Longtime Goodland, Kansas resident, Willa Rose Bliss, 90, passed away on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland.

Rose was born on September 1, 1927 in Mustang, Oklahoma to William A. and Minnie Mae (Howard) Krivanek. She was one of three children. She grew up and attended school in Mustang and Union City, Oklahoma, graduating from high school in 1945.

In 1951, she married Warren G. Bliss in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. To this union, three children, Karen, Ben and Lue were born. She enjoyed spending her time raising their children and working around the home. She was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Warren, one son Lue A. Bliss, and a sister Mae Ross.

She is survived by her two children Karen Richmond of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Ben Bliss of Goodland, Kansas. She is also survived by three grandchildren; Karmel Goodermuth of Del City, Oklahoma, Michele Crosson of Houston, Texas and Marilyn Brown of Greensburg, Kansas; seven great grandchildren and twelve great-great grandchildren; as well as one sister Ruby Garrett of Lindsay, Oklahoma.

Graveside services for Rose will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Goodland Cemetery in Goodland with Pastor John Ball officiating. Burial will follow the services at the cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 17, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Memorials are designated to the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland and may 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 are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Robert Isidore “RIP” Pfannenstiel, age 89, died June 15, 2018 at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City. He was born on March 6, 1929 to Isidore and Barbara (Sauer) Pfannenstiel on a farm three and ½ miles South of Ness City.

He attended a one room school house, Sidney, which was located one and ½ miles South of Ness City.

He served four years in the US Navel Air Force. After boot camp he was an Aerial Gunner and spent half of his time overseas.

On June 4, 1956 he married Patricia M. Legg in Ness City. To this union two children were born: son, Rory Lee and daughter, Rhonda Kay.

He was a farmer and stockman and he and his brother, Jim, raised buffalo on the family farm in the 1980’s.

He worked 40 years for the Santa Fe Railroad in the Maintenance of Way (track department). He started as a Trackman, was promoted to Machine Operator then to Section Foreman, then to Production Foreman and Relief Supervisor.

He was a life member of Sacred Heart Church, Ness City; American Legion Post 152, Ness City; and VFW Post 7972, Ransom for over 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clarence, Marvin, and Jim; sisters, Bernice DiSalvo and Theresa Friess.

He leaves to morn: brothers, Larry and wife Delores and Donald Pfannenstiel and sister Clara Marie Felts; five nieces and eight nephews.

His greatest joy was to be “grandpa” to Megan and Trevor Moore, children of John and Cindy (Huxman) Moore.

Funeral service will be on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church, Ness City followed by burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Monday, June 18, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with Rosary and Parish Vigil starting at 6:30 p.m.

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

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Mike Mahorney, 59, died Thu., June 14, 2018, at Citizens Medical Center, Colby, Kansas.

He was born June 14, 1959 in Colby and was a retired shop foreman for a fire extinguisher company.

Mahorney is survived by his sons Mike Rohr and Brett Mahorney; step-brother Dennis Mahorney, Hutchinson; sisters Melody Higgins of Riverton, Wyoming and Tanya Grubb of Colby; and his step-sister Kim Urbanek, Plainville.

He was predeceased by his mother Dorreen in 1977 and father J.D. in 2001.

A memorial service will take place Monday, June 18 at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel, 745 S. Country Club Drive, Colby.

There will be no visitation as cremation has been chosen. A private inurnment will take place at a later date.

Memorials may be made in Mike Mahorney’s name in care of the Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel.

Condolences are available online at kersenbrockfuneralchapelcom.

Rose Elizabeth Keener, 82, Hays, died Thursday, June 14, 2018 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.

She was born September 12, 1935 in Albion, Illinois one of eleven children to James and Pauline (Thread) Campbell. On January 22, 1955 she was united in marriage to Donald Hazen Keener in Albion, Illinois. He preceded her in death on January 21, 1999. She was a homemaker, a volunteer for many years at the Hays Community Assistance Center, and worked in the laundry at Hadley Hospital, Hays Good Samaritan Center, and St. John’s Nursing Home. She possessed a strong Christian faith and enjoyed Christian music, Christian television programs, playing cards, dancing, and doing puzzles.

