Eugene Leon “Gene” Rohleder, 68, Hays, died Sunday, March 25, 2018 at the Ellis Good Samaritan Society. 

He was born July 7, 1949 in Hays the oldest child of Francis R. “Frank” and Frances “Francie” (Herman) Rohleder. Gene was well known and loved in and around Hays and he loved people, family, babies, animals, and horsing around with family and friends. He was an avid Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan, and he enjoyed going to baseball games and he also enjoyed spending time at Bethesda Place and was very active with the other men and staff while there.

Trips to the country to watch harvest and south of town to watch the buffalo herd were very special to Gene, and he also enjoyed trips to the zoo, miniature golf, bowling, swimming at the old Massey Park Pool, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, and dancing at weddings and anniversaries. He collected horse statues, cans for recycling, and he enjoyed trips to the local fire station to visit with the firefighters, he loved the firetrucks, the firemen, and policemen. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Survivors include his mother; Francie of Hays, a brother; Pete Rohleder and wife Terri of Hays, six sisters; Mary Kay Dechant and husband Steven of Hutchinson, Chris McNiece and husband Jim of Wichita, Conni Dreher and husband Marion of Hays, Joan Gray of Wichita, Gloria Rader and husband Bob of Hays, and Dianna Mans and husband Joe of Topeka, 13 nieces and nephews; Jason Dechant, Aaron Dechant, Sarah Osburn, Joshua McNiece, Jamie Gibson, Austin Gray, Jordon Gray, Scott Rader, Brian Rader, Nate Rohleder, Nicole Windholz, Kelli Mans, and Katie Mans, and numerous great nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father; Frank Rohleder on March 28, 2015.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street, with Fr. Don Zimmerman and Fr. Leo Blasi officiating.  Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Tuesday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Wednesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street.  A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home. 

Memorials are suggested in Gene’s memory to Bethesda Place, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Nicole D. Galvan, age 38, passed away on Thursday, March 22, 2018 in San Antonio. She was born in Ransom, Kansas on October 31, 1979.

Nicole graduated from Utica High School in 1998. She attended Seward County Community College on a basketball scholarship and graduated with an Associate’s degree in Business. Nicole went on to attend UTSA where she led the team in blocked shots from 2000-2002 with 437 Career high points and 218 Career rebounds. She had 16 Rebounds vs. Sam Houston State, which was 6th highest in school history. Their Division One team was ranked Second in the nation for Defense from 2000-2002. Nicole was 2002 Honorable Mention All-SLC. Nicole graduated from UTSA in 2003 with her Bachelor’s Degree.

Nicole worked in the car business for over 10 years as a Finance Manager. From there she went on to be an Underwriter for Chase Bank until her current position as an Underwriter for Ally Bank.

Outside of work, Nicole was an avid sports fan. She was a season ticketholder for the Dallas Cowboys, enjoyed watching the Kansas Jayhawks “KU” basketball team, loved the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Red Sox. Her family meant everything to her. Additionally, she enjoyed traveling, attending many concerts, drinking fine wines and tequila.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Matthew Foster. Nicole is survived by her husband, Efrain “Fry” Galvan; step-children Marisol Conde, Efrain Galvan, Jr., Destiny Galvan, Victoria Galvan; parents, Kirk and Michelle Foster; brother, Zach Foster and his wife, Cassie; and sister, Amanda Foster; her fur-babies (dogs), Dutchess Monroe, Duke Morraco, Perrier Jouet “PJ”, and her Savannah kitties, Valentina, Maximus, and Jameson.

Interment will be in Utica Cemetery, Utica Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sanctuary for Hope at Cornerstone Church, 1-800-854-9899.

Larry Gene Benedict, age 79, passed away on March 23, 2018 at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City. He was born on November 13, 1938 in Coffeyville, Kansas the son of William and Lillian Reiter Benedict.

