Matthew V. “Matt” Guffey, age 44, of Hays, Kansas passed away Friday March 9, 2018 in rural Ellis County, Kansas. He was born February 24, 1974 in Scott City, Kansas to Richard and Deborah (Hartman) Guffey. Matt graduated from Hays High School in 1992.

Matt was a rig hand working for Murphin Oil Company and currently with Discovery Drilling Company. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and collecting knives. Matt was a proud and active father of Hunter, Maddy and Lona enjoying all the activities the children participated in.

He is survived by his parents, Richard and Deborah Guffey of Hays; his children, Hunter, Maddy and Lona Guffey all of Ellis; a brother, Nathan Guffey of San Diego; a sister, Amy Jensen and husband Mike of Hays; a niece, Elissa Jensen of Hays; a nephew, Ethan Jensen of Hays and his grandmother, Helen Hartman of Hays.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Van Hartman and his maternal grandparents, Vernon and Ruby Guffey.

Memorial services will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at the Trinity Lutheran Church 2703 Fort Hays, KS.

Memorial visitation will be Monday 6 PM – 8 PM at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Matt Guffey Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date with checks payable and in care of Deb Guffey.

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

Gerald Cecil (Jerry) Baldwin, 89, passed away peacefully on Wednesday February 28, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona.

Jerry was born October 8, 1928 in Palmer, Kansas to Olda and Alma (Lyon) Baldwin. He was the youngest of their five children. The family relocated to Goodland, Kansas during the Great Depression. It was there that Jerry met Anna Marie Colburn. He married her in Goodland, Kansas on September 14, 1950.

Anna preceded Jerry in death in 2003. Two sons survive him, Andy Baldwin (Vonnie); and Matthew Baldwin (Peggy). He also has a granddaughter, Matina (Baldwin) Schoonover (Casey) and two great-grandchildren Danica and Cayden.

Jerry entered the US Air Force in 1954. During his twenty year career, he was a crew chief on an H-19 rescue helicopter, guidance technician on TM-76B Mace missiles and Ballistic Missile Analyst Technician and First Sargent on Titan II missiles. It was the Titan assignment that brought him to Tucson Arizona where he retired in 1974.

Jerry loved sports. While at Sherman Community High School he lettered in wrestling, basketball, baseball, and football. He also enjoyed hunting, but his greatest hobby passion was fishing. He had favorite fishing spots wherever he lived. He brought home bass from Roosevelt Lake in Arizona, red snapper from the Jetty at Cape Canaveral and trout from Don Lake in Germany.

Funeral services for Jerry will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 10:30 AM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland with Pastor Doug Amend officiating. Burial with full Military Honors will be held in the Goodland Cemetery following the service.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM MT at Koons-Russell Funeral Home.

Memorials are designated to the Gerald Baldwin 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 may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral service arrangements are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Florence Pauline Batt, 91, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, March 07, 2018, at the Via Christi Village in Wichita, Kansas.

Florence was born on October 24, 1926, in Bunker Hill, Kansas, the daughter of David and Pauline (Ehrlich) Keil. She was Baptized in the Trinity Lutheran Church on November 1, 1926. She excelled in school, but her father would only allow her to attend to the 8th grade. She did not let that stop her, and earned her GED and then took many college courses. She had a great love for reading and learning. She was united in marriage to Walter Popp on December 6, 1951. He preceded her in death on May 2, 1964. She was united in marriage to Walter Batt on June 14, 1969. He preceded her in death on May 11, 1986. She was a fulltime wife, mother and homemaker and enjoyed taking care of her family. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed gardening and canning; china painting and teaching her granddaughter to china paint, collecting information on local schools in Russell County, dancing, was an avid Bridge player, golf and traveling. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.

Surviving family include her daughters, Linda Tittel and husband Doug from Sharon Springs, Kansas and Connie Ney of Russell, Kansas; son, Michael Popp and wife Ann of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Clarence Keil and wife Dee of Wichita, Kansas; 6 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. She was preceded by her parents, both husbands, sister Palmena “Paule” Brock and brother Delmar Keil and Leroy Keil.

