Curtis W. Caldwell, 64, passed away unexpectedly at Ellinwood District Hospital on Jan. 27, 2017 in Ellinwood, KS.

Born in Clinton, SC on January 21st, 1953 the son of Joseph L. & Nanny L. (Bigham) Caldwell, he was a 20-year resident of Phillipsburg, 15-year resident of Hays, and recently Ellinwood for the past two years. He proudly served his country a total of 13 years in the United States Army and the Army National Guard.

Mr. Caldwell also worked as a forklift operator at Tamko in Phillipsburg and later as a computer technician. He married JoAnn Lamont on August 26, 1978 in Kensington, KS.

Survivors include loving wife, JoAnn Caldwell, Ellinwood, KS; daughters, Samantha (Joe) Diaz, Gorham, KS, Heidi (Chester) Freeman, Ellinwood, KS, Mackenzie (Stan) Flinn, Hays, KS; brothers, John (Denise) Caldwell, Newnan, GA, and Tom (Joy) Caldwell, Williston, SC; sisters ,Joy Moore, Fountain Inn, SC and Jodi Kinney, Spartanburg, SC. Other survivors include 9 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and 3 step-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be announced at a later time. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association or the VA in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

Venita “Netti” Wolf, 94, Hays, died Sunday, January 29, 2017 at the Via Christi Village Assisted Living.

She was born January 10, 1923 in Walker, Kansas the daughter of Henry and Clementine (Dreher) VonLintel.  On May 15, 1944 she married Ernest F. “Ernie” Wolf in Hays.  She was a homemaker and a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Daughters of Isabella, and the Altar Society Christian Mothers.  She enjoyed playing cards, dancing, tending to her yard and flowers, and was a good cook that enjoyed baking cookies for her grandchildren.  She loved to shop and always made sure cards and gifts arrived in time for family birthdays.

Survivors include her husband; Ernest, of Hays, two sons; David Wolf and wife Gloria of Windsor, CO, and Karl Wolf of Hays, a daughter; Barbara Werth and husband Darrell of Hays, two brothers; Gilbert VonLintel and Otto VonLintel and wife Rita, all of Hays, two sisters; Catherine Pfannenstiel of Hays and Joanna Murta of St. Charles, MO, a sister-in-law; Blanche VonLintel of Hays, five grandchildren; Ashley Hatfield and husband Bob of Dodge City, Angela Chaffin and husband Matt of Dodge City, Christopher Werth and wife Bethany of Overland Park, KS, Ryan Werth and wife Sara of Prairie Village, KS, and Jessica Werth of Kansas City, MO, ten great grandchildren; Amanda Hatfield, Payson Hatfield, Kylie Collins, Maleia Chaffin, Cecelia Fisk, Mary Katherine Werth, Aidan Werth, Brooklyn Werth, Atley Werth, and Bennett Werth, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two brothers; Lawrence and Norbert VonLintel, two half-brothers; Ben and Linus VonLintel, and eight half-sisters; Angela Richmeier, Lonie Huser, Agnes Brungardt, Thecla Brungardt, Mary Rohleder, Regina Brungardt, Sophia Stecklein, Josie Leiker, and Elizabeth Schmidtberger.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13^th Street, with Fr. Fred Gatschet 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 Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 6:00 pm followed by a parish vigil service at 6:30, both on Tuesday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Catholic Church rectory fund or to TMP-Marian High School, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Pfeifer, Kansas – Bernadette “Bernie” Dome, age 83, died Sunday, January 29, 2017, at Hays Medical Center Hays, Kansas.

She was born January 7, 1934, on the farm East of Lorretto, Kansas, to Simplicus “Sim” and Sophia (Herman) Stremel. She married Floris Dome on May 27, 1952, in Lorretto, Kansas.

She was a homemaker, a farmer’s wife, a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers. Bernadette grew up in Lorretto, Kansas and graduated from the Sacred Heart Academy for girls in Wichita, Kansas. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking and baking.