As a young man he joined the Navy for 3 years. Larry married his high school sweetheart, Brenda Jo Reed on December 22, 1958 in Hays. She preceded him in death on June 17, 1998. To this marriage came five children, Kelli, Kirk, Lori, Reed, and Belinda. He wore many hats in adulthood, but the ones he was most proud of was being a minister, a police officer, and the Ness City Municipal Court Judge. He also erected the three crosses on the Christ Pilot Me Hill, East of Bazine.

Larry married Leona Oborny on July 24, 1999 in Ness City. Together Larry and Leona, raised chickens, koi, and nurtured many children who came to them for daycare.

Larry is survived by his wife, Leona; daughter, Lori Mellies (Dave); son, Dr. William Reed Benedict (Julie); daughter, Belinda Duckworth (Kevin); stepson, Preston Black (Kelli); three granddaughters, Bre Benedict, Dana Celestine, and Kirstin Benedict; two grandsons, Blake and Brant Mellies; step grandson, Jaden Black and two great grandsons, Colter and Conner Mellies; half-brother, Bill Hepner and half-sister, Paula Thaxton and Patty Hepner.

He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father, Leon Hepner; step-mother, Lucille Benedict; wife, Brenda; daughter, Kelli; son, Kirk; and stepson Joshua Black.

Funeral service will be on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City with burial following in the Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays. Friends may call on Tuesday at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with the family present from 7-9 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Christ Pilot Me Hill or the Ness County Hospital Foundation.

Rod Kennemer, 58, died on Friday, March 23, 2018 at St Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born on September 6, 1959 at Kansas City, Kansas the son of Bob & Gwen (Mendenhall) Kennemer. He married Jana Tanking on April 6, 1991 at Salina.

Rod grew up in Dighton and graduated with the Class of 1977 at Dighton High School. He attended Fort Hays State University and later took classes at Garden City Community College. While in college and for a time after his schooling he worked at Farmers Oil in Dighton. He then went to work for the Kansas Department of Transportation in Dighton and in 1988 he was transferred to Garden City. He currently was an Engineering Technician for KDOT and had served for 37 ½ years. He was an avid racquetball player at the Garden City YMCA and also enjoyed playing the guitar, old cars and motorcycles. He was preceded in death by his Mother.

He is survived by his Wife- Jana Kennemer of the Home, Son- Sean of the Home, Father- Bob Kennemer of Dighton, Brother- Rob & Traci Kennemer of Hays, Sister- Joni & Dan Bollinger of Dighton, Mother-In-Law Mary Ann Tanking of Salina, 2 Brothers-In-Laws Jeff Tanking & Susan Kolb of Baldwin & Dave & Laureen Tanking of Lindsborg, Nephews and Nieces- Abby Kennemer, Brandon Kennemer, Trevor Bollinger, Suzanne Tanking & Olivia Tanking, several Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. Extended family includes many wonderful friends and co-workers.

Funeral Service will be at 10:30 AM Wednesday at First Christian Church in Dighton with Rev Aerii Smith and Pastor Raul Silva officiating. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Tuesday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. Memorials are suggested to the Sean Kennemer Education Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com

Longtime Greeley County resident Clarence Leroy Sawyer, 93, died Monday, March 19, 2018 at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune, Kansas.

He was born on May 16, 1924 in Chautauqua County, Kansas, the son of Jess B. and Ruth E. (Gilstrap) Sawyer. He was the middle child of seven children. Clarence graduated from Greeley County High School with the class of 1943.

On December 10, 1947, he and Joy Anne Hamann were married in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tribune, Kansas, and to that union, four children were born.