Survivors include two sons; Robert Keener and wife Rhonda of Hays, and Gary Keener and wife Nancy of Overland Park, Kansas, two daughters; Donna Jarvis and husband Stuart of Phillipsburg, and Carol Bradley and husband Guy of Greensboro, North Carolina, a brother; Melvin Campbell of Albion, Illinois, two sisters; Charlene Hite of Conroe, TX and Doris Bailey of Albion, eight grandchildren; Carrie Pfannenstiel, Melissa Wyras, Amy Keener, Cody Jarvis, Kayla Jarvis, Jason Dinges, Courtney Keener, and Hazen Keener, six great-grandchildren; Carter Jones, Laylah Pfannenstiel, Kolyn Pfannenstiel, Hendrix Jarvis, Scarlett Jarvis, and Destiny Dinges, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Donald, a son; Tony Keener, a daughter; Pamela Keener, by four brothers; Floyd, Hubert, Paul, and Joe, and three sisters; Louise, Irene, and Ruth.

A celebration of Rose’s life will be at 10:00 am on Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, with Pastor Mike Joiner officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Allen Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 am until service time on Monday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Hays Community Assistance Center, in care of the funeral home. Condolences and memories of Rose may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Albert Rohleder passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday in a local care home.

He was born in Moreland, Kansas and lived many years in Contra Costa County before finally settling in Benicia in 1971. Al was a veteran of the Korean War and worked as a Foreman for Pacific Gas & Electric for more than 27 years before retiring in 1983.

Al enjoyed traveling in his motor home, fishing, camping and volunteering as a bingo caller at the Benicia Senior Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph & Melasina (Giest) Rohleder and his three former wives: Ola May (Smith) Rohleder, Anne Rohleder & June (Wiler) Rohleder; Sisters: Irene (Rohleder) Bumpus, Marcella (Rohleder) Larson, Anna Marie Rohleder and Bernitta Marie (Rohleder) Long.

He is survived by his daughters JoAnn Duckworth, Betty Rohleder and Anna Marie Rohleder; sons Tom & Andy Rohleder and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Click HERE for service details.

Patricia was born on August 31, 1961 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the daughter of Joyce and Merle Andersen. She attended grade school in Sioux Falls and then high school in Stockton, Kansas. Patricia was married to Ray Palmer from 1979 to 1999.

Patty worked as a dietary aide for many years. She was employed at Solomon Valley Manor in Stockton, KS, Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, KS and Good Samaritan in Hays, KS. She moved to Sioux Falls in 2011 and worked at Wells Fargo and at Rosa Parks Elementary School.

Patricia passed away on June 8, 2018 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls at the age of 56.

Patricia’s family was her life and she loved being a mother. She was a devout Christian and enjoyed the BSF Bible study and fellowship.

Patty is survived by two children, Susan Palmer and Keith Palmer, both of Sioux Falls; two grandchildren, Kaylee and Preston Palmer; two siblings, Chris Andersen and Penny Paclik; and step-father, Gary Dix. She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Pamela.

Interment of cremated remains will take place at Woodston Cemetery in Kansas.

Garrett Wheaton, 85, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 1:27 a.m., Monday, June 11th, 2018 peacefully at Cedars Health Care Center.

Garrett was born in rural Lewis, Kansas on February 17, 1933, a son of Opal Naomi (Dorland) and Lynn Otis Wheaton.

Garrett attended Lewis Elementary School and graduated from Lewis High School, Lewis, Kansas in 1951. Then he attended Garden City Junior College, Garden City, Kansas where he received his Associates of Science Degree and then graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1956. Later Garrett graduated from Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas with his Master’s Degree in Education in 1966.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church McPherson. While living in Lyons he attended Lyons First Baptist Church, Lyons, Kansas.

