Joan M. Dreher, 81, La Crosse, Kansas, died Thursday, December 20, 2018, at Locust Grove Village, La Crosse, Kansas.

Mrs. Dreher was born May 15, 1937, in Larned, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Skolaut) Haberman.  She was a lifelong resident of Pawnee County, Kansas, and Rush County, Kansas.  A 1955 graduate of La Crosse High School, La Crosse, Kansas, she was a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone, La Crosse, Kansas.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and St. Michael’s Altar Society, both of La Crosse, Kansas.  Joan was dedicated to her faith, and her church, she was an OPA (Dominican Sisters of Peace) Associate since 2013, church Eucharistic Minister, church sacristan for 47 years, past parish council member and president, past church finance committee member and chairperson, bible study member, past Liturgy commission member and chairperson, past religious education teacher, past altar society chairperson, and past choir member.

Joan was also very active in her community serving as a past South Wind hospice volunteer, past Food Bank volunteer, past The Second Chance volunteer, past SouthWest Kansas Area Agency on Aging member, past BPW member and president, past Golden Belt Community Foundation board, past Kansas Silver Haired Legislature member, past Ellis County Relay for Life member, past Rush County Relay for Life member, past Rush County Memorial Hospital Long Term Care volunteer.

Joan loved to travel visiting China, the Holy Land, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Switzerland, and Holland.

On November 8, 1955, she married Larry Dreher at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.  He preceded her in death March 19, 1997.

Survivors include:  two brothers, Joe Haberman (Helen), Larned, Kansas, and Henry Haberman (Betty), Timken, Kansas,; and one sister, Esther Brack, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and one brother, Melvin Haberman.

Visitation will be Wednesday, December 26, 2018, from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  A vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 P.M.

Church visitation will be Thursday, December 27, 2018, from 9:30 A.M. to 10:20 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas.

Funeral service will be Thursday, December 27, 2018, at 10:30 A.M. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, Kansas, with Father Eric Gyamfi officiating.  Interment will be in the La Crosse City Cemetery, La Crosse, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to St. Michael’s Catholic Church, La Crosse, 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.

GREAT BEND – Rodney Leon Gray, 56, passed away December 19, 2018, at his home in Great Bend. He was born December 16, 1962, at Hollis, Oklahoma, to Melvin Eugene and Norma (Allen) Gray.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Rodney worked in the oilfield. He was an avid antique collector and fisherman.

Survivors include, one daughter, Kayla Davis and husband Jansen of Wichita Falls, Texas; three brothers, Tommy Gray and wife Carol of Pawnee Rock, William Dolezal and wife Joline of Nebraska and Melvin Wayne Gray and significant other Janie Skinner of Williamsburg, Missouri; four sisters, Ruby Byerly and Dianne Willesden and husband Bob, both of Great Bend, Kathy Hughes and husband Bob of Missouri and Theresa Hester and husband Jack of Clovis, New Mexico; and one granddaughter, Emileigh Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Norma Gray; a son, Michael Gray; a sister Rhonda Krom, a nephew John Delgado.

There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 28, 2018, at the First Street Church of God, at 601 E. 1st, Hoisington, with Rev. Dick Ogle presiding. Memorials are suggested to the Rodney Leon Gray 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 – Kenneth Morris Pryor, 77, passed away December 18, 2018, at Harry Hynes Hospice, Wichita. He was born January 1, 1941 at Great Bend and was the Great Bend Tribune’s “New Year Baby of 1941”. He was the son of M.F. “Hap” Pryor and Wanda (Morris) Pryor.

Kenneth graduated from Great Bend High School in 1959. During high school he was a member of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps. He attended Fort Hays State University and St. Mary of the Plains Junior College. He was a member of the Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Elks (BPOE). He worked for Petro Exploration in Oklahoma as an oil exploration crew member and later worked for GeoSearch, Inc. for many years. He then became a caregiver for his mother in her later years and worked as a carrier for the Great Bend Tribune.

