Donald L. Sander, age 90 years, longtime Great Bend, Kansas resident, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday morning, March 7, 2019. Don was born on September 8, 1928 at Salina, Kansas to Peter M. and Julia (Mermis) Sander. He was united in marriage to Agnes I. Karlin on February 3, 1949 at Catherine, Kansas and they moved to Great Bend in 1955. Don was an Electrician and started Don’s Electric Service in Great Bend in 1975, and continued to be active in the business until just a few short years ago. He was a longtime member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, Kansas.

Don is survived by his wife of 70 years, Agnes I. Sander of the home; three sons: Richard Sander of Arlington, Texas, John Sander (and his wife, Lori) of Great Bend, Kansas and Mike Sander (and his wife, Jeanette) of Great Bend, Kansas; two daughters: Sheila Helm of Great Bend, Kansas and Julia Novak (and her husband, Phillip) of Pleasant Hill, California; eleven grandchildren: Jannea Wright, Kevin Kowalsky, Michael Sander, Kyle Kowalsky, Rachel Shorter, Trevor Sander, Sara Potter, Takowa Sander, Cyandra Mong, Katia Novak, and Zoe Novak; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters: Lillian Dreiling of Hays, Kansas, Alice Rohr (and her husband, Al) of Mission, Texas, and Rosemary McMahon (and her husband, Dan) of Colleyville, Texas. Don was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Terri Kowalsky; one son-in-law, Mark Helm; five brothers; and four sisters.

Don’s wishes were to be cremated and there will be no visitation or services at this time. The family has requested that Memorial Contributions be designated to the St. Fidelis Cemetery Fund at Victoria, Kansas. Online condolences may be left for the family and a complete obituary may be viewed at https://www.charterfunerals.com/locations/great-bend.php.

Arrangements Entrusted To
Charter Funerals
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS 67530
(620) 793-6161

GREAT BEND – Earl N. Adams, Jr., 77, passed away at his home in Great Bend. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with Rev. Dick Ogle presiding. Inurnment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery North. Memorials are suggested to the Earl Adams, Jr. Funeral 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

 

Dateline – Hoisington 

Ivan E. “Ike” Penry, 77, died Monday March 4, 2019. He was born January 20, 1942, in Hoyt, Kansas, the son of Irenious Claude and Alberta (Smith) Penry.  He joined the Marine Corps in 1959 and retired as a Gunnery Sergeant in 1979 after proudly serving three tours in Vietnam.

Ike married his wife Norma (Alger) Riedl on November 26, 1982.  Together they owned and operated a variety of businesses including Suburban Amusements until their retirement in 2010.

Ike is survived by his wife Norma, five children, two step children, three siblings, and several other family and close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three siblings and a step son.

Friends may call 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, with family to receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.

Graveside service will be 3 p.m., Thursday, March 7, 2019, in Hoisington Cemetery, with military honors conducted by the United States Marine Corp Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to the Clara Barton Hospital Foundation in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas

Chloe Lynn Rolf, newborn, received her angel wings on February 17, 2019.  She was born the daughter of Joseph Allen Rolf and Joanna Renae Simmons.

Survivors include her parents; sister, Claire Simmons; paternal grandparents Allen and Carolyn Rolf of Parker; maternal grandparents Brian and Yvonne Simmons of Great Bend; uncles and aunts, Matt Simmons and wife Janell of Topeka, David Simmons of Great Bend, Jacob Simmons of Wichita, James Howard and wife Amanda of Garnett, Joshua Howard and Natasha of Parker, Jessica Miller and husband Willis of Richmond and Jonathan Rolf of Parker.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Friday, March 8, 2019, at Heritage Baptist Church in Great Bend, with Rev. Ken Gray.  Interment will follow at the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend.  Memorials may be directed to the Family 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 – Robert “Bob” Wilson, 82, passed away Feb. 25, 2019, at his home in Great Bend. He was born on March 19, 1936 at Weaubleau, Missouri to Henry & Nellie (Skinner) Wilson. He married Evelyn Andrew on Aug. 9, 1953 at St. John. She survives.

Coming from St. John in 1953, Robert was a truck driver for the Co-op, until he retired in 2001. He loved riding motorcycles, collecting trucks, fishing and camping. He also played Santa at Christmas Fantasy Village.

Survivors include, his wife, Evelyn of the home; two daughters, Connie Wildeman and husband Paul of Hays and Sandra Stevens and husband Tommy of Wichita; three grandchildren, Bob Roller, Twila Lasiter and Elizabeth Keller; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Charles and Kenneth Wilson; and four sisters, Veda Boley, Carol Ann Blankenship, Nancy Sue Wilson and Mary Jo Mendoza.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, at Church of Christ in Great Bend, with Pastor John Turner presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the 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 – Larry E. Keenan, 89, of Great Bend, died February 23 at his home. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ramona Goering Keenan, after 49 years of marriage. He was born November 16, 1929, in Great Bend, the son of Patrick and Mary Hall Keenan. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1947 and KU in 1954 with a joint undergraduate and law degree.

After graduation, he served for three years in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, earning the rank of Captain. In 1958, he returned home to Great Bend  to practice with his older brother Robert at the Keenan Law Firm and continued to practice in his home town for 60 years. In 1960, he was elected Barton County Attorney. Larry was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council #862.  He was past chairman and member of the Farmers Bank & Trust Board of Directors. He was actively engaged in the oil business and served as the president of Globe Exploration, Inc. He was past president and lifelong member of the KU Law Board of Governors.

Larry loved practicing law and was very devoted to his clients. In 2015, he received the Professionalism Award from the Kansas Bar to recognize his honesty, integrity, and courtesy in the legal profession.  In 2016, KU Law School honored him with the Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1999, he and Ramona received the St. Lawrence Award from the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas, the highest honor given to a layperson.

He was extraordinarily generous, had a heart for the underdog and always believed in second chances. He was an eternal optimist, was fun loving and had an incredible zest for life. In his free time, he loved traveling with friends, hunting waterfowl, collecting wine, telling stories and spending time at “The Shed.”

Larry married Patricia (Hickel) Degner on October 16, 2004.

Survivors include his wife Patty of the home; and five children, Katherine and husband Todd Miller of Wichita, Timothy Keenan and his former wife Alicia, of Great Bend, Matthew and his wife Lori Keenan of Leawood, Marty and his wife Julie Keenan of Wichita and Beth and her husband Tom Hudak of Overland Park, four step children, Chris Degner and his fiancé Janet, Jamey and his wife Jo Degner, Rex and his wife Karla Degner and Denise Shaw, fifteen grandchildren, Annie (Nate) Blake and Luke Miller, Mark, John and Rachel Keenan, Connor, Thomas (Jenny), Robert and Maggie Keenan, Tyler and Jefferson Keenan, Molly, Mary, Jack and Joe Hudak, two great grandchildren, Malachi Madden and Claire Blake, 11 step grandchildren and 2 step great grandchildren.

He is survived by two brothers, Dennis and Terry. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Paul, Russell, Ora, Robert and Pat, and sisters Louise Dale, Sylvia Langer, June Klepper and Gloria Ball.

Visitation will be Friday, March 1, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home, and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church with family visitation from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary and Remembrances at 6:00. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday March 2, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with Father Don Bedore. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery at 3:30 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment or the KU St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, both in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 S. Patton Rd, Great Bend, KS 67530.

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

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530