Clarence was a farmer until he retired in 2002. In the off season, he worked with Joe Govert, owner of Govert Construction. They built and remodeled numerous homes in Greeley County. They also put up Behlen buildings and grain bins. In October of 1991, he was elected chairman of the Greeley County Cemetery Board and served on it until his term expired in 2015. The Cemetery Board had enough confidence to hire him as Sexton in April of 2006, at the age of 81 years old. He took a lot of pride in the cemetery. The week or so before his stroke in December of 2014, he was still active and able bodied enough to work at the age of 90.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Joy; an infant son Thomas Leroy Sawyer; a son Timothy Allen Sawyer; three brothers, John, Darrell and Hubert; two sisters Ruby Temple and Charlene Walker; an infant nephew Jeffrey Sawyer, and other nephews Wayne E. “Chip” Temple II, Michael Sawyer and Greg Sawyer.
Surviving family includes two daughters; Virginia “Ginger” Johnson of Arvada, Colorado; Janine (Shawn) Baehler of Sharon Springs; Grandson Jess Coltin Baehler of Sharon Springs; Granddaughter Morganne Del Baehler and her fiancé Jarvis Carraway of Texas City, Texas; one brother Roy (Ruth) Sawyer of Willows, California; sister-in-law Sherre Sawyer of Wellington, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorial services for Clarence will be held on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 1:30 PM MT at the Tribune United Methodist Church in Tribune, Kansas with Pastor Robert Selvakumar officiating. Private family inurnment will be held in the Tribune Cemetery, Tribune, Kansas.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are designated to the Clarence Sawyer Memorial Fund 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.

Service arrangements are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Sharon Springs, Kansas.

Carol (Thelen) Hughen, age 77, of Fayetteville passed away on March 18, 2018. She was born June 19, 1940 in Charles City, Iowa to Ida Johanna (Rademacher-Thelen) McCoy and Almon Robert Thelen.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents and three of her brothers, Daniel Steven McCoy, Wayne Edward Swant and Jim Boll.

Carol was a graduate of Hot Springs High School, 1958, and then she and her husband, Rich, raised three children. For several years she was primarily a homemaker and a great Mom. When the children were older she went to college and in 1982 graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in Education. She taught at the New School in Fayetteville for several years and then became a public school teacher in Ellis, Kansas, retiring in 2005. In 2006 she was diagnosed with cancer (Lymphoma) and suffered with various health problems the rest of her life.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Rich; four brothers, Randy of Mt. Vernon, Illinois; Pat of Knoxville, Tennessee; Jim of Amelia, Ohio and Tim of Edgewater, Maryland; three children, Bill of Belleville, Illinois; Cindy and RT of Fayetteville, Arkansas; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, April 2, 2018 at Central United Methodist Church in the Church Activity Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to Central United Methodist Church of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Franklin Dale Schlegel, 82, died Friday, March 23, 2018 at the Hays Medical Center. He was born April 22, 1935 in LaCrosse, Kansas to Fred and Lydia (Stieben) Schlegel.

Franklin’s grade school years were spent at a one room country school southwest of Bazine. He graduated from the Bazine High School in 1953. He joined the U. S. Army and served in Korea. After his service, he was a farmer. On June 7, 1959, Franklin married Norma Margheim. They lived on a farm southwest of Bazine until moving into Bazine in 1976.

He was a member of the Bazine United Methodist Church and the Bazine American Legion.

Franklin is survived by his wife, Norma; two daughters, Colette (Jim) Gulick of Portland, Oregon and Tamera Schlegel of Centennial, Colorado; two grandsons, John (Nicole) Gulick, Beaverton, Oregon, and David (Tuuli) Gulick, Portland, Oregon; three granddaughters, Leah, Sierra, and Audrey; and his grand dogs, Josie and Tasha. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Winifred and Coralee.

Friends may call on Monday, March 26 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City, Kansas from 4:00P.M. – 9:00P.M., with the family present from 6:00-8:00P.M. Funeral services will be at the Bazine United Methodist Church on Tuesday March 27th at 10:30A.M. Burial to follow at the Bazine Cemetery with military rites by Olin Cole Post No. 392, Bazine American Legion.

Memorials to the Donor’s Choice.

Mary Frances Dreiling, age 97, of Victoria, Kansas died Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Via Christi Village Care Center in Hays, Kansas. She was born October 7, 1920, in Catharine, Kansas, to Adam J. and Anna (Polifka) Walters. She married Elmer J. Dreiling on May 8, 1946, at Victoria, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 16, 1967.

