplain. She also was involved in the VFW “Buddy” Poppy Program, helping to provide income and financial assistance to disabled and needy veterans.

Jo is survived by her sons Greg Bennett and wife Rita of Topeka, Gary Bennett of Garden City, and Ken Bennett of Topeka; daughters Jeri Atwood and husband David of Lawrence, Teresea Bennett of Ellis, and Lyneatte Arreguin and husband David of Topeka; brother Ted Thummel of Esbon; sister Jean Brogdon of Raytown, MO; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Greg and Mildred Thummel, husband Harold Bennett, and infant sister Elizabeth Thummel.

The Proverbs writer reminds us, “Do not forsake your mother’s teaching for it is a garland to grace your head and an ornament of gold around your neck.” Jo taught each of us not only with her words, but with her life. She showed us in her daily example, that by caring for and serving one another, in the spirit of Christ, our tears will be temporary, but our love will be eternal.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow in the St. Elizabeth Cemetery near Esbon. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm on Friday at the funeral home in Stockton with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00pm and a Prayer Vigil Service at 7:00pm. Memorials are suggested to the VFW Auxiliary or St. Thomas Church and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st Street, Stockton, KS 67669.

Wayne Michael Braun, 46, Wamego, Kansas passed away Sunday, September 2, 2018 in Manhattan, Kansas.

On April 9, 1972, Wayne, was born to Joseph, Jr. and Peggy (Wynn) Braun in WaKeeney, Kansas. Wayne attended Ellis High School his freshman year and graduated from Trego Community High School in 1990. He also attended Cloud County Community College where he played baseball and graduated from North Central Kansas Area Vo-Tech in Hays, KS with a degree in Auto Technology. He was united in marriage with Chalee Denise Woerner on August 22, 1992 in WaKeeney. She survives of the home.

Wayne was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding his motorcycle and attending family sporting events. He also enjoyed playing slow pitch softball in his younger years. Wayne started his EMT/Fire service career in 1995 as a volunteer in Graham County and Hill City, KS. After moving to the Wamego area in 2000, he continued his service with the Wamego Fire Department until 2003. Wayne began his professional career with the Manhattan Fire Department in 2001 where he served 17 years and most recently held the rank of captain. He also served on the emergency rescue team at Jeffery Energy Center for the last 8 years.

He is also survived by two children, Taylor, Wamego, KS and Jordyn, Topeka, KS; two brothers, Eric (Julie), Onaga, KS and Aaron (Karen), Wamego, KS; his mother, Peggy Braun, Onaga, KS; a grandmother, Deryl Wynn, WaKeeney, KS; two brother-in-laws, Chad (Carolyn) Woerner, Newton, KS, and Troy (Sabrina) Bourbon, Ellsworth, KS; seven nephews, Austen Allen, Cooper Swanson, Cody and Chase Bourbon, Isaac and Levi Braun and John Bourbon; three nieces, Maggie and Emma Allen and Calista Woerner; father and mother-in-law, John and Linda Woerner, Jewell, KS; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his father, three grandparents, Carroll Wynn, Joseph, Sr. & Katherine Braun; and mother-in-law, Judy Bowen.

Funeral service for Wayne will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, September 6, 2018 at the Trinity Baptist Church in Wamego. Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery. Wayne will lie-in-state starting at 1:00 p.m. with visitation from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5th at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials to the Good Shepherd Hospice House and the Wayne Braun Memorial Fund to be designated for fire education, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS

Charlotte M. “Billie” Haller, 100, died Tuesday, September 4, 2018, in Colby, Kansas. She was born May 20, 1918.

Visitation will be held Sunday, September 9, 5-7 p.m. at Baalmann Mortuary, 109 N. 2nd Street, Atwood, Kansas.

Services will be held Monday, September 10, 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 508 Railroad Ave., Atwood, with officiant Fr. Gnanasekar.

Baalmann Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Nila A. (Kitchen) Been, 91, passed away Sunday, September 2, 2018 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Nebraska.

Nila was born August 3, 1927, the daughter of Oscar and Maona (Blaisdell) Kitchen in Pierre, South Dakota. She moved with her family in 1929 to Sherman County, spending a year in Colorado Springs while her father worked on the Broadmoor Hotel. She attended schools in Ruleton and Kanorado, graduating from SCHS in 1945. She attended Fort Hays State College and received a teaching certificate, which she used for 1 year, teaching in a one room school house in Sherman County.

Nila married Mac S. Been on August 22, 1946.  They had a garden wedding at her parent’s home. For the first few years they had a dairy farm. Nila worked many jobs, Duckwalls, Cook at the Nue Hotel, Assistant Manager of ALCO, Bookkeeper at ALCO, and at one time was a Bus Driver for the USD #352. In 1970, Mac and Nila bought a farm east of Goodland and raised Milking cows and pigs. But her favorite job was being wife, mother and grandmother.

In later years, Nila with good friend Virginia Chatfield spent many long hours in front of a quilting frame, hand quilting for many others. After Virginia passed away, Nila spent many hours by herself quilting. She was able to teach 4 of her grandchildren the love of quilting.

