Dateline: Great Bend, Kansas 

Mildred E. Meitner, 105, just 14 days before her 106th birthday passed away September 16, 2017 at River Bend Assisted Living. She was born in Friend Nebraska September 30, 1911 the daughter of Louis G. and Christine (Steffensen) Andersen.

Graduating from Lincoln General School of Nursing in 1938, she worked 40 years as a nurse in Nebraska, Los Angeles, California and CKMC of Great Bend. While working in California she met and married Eugene F. Meitner January 25, 1942 in Yuma, Arizona. She moved with her husband to Kansas in 1950 to farm in rural Olmitz. He preceded her in death June 25, 1993.

Survivors include her son, Gary Meitner and his wife Penny of Great Bend, grandchildren, Troy Meitner (April) and Wes Meitner (Angela) of Great Bend, Paula Fritschen (Steve), Christina Andrews (Kerry) both of Dorrance, Kansas; thirteen great grandchildren and six great great- grandchildren. She was preceded by an infant daughter Kathleen in 1945 and sister Gertrude Bjerre in 1968.

Visitation will be 9:00 am until 9:00 pm Tuesday, September 19, 2017 with an Altar Society rosary at 4:00 pm and an vigil at 7:00 pm, all at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 am Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at St Patrick Church with Father Ted Stoecklein officiating. Interment will be at St Ann Cemetery, Olmitz, KS.

Memorials have been established with the Barton Community College Nursing Program or The Golden Belt Humane Society, or Great Bend Community Theatre, 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: Ellinwood, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Timothy Wayne Collier                                  Age: 68

Date of Death: September 15, 2017

Place of Death: University Of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

Date of Birth: July 28, 1949 at Great Bend, Kansas

Mother’s Name:   Maryleen (Meier) Collier

 

OBITUARY INFORMATION

A lifelong Barton County resident, Tim was a farmer, an engineer for Fuller Brush Industries, owner and operator of Chet Brown Logging Co., and an appraiser for Stafford County.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air Force Reserves, serving in Korea during the Vietnam War.  He was an avid horseman and talented artist.

 

SURVIVORS

Wife: Cynthia Collier, of the home

Mother: Maryleen Brown, Great Bend, KS

One daughter: Whitney Collier of Atchison, KS

Two sisters: Karen Morton of Great Bend, KS

Cheslea Hodges and husband Jerry of Indianapolis, IN

Step Son: Bobby Smith of Lawrence, KS

Two Step daughters: Jessica Smith of Wichita, KS

Adrienne Clem and husband Jeremy of Seattle, WA

Three Grandchildren:  Tahj Helms, Taye Helms, and Saija Bailey

Six Step Grandchildren:  Madeline Mason, Alexandria Heck, Vivienne Clem, Mary Jane Clem, Rhett Ernest, and Nicolet Ernest

Brother-in-law:  Joel Folds of Wichita, KS

 

He was preceded in death by step father, Chester Brown; and two brothers-in-law, Jim Morton and Paul Folds.

 

SERVICE INFORMATION

Funeral Service: Monday, September 18, 2017

Time of Service: 10:00 am

Place of Service: Bryant Funeral Home

Officiant: Rev. Dick Ogle

Visitation:    1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 17, 2017 at Bryant Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Memorial Fund: In lieu of flowers American Cancer Society, 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 — Joe J. Rocha, 88, died Sept. 11, 2017, at his home in Great Bend. He was born June 16, 1929, at Ellinwood, the son of Antonio and Margaret (Sanchez) Rocha. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mr. Rocha was a retired maintenance supervisor for U.S.D. 428. Mr. Rocha was a United States Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Rocha was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and American Legion Argonne Post 180, both of Great Bend.

Survivors two brothers, Tony Rocha of Great Bend, and Rufus Rocha of Great Bend; three sisters, Mary Ellen Shaw of Milwaukee, Wis., Rosemary Delgado of Hutchinson, and Patricia Rincon of Kinsley. He was preceded in death by five brothers, Leo Rocha, Vernon Rocha, Jessie Rocha, Frank Rocha and Peter Rocha, and one sister, Rita Rocha.