She was homemaker and a cook for U.S.D. #432 for 6 years from 1968 to 1975 and then cooked at Hays Medical Center for 15 years and retired in 1991. She was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, St. Fidelis Christian Mothers, St. Fidelis Daughters of Isabella and V.F.W. Post No. 1751 Ladies Auxiliary all of Victoria, Kansas. She worked on the St. Fidelis Funeral Committee and Victoria Senior Center Meals on Wheels. She attended the HMC Health Improvement Center for 11years, loved her family, card clubs, traveling, her grandchildren’s sports and other activities; but most of all Mary Frances knew how to make people laugh with her witty sense of humor.

Survivors include, one son, Rick Dreiling, Wichita, KS; and Eileen Dreiling, Augusta, KS; four daughters, Judy Hoskins and husband, Bruce, Wheaton, IL; Patty Dreiling and husband, Kenneth, Victoria, KS; Kathy Johnson and husband, Jay, Aurora, CO; Bobbie Schippers and husband, John, Hays, KS; one brother, Kenneth Walters, and wife, Linda, Bend, OR; three sisters, Dorothy Goetz, Hays, KS; Roseanne Augustine, Manhattan, KS; Eileen Leiker and husband, Wilfred, Hays, KS; one sister-in-law, Leona Walters, Dallas, TX; 11 grandchildren, Shane Dreiling (Mona), Jill Windholz (Ken), Brett Dreiling (Heidi), Garett Johnson (Molly), Molly Molinaro (Scott), Hanna Dreiling, Heidi Dreiling, Harrison Dreiling, Chase Schippers (Lindsay) Sophia Sanders (Jay), Pierce Schippers and fiancée (Kate Dickinson); 11 great grandchildren; and one step great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one granddaughter, Heather Dreiling; four brothers, Ernest Walters, Harold Walters and wife, Ida, Irvin Walters and wife, Clara, Bill Walters and wife, Barbara; two brothers-in-law, Paul Goetz and Marvin Augustine.

Services will be at 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 26, 2018, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.

A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, followed by a Victoria V.F.W. Auxiliary memorial service and rosary with the St. Fidelis Christian Mothers and St. Fidelis Daughters of Isabella all at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 9:00 P.M. Sunday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 Monday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.

The family suggest memorials to The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas.

Services are entrusted to Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria Kansas 67671.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Kimberly Ann (LaDuke) Dopita passed away Friday, March 23, 2018 at her home in Hays, Kansas at the age of 60. She was born on February 14, 1958 in Atwood, Kansas to Eugene and Marianne (Heble) LaDuke. She grew up in Plainville, Kansas and graduated from Plainville High School with the Class of 1976. In 1977 she married Robert “Bob” Dopita, they later divorced. Together they had two children, Bobbi Jo and Tony.

Kimberly was an outgoing, free-spirited, adventurous woman. She worked for many years at RANS Co. in Hays and owned and operated her own photography studio in Plainville. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed growing her own vegetables. Always happy-go-lucky she loved the water and the air.

Kimberly is survived by her mother Marianne Cowley of Plainville; daughter Bobbi Jo Wiggins of Fort Worth, TX; son Tony Dopita and wife Nicole of Hays; brothers Kevin LaDuke of Plainville, Kelly LaDuke of Plainville, Kenny LaDuke and wife Lydia of Rockwall, TX, and Kerri LaDuke of Hays; special friend Randy Schlitter of Hays; and grandchildren Emily Dopita, Lawrence Dopita, Kylie Wiggins, and Kinley Wiggins.

She was preceded in death by her father Eugene LaDuke and step-father Don Cowley.

Marguerite Carstairs once said, “I am a free spirit… either admire me from the ground or fly with me, but don’t ever try to cage me.” Kimberly embodied a spirit that was unique, spontaneous, and fun-loving. Although we are heart-broken because she left us too soon, we rejoice that even now she is flying higher now than she ever has before, while she waits for us to join her on the other side of heaven.