A celebration of Florence’s life will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas. A Graveside Service will be at 2:00 PM, Wednesday at the Hoisington City Cemetery in Hoisington, Kansas. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Memorials have been established with St. John Lutheran Church or the High Plaines Humane Society. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, who is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Velma Louise Underwood, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, Marych 07, 2018, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Velma was born on December 07, 1934, in Sumner County, Kansas, the daughter of Paul D. and Viola Velma (Hutchins) Myers. She grew up in the Winfield and Tribune areas and graduated from Southwester High School in Waxahachie, Texas. After high school she attended college at Ft. Hays State University in Hays Kansas. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Lowell Patrick Underwood on September 03, 1951, in Tribune, Kansas. From this union Velma and Pat were blessed with 3 sons Ron, Randal and Rick. The family located to Russell, Kansas, and has made Russell their home for 57 years. Velma worked as a controller and office manager of Bella Vista Motor Homes then worked as the Executive Director of Lincoln Manor and Parkside Manor both in Russell. She was a longtime member and very active with Otterbein United Methodist Church. She enjoyed traveling and writing poetry with some of her poems having been published. Most of all she enjoyed being a wife, mother and homemaker and loved raising her children and grandchildren.

Surviving family include her husband Lowell “Pat” of 66 years of the home, son Rick Underwood and wife Sherri of Gorham, Kansas; daughter in-law Nancy Underwood Schmitt; brother Paul E. Myers of Tribune, Kansas; sister Paula Davis and husband Scott of Los Lunas, New Mexico; grandchildren Alex, Seth and Kelcie Underwood and Tisha Rein Coffelt and 2 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sons Ron and Randal Underwood; 2 sisters Virginia Martin and Clorene Stone.

A memorial service to celebrate Velma’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell, Kansas with Pastor Michael Eurit officiating. Cremation has been selected by the family and inurnment will follow the services at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at the mortuary with family to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Wednesday evening. Memorials may be given to the KU Med Center Alzheimer’s Unit and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Mildred Gertrude Reif, 86, passed away March 10, 2018, at Via Christi Hospital St. Francis in Wichita, KS.

She was born on November 7, 1931, at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend, to John J. and Judith (Mater) Schneider.

On August 30, 1950, she married Steve Reif at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Olmitz. After the wedding, they settled on a farm near Odin, where they lived their entire married life of over 67 years.

A lifetime resident of Barton County, she was a homemaker. She loved music and going to dances with Steve. She enjoyed crocheting and gardening and was an active partner on the farm. She was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar Society of Odin.

Mildred was a 1949 graduate of Great Bend High School.

She is survived by her husband, of the home; four children, Melvin and wife Sammie Reif of Ellinwood, Raymond and wife Anne Reif and Janet and husband Gary Rapp of Great Bend, Theresa and husband Patrick Trapp of Hays; six grandchildren, Marci and husband Jason Elliott, Sarah and husband Tony Schmieg, Katie and husband Jason Beach, Emily Reif, Cole and wife Regan Reif, and Travis and wife Katrina Rapp; eight great-grandchildren, Brendan Elliott, Avery Elliott, Kylie Schmieg, Alexis Schmieg, Tanner Beach, Anna Beach, Sophie Arunski, and Fitz Reif; and one sister, Delores and husband Leo Frenzl of Great Bend.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Martin Schneider; and one sister, Marie Demel.
Friends may call 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. and Vigil and Rosary at 7p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, Kansas, celebrated by Father Terrence Klein. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Holy Family Cemetery Fund in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS, 67544.

Clarence R. Barta passed away Friday, March 9, 2018 at Almost Home in Great Bend, Kansas at the age of 89. He was born on September 2, 1928, on the family farm in Ellsworth County, Kansas near Wilson, to the late Oda and Eleanor (Svaty) Barta. Before finishing high school he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served for three years.

After being honorably discharged from the Coast guard, he completed school and began working in the oil industry. On October 18, 1954 he was united in marriage to Mary Podlena at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson. Together they lived in numerous Kansas towns, but spent most of their later life in Great Bend. Aside from his love of family, his greatest passion was playing cards. He was known for a life time of planting trees and saving stray animals. He attended St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great bend and was a lifetime member of the American Legion.

Clarence is survived by son Randy Barta and wife Kayla of Overland Park; daughter Cindy McQuade and husband Tim of Hoisington; grandsons Mike Barta of Lenexa, Ryan McQuade of Hays, Mark Barta of Mission; granddaughter Holly Simpson of Topeka; great-grandson Chace Barta; great-granddaughter Charlotte Rose Barta; and sisters-in-law Emily Zorn of Hoisington, Anne Ehrlich of Haven, and Sister Loretta Podlena of Great Bend.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Mary Barta, parents Oda and Eleanor Barta, brother and sister-in-law Alvin and Loretta Barta.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson. Burial will follow in the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00pm on Friday at the funeral home with Prayer Vigil at 6:00pm.