Vigil Service will be at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sept 14, 2017 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery, with military rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with Holy Family School Endowment or 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 — Betty J. Unruh, 91, died Sept. 9, 2017, at River Bend Assisted Living, Great Bend. She was born June 1, 1926, at Lyons, the daughter of Lawrence and Naomi Ruth (Ashcraft) Evans. She was a Great Bend High School graduate. She married Ray Brittain in 1941. She later married Elgie Larey Unruh July 18, 1987, at Great Bend.  He died July 25, 2011. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mrs. Unruh worked for Reiger’s Pharmacy, JCPenney, Fuller Brush and K-Mart, all of Great Bend.

Mrs. Unruh was a member of First Assembly of God where she was a Sunday School teacher and Bible study teacher.

Survivors include one son, Ron Brittain and his wife Sharon of Edmond, Okla.; one step-son, Leon Unruh of Fairbanks, Alaska; one step-daughter, Cheryl Leiker and her husband David of Emporia; two sisters, Rose Davis and her husband Gerald of Lyons, and Phyllis Fairchild and her husband Bob of Rangely, Colo.; four grandchildren, Sheri Downs, Gina Hall and her husband Randy and Roger Brittain and his wife Becky, all of Edmond, Okla.; and Jeremy Brittain and his wife Casey of Cashon, Okla.; two step-grandsons, Sam Unruh and Nik Unruh, both of Fairbanks, Alaska; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by sister, Lois Shaffer, and an infant son, Bobbie Brittain.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Assembly of God in Great Bend, with Pastor Dwight Dozier officiating. Burial will be in Pawnee Rock Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with First Assembly of God, 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 — Sue Parmer, 78, died Sept. 9, 2017, at Country Place Senior Living, Ellinwood. She was born May 7, 1939, at Scott City, the daughter of Alva Martin and Maude (Briggs Hines) Hopper. She married Charles Parmer April 23, 1959, at Scott City. Mrs. Parmer was a registered nurse for USD 489, Hays. She was a Great Bend resident since 1997 coming from Hays.

Mrs. Parmer was a member of First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Silver Cougar Club and was a former RSVP volunteer, all of Great Bend.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Parmer, of the home; one son, Sheldon Parmer and his wife Tammy of Spring, Texas; one daughter, Sonya Rein and her husband J.D. of Great Bend; one sister, Joyce Ramsey of Scott City; three grandchildren, Ali Doyle and her husband Michael of Great Bend, Thomas Rein and his wife Melissa of Great Bend, and Sagan Johnson and her husband Matt of Austin, Texas; and one great-grandchild, Myla Rein. She was preceded in death by one brother, Morse Hopper; and one sister, Evelyn Hutchins.

Memorial service will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Lenard Maxwell officiating. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials have been established with First United Methodist Church Mission 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: Great Bend, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Morris E. “Mo” Vsetecka                               Age: 64

Date of Death: September 8, 2017

Place of Death: Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas

Date of Birth: November 11, 1952, in Great Bend, KS

Parents Name: William Havel and Dolores (Suchy) Vsetecka

OBITUARY INFORMATION

A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mo worked for Great Bend Manufacturing from 1972-1999, then worked for Chism Trash Service from 2000 until his retirement in 2015.

SURVIVORS

One son: Trevor Vsetecka of Hutchinson, KS

One daughter: Emily Vsetecka of Garden City, KS

One brother: Craig Vsetecka of Great Bend, KS

Two sisters: Colleen Sharp of Ellinwood, KS

Pamela Vsetecka of Sedgwick, KS

Two grandchildren:  Trenten Vsetecka and Eli Vsetecka

SERVICE INFORMATION

Memorial Service: Friday, September 15, 2017

Time of Service: 2:00 pm

Place of Service: Bryant Funeral Home

Officiant: Pastor Larry Schumacher

No visitation, as cremation has taken place          

Memorial Fund: 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