Juanita Agnes Dreiling, 82, Hays, died Monday, July 27, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born March 2, 1933 in Hays the daughter of John and Agnes (Karlin) Hoffman. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School in 1951.

On January 21, 1952 she married Ralph C. Dreiling in Hays. She worked for over 30 years as a phone operator and later in the engineering department at AT&T in Hays, until her retirement. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays, loved to travel, enjoyed gardening and tending to her roses, and loved family and friends, especially spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Ralph, Hays, a son Charlie Dreiling of Hays, a daughter Billie Jean Hejny and husband Larry of Great Bend, Kansas, two granddaughters Ginger Ann Howard and husband Michael of Cumming, GA, and Jenna Lynn Dreiling and husband Brian of Great Bend, four great grandchildren, Carter and Cooper Dreiling and Addison and Carmen Howard, a brother Jerry Hoffman and wife Eva of Evergreen, CO, four sisters, Patty Waldschmidt of Tennessee, Ruth Moore and husband Robert of Shawnee Mission, Mary Ann Ward and Theresa “Bitsy” Leiter and husband Bob, all of Wichita, and a sister in law Charlotte Hoffman of Hays.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Jack and Larry Hoffman, and brothers-in-law George Waldschmidt and Joe Ward.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Friday, July 31, 2015 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm on Thursday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Friday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 7:00 pm on Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph Food Pantry, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Nick F. Arnhold III, age 78, of Quinter, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at his home in Quinter. He was born March 16, 1937, in Hays, to Nicholas E. II and Hazel (Hoenshell) Arnhold.

Nick graduated from St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays. On September 29, 1962, he was united in marriage to Janice Gagnon in Grainfield. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage together. Nick was a bank loan officer for most of his working life. Nick was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Jaycee’s, and Lion’s Club. He also was an avid John Wayne fan, and had a large collection of memorabilia. Nick cherished time with family, especially on camping and fishing trips. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Kathy and husband Terry Eberle of WaKeeney, and Chris and husband Robert Herl of Quinter; two sons, Steve of Longmont, Colorado and Mike of Quinter; four grandchildren, Josh Eberle and wife Janae of WaKeeney, Brandon Eberle and wife Kaitlyn of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Bethany Herl and Abby Herl, both of Quinter; two great-grandchildren, Kyleigh Eberle and Madilyn Eberle of WaKeeney; and a sister, Sheila Thompson of Westminster, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, Eugene.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 3, 2015 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney.

Visitation will be Sunday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in WaKeeney. There will be no viewing as cremation was chosen.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Christ the King Catholic Church, for window repair or Cedar Bluff for improvements around the youth and handicap fishpond. Checks made to the organizations may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.

WaKeeney resident Julia Dianne Struss passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver. She was born December 24, 1959, in Ransom to Delmer Clyde and Bernadette Gladys (Gregg) Hagans.

Julia was a 1977 graduate of Utica High School. She went on to earn her Associate’s Degree in nursing to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. On November 10, 1989, she was united in marriage to Kevin Struss in WaKeeney. They enjoyed 25 years of marriage together. Julia was a proud homemaker, who loved to cook and was known for her green thumb in the garden. She enjoyed collecting antiques. Julia always looked forward to traveling and going on vacations. On opening day of deer season, you could count on Julia being outdoors hunting for that trophy deer; she was an avid hunter. She will be dearly missed by many.

Those left to mourn her passing include her husband, Kevin of WaKeeney; a son, Spencer Harvey of Hays; a stepson, Ryan Struss of Wakeeney; a stepdaughter, Jodi and husband Ronald Desair of WaKeeney; five grandchildren; two brothers, Phil Hagans and wife Roxy of Columbia City, Indiana, and Kim Hagans and wife Karla of Olmitz; three sisters, Cheri and husband Mike Edwards of Carpentersville, Illinois, Kellie Acker of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Laura and husband Robert Vanaman of Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

Funeral services will be 9:00 a.m., Thursday, July 30, 2015 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, WaKeeney, with Pastor Randy Gibbs officiating. Burial will follow in the WaKeeney City Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Checks made to the church may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Words of comfort may be sent online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

William Keith Elliott, 86, of Natoma, Kansas passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Society in Hays, Kansas.

Keith was born on the family farm north of Paradise, Kansas on February 10, 1929, the youngest of seven children of Gilbert and Grace (Winder) Elliott. He grew up on the farm and attended school in Paradise and Natoma, graduating from Natoma High School in 1947.

Keith met his future wife in high school and was united in marriage to Ida L. Albrecht on October 31, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran Church north of Natoma. This union was blessed with four children; Pam, Mark, Jeff and Joel.

Keith was a farmer and stockman most of his life and, except for a short time in Harlan, Kansas, he and Ida have lived in the Natoma area. He served on the local school board from 1959 to 1972. He also served on the Rooks County Fair Board. In addition to farming, he was a high school and small college basketball referee for over 30 years. It was not uncommon for Keith to attend basketball games, either officiating or observing, three to four nights each week during the season.

Keith was an avid reader and a student of anything that piqued his curiosity. He felt strongly about quality education and expected his children to do their best work regardless of their chosen path in life. To him, anything worth doing was worth doing well, and when he had an opinion about something, it was strongly held.

Keith loved to tease family, friends and sometimes total strangers, and he enjoyed a good practical joke. He cared deeply about his family, his cattle and the land, and he worked hard to provide for them all. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church of Natoma.
Surviving family include his wife of 67 years, Ida of the home; daughter, Pam Pendergast (Michael) of Prairie Village, Kansas; three sons, Mark Elliott (Suzanne) of Guangzhou, China, Jeff Elliott (Barbara) of Hays, Kansas and Joel Elliott of Huntington Beach, California; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Russell Elliott, Clair Elliott, Ray Elliott and Arvis Elliott; and two sisters, Julia Colby and Blossom Hutchcraft.

