Phyllis A. Castle, 81, of Hays KS passed away on February 16 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society – Hays.  “Granny” as her many friends lovingly referred to Phyllis as, was born in Paintsville, KY to Everett and Melissa (Stambaugh) Castle.

Phyllis was a member of the United Methodist Church in Norcatur, KS.  She grew up in a “holler” near Wharton, West Virginia.  Phyllis had lots of brothers and sisters, and the house was always full of love, activity and orneriness.  Phyllis was very proud of the fact that she was a coal miner’s daughter and some of her brothers and sisters also worked in the mines.  Phyllis met a young man named Morris Goley, whom she married and started a family with.  When that marriage broke up as sometimes happens, Phyllis later met a tall handsome Navy man from Texas named Donell Bourland, whom she married and moved her young family to Texas with.  This marriage was also blessed with children, and when things didn’t work out, Phyllis loaded up her children and moved to Norcatur, KS, where her sister and brother-in-law, Eunice and R.D. Thornton, were raising their young family.  Eunice and R.D. got Phyllis and her children settled in to a nice house in Norcatur, and Phyllis got a job as a CNA at the Andbe Home in Norton, KS to provide for her family.  Phyllis will forever be remembered as a fun-loving, outgoing person, who loved to socialize with her many friends and family.

Survivors include a son, Donnel Bourland of Hays, KS; two daughters, Patty Shearer and her husband Lonnie of Almena, KS and Melissa Rorabaugh and her husband Dave of Hays, KS; one brother, Everett Edgel of Buckhannon, WV; seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers – Samuel Joe and Billy Ray, four sisters – Eunice May, Ivalee Doris, Melody Millie and Beulah Carol, and one daughter – JoAnn.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Norcatur, KS at a later date. Services will be announced, once available.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit Phyllis’s memorial webpage at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements are by Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.

Kenneth W. Wilkinson, Atwood, passed away Thu., Feb. 15, in Atwood. He was born March 12, 1925.

Visitation will be held Tue., Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Baalmann Mortuary, 109 N. 2nd, Atwood. A second visitation will be held 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church, County Road Y and Road 12, Atwood. The vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. in the church.

Funeral services will be held Wed., Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church with Fr. Gnanasekar officiating.

Clair A. Dome, age 82, of Hays, Kansas died Thursday, February 15, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays.

He was born August 13, 1935, on the farm at Pfeifer, Kansas to Anton and Florine (Sander) Dome. He married Anneliese “Lisa” Malone on May 2, 1968, at LaCrosse, Kansas. She preceded him in death on April 10, 2000.
He worked at the Hays Daily News for 30 years as a press operator and retired in 1998. He was a 1953 graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He worked a few years at Quality Cleaners and Fort Hays State University.

He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, American Legion, Fraternal order of Eagles
He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, yard work, golfing, computer games, playing cards and trips to Las Vegas
Survivors include his companion, Deborah “Deb” Huser-Allen, of the home; four-step sons, Mike Malone and wife, Susie, Topeka, KS; Bob Malone, Olathe, KS; Steve Malone and wife, Erin, Lawrence, KS, Bill Malone and wife, Unhung, Norman, OK; two- step daughters, Ashley Allen and Nick Schmelzle, Hays, KS; Sharity Allen, Hays, KS; four sisters, Betty Desaire and husband, Larry “Joe”, Olathe, KS; Sharon Walters and husband, Vern, Lenexa, KS; Lucy Straily, Manhattan, KS; Christine “Chris” Kinsman and husband, Mike; nine step-grandchildren; two step-great grandchildren; seven nephew; six nieces and his dog, Bella Marie.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, and one sister, Roselyn Altman.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Monday, February 19, 2018, with military honors by the Hays Veterans of Foreign Wars, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. A private family inurnment will be at a later date.

A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Monday at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Memorials are suggested to the Dome Family. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Kenneth Carl Doebbeling, age 96, died on February 15, 2018 at Cedar Village, Ness City. He was born the son of Simeon and Maria Miller Doebbeling on January 16, 1922 on a farm West of Nonchalanta, Ness County, Kansas.

He served in the 15th Air Force 94th Fighter Squadron during WWII, from 1942-1946 in Naples and Foggia. He received two bronze stars and was recognized for designing an acetylene gas generator made from a German parachute supply.

He was a member of the Ness City American Legion Post 152, Past President of the Citizen Band Club, and the Ness County Historical Society.

Kenneth was a farmer, cattleman, and a mechanic. He and his brother, Ed, operated a machine shop for may years, anything that needed repaired they could fix it.

Kenneth married Velma Fehrenbach on January 2, 1948. She died on August 23, 1977. He married Anne Lewis Hale on February 24, 1979. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Henry, Clarence, Pete and Ed; and a sister Grace Litzenberger.

