Victoria Zerr, age 89, of Quinter (formerly of Grainfield) died Monday, March 2, 2015 at Gove County Medical Center, Long Term Care, Quinter.
Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Category: Obituaries
Geraldine Anna Van Kooten
Hays resident Geraldine Anna Van Kooten, formerly of Long Island, passed away Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 at Hays Good Samaritan in Hays, KS at the age of 93.
She was born in Prairie View, KS on March 26, 1921 to George & Anna (DeYoung) Walcott.
Her husband, Bernard Van Kooten, preceded her in death.
She is survived by three daughters: Connie Heersink of Plano, TX, Laverne Miller of Wellington, KS, and Rhonda Meyerhoff of Hays, KS; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. in the Luctor Christian Reformed Church, Phillips County, KS with Pastor Aaron Rust officiating. Burial will follow in the Long Island Cemetery, Long Island, KS.
Mrs. Van Kooten will lie in-state on Tuesday from 5–9 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg. The family will greet friends Wednesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Luctor Christian Reformed Church or the Wounded Warrior Project. Online condolences to www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements.
Cynthia Jane Seltman
Cynthia Jane Seltman, age 66 died February 27, 2015 surrounded by her loving family at a local hospice facility.
Cindy loved God and adored her family. She had many hobbies including knitting, quilting, gardening and sports, especially football and basketball when it came to her grandchildren.
Cindy is preceded in death by her son Todd Allen and daughter Deborah Seltmann. She is survived by her loving husband Lyle Seltmann, daughter Natalie (Patrick) Fettig, brothers Edward (Louise) Swartz of Alexander, KS., Steven (Loretta) Swartz of Rush Center, KS., sisters Dianna O’Brien (Stan) of Wichita, KS., Susan (Ernie) Bailey of Colorado Springs, Co., Patricia (Mike) Johnson of Marquette, KS. and her grandchildren Brianna, Jonah, Rachel, Isaac and Micah.
The family will receive friends on Monday, March 2, 2015 from 4-8 pm at Ellis Funeral Home, 2627 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN. Mrs. Seltmann will lie-in-state at Lighthouse Baptist Church, 5115 Blue Hole Road, Antioch, TN. from 6-7 pm on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 with
Funeral Service to follow at 7 pm with Pastors Lyle Seltmann and John Yancey co-officiating.
Concluding services will be held in Alexander, KS at Alexander UMC on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 3 pm with visitation starting at 2 pm.
Joseph Beer Jr.
Joseph Beer Jr., age 64, of Ellis passed away Friday, February 20, 2015, at his home.
He was born February 14, 1950, in WaKeeney, Kansas, to Joseph and Rose (Waldschmidt) Beer Sr.
He received a Master’s in Counseling and had worked as a School Counselor.
He is survived by a sister, Rebecca McDonald and husband Willard II of WaKeeney; a niece, Sara McDonald of Oakley and a nephew, Willard John McDonald III of WaKeeney.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, John Beer.
Private family inurnment will be at a later date in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Ellis.
Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel of Ellis.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].
Joan R. Hirst
Joan R. Hirst, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, February 15, 2015, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.
A memorial service for Joan is pending at this time. Please check back later for memorial service date and time. Cremation has been selected by the family. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangments.
Mildred M. (Finch) Ford
Mildred M. (Finch) Ford, 91 of Boulder City, Nevada, passed away Saturday, January 24, 2015 at Hospice of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, surrounded by her family.
Mildred was born April 14, 1923 in Natoma, Kansas, the daughter of Port Huron and Cora B. (Doty) Finch. She grew up in the Isabel, Cunningham and Kingman, Kansas areas. Later she attended Cosmetology School.
Mildred was united in marriage to Albert Ford, Jr. on July 30, 1941 in Kingman, Kansas. They made their home in Ft. Morgan, Colorado, Pratt, Kansas and Russell, Kansas. They were blessed with two sons; Loren and Terry. Albert preceded her in death on February 6, 1983, after 42 years of marriage.
In 1985 Mildred met Lyle Unrein and they were companions for 30 years. Their interest in traveling took them to Nevada. They loved the warm climate and sites near the Hoover Dam where they lived for the past 14 years.
Mildred was a devoted homemaker, wife and hair stylist. She enjoyed researching and recording the Ford family tree, drawing and painting, solving crossword puzzles, and playing cards and board games with family.
Surviving family include her sons, Loren Ford and wife Carol of Greeley, Colorado and Terry Ford and wife Mary of Thornton, Colorado; six grandchildren and one great grandchild; Companion, Lyle Unrein of Buhler, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers and one sister.
