GREAT BEND — Leila June Marshall, 93, died Dec. 23, 2017, at Great Bend Regional Hospital. She was born June 11, 1924, in Covert, Osborne County, the daughter of John P. and Pearl L. (Mason) Dupree. She married Kenneth Marshall Nov. 1, 1942, at Smith Center.  He died Jan. 23, 2000. Mrs. Marshall was a Great Bend resident since 1989, coming from Hays.

Mrs. Marshall was a member of First Church of the Nazarene. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and working with the public.

Survivors include one daughter: Kimberly Marshall Mitchell of Great Bend; two granddaughters, Ashley Stanley and her husband Thomas, and Chelsea Mitchell; and three great-grandchildren Charlotte Stanley, Peter Stanley and Claire Stanley. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth Dupree and Dwight Dupree; and three sisters, Gladys White, Bonnie Wright and Roe Springer.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend with Pastor Josh Foster officiating. Private family inurnment will be in Great Bend Cemetery. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials have been requested to First Church of the Nazarene, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

GREAT BEND – Alfred D. Kroeker, 100, died Dec. 18, 2017, at Cherry Village in Great Bend. He was born Nov. 6, 1917, at Newton, the son of Frank and Matilda (Deckert) Kroeker. He married Eldeen Moore Sept. 14, 1941, at Pawnee Rock. She died Aug. 29, 2008.

After Al and Deenie had been married for six months, Al was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent the next three years serving with the 1st Armored Division. After six months in North Africa, he participated in the night landing at the Anzio Beachhead in Italy and spent the rest of World War II slogging through the Italian mountains with the Division.

When he returned, Al and Deenie moved to Great Bend where he first worked for Foley Tractor Co. and then at Bell Engine Co. as parts manager. Upon returning from Europe, Al joined the Great Bend American Legion Argonne Post 180 where he was a member for over 71 years. He was also a member of the VFW and the 1st Armored Division Association.  He served in several capacities in the Legion and presided as Post Commander from 1972-74. In 2004, Al and daughter Sally travelled to Anzio, Italy, for the 60th anniversary of the Anzio Beachhead landing with the Anzio Beachhead Association. There he personally met President George W. Bush and General Colin Powell. A year later, Al travelled with son Bob to Washington, D.C., where they visited the World War II Memorial.

Al was a member of the New Jerusalem Church in Pawnee Rock, and the Congregational, now the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Bend. He had a beautiful tenor voice and when Bob and Sally were little he sang a solo version of “O Holy Night” at Christmas Eve services. While at the UCC, Al was an enthusiastic and sometimes mischievous member of the choir.

On Nov. 6, 2017, Al turned 100 years old.  He was able to enjoy and celebrate his birthday with many friends and members of the family at Cherry Village.  Al made friends wherever he went. He had a smile for everyone. He adored his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Al was an eloquent and prolific writer and often wrote to his grandchildren, describing life on the farm where he grew up in the 20’s. For a number of years he composed a Christmas letter which was read to the family at its Christmas Day dinner.

Raised on the farm during the depression, Al learned self-reliance and resilience. He could fix or make anything. He developed an affinity for horses and could rig multiple-horse drawn wagons and equipment. He often rode his horse to school. Al always had a project in mind or in the works. Late in life he turned from woodworking to painting. Many friends and family members now own Al’s paintings and some adorned the walls of Brookdale.  He was a “grandpa” and a sometime life coach to many members of the staff at Brookdale and Cherry Village. Al was an old warrior, a family man, a philosopher and humorist, a true gentleman and a sweet man. He was loved by and an inspiration to all and the world was a better place with him in it.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Michael Munz officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to service time Thursday at the funeral home. Private family inurnment will be in Pawnee Rock Cemetery. Memorials are requested to First Congregational United Church of Christ or Parkinson’s Foundation, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

GREAT BEND — Virginia “Sue” Stroud, 74, died Dec. 24, 2017, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. She was born July 16, 1943, at Oakley, the daughter of Victor and Irene (Herrman) Schmitt. She was united in marriage to Lloyd Stroud June 11, 1962, at Ellinwood. He died Nov. 18, 2016. a long time Great Bend resident, she worked for USA Gymnastics & Supplies for over forty years. She loved to sew, garden and take photos.

Mrs. Stroud was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Altar Society.