Gayle Clifford Bainter was born to Roy C and Bessie Jane (Randall) Bainter on the family farm northwest of Hoxie, Kansas on March 31, 1920 the first of 7 children. He passed away on March 9, 2018 at the age of 97 . He attended the McGraw country school through 8th grade, and graduated from high school in Dresden, Kansas in 1938. He worked for several years and saved money to attend business college in Chillicothe, MO which he began in the fall of 1941.

After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor he was drafted into the US Army during WWII from and served from February 25, 1942 to December 31, 1945. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, in France, Belgium and Germany, and was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in the crossing of the Sauer River. His unit liberated a concentration camp before the surrender of Germany on May 8, 1945.

After the war, he married Ruth Mae Carstens on January 1, 1947 in Topeka, KS. To this union three children were born, Warren, Judy, and Wesley. They celebrated 71 years of marriage and were true partners in life.

Gayle graduated from Washburn University with a BS in accounting in 1952. He worked in Topeka, Ks for a medical laboratory while attending college and until 1957 when the family moved to the farm in northwest Sheridan County to assist his father in farming, who was 61 at the time. In addition to farming, he worked part time for Sheridan County Appraiser’s office for a number of years, and then became the County Appraiser from 1976 to 1984. He later served as County Appraiser for Decatur County for several years.

Gayle was active in a number of service organizations. He became a 32nd degree Mason in Topeka in 1957. He joined the Hoxie Rotary Club serving all the local offices, and was Rotary District 5670 Governor 1994-1995. He made 4 trips to Panama with Rotary groups to provide eye glasses to the poor in that country. He served as a mentor in the Kansas Rotary High School Leadership Academy for several years. He was a life member of the VFW Post in Grainfield, KS. He was a member of the McGraw Methodist Church all his life.

Gayle is survived by his children, Warren (Jan) Bainter of Oberlin, Judy Gaumer of Oberlin, and Wesley (Casey) Bainter of Hoxie, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-granchildren, and sisters Rayta Mues of Golden Colorado and Della Jean Shipley of Hoxie.
He was predeceased by his Wife, Ruth, his parents, and sisters, Leta Neeley, Norma Tice, and Irma Shipley, brother Dale Bainter, and grandson, Adam Gaumer.

Services are scheduled for Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at the Hoxie United Methodist Church, at 10:30 A.M. Interment will follow in the Hoxie City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 12, 2018 from Noon until 7:00 P.M.at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas.

The family suggests memorials to the McGraw Methodist Church, and they may be sent to Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. On-line condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com

Kelly R. (Deiter) Riemann, beloved daughter of Paul and Patricia (Beck) Deiter, was born at Vandenberg AFB in California on March 30, 1964, and passed away at her home in Lake Ozarks, Missouri on March 6, 2018, at the age of 53.

Kelly attended school in Des Moines, Iowa and Colorado Springs, Colorado. She graduated from Doherty High School in 1982 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Kelly went on to attend Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas receiving her Bachelor’s of Science In Education Degree. She taught in Derby, Kansas before teaching middle school reading at Lansing Middle School in Lansing, Kansas for 18 years. She was married to Kevin Riemann and to this union four wonderful children were born; Daniel Lee Riemann, Alex Thomas Riemann, Wesley Grant Riemann, and Leah Reagan Riemann. Kelly retired from teaching and moved to Norton, Kansas where she married the love of her life, Jim Richeson. Kelly and Jim lived in Norton for 5 years before moving to Lake Ozark, Missouri.

Kelly was a very kind hearted woman. She was passionate and active in the Just Say No Club and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Kelly enjoyed traveling with her husband, Jim to Herman, Missouri, shopping, going out to eat, and spending time with those she loved the most. Her greatest love was her family, especially her husband, children and grandchild.

Survivors include: her husband, Jim, of their home; mother, Patricia Deiter, Lansing, KS; three children; Alex Riemann, Lawrence, KS; Wesley Riemann, Lansing, KS; Leah Cook, Lansing, KS; cherished niece, Katie Smith, Kansas City, MO; one grandchild, Sydney Riemann; several nieces and nephews; numerous other relatives and friends.

Kelly was preceded in death by her father, Paul Deiter; one son, Daniel Lee Riemann; and sister, Jody Smith.

FUNERAL SERVICE – Monday, March 12, 2018 – 2:00 P.M.