Survivors include her husband, Floris Dome, of the home; five sons, Florian L. Dome, Pfeifer, KS; Darrell Dome, Abilene, KS; Marion Dome and wife, Susan, Olathe, KS; Stuart Dome and wife, Tammy, Victoria, KS; Stan Dome, Hays, KS; one daughter, Brenda Dome-Luff and husband, Clyde Luff, Wichita, KS; two sisters, Edna Temaat, Hutchinson, KS; Sister Cecelia Ann Stremel, Great Bend, KS; three grandchildren, Andrea Hoffman(Brenton), Ashley Dome, Bryan Dome; and one great grandchild, Rhett Hoffman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Jim Stremel and one brother-in-law, Tony Temaat.

Services are 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, February 1, 2017, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Pfeifer, Kansas. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Pfeifer, Kansas.

A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, and from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Pfeifer, Kansas.

Memorial to Holy Cross Charities, Inc. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

Samuel Bruntz, 93, went to meet his Lord and Savior Friday, January 27th, 2017. He was born July 16th, 1923 in Bazine, KS to Jacob & Eva Bruntz.

He was a devoted husband, father, grand-father and great grand-father. He lived his life in Bazine, where he farmed and worked in the oil field. He served as a paratrooper (82nd Airborne) in WWII in Germany and Japan.

He married Esther Schoenhals in 1950 and raised a family of four sons in Bazine. He was a life-long member of the St. Paul Congregational Church of Bazine. His retirement was spent at his shop in Bazine restoring antique tractors and small engines.

He was preceded in death by his wife Esther, son Lyle and wife, Del, mother Eva, father Jacob, sisters Rose, Viola, Dorothy, half sister Ruby, brothers Edward and John. He is survived by sons Craig (Beverly) of Overland Park, KS, Rodney (Patricia) of Valley Center, KS and Kent (Cindy) of Mulvane, KS, grand-children Kim, Kelley, Jonathan, Christopher, Carissa, Michelle, Jordan, great grand-children Jonathan, Kathryn, Jaden, Samuel, Benjamin and Leah, brother Ruben of Watauga, TX. Those hearts that knew him are broken and he will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be Monday, January 30th, 7 PM at the Fitzgerald Funeral Home in Ness City, KS. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 31st at the St. Paul Congregational Church in Bazine, KS. Burial in the Bazine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Paul Congregational Church Bazine, KS.

Eva Gene Gillen, age 92, passed away on Friday, January 27, 2017 at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas.

Eva Gene was born October 18, 1924 on the Smith family homestead in Wichita County, Kansas the daughter of Marques S. & Goldie (Adams) Smith. A lifetime resident of Wichita County, she was a 1942 graduate of Wichita County High School and then served as a secretary for the Wichita County Extension Service. Following her marriage, she was a farm wife and homemaker.

Eva Gene was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Alter Society and Mother’s Study Club all in Leoti, Kansas.

She also served on the Wichita County Thrift Shop board, was a Charter Member of the Wichita County Municipal Golf Course, was a hospital volunteer, 4-H leader and EHU member.

On October 12, 1944 she married Nicholas John Gillen in Marienthal, Kansas. Nick passed away on August 9, 2013 in Leoti, Kansas

Eva Gene’s surviving family includes

Two sons-

Tom & Linda Gillen-​Austin, Texas

Jerry & Peggy Gillen-​Leoti, Kansas

One brother-

Wendall Smith-​Midland, Texas

Four grandchildren

Levi & Clarissa Gillen-​Overland Park, Kansas

Lucas & Sunny Gillen-​Leawood, Kansas

Trenton Gillen-​Winter Park, Colorado

Greg Muddell-​Atlanta, Georgia

Six Great Grandchildren

Nicholas, Parker & Kylie Gillen- Overland Park, Kansas

Asher, Andrew & Abbott Gillen- Leawood, Kansas

Her parents, one daughter, Sandra Gillen and two brothers, Harold Smith and Wayne Smith, precede her in death.

Vigil Services will be held at 7:00 pm Monday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas with Father Benjamin Martin officiating.

Burial will be in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas.

Friends may call from noon until 5:00 pm at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Building fund in care of the funeral home.

