GREAT BEND — Robert N. “Bob” Henning, 86, died Sept. 5, 2017, at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. He was born Dec. 5, 1930, at Willowdale, the son of Anthony “Pop” and Emma (Mertens) Henning. He married Elvira “Vera” Elsen Jan. 21, 1956, at St. Patrick Catholic Church Chapel, Great Bend.  A Great Bend area resident for 60 years, Mr. Henning worked for Marlette Homes and retired from Fuller Brush. He was a lifelong farmer and stockman, raising pigs and cattle. He was a United States Navy veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Henning 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, and Knights of Columbus Council #2662, Willowdale. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, camping, gambling and spending time with grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Elvira “Vera” Henning, of the home; three sons, Daryl Henning and his wife Kelly of Great Bend, Dale Henning and his wife Joan of Great Bend, and Dean Henning and his wife Kristi of Great Bend; five daughters, Kala Gwin and her fiancé Dale Klug of Great Bend, Karen Parsons and her husband Rick of Goddard, Kathi Hoffman and her fiancé Jeff Barnes of Great Bend, Kelly Hoffman and her husband Tracey of Claflin, and Kristi Lytle and her husband Evan of Great Bend; three brothers, Julius Henning of Ransom, Leonard Henning and his wife Rosie of Spivey, and Eugene Henning of Zenda; two sisters, Joan Schwartz of Chase, and Florence “Dee Dee” Elsen and her husband Jerome of Great Bend; 20 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. He was preceded in death by one infant son, Kevin Henning; one brother, Anthony Henning, Jr.; one son-in-law, Curtis Hoffman; two grandsons, Joshua Gaunt and Christian Parsons; one great-grandson, Memphis Gwin; and one grandson-in-law, Kebby Myers.

Vigil Service with Knights of Columbus Rosary will be at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 at Bryant Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, with Father Ted Stoecklein celebrating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery with military rites by the United States Navy Honor Guard. Friends may call from 2-9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials have been established with Holy Family School, 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: Claflin, Kansas

Name of Deceased: Alfred John Hammeke                                    Age: 86

Date of Death: September 1, 2017

Place of Death: Ellinwood District Hospital, Ellinwood, Kansas

Date of Birth: March 21, 1931 at Claflin, Kansas

Parents Name: Joseph and Mary (Heinz) Hammeke

OBITUARY INFORMATION

Alfred married Linda Sue Simpson April 23, 1957 at Kansas City, MO.  A lifetime Claflin resident, Alfred was a long time Barton County farmer. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, obtaining the rank of CPL, from April 1953 to May, 1955. He belonged to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin, Ellinwood St. Joseph Council 1187 Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion, Hoisington, KS.  Alfred enjoyed hunting, fishing, pitch, and was a self-appointed “Lord of the Bottoms”.  He also served as a volunteer for the Claflin police department and a bouncer at Kimbo’s.

SURVIVORS

Wife: Linda Sue Hammeke, of the home

Seven daughters: Kathy Hines and husband Daniel of Ellinwood, KS

Anne Basgall and husband Alan of Hays, KS

Margaret Frisbie and husband Richard of Claflin, KS

Patty Sager and husband Geoff of Brighton, CO

Loreen Leyshock and husband Brad of Littleton, CO

Coreen Skaggs and husband Troy of Chapin, SC

Molly Stout and husband Richard of Littleton, CO

17 Grandchildren

12 Great Grandchildren

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Norman Hammeke, Rev. Gerald Hammeke, and Dennis Hammeke; and one sister, Geraldine Buehler.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 am, Tuesday, September 5, 2017, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin

Vigil and Rosary Service: 7:00 pm, Monday, September 4, 2017, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin

Officiant: Father Terrence Klein

Interment: Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Ellinwood, KS, with Military Rites Conducted by Ft. Riley Honor Guard

Visitation:    5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, September 4, 2017 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Claflin

Memorial Fund: Sts. Peter and Paul Historical Fund, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home

 

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

 

GREAT BEND — Michael Edward Zeretzke, 33, died Aug. 27, 2017, at his home in Great Bend. He was born April 27, 1984, at Great Bend, the son of Brian Ewen and Dianna (Swanson) Zeretzke. He was a 2002 graduate of Great Bend High School. He married Kristia Renee Lohmann July 2, 2010, at Great Bend. A lifetime Great Bend resident, he was a foreman for Amerine Utilities for 10 years.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, riding at the river with his friends and spending time with his beloved dog, Abby.

Survivors include his wife, Kristia Zeretzke, of the home; his mother, Dianna Stoss and her husband Harlan of Olmitz; one brother, Aaron R. Zeretzke of Asheville, N.C.; mother-in-law, Marlene “Marty” Lohmann of Great Bend; father-in-law, Larry Lohmann of Lincoln; one brother-in-law, Jonathan Lohmann and his wife Courtney of Overland Park; two nephews, Caden Lohmann and Jaxson Lohmann; one niece, Braylee Zeretzke; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, his maternal grandparents, Robert and Jean Swanson, and paternal grandparents, Edwin C. and Frances K. Zeretzke.

Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Larry Schumacher officiating. The family requests casual attire for the service. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials have been established with Great Bend Zoological Society or Ducks Unlimited, 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

Marcia Ann Allen Kimbley passed away in her sleep at Leisure Homestead in Stafford, KS on Aug. 27, 2017. Marcia was the second of three children born to Robert W. “Bud” and Betty (Clement) Allen. She was a graduate of Great Bend High School and Sterling College. Marcia has worked caring for people in nursing homes, a special needs preschool and within the Kansas prison system.

Marcia loved the arts. She wrote poetry, created works of art, for a short period worked in an art gallery, and enjoyed singing for God both in church and in the community.

Marcia is survived by her mother, Betty Allen who now resides in Mooresville, N.C., her sister and brother-in-law, David and Denise Simon who live in Mooresville, N.C., and her brother Robert Allen and companion Linnea DuLac who live in Denver, Colo. She has two nieces, Chelsea Simon of Cincinnati, Ohio and Sarah Simon of New Orleans, La. She is preceded in death by her husband, Terry Kimbley; and her father Robert W. Bud Allen.

A graveside service will be held at the Great Bend Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29.  In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to First Southern Baptist 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 — Evelene Marie Knox, 86, died Aug. 27, 2017, at Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend. She was born Jan. 2, 1931, at the family home in Pawnee County, the daughter of Edward C. and Marie R. (Krmela) Horyna. She attended Great Bend public schools. She married Ramon Leroy Knox Aug. 2, 1953, at Great Bend.  He died March 6, 2006. A lifetime area resident, Mrs. Knox was a homemaker and cook in Great Bend and Albert.

She was a member of St. Mark Lutheran Church, Eagle’s Auxiliary #646, and was past president and was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary #3111, all of Great Bend. She enjoyed being with family and friends and also volunteering.

Survivors include two sons, Brian L. Knox of Guam, and Wesley A. Knox of Great Bend; two brothers, Kenneth E. Horyna of Holyrood, and Edwin L. Horyna of Lyons; five sisters, Rose Casper of Irving, Texas, Carol Huffman of Great Bend, Betty Hafenstine of La Crosse, Connie Allen of McPherson, and Lois Cox of South Hutchinson; two grandchildren, Nathaniel Knox and his wife Jennifer of Alamagordo, N.M., and Kelvin Knox and his wife Elizabeth of Norwich, Conn.; and four great-grandchildren, Austin, Lucas, Evelyn and Rebecca. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence E. Horyna and Donald L. Horyna, and one sister, Sylvia Horyna.

Services will be held at a later date and will be announced by 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 — Jerri Len Horner, 59, died Aug. 25, 2017, at Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita. She was born May 30, 1958, at Great Bend, the daughter of Richard Gene and Nadine (Krom) Thoren. She married Jerry Horner June 24, 1977, at Great Bend. A Great Bend resident most of her life, Mrs. Horner was a registered nurse at Larned State Hospital until her retirement.

Mrs. Horner was a member of First United Methodist Church, Hoisington.

Survivors include her husband, Jerry Horner of the home; her mother, Nadine Liston of Great Bend; two sons, Justin Horner and his wife Kerstie of Albert, and Dustin Horner and his wife Candice of Great Bend; two brothers, Terry Thoren of Great Bend, and Charles Thoren of Tustin, Calif.; three sisters, Sharie Martin and her husband Mark of Colwich, Keri Burger of Great Bend, and Diana Thoren of Waiani, Hawaii; eight grandchildren; Brendan Horner, Brandon Watkins, Angel Watkins, Deaglan Horner, Bradly Horner, Paxton Redetzke, Jacob Horner and Brooklen Horner; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, and one brother, Richard “Little Richard” Thoren, Jr.

Memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home with Ron Bailey officiating. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials have been established with the Horner Grandchildren’s Education 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

Edwin R “Ed” Johnson died on Aug. 22, 2017, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.  He was born July 4, 1944, in Hugoton.  He was the son of Edwin Reed and Louise C. Johnson.  Following graduation from Hugoton High School, Ed earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education at Fort Hays State University.  During his undergraduate years he was a member of the men’s gymnastics team and was the high scoring team member his senior year.  He then taught in the Physical Education Department at Northwestern State College in Alva, Okla., from 1967-1969, and also served as the men’s gymnastics coach at that institution.

In 1968, Ed married Renée Haase of Plainville.  In 1969 the couple moved back to Hays where Ed earned his Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Education from Fort Hays State University.  Following graduation he accepted a position to teach biology and physical education at Great Bend High School.  He held this position until his retirement.  While teaching at the high school, Ed started the boys and girls gymnastics program.

Ed enjoyed many different sports and played on several local softball teams in Great Bend.  He liked both hunting and fishing, especially coon hunting.  One of his female Coonhounds was a Grand Show Champion and won 51 times in bench show competitions.  Ed and Renée enjoyed attending sporting events and traveling.

Ed is survived by his wife, Renée, three sisters-in-law, Delia Johnson, Lakeview, Ore., Suzanne Hachmeister and husband Marv, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Colette Langley and husband Doug, Mesa, Ariz.  He is also survived by two nephews, Shane Johnson of Boise, Idaho, and Ash Hachmeister of Phoenix Ariz., as well as one niece, Dena Down of Folson, Calif.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Raymon Johnson of Lakeview, Ore.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home with Father Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, at Bryant Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Holy Family School Foundation or to the Fort Hays State University Foundation, in care of the funeral home.