PLACE – Enfield Funeral Home – Norton, Kansas

INTERMENT – Norton Cemetery – Norton, Kansas

MEMORIALS – Kelly Riemann Memorial Fund

Alex A. Herrman, 82, La Crosse, Kansas, met his creator Thursday, March 8, 2018, at Rush County Memorial Hospital, La Crosse.

Alex was born June 28, 1935, on the family farm in rural Rush County, Kansas, to Nicholas and Veronica (Legleiter) Herrman. He was a lifelong resident of Rush County. A 1953 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, he spent his time as a farmer and also worked at Cross Manufacturing for 13 years.

He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, and a former member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas. He was an honorary life member of Knights of Columbus Council 2970, La Crosse, where he was a former Grand Knight, District Deputy, a member of the degree team, and a delegate to the Supreme Convention. He was a 4th degree member of the Pope Paul VI Assembly, La Crosse, a former USD 395, La Crosse, school board member, and a former board member of the Rush County Farmer’s Co-op.

He enjoyed attending all of his grandchildren’s activities, and was also an avid “La Crosse Leopard Fan”. He was proud of his Leopard history, and helped construct the current high school.

On April 23, 1956, he married Twila Mae Staab at St. Joseph’s Church, Hays, Kansas.

Survivors include: his wife, Twila Herrman of the home; four daughters, Janel Weigel, and husband, Rick, La Crosse, Jillane Koochel, and husband, Pat, Great Bend, Kansas, Jerilyn Stull, and husband, Mike, McCracken, Kansas, and Joyce Temanson, and husband, Bill, Pratt, Kansas; one son, Glenn Herrman, and wife, Shanon, La Crosse; fourteen grandchildren, Nicholl Weigel, Nathan (Nicole) Weigel, Rachel (Tyler) Thompson, Christopher (Lindsey) Koochel, Emily Koochel, Ethan Koochel, Tayler Stull, Colby Stull, Eli Temanson, Aden Temanson, Isaac Temanson Brett Herrman, Blake Herrman, and Brooke Herrman and four great grandchildren, Madeline Koochel, Avery Koochel, Charlie Weigel, and Jace Weigel; two brothers, Marvin Herrman, and wife, Florence, La Crosse, and Albert (Al) Herrman, and wife, Mary, Salina, Kansas; and two sisters, Edith Bollig, La Crosse, and Elenora Moeder, La Crosse.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Chris Herrman, Elmer Herrman, Alvin Herrman, Kenneth Herrman, and Raymond Herrman; and four sisters, Emma Moeder, Agnes Herrman, Bertha Sauber, and Sister Louise Herrman,

Visitation will be Sunday, March 11, 2018, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. A vigil service and 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 7:00 P.M.

Church visitation will be Monday, March 12, 2018, from 9:00 A.M. to 9:50 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse.

Funeral service will be Monday, March 12, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Father Eric Gyamfi officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Liebenthal.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, or St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal.

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.

Robert “Bob” Hinca of Plainville, KS went to meet his Savior Jesus face-to-face on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. He was born on June 11, 1933 in Buffalo, New York to Leo and Rose (Maciejewski) Hinca. He was united in marriage to Loretta Garvert on April 25, 1959 in Plainville, Kansas.

Bob will ever be known as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend; a diligent and dedicated worker and provider; the avid radio announcer “Bob Hammer”; an intense fan of all sports teams yielding from Buffalo, NY; a lover of Big Band and Jazz music; and a magneto genius. His heart of service was obvious to his country as he served in the Air Force, to his community through years of service to youth as a Sunday School teacher, and to his family as a dedicated provider.

He is survived by is wife “Angel” Loretta Hinca, celebrating 59 years together; his four children and their spouses: son Mark L. Hinca and wife Linda of Salina, KS; daughter Mary A. Hurlbut (Hinca) and husband Bryan of Edmond, OK; daughter Lisa M. Ward (Hinca) and husband Neal of Hays, KS; and, Craig A. Hinca with wife Laura of Salina, Kanasas. Bob is preceded in death by two brothers, Alphonse “Al” and Leonard, both of Buffalo, New York. His two surviving sibling Rita and Mildred still reside in Buffalo. Bob is also succeeded by eight grandchildren: Ron Gabriel, Tim Gabriel, Landon Hurlbut, Abby Hurlbut, Paige Hinca, Nathan Ward, Ryan Ward, and Grant Hinca.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at New Life Center Church in Hays, Kansas. A closed casket visitation will be 6:30-8:00PM on Friday at the funeral home in Plainville.