Through the years Garrett taught and coached at Soldier High School, Soldier, Kansas from 1956 through 1962, Minneapolis High School, Minneapolis, Kansas from 1962 through 1964 and then Oak Park River Forest High School near Chicago, Illinois from 1964 through 1966. Garrett Wheaton came to U.S.D. #405 Lyons High School, Lyons, Kansas in 1966. He taught business classes, Physical Education, Health/Orientation, and Driver’s Education. He was the Athletic / Activities Director for 29 years and the Transportation Director 10 years. He served as an assistant football and basketball coach of 2 years and was head track coach for 20 years. He had the honor of coaching the Lyons track teams to 3 state, 8 regional, and 10 league titles. His many years of involvement in FCA have also been a very valuable contribution to the development of many young athletes. He received numerous awards as a coach, and director through the years.

Garrett was a member of Kansas Coaches Association, Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was on the board of the FCA Kansas State Board. Garrett enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, sporting events, was very good working with his hands and enjoyed wood crafts, farming and helping his In-laws and family on the farm near Lewis, Kansas where he grew up.

Garrett Eugene Wheaton was united in marriage to Verla Maxine Stade on January 17, 1954 in Lewis, Kansas. The young couple established their first home in Soldier, Kansas. Maxine died May 11, 2001. Garrett was united in marriage to Patricia Adele Lusk on August 30, 2003 in McPherson, Kansas where they established their home together.

He is survived by his wife Patricia Wheaton, of McPherson, Kansas; his sons David Wheaton, of Kansas City, Missouri; Sheldon Wheaton, of Olathe, Kansas; his step -daughter Linda Koch, of Wichita, Kansas; his step-son Corwin Lusk, of Loveland, Ohio; his sister Zelma Mead and her husband Jeff, of rural Lewis, Kansas; his grandsons, Jeffrey and Matthew Wheaton and several step-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and a host of friends.

Garrett was preceded in death by his parents; his 1st wife Maxine Wheaton and his sister Loretta Sthole

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Glidden – Ediger Chapel.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 15, 2018 at the Glidden-Ediger Chapel at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Lynn Scott officiating.

Graveside service will be held on Friday, June 15, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wayne Cemetery, rural Lewis, Kansas

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fellowship of Christian Athletes or Lyons High School Track and Field and they can be sent to Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid St.; McPherson, Ks. 67460.

Phillipsburg resident Maxine Walker passed away Monday, June 11, 2018 at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg at the age of 87.

She was born June 26, 1930 in Oberlin, KS, the daughter of Orville & Opal (Sweet) Smallberger. She married Verle L. Walker on June 14, 1953. He preceded her in death on April 4, 1995.

Survivors include her daughter, Jean Stapel (David) of Phillipsburg, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, June 16, at 10:30 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Chris Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 14, from noon – 9 p.m. and again Friday, June 15, from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Maxine Walker Memorial Fund.

Marvin Deckert, 86, of Blue Springs, MO passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

Marvin was born on February 7, 1932 in Montezuma, KS to Albun and Mabel (Miller) Deckert. He grew up on a farm near Burdett, KS.

After graduating high school he attended Garden City Junior College where he was named All-American Basketball Player; he then was recruited to the University of Kansas by Dr. Phog Allen and played on the 1953 basketball team that competed for the National Title. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Kansas. Marvin began his career at Prudential as a Mortgage Loan Appraiser and helped it develop many areas in eastern Jackson County, including Noland Road. He later went into the building and development business. He married the love of his life, Nancy Atkinson, in 1963.

In his spare time, he enjoyed flying and golfing. He was a qualified multi-engine pilot and enjoyed flying his Cessna 310 throughout the United States and Canada. Marvin was also one of the original members of the Wolf Creek Golf Club. He developed many friendships over his time there that are still important today.

In accordance with Marvin’s wishes a memorial service will not be held. He would like each of you to remember him as he was when you knew him best. Cremation is planned. A private gathering to remember his life will be held. He is survived by his siblings Marcia Ryder of Olathe, KS, Ron Deckert and wife Barbara of Boise, ID, Jim Deckert and wife Dianne of Kansas City, MO, Ken Deckert of Larned, KS; plus several nieces, nephews, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy in 2009. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.