Nila enjoyed her 6 grandchildren, teaching each one how to cook, sew, crochet and craft project. She enjoyed watching them at their sporting events and showing 4-H projects. She always had time for them. Many hours were spent playing gin rummy and Phase 10 with them. Reading was a lifetime passion of Nila’s.

Nila was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Lincoln Larks EHU, and widow of an Elks member.

Nila was preceded in death by her Mother (1968), Father (1981), brothers Lawrence (1935), Joy (1983) and Orvine (2010), husband, Mac (2000) and Son, Neal (1977).

Survivors include Son, Kent Been, wife Peggy, Indianola, Nebraska, their daughters; Amy Bennett, husband Brian, Tucson, Arizona and Allison Domon, husband Malcolm, Children, Felicity, Malcolm Jr. and Adelaide, Omaha, Nebraska. Daughter, Laura McClung, husband Gary, Goodland, Kansas, their children: Ana Musial, husband Mark, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jonathan McClung, Jonah McClung and Ashtin McClung, all of Goodland.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 6, 2018, at Koons-Russell Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 PM MT. Funeral services will be Friday, September 7, 2018 at 1:30 PM MT at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Goodland Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated in her name to the Goodland Public Library can be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.

   

Jeannette (Stephens) Watt-Nedved passed away on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Homestead of Wichita in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 97. She was born on July 19, 1921, the youngest of seven children, to the late Elmer and Mertie (Price) Stephens. She was united in marriage to Bobby Watt and later, after his passing, to Marvin “Ned” Nedved.

Jeannette attended beauty school in Denver, Colorado and owned her own boutique, which was located in her home, in Goodland, Kansas. After she and Ned married, she moved to Plainville, Kansas and ran the beauty shop in the nursing home. She was an avid cook and homemaker. Even after moving to the assisted living facility she was busy scanning her magazines for recipes to try. She also enjoyed crochet and embroidery and turned out many beautiful “handmade” pieces. She loved her family and community, always volunteering for 4-H, school functions for her daughters, and the Hospital Auxiliary, just to name a few.

Jeannette is survived by her daughters Bonnie Smith of Piedmont, OK, and Linda Bisbee and husband Jim of Wichita; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husbands, and one granddaughter.

A Memorial Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 AM (Mountain Standard Time) on Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at the Goodland Cemetery in Goodland, KS. Inurnment will follow. There is no visitation time.

Tommy A. Baker Sr. passed away August 29, 2018 at his home in Stockton, Kansas at the age of 73. He was born September 29, 1944 in Hood River, OR to Ernest Baker and Virginia (Leslie) Baker. Tommy married Peggy Brown in Beaumont, CA. They divorced and on October 4, 1975, he married Margaret “Peggy” Carlson in Ventura, CA.

Tommy was a hard worker. In his younger years he worked on horse ranches. Later he worked for some of the local farmers, built houses, hauled campers, and was an equipment operator for the State of Kansas. Tommy loved to help others. He would do anything for anyone who asked. He enjoyed bowling and working with horses.

Tommy is survived by his son Tommy Baker, Jr. and wife Nicole of Roy, UT; daughters Ginger Cornett and husband Tony of Sand Springs, OK and Lisa Moyer of Stockton; brother Erine Baker and wife Sherry of Flint, MI; sisters Shirley Doss of Sapulpa, OK and Linda Doss of Georgetown, KY; thirteen grandchildren Payton Baker, Christopher Baker, Gabriel Baker, Tim McCoy, Katy McCoy, Joel McCoy, Braden McCoy, Talon Bullock, Ashly Babb, Katie Leonard, Sarah Moyer, Stacy Moyer, Seth Moyer; three great-grandchildren Jude McCoy, Honor McCoy, and Raegan Owens.

Preceding Tommy in death are his parents Ernie and Virginia Baker; wife Peggy Baker; sisters Peggy Sue Baker and Betty Beatty; and grandson Jared McCoy.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church in Stockton. Burial will be in the Woodston Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to go towards Tommy’s funeral expenses and can be made out to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.

Alan D. Weber, age 59, of Russell, Kansas passed away Friday, August 31, 2018 in rural Barton County. Kansas. He was born September 30, 1958 in Hays, Kansas to Lawrence and Beatina (Kinderknecht) Weber. On March 11, 2008 he married Tammy Henning in St. John, Kansas.

He had worked in the oilfields as a water truck driver. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, metal detecting and woodworking.

He is survvied by his wife, Tammy Weber of Russell; his mother, Beatina Weber of Great Bend, Kansas; two step sons, Nicholas Griffin of Portage, Indiana and Jared Griffin of Santa Rosa, California; three step daughters, Audra Hoop of Russell, Victoria Wilder of Belpre, Kansas and Dannah Hill of Russell; a brother, Steve Weber (Terri Ediger) of Hutchinson, Kansas; three sisters, Marilyn Selle (Allen) of Great Bend, Wanda Weber (Tom Moore) of Hoisington, Kansas and Connie Weber (Bret Eulert) of Great Bend as well as 13 step grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Funeral services will be 1 PM Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Burial will follow at Ft. Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday 11:30 until service time at the funeral chapel.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the JT VonLintel Outdoor Mentoring Program.

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