Lola Anna Donecker, 92, passed away October, 25, 2018, at River Bend Assisted Living, Great Bend. She was born February 19, 1926 at Trego County to William and Katie (Strauch) Bauer. She married Lewis H. “Hap” Donecker September 19, 1948 at Dighton, Kansas. He died June 29, 2010.

Coming from Dighton in 1972, Lola was a Great Bend resident. She was a member of First Christian Church. She was a clerk at Gibson’s Discount Center, retiring in 1991, when she obtained her GED. She then worked for a short time at ASI telemarketing. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, playing “noodle balloon ball”, noodle making, and being a part of the River Bend Bible Study Group, a member of the River Bend Bell Choir, and cherishing time with her family.

Survivors include, three daughters, Kathleen Donecker of Hutchinson, Vicki Sheets and husband John of Great Bend and Reneé Dykes and husband Luke of Great Bend; one sister, Evelyn Lawless of Topeka; five grandchildren, Jennifer Keener and husband Jarrod, Rachelle Sheets, Joshua Sheets, Danielle Keenan and husband Pat, Sarah Haberman and husband Jason; and ten great-grandchildren, Kelsie Brown and husband Trent, Kameron Keener, Blake Sheets, Kaleigh Sheets, Addilie Sheets, Waylon Sheets, Olivia Keenan, Caroline Keenan, Kori Haberman and fiancé Troy Ostmeyer, Gavin Haberman and Cohen Haberman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis “Hap” Donecker; one son, Lewis Dean Donecker; three brothers, Walter, John and Benjamin Bauer and, three sisters, Rosie Ferris Lolley, Mabel Flinn and Lillian Bauer.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday, October 29, 2018, with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 30, 2018, at First Christian Church, with Rev. Joshua Leu presiding. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Lane County Cemetery, in Dighton, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church or the River Bend Assisted Living Activity Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

GREAT BEND – Joe A. Tuzicka, 85, passed away October 22, 2018, at Medicalodges of Great Bend. He was born June 21, 1933, at Otis to Joseph F. and Sophia (Matal) Tuzicka. He married Gwendolyn Butcher, September 6, 1954, at Timken. She died July 29, 1971.

Joe has lived in Great Bend since 1966, coming from Satanta. Joe served his country in the US Army during the Korean conflict. He was a welder for Guthrie Trailer and a custodian for USD 428. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. He also was a member of the American Legion in Hoisington.

Survivors include, one son, Rodney Tuzicka and wife Cindy of Minco, Oklahoma; one daughter, Kimberly Baird of Great Bend; two brothers, Lester Tuzicka of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Francis Tuzicka of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one sister, Cecilia Hloracek of Munjor; four grandchildren, Robbie Baird, Corey Baird, Ethan Tuzicka and Caitlyn Tuzicka and two great-grandchildren, Rylee Baird and Kenadee Baird. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gwendolyn Tuzicka, son-in-law, Jimmie B. Baird, five brothers, Wilford, Willard, George, Louis and Father Fred M. Tuzicka, and one sister, Josephine Pozalek.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, October 26, 2018, with Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 27, 2018, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Ted Stoecklein presiding. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m., at Holy Cross Cemetery, Timken, with Military Rites conducted by the United States Army. Memorials are suggested to the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 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 – Dolores Jane Mason, 89, passed away October 21, 2018 at Medicalodges of Great Bend. She was born May 31, 1929, at Ellsworth, to Walter and Lilly (Cohls) Schultz. She married Johnnie Mason, Jr., January 4, 1948, at Ellsworth. He died February 15, 1975.

Coming from Salina in 1968, Dolores was a Great Bend resident. Dolores worked for CKMC in many different departments, eventually retiring as a PBX Operator. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School and was an Argonne Rebels Bugle Corp “Mom”.

Survivors include, two sons, Dan Mason and wife Donna of Ellinwood, and Steve Mason of Wichita; one daughter, Bonnie Jeffers and husband Dan of Osawatomie; four sisters, Gladys Schraeder and husband Kenny of Austin, Texas, Joyce Schultz of Salina, Janice Sneath of Kanopolis and Karen Kohlmeyer and husband Marvin of Sabetha; one sister-in-law, Gayle Schultz of Ellsworth; one brother-in-law, Willard Olson of Burdick; ten grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie Mason, Jr., a brother Lloyd Schultz; a sister, Shirley Olson and brother-in-law Clarence Sneath.

Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Jon Brudvig presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Endowment, 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 – Blake Mckinley Sullivan, 21, passed away October 18, 2018, in Manhattan, KS. He was born in Parsons, KS, on February 7, 1997, to John L., Jr. and Annie M. (Goscha) Sullivan.

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Blake graduated from Great Bend High School in 2015, where he played basketball and golf. A senior, he attended Kansas State University as a full-time student studying management information systems with a minor in statistics. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Fraternity and cherished fellowship with family and friends, touching the lives of many people he knew.