Graveside Service and burial of ashes, next to her late husband, will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 2, 2015 at Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas. No visitation will be held. Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
Sharon Kay Miller
Sharon Kay Miller, 71, of Russell, Kansas, died on February 03, 2015, at the Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, Kansas.
Sharon was born on June 15, 1943, in Barton County, Kansas, the daughter of Godfred and Alvina (Nuss) Miller. She grew up in the Paradise, Kansas, community and graduated from the Paradise High School. She was united in marriage to Earl Maurice Friess on June 2nd, 1962 in Ransom, Kansas and they were married for 11 1/2 years. As a young woman, Sharon always dreamed of being a stewardess in the airlines but was never able to make that dream a reality. She worked for Travenol in Hays, Kansas and also worked for King of the Road in Russell, a hostess at Russell’s Inn and a house cleaning service in Russell. She was a longtime member of the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell. She loved animals, especially her cat Spooky. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family.
Surviving family include daughter Teri Friess, son Eugene F. Friess both of Russell; brothers Roger Miller(Sandy) of Salina, Myron Miller (Rosie) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Gary Miller(Judy) Montgomery, Alabama, Fred Miller(Kay) Salina; sister and Marilynn Dinkel(Devane) of Russell; and granddaughter Ashley Michelle Mutter.
She was preceded in death by her parents. Her sister DiAnn Becker died February 16, 2015.
A memorial service to celebrate Sharon’s life will be held at 11 A.M. Saturday, February 28, 2015, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, with Father Michael Elan officiating. A private inurnment will take place after the service. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Friday, February 27th at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Western Plains Animal Refuge out of Hays and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Charlotte Irene (Helscher) Newton
Charlotte Irene (Helscher) Newton, 97, was born to Sylvia Melvina (Zigler) Helscher and Thomas Adolph Helscher on October 18, 1917 on a farm near Paradise, Kansas. She passed away on February 21, 2015 at Warrensburg, MO.
Charlotte attended school in Paradise where she graduated from high school. She attended Fort Hays State University for a short time. She married Loyal Lee (Jim) Newton on August 12, 1939. Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years in 1993. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Bryan Helscher, and his wife Louise. She is survived by her children Dr. Thomas A. Newton and his wife Jane of Tahlequah, OK, Crystal A. Green of Warrensburg, MO, and Michael E. Newton and his wife Diana of Wichita, KS. Also surviving are grandchildren Shelly Parr, Jim Green, Brooks Newton, Julie Newton, and Sarah Brown as well as six great-grandchildren: Tyler Parr, Haley Parr, Jackson Green, Noah Green, Griffin Newton, and Thurston Brown.
Charlotte and her family lived in several Kansas communities during the years that Jim was employed as an oilfield pumper. They spent a number of years in Russell, Natoma, Wellington, Stafford, Preston, Pratt before coming back to Russell for retirement. During those years as a full-time homemaker, Charlotte kept the family fed with her wholesome down-home recipes as well as with goodly portions of moral instruction, creative spirit, and self-deprecating humor.
Charlotte taught her children that honesty and compassion for all creatures are essential human qualities. She also modeled her passion for the creative spirit through her own works of art and her enduring memory of hundreds of songs and poems from her school years. Through the years and into her 90s, she would break into a poem or song when the topic of a conversation reminded her of a particular lyric. As a young woman, Charlotte created beautiful works of sculpture, songs, and poetry. She and Jim kept the family in stitches with their humor and on-going word play. Often the humor was based on double entendre, misunderstandings that were quickly exploited for their bizarre implications, and Charlotte’s ability to laugh at her own foibles. Charlotte continued the art of story-telling that her parents were known for. She told hundreds of stories centering on humorous anecdotes or unique character traits of her relatives or others from the small Kansas towns along the Lincoln Branch of the Union Pacific: Lincoln Center, Lucas, Luray, Waldo, Paradise, Natoma, and Plainville. She told these stories so well and so often that the characters and the anecdotes have become part of the family heritage.
Charlotte’s children will remember her fiercely independent spirit, her unwillingness to accept injustice, her disregard for superstitious beliefs, her love of art, language, story-telling, and her sense of humor.
A graveside service to celebrate Charlotte’s life will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Friday, February 27, 2015, at the Natoma City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at the mortuary in Russell. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
John E. Repshire
John E. Repshire, age 72, of Park, passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter.
Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Virginia L. Wilkinson
Funeral services for Goodland, Kansas, resident Virginia L. Wilkinson, 90, will be held
Saturday, February 28, 1:30 PM MT at Koons Chapel, Goodland, Kansas.
Interment will be at Goodland Cemetery.
Friends may share respects Friday, February 27, from 3:00-6:00 PM MT at Koons Chapel in Goodland.
Memorials to Virginia Wilkinson Memorial may be left at the services or mailed to
Koons Funeral Home, 211 North Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.