Survivors include son, Eugene “Huie” Stroud and wife Darla of Great Bend; daughter, Debby Stroud of Great Bend; sisters, Shirley Harris and Betty Bender, both of Great Bend; brother, Nick Schmitt and wife Rose of Great Bend; grandchildren, Jamie Stroud and fiancé Scott Johnson, Jessika Stroud and Kyle Stroud; and great-grandson, Hunter Lloyd Johnson. She was preceded in death by daughter, Diana Stroud.

Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m., and Vigil Service will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend with Father Don Bedore celebrating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday Dec. 28, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established to help with the funeral expense, 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

GREAT BEND—Robert H. Maier died December 22, 2017, at Almost Home, Inc., Great Bend.  He was born May 5, 1929, at rural Ellis County, the son of Wilhelm and Freda (Adolph) Maier.  He married Shirley Popp June 1, 1958.  Living in the Otis, Galatia, and Great Bend area, he farmed and was employed by Lindholm Construction Company, Mike Niedens Construction and Hubert Bender Home Builder.  Robert was a United States Army veteran.

Robert was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, American Legion Argonne Post 180, and life member of V.F.W. Post 3111, all of Great Bend.

Survivors include his wife Shirley, sister, Sharon Dodson, several nieces, one nephew, and several great and great great nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, Billie Lee Maier, sister, Ruth Ochs , and two nephews.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 26, at Bryant Funeral Home, with The Reverend Adam D. Wutka officiating.  Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery North, with Military Rites conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard.  Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with family present, Monday December 25, at Bryant Funeral Home.  Memorials are requested to St. Mark Lutheran Church or Almost Home, Inc., 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 — Randy L. Parsons passed away peacefully on Dec. 15, 2017, at the age of 62, in Great Bend. Randy was born in 1955 in Cozad, Neb. He later married Theresa Montoya, and became a father of two children in Great Bend. Following his entrepreneurial spirit, the family relocated to Branson, Mo., where Randy started his own company, and the family enjoyed many wonderful years on Table Rock Lake. Later returning to Kansas, Randy spent his remaining years as a truck driver, realtor, and forever an entrepreneur.

He enjoyed his days playing golf, riding motorcycles, and strumming the guitar. He will be remembered as a tenacious man, who believed in hard work, having fun, and reaching the finish line first.

He is survived by his brothers Rick, Doug, and Mark Parsons; his children Tom Parsons and his wife Larami and Amanda Ray and her husband Luke; and his grandchildren Audrie, Lexus, and Blaike. Randy was preceded in death by his parents, Duayne Parsons and Deloris Gilbert, and his sister Lori Anne Parsons.

A celebration of Randy’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 18, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home with Tom Montoya officiating. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m., with the family present from 6-7:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 16, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Cremation will take place following the service. Memorials are requested to the Randy Parsons funeral expense fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

GALATIA — Emil S. Dietz, 89, died Dec. 12, 2017, at Almost Home, Inc., Great Bend. He was born Aug. 8, 1928, in Barton County, the son of Solomon and Wilhelmine “Minnie” (Dietz) Dietz. He married Theresa Lavona Popp Nov. 29, 1949, at Milberger. A lifetime Galatia resident, Mr. Dietz was a farmer and mechanic, owning and operating Dietz Repair and Service. Mr. Dietz was a United States Army veteran.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Galatia

Survivors include his wife, Theresa Dietz, of Great Bend; one son, Ron Dietz and his wife Debbie of Dallas, Texas; four daughters, Donna Wilhelm and her husband Steve of Galatia, Jane Steinert and her husband Dennis of Galatia, Laura Bryant and companion Daniel Wedermyer of Rio Rancho, N.M., and Nancy Thiel and her husband Mark of Olathe; one brother, Walter Dietz and his wife Margaret of Wichita; five grandchildren, Justin Steinert, Kristi Engle and her husband Cody, Todd Bryant and his wife Cassie, Emilie Dietz and Mena Thiel; and four great-grandchildren, Claire Engle, Gwen Engle, Kelsey Bryant and Kyler Bryant. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Dietz and Martin Dietz; two sisters, Ruth Bortz and Dorothy Johnson; and one granddaughter, Andrea Bryant.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Galatia, with the Rev. Adam D. Wutka officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Galatia, with military rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m., with the family present from 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Fairview Cemetery, 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