Survivors include, his parents, John Jr. and Annie Sullivan of the home; sister, Erin Sullivan of Lincoln, NE; grandfathers, John L. Sullivan, Sr. of Logan, KS, and Donald Goscha of Norton, KS; aunts and uncles, Mary Sparks of Logan, KS, Allen and Teresa Hudson of Abilene, KS, Pat Goscha of Atwood, KS, Teresa and Alan Flores of St. Joseph, MO, and Craig and Mona Goscha of Lawrence, KS, and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Ellen J. (Rundle) Sullivan, Alice (Peterson) Goscha, and Anne (Losey) Sullivan; and an uncle, Thomas Mckinley Sullivan.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Vigil Service at 7 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 24, 2018, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Ted Stoecklein presiding. Graveside Interment will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 25, 2018, in Pleasant View Cemetery in Logan, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to Blake Mckinley Sullivan Memorial 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 – John W. Jaco Sr.

On October 14, 2018 John W. Jaco Sr. passed peacefully at his home in Great Bend, Kansas, surrounded by friends and family after a short illness.

The son of Harry M. Jaco and Inez (Brown) Jaco, John was born March 27, 1929 at Nowata, Oklahoma.  He married Dorothy Ruth Miller, March 9, 1952 at Plainville, Kansas. She preceded him in death May 6, 2006.  He later married Carrol (Brumbaugh) Burkholder, August 18, 2007 in Great Bend, Kansas. He is survived by wife, Carrol of the home; son, John W. Jaco Jr. also of Great Bend.  Other survivors include one brother, Gene C. Jaco and wife, Phyllis of Plainville, Kansas; one nephew, Michael G. Jaco and wife, Bonnie of Springfield, Colorado, and two nieces, Jana J. Kuhn and husband Raymond of Overland Park, Kansas and Jill J. Brin and husband Mark of Godley, Texas.

John was a veteran of the United States Air Force and was posted at various locations around the United States including Washington D.C.  John served the Air Force as a cryptographer during his tenure in the Korean Conflict.  He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After moving to Great Bend in 1961 John began a career in the real estate and insurance industry. In 1967 John partnered with Luther Moore and formed the Moore-Jaco Agency.  In 1976 he became president of John Jaco Insurance, Real Estate and Financial Services.  In 1980 his son JW Jaco joined the agency and continues the legacy of his father. This agency grew to be one of the largest in the Great Bend area.

John was a very active community member he participated in many local organizations.  John was instrumental in starting many organizations in Barton County such as Hospice and Crime Stoppers.  John was president of the Barton County Association of Independent Insurance Agents, chairman of the Cancer Fund drive, president of the Great Bend Board of Realtors, Realtor of the year 1989, director of Barton County Crime Stoppers, chairman Great Bend 3i Show, chairman of the Pari-mutuel Task Force, served on the Real Estate Advisory Committee for Barton County Community College, president of the Independent Insurance Agents Barton County, 1992 president Great Bend Board of Realtors. John’s emergency and protective services included chairman of Barton County Civil Defense in the 1960s and 70s as well as reserve officers for both Barton County Sheriff’s Office and the Great Bend Police Department.  Until his time of passing, John was an elder in the First Christian Church of Great Bend, Kansas.

Services for John W. Jaco Sr. will be held Saturday, October 20, 2018 at the First Christian Church at K96 and Broadway in Great Bend at 10:30 A.M. Visitation will be Friday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Kansas Honor Flights or the Water #4 Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Interment will take place at the Great Bend Cemetery on Broadway with Military Honors by McConnell AFB Honor Guard.

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 – Judy M. Manning, 66, passed away October 12, 2018, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS. She was born January 23, 1952 in Ellinwood, to Louis and Elizabeth (Copenhaver) Pivonka. She married Michael Manning on April 5, 1975, in Ellinwood. He survives.

Coming from Ellinwood in 1975, Judy was the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Great Bend for 22 years. She was a member of the Prince of Peace Parrish at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, where she was a member of the Altar Society and previously served as a Eucharistic Minister. She held memberships in P.E.O, Chapter IV, the Book Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and F.C.A. She loved quilting, crafting, flower gardening, collecting dishes and especially enjoyed time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include, husband, Mike Manning of the home; two daughters, Lexie Ainley and husband Scott of Shawnee and Kinzie Behrends and husband Brett of Great Bend; one brother, Louie Pivonka and wife Joni of Ellinwood; one sister, Lois Maickel of Lafayette, Indiana, and six grandchildren, Aiden Ainley, Austin Ainley, Ashlyn Ainley, Collyns Ainley, Breckin Behrends and Laykin Behrends. She was preceded in death by a sister, Joan Berens and four brothers-in-laws, Joe Berens, Roger Maickel, John Manning and Bill Murray.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 16, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home, with an Altar Society Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Ted Stoecklein presiding. Interment will be in Great Bend Cemetery North. Memorials are suggested to the Holy Family School or the Cancer Fund at Golden Belt Community Foundation, 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