Survivors include his wife, Anne of Ness City; three step-daughters, Betty Dexter of Ness City, Patricia (Orval) Weber of Topeka, and Brenda (Bryan) Sutton of Ness City; seven grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Funeral service will be on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City followed by burial in the Buda Cemetery. Viewing will be at the funeral home on Sunday and Monday from 10:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church, Ness City.

LeRoy Joseph Schmidtberger, 85, of Overland Park, KS, passed away on February 10, 2018 in Houston, TX. He was born on March 21, 1932 in Vincent, KS to Nicholas and Katherine Schmidtberger.

He grew up on a farm in Vincent, KS. After leaving the farm he worked for Union Pacific Railroad, then joined the Army and because of his railroad experience, was assigned to the Railway Transportation Division. In the late 1960’s he founded Schmidtberger Supply Company in Hays, KS. He loved spending time with his family. His recreational time was spent boating, skiing, fishing, hunting, woodworking and he earned his pilot’s license. LeRoy joined the Knights of Columbus in 1958 and became a 4th degree Knight in 1961. He has been deeply involved in the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years. He was a dedicated, active parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, KS.

LeRoy is survived by his children, Terry Schmidtberger and Diana Schmidtberger, both of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Lyndsi, Travis and Kelsi Schmidtberger; and a great-grandson, Hayden.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Melba Schmidtberger; his parents, Nicholas and Katherine; an infant brother, Joseph; an infant sister, Mary Katherine; brothers, Marvin and Robert; and his grandson, Scott Schmidtberger.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Overland Park, KS.

Rosary: Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 6:00pm to 6:20pm

Visitation: Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 6:20pm to 8:00pm

Service: Friday, February 16, 2018 at 10:00am

Interment: Resurrection Catholic Cemetery

Gail Dee Lynch, 79, died February 10, 2018 at Redbud Village, Plainville. He was born January, 22, 1939, the first son of Victor LeRoy Lynch and Hazel LaVelle (Tyler) Lynch, in the home of his grandmother Bertha (Lynch) Lamb, rural Codell. Gail graduated with the Class of 1957, Plainville Rural High School. He attended Fort Hays Kansas State College following high school. He married Caroline Walker August 28, 1960, in Woodston. They later divorced. They had two children, Bradley Gail and Connie Jo.

Gail was a man of many talents, and could fix anything from a car to a baby doll. He worked for Boeing and Cessna aircraft companies in Wichita, Kansas; in the Plainville area he worked in the oil patch, oil industry service, Schult Manufactured Homes; also Gardenia Mobile Homes,
Lucas. He operated the Woodston Telephone Company with his wife Caroline. Gail loved Ford cars, especially Mustangs and Torinos, NASCAR, music, history and searching family tree information. He could often be seen in the country, exploring. Gail was an avid Plainville Cardinal fan.

He is survived by his son, Brad Lynch (Marla), S. D., daughter, Connie Manis (Mark), Stockton, brother Terry Lynch (Virginia), Kingman Ariz.; sisters Gloria Sudduth, Azusa, Calif., Vinda Dechant (Nick), Hays, and Candace Rachel, (Donnie), Plainville; grandsons Colton Pfeifer and friend Rachelle Nelson, Stockton, Brad Lynch Jr., Charlotte N.C., Dyllan Lynch, Hill City; granddaughter Kassi Meyers, Hays, and great-grandsons Eythun and Davyn. He was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Lindsey Piefer, great-granddaughter Chloe Wyatt, and brother-in-law Joe Sudduth.

A private family viewing will be held. Gail chose cremation, and a Graveside Service will be held Sunday, 3:00 P.M. February 18, 2018 at Shiloh Cemetery near Codell, Kansas. Memorials in Gail’s name are suggested to the Codell Tornado Memorial Sculpture in care of the Codell Community Service Club, PO Box 153, Plainville, KS, 67663.

Memorial Services hosted by Criminal Justice Students for, The Honorable Dr. Andria Cooper, age 44, of Wayne, District Judge and Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Wayne State College, will be held at Wayne State College, Peterson Fine Arts Building, Ramsey Theater, February 18th, Sunday 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne, Neb.

Memorial Visitation will be held at the Ramsey Theater February 18th, Sunday from 12 noon until time of services.

Andria Leigh Cooper was born November 27, 1973, in Alamosa, CO to Larry and Sandra (Wood) McNames. She graduated from Beatty High School in Nevada, receiving her undergraduate studies from Fort Hays State University and graduated law school from Kansas University in Lawrence, KS. Andria and John were married July 30, 1999, in Colby, KS.