Celebration of Keith’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at the Peace Lutheran Church in Natoma. Burial will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery in Natoma. Visitation will be at the Church from 9:00 AM to Service Time on Wednesday.
Memorials have been established with Peace Lutheran Church or Lutheran Hour. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Gorham, Kansas – Janice L. “Jan” Murphy, age 79, died Saturday, July 25, 2015, at the Russell Regional Hospital Russell, Kansas.

She was born September 6, 1935, in Hays, Kansas to Carl A. and Leona (Herman) Reich. She married William G. “Bill” Murphy on July 20, 1955, in Gorham, Kansas.

She grew up in the Gorham area and graduated from Gorham High School in 1953. She attended Kansas University in Lawrence, KS, for two years. She and Bill graduated together from Fort Hays State College in 1960. After graduation, Jan taught for several years in various schools, parttime in the Business Department and also substitute teaching. The family moved from Gorham in 1968, living in numerous places in the Western United States and Alaska, due to Bill’s position with the Forest Service.

Jan worked in clerical positions and also as secretary in the bank at Petersburg, AK and for the Forest Service Supervisor. She and Bill returned to Gorham in 1991, where she held a position with the SRS office in Russell, KS.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the KU Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.

Survivors include her husband, Bill, of 60 years, her mother, Leona Reich Lundy, Russell, KS; two sons, Spencer Murphy, Russell, KS; Ryan Murphy, wife Angela, Tenino, WA; four daughters, Deborah Ensminger, husband Don, Los Lunas, NM; Carlee Bishop, husband Sean, Atlanta, GA; Jacqueline Sadowski, husband Kevin, Dallas, TX; Annette Comes, Colorado Springs, CO; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, grandparents, Henry and Mary Ann Herman and Jacob and Ida Reich.

Services are 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Gorham, Kansas and private family burial.

A vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Monday, followed by a family rosary all at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Gorham, Kansas.

Visitation is from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, and from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, all at St. Mary’s Church Gorham, Kansas.

Memorial to Russell County Relay For Life. \Condolences can be sent via email to
[email protected].

Kirk Arlen Rufenacht, age 74, passed away July 20, 2015 at the Grisell Memorial Hospital, Ransom, Kansas. He was born on November 10, 1940 in Ransom the son of Frank and Helen Neyer Rufenacht.

He was a retired farmer. On May 26, 1962 he married Doris Jane Leone in Coalgate, Oklahoma. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a son, Alex Rufenacht (Cindy) of Sioux Center, Iowa; two daughters, Gina Solomon of Mesa, Arizona and Lucinda Roths (Kenny) of Salina, Kansas, one sister, Kolleen Overman (Charles) of Pearl City, Hawaii; six grandchildren, Benjamin Amerine, Misty Armijo, Madison, Makenna, and Meaghan Roths, and Shayla Rufenacht; and two great grandchildren, Olivia and Zoey.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 24, 2015, 10:00 A.M. at the VFW Hall, Ransom, Kansas. Friends are invited to follow the family to Pa’s Pond at Cedar Bluff Reservoir to scatter Kirk’s ashes.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Cedar Bluff State Park- Pa’s Pond and the Kid’s Fishing Derby.

Aaron Robert Fagan, age 41, of Hays, Kansas, passed away, Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at KU Medical Center, Kansas City. He was born August 11, 1973, in O’Neill, Nebraska, to Gary and Roberta (Stahlecker) Fagan.

Aaron spent part of his grade school years in O’Neill until his parents bought a motel and restaurant in Scott City, Kansas where he remained until he graduated high school in 1992.  Aaron attended Fort Hays State University, where he studied History. His jobs varied over several different fields taking him to different communities. Aaron was a truck driver, handyman, pipe fitter, pumper, heavy equipment operator, engineer and finally a compressor station operator for a gas company. Aaron was an avid hunter and fisherman. He is remembered for his gift of conversation, whether it was history, religion, or politics.  He made friends for life, and made his time available for any who would ask.

Aaron is survived by his father, Gary Fagan of Hays, Kansas; brother, Kellin and wife Mitzi of WaKeeney, Kansas; sister, Amber Fagan of Lincoln, Nebraska; and three nieces, MacKenzie, Ainsley, and Sydney Fagan of WaKeeney, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his mother Roberta Fagan.

Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at Ogallah Christian Church, Ogallah, Kansas. Burial will take place 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, in O’Neill Cemetery, O’Neill, Nebraska.

Visitation will be Monday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in WaKeeney.

Memorial Contributions are suggested to the Aaron Fagan Memorial Fund. Checks made to the fund may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

Condolences may be sent online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Sergio Mendez Gonzalez, age 45, passed away north of Hanston, Friday, July 24, 2015.

He was born on October 7, 1969 in San Fernando, Mexico, the son of Abrahm Mendez Mendez and Maria Carmen Gonzalez Lopez.

He worked for Fritzlers, H2 Plains, and Professional Pulling.

On September 25, 1998, he married Maria Eulalia Quiroz Acosta.

He is survived by his parents; wife Maria of the home; son, Sergio Jr. Mendez; daughters, Viviana Mendez, Nayeli Mendez, Emily Mendez; brothers, Francisco, Vicente, Juan, Abrahm, Benito, Isidro, and Aaron Mendez; sisters Isabel and Carmen Mendez.

Viewing will be at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Sunday, July 26, 10:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 9:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M. with rosary Wednesday, 6:30 P.M. at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, July 30, 2015, 11:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Church, Ness City.

Burial at Bazine Cemetery

Memorial contributions may be given to Sergio Memorial Fund.