Survivors include, one sister Connie Strobel and husband John of Pueblo, Colorado, a niece, a nephew and several cousins.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Bryant Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 9:30 a.m., a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 10:00 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., all Friday, December 21, 2018, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Father Don Bedore will preside and interment will follow in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Prince of Peace Parish, 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 – Harold Charles Weikert, 90, passed away Monday, December 17, 2018, at Showalter Villa, Hesston. He was born September 24, 1928, in rural Ellinwood, to Frank and Teresa (Heinz) Weikert. He married Rosaline Stegman on July 29, 1958 and they later divorced. He then married Darylene “Dee” B. Burns on December 15, 1967, at Medicine Lodge. She died December 19, 1981.

Coming from near St. Peter and Paul in 1958, Harold was a Great Bend resident. He owned and operated D&H Appliance Service and was a Private First Class in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He loved camping, boating and fishing. He was Captain of the Fish and Chicks boat. He was known for his gardening skills, especially his sweet corn. He was an honest, hard-working man and was very strong in his faith and love of family.

Survivors include, seven daughters, Mary Ann Shorman and husband Gary of Hays, Deann Boyer and husband Norman of Great Bend, Theresa Leiker and husband Dave of Great Bend, Diane Weikert of Overland Park, Cyndi Whistler and husband John D. of North Newton, Kathleen Weikert and Karen Merrill of Great Bend and Margaret Dirks of Great Bend; thirteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Darylene “Dee” B. Weikert and a brother, Victor Weikert.

Visitation and viewing will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, December 21, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to greet friends prior to the Knights of Columbus Rosary and Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 22, 2018 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Ted Stoecklein officiating. There will be a Private Family Inurnment at a later date at the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be suggested to the St. Peter and Paul Church Restoration 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 – Kathleen “Kay” Mae (Rajewski) Sander, 87, went to meet her Lord, December 13, 2018, passing away at Kansas Medical Center in Andover. She was born January 29, 1931, on the farm at Vincent Kansas, to Leo B. and Anna H. (Huser) Rajewski. She attended Vincent School through the 8^th grade and graduated from Victoria High School in 1949.

On June 14, 1949, she married Gilbert F. Sander at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Vincent. They lived in Victoria, Salina, Hays and Plainville before settling in Great Bend in 1955. She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. She was very active in the St. Rose Altar Society where she was instrumental in starting the funeral luncheon committee. She was also credited with founding the St. Monica’s Sewing Circle in 1972 with the help of friends. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, joining in Victoria in 1947 then transferring to the Great Bend circle in 1955. She dedicated much of her free time to many other church organizations and committees.

Kay loved gardening and spending time in her many flowerbeds. She also loved to quilt and made personalized quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her passion for many years was collecting information for her family’s genealogy. The family tree was on display at many reunions and was available to the families.

Survivors include, husband, Gilbert F. Sander of the home; four children, Debbie Ann Sander Walker of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Glen Sander and wife Becky of Great Bend, Mark Sander and wife Vicki of Gulfport, Mississippi, and Kirk Sander and wife Joan of Great Bend; eight grandchildren, Debbie’s son, Cameron Andreas Sander Walker and wife Patricia of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Glen’s children, Andrea and husband Joe Babb of Wichita, Mathew Sander of Wichita and Tyler Sander and wife Elizabeth of Great Bend, Bert’s daughter, Stephanie Hamm, Kirk’s daughters, Monica and husband Anthony Kruse of Wichita, Nicole and husband Justin Tracy of Great Bend and Brandi Dawn Sander of Great Bend; 13 great-grandchildren, Noah Aaron and Scott Henry Walker, Blaize and Brecken Babb, Tatum, Jordan and Cameron Sander, Haily O’Donnell and Noah Hamm, Nathan, Braden and Madelyn Kruse and Jack, Logan and Ella Rose Tracy; two brothers, Howard L. Rajewski and wife Aquina of Vincent and Delando F. Rajewski and wife Donna of Arvada, Colorado; sister-in-law, Clairnelle Rajewski of Wichita. She was preceded in death by a son Bert, infant daughter Yvonne Amy, three infant angels, two sisters and their husbands, Marceline and Gilbert J. Denning of Great Bend and Juliana and Victor J. Dinkel of Brownell.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Altar Society Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and Vigil and Daughters of Isabella Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 20, 2018, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Great Bend, with Father Don Bedore presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Holy Family School 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