Online condolences to www.koonsfuneralhome.com.
Vernon D. Walter
Catharine, Kansas- Vernon D. Walter, age 63, died Tuesday, February 24, 2015, at KU Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
He was born May 12,1951, in Hays, Kansas to Ralph and Sophia (Schmeidler) Walter. He married Diana (Pfannenstiel) on May 7, 1977, in Hays, Kansas.
He was a farmer and enjoyed the farm life and working with his boys. He was a dairymen
for 30 years. He was a 1970 graduate of Hays High School and was in the Kansas National Guard. He was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Diana Walter, of the home; three sons, Andrew Walter and wife, Bonnie, Matthew Walter and wife, Chandra, both of Manhattan, KS; Kevin Walter, Hays, KS; his mother, Sophia Walter, Victoria, KS; four sisters, Dorothy Augustine and husband, Richard, Hays, KS; Rosie Leiker and husband Herman, Munjor, KS; Cynthia Rooker and husband, Fran, Las Cruses , NM; Barbara Margaris and husband, Jack, Mission, KS; and one granddaughter, Brynlee Walter.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Services are 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 28, 2015, at St. Catherine Catholic Church, Catharine, Kansas. Burial in St. Catherine Cemetery, Catharine, Kansas.
A vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Friday, at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
Visitation is from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Friday, and from 8:30 to 9:30 A.M. Saturday, all at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays.
Memorial to Catholic Charities of Hays Condolences can be sent via email to
[email protected].
Marlene ‘Toots’ Scheck
Victoria, Kansas – Marlene “Toots” Scheck, age 76, died Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Society of Hays Care Center, Hays, Kansas.
She was born February 24,1939, in Victoria, Kansas to Richard C. and Louise (Kuhn) Dinkel. She married Victor G. Scheck on May 30,1959, at Victoria, Kansas. He died September 18,1999.
She was a homemaker and made homemade noodles for many years. She was a graduate of Victoria High School and attended Fort Hays State College. A member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Christian Mothers and V.F.W. Auxiliary all of Victoria, Kansas and was a volunteer at St. John’s Rest Home in Victoria for many years. She was a avid KU Basketball fan, enjoyed her gardening, her family and friends.
Survivors include two sons, Rick Scheck and wife, Sandy, Victoria, KS; Frank Scheck, Olathe, KS; one grandson, Cody Scheck, Victoria, KS; one brother Jack Dinkel, Kansas City, MO; two sisters, Bernadette Gottschalk, and husband, Phil, Edmond, OK; Marge Unrein and husband, Harry, Jennings, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Francis Dinkel and Vernon Dinkel; and one sister, Jeanne Koerner.
Services are 10:00 A.M. Friday, February 27, 2015, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis, Victoria, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas.
A vigil service followed by a Christian Mothers rosary/V.F.W. Auxiliary memorial service will be at 7:00 P.M. Thursday, at Cline’s Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, Kansas 67671.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 P.M. Thursday, and from 8:30 to 9:45 A.M. Friday, all at Cline’s Mortuary, Victoria, Kansas.
Memorial to The Basilica of St. Fidelis. Condolences can be sent via email to [email protected].
Constance M. (Connie) Wagoner
Constance M. (Connie) Wagoner, age 74 of Ellis, Ks. passed away on Feb. 20, 2015 at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita.
She was born on Jan. 30, 1941 in Ness City, Ks. to Fred and Emma (Fercking) Coker. She married Otto E. Wagoner on April 28, 1962. Constance is a graduate for Ness City High School in 1959. She went on to graduate from Dominican School of Nursing in Great Bend, Ks. in 1962.
She was a registered nurse for the Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital in Wakeeney Ks. She was a nurse at Hadley Regional Medical Center in Hays, Ks. for a number of years before transferring back to Trego Lemke Memorial Hospital to work as the hospital administrator for approximately 8 years. She was employed as a Medicare surveyor for the State of Kansas until her retirement in 1999 due to health reasons. She was a past member of the Eta Nu Chapter of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority.
She was an avid sewer, especially of baby quilts and a passionate reader, with a special love of history.
She is survived by her husband Otto E. Wagoner of Ellis. One daughter and son in-law Gerri (Rich) Truan of Gorham KS; a beloved grandson, Nevin Truan of Gorham; three sisters, Arlene (John) Cline of Wakeeney, Frona Nikkel of McPherson and Linda Chambers of Ft. Bragg, Ca.
She was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers, Bill, Wesley, LaVern, Tom, Terry, and Gary and three sister Freda Mae Coker, Henrietta Wilkison and Irma Morath.
Graveside services are at 1:00 PM Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 at Wakeeney City Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Ellis Public Library.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]