Dateline: Claflin, Kansas

Verna Leona Disque, 90, passed away July 29, 2019, at Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood.  She was born August 20, 1928, at Claflin, to George and Leeda (Lyons) Ehly.

A lifetime resident of Claflin, Verna attended Claflin Grade School and graduated from Claflin High School in 1946.  She then pursued higher education at Brown-Mackie Business College, Salina, and employment with T.B. Kelly and Conner Law Firm, Great Bend. Verna married Charles Disque Sept. 30, 1951, at Claflin, and farmed side by side in the Claflin and Bushton area.

Verna was a member of Claflin United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and Barton County Historical Society.  She enjoyed traveling the United States and Canada with various travel groups, and cherished her time with family.

Survivors include husband, Charles, of 68 blessed years; two daughters Janet Sellens and husband David of Olathe, and Corrine Clark and husband Jim of Hays; two grandchildren, Jaclyn and Derek; and great granddaughter, Dhara.

Funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 2, 2019, at Claflin United Methodist Church, Claflin, with Pastor Diana Webster presiding.  Interment will follow at the Claflin Cemetery.  Visitation will be noon to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, August 1, 2019, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.  Memorials are suggested to Claflin United Methodist Church or Claflin Ambulance Service, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS, 67544.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net

 

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Nancy Gean McAllister, 62, passed away July 27, 2019, at Diversicare of Larned, Larned, Kan.  She was born February 27, 1957, in Natick, Mass., to Robert F. and Patricia Ann (Gean) Fairbanks.  Nancy married Clayton McAllister July 7, 1979, in Great Bend.  He survives.

Nancy, a resident of Great Bend since 1963 coming from Hoisington, was a special education instructor for U.S.D. 428 for 17 years.  She was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, where she sang in the choir, served as treasurer for 20 years and was the Christian Education Director for 10 years.  Nancy was also a member of the Xi Delta Upsilon chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority since 1986, earning her master’s degree and order of the rose.  She enjoyed walking, reading and cherished her time with her family.

Nancy is survived by her husband, Clayton McAllister, of the home; two sons, Josh McAllister of Great Bend and Evan McAllister and wife Kristin of Salina; one grandson, Cameron McAllister; mother, Patty Ann Fairbanks of Great Bend; two brothers, Bob Fairbanks of Great Bend and Bill Fairbanks of Lee’s Summit, Mo.  She was preceded in death by her father, Robert F. Fairbanks.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Bend, with Pastor Michael Munz presiding.  Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery North, Great Bend.  Visitation will be Noon to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2019, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., all at Bryant Funeral Home.  Memorials are suggested to First Congregational United Church of Christ, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530

 

Great Bend – Ivan Leon Mettscher, The Family Barber, joined his Savior in heaven on July 26, 2019 at the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus at the grand age of 91.  Ivan was born on April 1, 1928 in Hudson Kansas.  He was the son of Henry (Hank) George and Pearl (Clark) Mettscher.  Ivan’s life professions included working for Hudson Dealer and Rivers Shoe Store in Larned.  In 1951 he moved to Great Bend and worked for 10 years as a driller on oil rigs for several major oil companies.

With the desire to spend more time with his family he entered and graduated from Barber School in Wichita, Kansas.  After working for the Uptown Barber Shop behind the Ralph Wallace Café for several weeks he was recruited by Clem Lang to work in the Family Barber Shop on North Washington.  After three years Ivan purchased the shop and continued for 52 years as a Barber Stylist cutting and styling the hair of 3 and sometimes 4 generations of families.  He loved people and used his time cutting their hair to get to know them.  He never met a stranger and was always there when help was needed.

In 1964 he joined the Noon Lions Club and was involved in establishing the first student scholarship at Barton Community College given by the club.  He served on the Lions board and as Scoutmaster of Troop 150 sponsored by the Lions Club.  His son Randall received his Eagle and Order of the Arrow awards while Ivan was Scoutmaster.  Along with other scoutmasters and district scout executive Charles Gunn, Ivan helped establish the Cheyenne Scoutland south of Great Bend on the Arkansas River as the area Boy Scout campground and Camp Aldrich for the Girl Scouts from funding willed for the scouts in the Aldrich estate.  Later Ivan was leader of only the second Boy Scout Explorer Post in Motorcycling in the USA.