Dr. Andria Cooper is an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Wayne State College. Before teaching at WSC, she sat as a New Mexico state level district court judge after serving as an attorney, primarily in the area of criminal law. She has served as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, and also has experience in the areas of civil rights, constitutional law, victim advocacy, and general areas of legal practice. She has trained law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals in the areas of arrest, search and seizure, report writing, warrant preparation, juvenile justice, fraud investigation and prevention, domestic violence investigation, and victim advocacy. She also sat on a governor’s domestic violence fatality review board. Dr. Cooper is involved in many activities. She is the advisor of Delta Upsilon, a chapter of the National American Criminal Justice Association, which participates in regional and national competitions on criminal justice knowledge, agility, firearms, and crime scene competitions. She also creates mock crime scenes and mock trials for classes, which allows students to present cases at trial, testify as witnesses, listen to the case as jurors, or assume other criminal justice roles in the courtroom. Dr. Cooper is a member of the American Criminal Justice Association, Justice Clearinghouse, and Pi Gamma Mu (a social sciences honor society). She is also a consultant on Faculty Row, and is involved in several committees on campus and the Wayne community as well. Dr. Cooper has been honored as an Outstanding Professor (2005) and Outstanding Advisor (2005), as well as received a Faculty Appreciation Award from Sigma Chi (2007). She has received service awards from the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence (2004) and the Northwest Kansas Family Shelter (2003). Dr. Cooper earned her Juris Doctorate degree in 2000 from the University of Kansas School of Law and her B.A. from Fort Hays State University.

Dr. Cooper’s teaching interests include criminal law and procedure, criminal evidence, report writing and trial techniques for criminal justice professionals, civil liability in criminal justice, comparative justice systems, and all legal aspects of other criminal justice disciplines.

Her research interests include civil rights, especially privacy advocacy, search and seizure, and the 2nd Amendment. She also enjoys scholarly work in constitutional issues involving federalism and separation of powers.

Andria’s family includes, her husband, John; their daughters, Devon Cooper of Clayton, NM and Skylar Cooper of Wayne; parents, Larry and Sandy (Wood) McNames of Palco, Kansas; brothers, Ryan McNames of Palco, KS and Neal McNames of Palco, KS; grandmother, Veda Wood of Oberlin, KS; parents-in-law, C.W. and Pat Hamilton of Levant, KS and Galen Cooper of Goodland, KS; brother-in-law, Trey Hamilton of Hays, KS; grandmother-in-law, Margaret Chick of Colby, KS; nieces and nephews.

Andria was preceded in death by a grandmother, and her grandfathers.

Andria’s family appreciates your thoughts and kindness.

Memorials May be directed to the Cooper Family for later designation.

She passed away Monday, February 5th, at Providence Medical Center in Wayne.

Daren George Whisman passed away on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 58. He was born on August 28, 1959 in Hays, Kansas to George and Berdena (Veatch) Whisman. He grew up in rural Rooks County, Kansas and graduated from Palco High School with the Class of 1977. On May 24, 1986 he was united in marriage to Leola Blanton in Torrington, Wyoming. They were blessed with three sons, Greggory, Geoffrey, and Galen.

Daren worked as a farmer, rancher, and truck driver. He served for eight years on both the Palco-Damar-Zurich Recreation Commission and the Palco USD 269 School Board, with two of those years as President of the Board. He was also a past member of the Church of the Nazarene in Palco. He was a lover of music, especially 1970’s rock classics and groups and anything that would be considered “old country”. He played trumpet, guitar, and piano and enjoyed singing, having even been a part of the Show Choir in High School. But one of his favorite pastimes of all was shooting hoops or playing football with his boys.

Daren is survived by his wife Leola Whisman of the home in Palco; sons Greggory Whisman of Palco, Geoffrey Whisman and wife Cammie of Victoria, and Galen Whisman of Palco; mother Berdena Whisman of Palco; sisters Carol Whisman of Palco, and Nancy Beyea of Walden, CO; and granddaughter Jayme Jo Whisman.

He was preceded in death by his father George Whisman; and grandparents Harry and Edith Whisman, and Cletus and Lucy Veatch.

The artist Sting said, “If you play music with passion and love and honesty, then it will nourish your soul, heal your wounds and make your life worth living.” Daren was a man who lived every day of his life with just such a heart, and he continually poured it out on his family, friends, and neighbors. His passion nourished our souls, his love healed our wounds, and his honesty made our lives worth living with him.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Palco. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm on Wednesday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00pm.

Robert “Bob” L. Miller, 85, of Hays, KS, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellis, KS.  He was born August 25, 1932 in Fort Scott, KS to Harry and Edith (Madden) Miller. Bob graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1950 and attended Pittsburg State University. On September 3, 1960 he married Dorothy “Dottie” Serafin in Kansas City, KS.