Dateline – Hoisington 

Elsie Mae Dreher, 75, died December 12, 2018, at her home in Hoisington.  She was born March 22, 1943, in Munjor, Kansas, the daughter of Nicholas and Louise (Befort) Klaus.  Elsie graduated from Hays High School.

She was a longtime Hoisington resident moving from Salina in 1964. Elsie worked for Fuller Brush for 36 years retiring in 2003.  She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Altar Society. She loved gardening, shopping, decorating for Christmas, spending time with her grandkids, and teaching her family how to cook German food.

On July 8, 1960, she married Ernest E. “Ernie” Dreher in Victoria, Kansas.  He preceded her in death on April 16, 2018.

Survivors include: children, Lee Allan Dreher and wife Patty of Drexel, MO; Michelle Morales of Wichita, and Kimberly Williams and husband Kurt of Hoisington; daughter-in-law, Denise Dreher of Wichita; grandchildren, Trevor and Jack Williams, Ryan and Shadawn Dreher, Samuel & Jacob Morales, Emily, Natalie, Claire, and Sophie Dreher; and her beloved dog, Muffin.

She was preceded in death by his parents, husband, son, Darren Dreher; brothers, Kenneth Klaus, Dean Klaus; sisters, Betty Schaffer, Patty Beaky, and Mildred Klaus.

Friends may call 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, with family to receive friends from 5 to 7p.m.

Vigil and Rosary will be 6 p.m. Friday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, December 15, 2018, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Anselm Eke, MSP. Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Cemetery, Hoisington.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Kans for Kids or Golden Belt Humane Society in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

Dateline – Olmitz 

Alvin E. Lichter, 90, died December 6, 2018, at Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse, Kansas.  He was born December 3, 1928, in Olmitz, Kansas, the son of John A. and Lillian (Mauler) Lichter.  He was a Korean War veteran serving on the front lines with the United States Army as a sergeant, receiving the Bronze Star and Korean War Service Medal.

A lifetime Olmitz area resident, he worked for Thies Company of Great Bend, the Helium Plant, Barton County Highway and MAC Truck.

Alvin was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, Olmitz.  He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post #7428 of Hoisington, and the DAV of Great Bend.  Alvin also coached the Olmitz Little League for 10 years.

On August 31, 1955, he married Marietta A. Ohnmacht at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Olmitz.  She preceded him in death on June 29, 2016.

Survivors include: three children, Terry L. Lichter of Great Bend, Brenda A. Dreiling and husband Jerry of Pfeifer, and Lynn A. Lichter of Topeka; sisters, Rosemary Linn of Albert, and Mary Evelyn Linenberger of Great Bend; sister-in-law, Loretta Southard and husband Joe of Great Bend; and six grandchildren, Andrew Lichter and fiancé Erin of Corpus Christi, TX, Erin Lichter of Lake Charles, LA, Brett Lichter of Topeka, Isaac, Noah, and Wyatt Dreiling of Pfeifer; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter-in-law, Kyle A. Lichter; brothers, Joseph Marvin Lichter and wife Irene, Henry L. Lichter, and John Raymond Lichter and wife Christine; brothers-in-law, Marion Ohnmacht and wife Lillian, Harvey Linn and Sylvester Linenberger.

Friends may call 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Vigil with rosary by the Knights of Columbus will be 7p.m. Sunday at St. Ann Catholic Church, Olmitz. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 10, 2018, celebrated by Father Anselm Eke also at St Ann Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Ann Catholic Cemetery, Olmitz, with military honors conducted by the Ft Riley Honor Guard.

Memorials may be made to St Ann Catholic Church or Olmitz Fire Department in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.