Rozella Marie (Wright) Trapp passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at Rush County Memorial Hospital in La Crosse, Kansas at the age of 74. She was born in Morris County, Kansas on the Maple Ranch, to the late Leroy and Vivian (Van Middleworth) Wright. She grew up in Neodesha, Kansas and graduated from Neodesha High School with the Class of 1960. She had six children, and on December 15, 1978 was united in marriage to Wayne Trapp in Sylvan Grove, Kansas.

Rozella was a talented and hardworking woman who loved being active in her community and church. She retired as a Postmaster for the United States Postal Service, worked for H&R Block in Salina, did taxes for friends and family, and helped Wayne in the truck, over a million miles, on the road. She enjoyed crocheting and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Lincoln Senior Center, Lincoln County Council on Aging, Lions Club, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Sylvan Grove.

Gifted with great organizational skills, having strong opinions, and liking to get things done, Rozella maintained a well-organized calendar of community events online. She loved serving the church as Financial Secretary and especially donating her time, treasure, and talents to cooking for all of the kids during Mid-Week Services, and making Halloween and Christmas treats while Wayne played Santa.

The greatest love of Rozella’s life was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was so very proud of them and loved to brag about them to friends and neighbors. They were the light of her life and her entire world. She especially loved attending their sporting events and telling of all of their other accomplishments whenever she had an opportunity.

Rozella is survived by her husband Wayne Trapp of the home in Sylvan Grove, six children, twenty-six grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Leroy and Vivian Wright, sister Juanita Ross, twin sons, an infant son, and grandson Steven Tromble.

Rozella showed us by daily example how to love and care for one another more than ourselves. Through tireless acts of service, she leaves a legacy that has touched countless lives of children and adults alike. Although we are sad that she left us so soon, we rejoice, until we see her again, as she hears the words of her heavenly Father, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your eternal happiness.”

Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sylvan Grove. Burial will follow in the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00pm on Friday at the funeral home in Wilson.

When Kathleen “Kathy” Schmidt Hanson was a teenager, her dad Alvin would wait and watch inside the house as she would be saying goodbye to her dates. If he thought she might be lingering too long, he would begin flipping the light switch on the porch: her father’s way of saying, “Okay, come on home.”

Kathy was known for her infectious laugh and her sense of humor. Her warm and engaging spirit was a magnet that drew people to her. She befriended everyone and would create bonds that lasted a lifetime. Loyal and loving, Kathy was also quick to lend a hand to those in need. She retired from a 35-year career at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 2012 and was able to spend the last five years of her life doing the things she enjoyed. While that did include a little bit of Days of Our Lives (that evil Stephano!) and a little more of gambling at the casino, she which she loved the most was simply spending time with family and friends.

Her grandkids were at the center of her life and she would do anything and everything with them. Including watching and talking about sports, though her grandson Patrick said it was clear she didn’t quite understand the games. Over the last couple of years, Kathy had some health challenges, yet was able to push through them with her fighting spirit and zest for life. But on January 25, it was her Heavenly Father this time who was flipping the switch on the front porch and telling her, “Okay, come on home.” Kathy is survived by children, Tricia (Patrick) Corcoran and Derek Hanson; brother, Warren (Beth) Schmidt; sister, Carol (Charles) Sanders; grandchildren, Tyler, Patrick, Dylan, Abby, Madalyn, Izaevion and Donovan; several nieces and nephews. Preceding Kathy in death were her parents, Alvin and Rose Schmidt, and daughter-in-law, Mayra.

Visitation, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, January 27; Memorial service, 2:30 pm, Saturday, January 28, both at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West. Immediately following the service, a reception will follow at the ARC of Sedgwick County, 2919 W. 2nd St. N., Wichita, KS 67203. In lieu of flowers, memorials established with KidzCope, 9415 E. Harry, S-501, Wichita, KS 67207 and Rettsyndrome.org in Cincinnati, OH.

Von Davis, age 95, of Oakley, passed away on January 26, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home in Hays, KS. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He attended Denver University and obtained a B.S. in Chemistry after his army service. He had been a mail carrier at the U.S. Post Office.

Funeral service: 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 30, 2017 at the Oakley United Methodist Church. Visitation: 5 – 8 p.m., Sunday, January 29, 2016 at Kennedy-Koster Funeral Home, Oakley.

Memorials: Oakley Public Library.