Memorials are suggested to the National PKU Alliance and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd Street, Plainville, KS 676663.

Click HERE for service details.

Ryan William Struss, age 35, of WaKeeney, passed on to Heaven Thursday, March 1, 2018 in WaKeeney. He was born May 8, 1982 to Laura and Kevin Struss, in WaKeeney.

Ryan cherished his family. He loved farming, especially in John Deere tractors. He always said farming was his dream. He had many friends and was always known for his stories of the fun times he had at Cedar Bluff Lake, at Chuck’s Bar, and the Rose with his friends. When he entered a room, you could count on him having a smile on his face, while whistling a tune. Ryan loved “Sonny Boy” the family’s Shitzu dog; he spoiled him like no other. Ryan was a great friend, son, brother, cousin, and uncle to many. He will always be remembered for his giving nature and stubborn stature. Joking with everyone was a staple in his life; there was never a dull moment with Ryan!

Left to mourn his passing are his parents, Kevin Struss and fiancé Kellie Acker and Laura and husband Charlie Crook; sister, Jodi and husband Ron Desair; step brothers, Chuck (Lexi) Crook and Spencer Harvey. Ryan also had a lot of surviving extended family that will miss him dearly, including nieces, Addison Desair, Ayla Werth, and Whitney Desair; nephews, Connor and Brendan Karnes, Treygan Desair, and Charles E. Crook V; aunts, Carol Cavell, Marguirite McFarling, Sherry Cook, Krista Dietz, and Cindy Dietz; uncles, Richard Cook, Jim Dietz, Mike Cavell, and Ron McFarling; first cousins, Tate, Miles, Amy, Bridget, Hayden, Carson, Tatum, and Skylar Cook, Megan McFarling, Elizabeth McFarling, Cody Sandlin and family, Clair and Austin Dietz, Derek Dietz and families, Terah and Eric Bursch and family, Myles and Mary Cavell and family, Anna Cattua and family, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his step-mother, Julia Struss; grandparents, Elmer and Armella Struss, and Ferd and Wanda Dietz; brother, Kurt William Struss; and uncle, Ken Dietz.
 
Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, WaKeeney.  Burial will take place at a later date.

There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Ryan Struss Memorial Fund.  Donations to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS  67672.

THE FAMILY REQUESTS THAT ALL ATTENDEES WEAR WESTERN WEAR IF POSSIBLE TO HONOR RYAN.

Orville Leo Blanchett, 85, Damar, Kansas, died Wednesday, March 21, 2018, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.

Mr. Blanchett was born March 10, 1933, in Weathers, Arkansas, the son of Joe and Nettie (Weber) Blanchett. He was a resident of Damar, Kansas. He attended grade school and high school in Minneola, Kansas.

He was a member of the Church of Christ, Minneola, Kansas, and VFW Post 1714, Dodge City, Kansas.

He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, obtaining the title of Corporal October 22, 1954. Upon receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army, he served in the Reserves until 1961.

In October 1952, he married Sharlene Smith in Dodge City, Kansas. They later divorced.

Survivors include: his former wife, Sharlene Gross, Hays, Kansas; his companion of more than 20 years, Georgia LaBarge, Damar, Kansas; four daughters, Charmane Besperat (John), Timken, Kansas, Michele Blanchett, Pueblo, Colorado, Tammy Marrs (Tim), Meade, Kansas, Kelli Thiel (Mark), Hays, Kansas; one son in law, Dennis Nowlin, Ellis, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Shane Blanchett, Ben Marrs, Christine Black, Shannon McGregor, Lance Gosser, Traci Burns, Melissa Erbert, and Rachel Lundstrom; nine great grandchildren; one brother, Bob Blanchett; and his twin sister, Cleo Hughes.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Renee Nowlin; one brother, Truman Blanchett; and two sisters Wilma Hall, and Lorraine Axline.

Per Leo’s wishes, his body has been donated to the University of Kansas School of Medicine Willed Body Program. A private celebration of Leo’s life be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice at Hays Medical Center, Hays, 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.