Sister Petrona Stockemer, 98, died Sunday, June 25, 2017, in the Dominican Sisters’ convent infirmary, Great Bend. Born Sept. 22, 1918, in Cunningham, as Dolores Katherine Stockemer, Sister Petrona was the daughter of the late Peter and Katherine (Fischer) Stockemer. She entered the Dominican Sisters’ Community Aug. 21, 1933, and pronounced her first vows Aug. 10, 1936. She celebrated eighty years of religious profession in 2016.
Sister Petrona gave her entire early ministerial life to elementary teaching in the dioceses of Wichita and Dodge City, and in Lincoln, Nebraska. After her librarian certification she was the librarian at Trinity High School in Hutchinson, altogether nearly 60 years in education. During that time she received awards for her excellence in teaching, one as outstanding Secondary Educator of America and one for recognition of her 35 years of service as a teacher in the Wichita Diocese. She retired to the motherhouse in 2006.
Sister Petrona is survived by her Dominican Sisters of Peace Community and her cousins. Her blood sister, Sister Malachy Stockemer, preceded her in death.
Sister Petrona’s body will be brought to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, at 4 p.m., Monday, June 26, 2017, where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 28, 2017, with Rev. Don Bedore presiding. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 27, 2017, at the convent. Burial will be in the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call at the convent Tuesday, June 27, 2017, from 9 a.m. until the time of the wake service.
Memorials in honor of Sister Petrona may be sent to: Dominican Sisters of Peace, 2320 Airport Dr, Columbus OH 43219-2098 or sent securely to OPPeace.org.
Bryant Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
GREAT BEND — Jayne Kay Wapelhorst, 60, died June 21, 2017, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. She was born Sept. 18, 1956, at Hutchinson, the daughter of Arthur Wilson and Frankie Lea (Watkins) Keffer. She was a 1975 graduate of Great Bend High School. She was married to Frank Wapelhorst from 1985 to 2000. She was a CNA for Dominican Sisters of Peace and had worked for Fresenius Kidney Care in Great Bend for 21 years. Ms. Wapelhorst was a lifetime Great Bend resident.
GREAT BEND — Natha Gay Julian, 80, died June 14, 2017, at Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend. She was born March 2, 1937, at Great Bend, the daughter of Clarence Thomas and Lillie Anna (Meyer) White. She married Manford Wayne “Sonny” Julian July 6, 1954, at Tucumcari, N.M. He died Jan. 4, 2007. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Mrs. Julian was a homemaker.
JOHN L. WELCHER 
GREAT BEND — Alice Marie Dundas, 87, died June 6, 2017, at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, Great Bend. She was born Aug. 23, 1929, at Moundridge, the daughter of Edwin A. and Frances (Graber) Wedel. She married Gerald Duane “Jerry” Dundas Oct. 10, 1954, at Moundridge. He died July 9, 2009. A Great Bend resident since 1959, coming from McPherson, Mrs. Dundas was an elementary art teacher for Unified School District 428 for 30 years.
GREAT BEND — Coleen A. Murphy, 78, died May 23, 2017, at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. She was born Oct. 20, 1938, at Great Bend, the daughter of Ralph and Selenah (Clements) Murphy. A lifetime Great Bend resident, Miss Murphy was employed by Barton County from 1958 until her retirement as County Clerk in 1995. She was a 1956 graduate of Great Bend High School.
Dateline: Olmitz, Kansas
OKLAHOMA CITY — Carolyn Rose (Hooper) Roberts, 77, died Aug. 12, 2015, at her home in Oklahoma City. She was born Sept. 25, 1937, near Seward, the daughter of Arthur Jacob and Goldie (Gates) Hooper. She was a 1955 graduate of Great Bend High School where she was a member of the Scholastic Group. She became a member of Bethel No. 30, International Order of Job’s Daughters in 1953 in Great Bend. She attended Colorado Women’s college in Denver, Colo., and was a clothing fashion consultant.