Ivan served as President of Barton Lake and President of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corp Booster Club.  Ivan loved his church family and spent many years serving his church, The First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend, as Sunday school teacher, board member, and as an usher until 2017.

After retirement Ivan spent 17 summers in their fifth wheel in the South Fork Colorado Fun Valley Campground making friends from all over the USA.  During this time he started wood burning and making canes and walking sticks from Aspen trees grown in the high country.  Soon his canes were scattered across the nation and he took great joy in making canes for local friends.

Ivan dearly loved his family.  They always came first.  He enjoyed riding motorcycles, taking many road trips, including his longest trip to Jasper, Canada.  He loved his Honda Gold Wing and never gave up sharing his joy of the road.  He was a big fan of KU Basketball and the KC Royals and enjoyed watching their games on TV and in person.  He enjoyed cars and working on them to keep them in top running order.    In later years he became a great story teller sharing all his escapades in life.

Ivan spent his last 4 and a half years living with his daughter Vicky and son-in-law Norman on their wooded acreage working outside, enjoying the deer and the turkey that visited their pond by the house.

Ivan is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha, brother Marvin Mettscher of Hutchinson, daughter, Vicky Dayton and husband Norman Dayton of rural Ellinwood, Grandson Ryan Dayton of Great Bend, Grandson Eric Dayton, his wife Nikki, Great grandson Liam Ivan Dayton and Great Granddaughter Loryn Linn Dayton all of Lawrence, Kansas, daughter in law Lisa Mettscher of Montrose, Colorado and granddaughter Randi Mettscher of Balmorhea, Texas. Ivan was preceded in death by his parents and son Randall.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 1 PM, Friday, August 2^nd, 2019, at the Great Bend First Church of the Nazarene, 4811 Broadway with Pastor Josh Foster officiating. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be given to the First Church of the Nazarene, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Frances E. Wasson, 89, died July 26, 2019, at the University of Kansas Medical Center – Great Bend Campus.  She was born September 20, 1929, to Henry and Leah Edith (Goodall) Rogers.  Frances married Warren Wasson Oct. 1953, at Las Vegas, Nev.  He died Aug. 1979.

Survivors include five sons, John Hanne of Las Vegas, Frank Wasson and wife Wendy of Mesa, Ariz., David Wasson of Portage, Ind., Roger Wasson of Texarkana, Texas and Wayne Wasson of Great Bend; one daughter, Leah Davis of Lebanon, Mo; eighteen grandchildren, many great grandchildren and one great great grandchild She was preceded in death by one son, Wesley Wasson; and one sister, Alma Crooks.

Graveside inurnment service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2019, at Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, with The Reverend J.P. McCamey presiding.  There will be no visitation, as cremation has taken place.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Frances Wasson Funeral Expense Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530

 

GREAT BEND – Edgar “Ed” Herman Wetzel, 87, died July 23, 2019, at Salina Regional Health Center, Salina. He was born February 28, 1932, to Herman and Elsie (Weiss) Wetzel in Ford County. He was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran Church south of Offerle, Kansas. He attended grade school near Offerle. He also attended and graduated from Dodge City Senior High School in 1950.

He entered the United States Air Force on December 10, 1951, during the Korean War, graduating #1 in the Radar and Electronics class. He earned the rank of A1C, and was honorably discharged on December 5, 1955. Edgar married Helen Maskus on December 28, 1952, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Hodgeman County. He moved to Great Bend in December 1955 and was the service manager at Martin Jaeger for 20 years. Ed was the owner and operator of Ed’s TV and Air Conditioning, traveling from Odessa, Texas to Moline, Illinois, repairing and installing electrical, television, sound systems and air conditioning systems for 25 years.

Ed was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on the count team, buildings and grounds team and was a former head usher; he was also a member of the American Legion Argonne Post 180 in Great Bend. His interests included hunting, trap shooting, bowling, carpentry and coaching. Ed enjoyed time spent with family, from days spent on baseball and softball fields, to weekends at the lake. He was always lending a helping hand, love and support.