Bob had worked at several different jobs in his working career including Insurance, Car Sales and even his own shoe store but he found his home at Eagle Radio. He started with Eagle in January of 1994 and had just turned in his retirement papers. Bob had a great knack of knowing how to talk to people which showed with the longevity of his career. He was also a US Army veteran serving from 1954 – 1957 and then the Army Reserve until 1962.

Bob was an avid sports fan having played basketball at Pittsburg State and semi-pro basketball for the US Army. Golf became his passion having been a long-time member of the Ellis Country Club. He enjoyed traveling to golf tournaments including the US Open and the Gerald Ford Invitational many times. When he wasn’t golfing, he could be found watching sports on tv especially the Kansas Jayhawks, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Royals. He was even known to place a friendly wager on the sports he enjoyed.

Bob enjoyed traveling to Vail often with Dottie and their country backroad rides just to get away. Bob was a survivor. He battled and beat cancer twice and two open heart surgeries. Above all, Bob was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years, Dottie of Hays; two sons, Dennis Miller and wife Carrie of Louisburg, KS and David Miller and wife Jana of Hays; four grandchildren, Corey Miller, Caitlyn Miller, Britt Miller and Amelia Miller; a niece, Susan Stern of Ft. Scott and two nephews, Tommy Gene McNeil of Fort Scott and Kelly McNeil of Springfield, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Juanita Ogle.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018 from 10-11:00 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM both being held at the Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.

Inurnment will follow at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project (https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org)

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

Bonnie Jean Bolen Knouse Barton was born July 14, 1925 in Sharon Springs, Kansas.  She passed away peacefully on February 10, 2018 in the Life Care Rehab Center in Longmont.  She was 92 years old.

Bonnie was the oldest of six children born to Georgia and Lester Bolen and was raised on her family’s farm in Wallace County.  She graduated from Wallace County High School.  On January 5, 1945 she married Delmar Knouse.  The happy couple worked as County Treasure and County Clerk for many years.  In 1958, Bonnie and Delmar purchased an insurance company together, adding this new business to their previously established accounting and tax service.

Bonnie and Delmar raised four children in their hometown of Sharon Springs.  Bonnie found great joy in creating a happy home and taking care of her family, from cooking and sewing to typing school papers.  She loved music and was often caught singing along to her favorite albums while she worked.  She was an avid fan of baseball, Dancing with the Stars, reading, traveling and working on her precious family photo albums.  Bonnie was also well known as the family historian, creating impressive, detailed records which will be cherished by generations to come.

Bonnie’s beloved husband Delmar passed away on February 16, 1987.  Later in life, Bonnie reconnected with Tom Barton, a fellow Wallace County native and friend since childhood, and they were married in 2000.  The couple had many wonderful years of traveling the country, going to music and comedy shows, and happy companionship before Tom passed away on March 27, 2013.

A friend of the community, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Bonnie’s strong will and unique spirit will be missed by all who knew her.  Bonnie loved visits from her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and had many happy memories of family reunions, family lunches in Goodland, and 500 piece jigsaw puzzles.  Visits from her dedicated friend Nikki Chubb and her children, as well as the children of neighbors Amie and Patrick Gibbs, also added great joy to the last few years of her life.

Bonnie truly loved Wallace County and made it her home for life.  Despite opportunities to move with job offers for Delmar, and later to live with her children in Colorado and Massachusetts, she chose to stay in Sharon Springs.  Bonnie remained in the same home and community where she had raised a family and lived a long fulfilling life.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands and a daughter Dara Nichols.

She is survived by her children David (Terry) Knouse of Montague, TX, Debra (Robert) Katseff of North Andover, MA, Delwin (Caron) Knouse of Longmont, CO and a son-in-law Larry Nichols of Colleyville, TX.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Shane, Jennifer, Miranda, and Collin Knouse; Adam (Amy) Katseff and Jeffrey Katseff; Cory Lee Knouse; Ryan (Amanda) Knouse; Kendra (Robert) Bertolozzi; and Cory Jack Bruner; 5 great grandchildren; one brother Guy (Marlene) Bolen, one sister Marie (Gary) Walker and sister-in-law (Bill’s) Marlene Bolen.  Her family also includes many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Sharon Springs with Father Norbert Dlabal officiating.  Burial will follow in the Sharon Springs Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM MT with a Vigil and Rosary Service to begin at 7:00 PM at the church in Sharon Springs.

Memorial contributions are designated to the Greeley-Wallace County Health Care Foundation 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 Sharon Springs, KS.

Robert “Bob” L. Miller, 85, of Hays, KS, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Society in Ellis, KS.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018, from 10-11:00 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM, both being held at the Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment will follow at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery in WaKeeney at 1:00 PM. A complete obituary is pending.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.