He is survived by his wife Helen of the home; his children, Randy Wetzel and wife Brenda of Great Bend, and Renee Holl and husband Dennis of St. John; one grandson, Dennis Price of Wichita; three great-grandchildren, Haley Jackson and husband Chris of Russell, Cody Piland of Great Bend, and Ava Winters of Winfield; two great-great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Kellie Jackson. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Carol Wetzel; and one grandchild, Michelle Price.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, July 25, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 26, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor Barbara Jones and Pastor Jon Brudvig presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530

 

Viola Depperschmidt, 90, Liebenthal, Kansas, died Sunday, July 21, 2019, at Rush County Memorial Hospital Intermediate Swing Bed, La Crosse, Kansas.

Viola was born July 13, 1929, in rural Liebenthal, Kansas, the daughter of Isidore and Albertina (Legleiter) Herrman.  She was a lifelong resident of Rush County, Kansas.  A 1948 graduate of Schoenchen High School, Schoenchen, Kansas, she was an owner/manager of the 1886 Hotel, La Crosse, Kansas, before her retiremen.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, and St. Ann’s Altar Society, both of Liebenthal, Kansas.  She was a religious education instructor in Liebenthal, Kansas, and La Crosse, Kansas, and a 4-H leader in La Crosse, Kansas.

Viola loved gardening and taking care of her chickens.

On May 30, 1949, she married Alfred “Fritz” Depperschmidt at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas.  He preceded her in death November 1, 1984.

Survivors include:  five sons, James Depperschmidt (Theresa), Sylvia, Kansas, Mark Depperschmidt, Langdon, Kansas, Neil Depperschmidt, Liberal, Kansas, Melvin Depperschmidt, Topeka, Kansas, and Paul “Beau” Depperschmidt, Liebenthal, Kansas; two daughters, Cheryl Ann Resner (Gerald), Great Bend, Kansas, and Ruth Schaffer, Arvada, Colorado; seven grandchildren, Jennifer Gunder (Bob), Claflin, Kansas, Thomas Depperschmidt (Tammy), Sylvia, Kansas, Emma Albert (Justin), Milton, Kansas, Jacob Resner (Ashley), Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Matthew Resner (Stacie), Great Bend, Kansas, Casey Schaffer (Jenice), Arvada, Colorado, and Lori Schaffer, Arvada, Colorado; 20 great grandchildren; one brother, William “Bill” Herrman, La Crosse, Kansas; and three sisters, Henrietta Haselhorst, Hays, Kansas, Mary Catherine Dreher, Plainville, Kansas, and Georgiana Herrman, Great Bend, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, John Depperschmidt (September 7, 1980); one son in law, Terry Schaffer; one brother, Michael “Mike” Herrman; and one sister, Lillian Leiker.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 28, 2019, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas.  A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M.

Church visitation will be Monday, July 29, 2019, from 9:00 A.M. to 9:50 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Monday, July 29, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Liebenthal, Kansas, with Father Stephen Dabanka officiating.  Interment will be in the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Steeple Fund, Liebenthal, Kansas.

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.

Dateline – Odin

Jerome Anthony Wondra, 76, died July 20, 2019, at Country Place Senior Living, Hoisington.  He was born May 11, 1943, on the family farm in rural Odin, Kansas, the son of Alfred and Regina (Kirmer) Wondra.  He graduated from Odin High School in 1961.

Jerome served in the National Guard. A lifetime resident of the Odin area Jerome was a farmer and stockman, farming the family farm with his brother Ambrose.

He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic minister, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #2630.

On October 10, 1969, he married Judy Ann Steiner in Great Bend, Kansas.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Judy Ann Wondra and their five children, Jeff (Dede) Wondra of Holyrood, John (Ashley) Wondra of Manhattan, Joe (Chrissy) Wondra of Olathe, Jennifer (Chris) Berens of Olathe, and Julie Wondra of McPherson; seven siblings, Bernard Wondra of Hoisington, Mary Rose (Victor) Oberle of Claflin, Ambrose Wondra of Odin, Leona (Jim) Canfield of Great Bend, Theresa (Wayne) Schremmer of Wichita, Norbert Wondra of Eugene, Oregon, and Doris Morgan of Wichita; and five grandchildren, Rachel, Ryan, Abby, Aubrey and Gracie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Leo Wondra, and a sister, Ann Oberle.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. led by the Knights of Columbus, all at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Odin, celebrated by Father Daniel Sheetz. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Holy Family Cemetery Fund, Knights of Columbus #2630, or the Independent Township Library, all in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.