PEABODY-Stucky, Joseph P. 81, died at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2015. Joe was born November 27, 1933, in Moundridge, Kansas, to Peter T. and Ida J.C. (Gehring) Stucky. During his childhood, his family moved to a farm near Burns, Kansas. He graduated from Burns High School in 1952, where he thoroughly enjoyed playing on the state basketball team. Following high school graduation, Joe continued to help on the family farm for several years. Eventually, he lived in Ypsilanti, Michigan, during his two-year term in 1-W service. While there, he met and fell in love with a “young, uprooted Tennessee girl”, Faye Nichols, and they were married on May 18, 1956. She survives of the home. Joe returned to the Newton/Burns area where everyone soon realized that “you can’t take the farmer out of the boy.” Joe and his brother John farmed together for two years and continued to help on the family farm. He was also employed by Guerdon Trialer Factory, Mid Kansas Co-op Associaton of North Newton, Kansas Crop of Whitewater, and Mears Fertilizer, Inc. of El Dorado. He retired from Ag-Service of Brainerd in 1995. After the family moved to the Peabody area in 1964, Joe’s hobby of raising and caring for horses had begun. He and his sons shared many hours together riding and participating in various saddle clubs in the area. He was committed to attending all of the boys’ school sporting events. He even enjoyed “kicking up his boots” in the square dance group he and Faye belonged to. Sharing and fishing with friends who would gather at a little house on the Cottonwood river near Cedar Point provided priceless memories. Joe was a longtime member of the First Mennonite Church of Burns, now known as Burns Countryside Church. In recent years, he attended the First Christian Church of Peabody. In addition to his wife, Faye, Joe is survived by his two sons, Brian Stucky of Peabody, and Dennis (La Dawn) Stucky of North Platte, NE; six grandchildren, Dani and Chris Carr of Peabody, Dusty and Jessica of Maricopa, AZ, Tanner and Chelsey of Council Grove, Dillon of Council Grove, Karli of Wichita, and Chloe of North Platte, NE; three great-grandchildren, Logan, Wyatt, and Alaycea of Peabody and Paisley of Maricopa, AZ; two brothers, Daniel (Alice) Stucky of El Dorado and Silas (Edna) Stucky of Elbing; one brother-in-law, Wayne Ott of Newton; and one sister-in-law, Ruby Stucky of Newton. Joe was preceded in death by a daughter, Sheryl Ann Stucky; a son, Michael Stucky; parents; seven brothers, Samuel, Jonathan, David, Paul, Philip and John; and one sister, Esther Ott. The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 17, at Burns Countryside Church of Burns with the Revs. Arlen Buesnitz and Jim Pohlman (First Christian Church, Peabody). Burial will follow in the Burns Countryside Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, October 16, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater. Memorials are suggested to the Burns Countryside Church of Burns. These may be left at or mailed to the Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S. Main St., Whitewater, KS 67154.

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Carrie R. Liby
(September 27, 1971 – October 14, 2015)

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday at the Glasco VFW Hall with burial following in the Glasco Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Funeral Expense Fund. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Sunday at the Dean Funeral Home, Glasco.

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Melvin “Dennis” D. Brummer
(March 30, 1942 – October 15, 2015)

Funeral services will be at 10 AM Thursday, October 22 at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City. A parish vigil service will be held at 7 PM Wednesday at the Church. Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 PM until the vigil service begins. The casket will remain closed. Memorials may be given to the Cawker City Senior Center or Solomon Valley Hospice.

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HAROLD J. KEELER, Jr., 89, died October 15, 2015 at Medicalodge in Clay Center, KS. He was born on October 15, 1926 in Wichita, KS, the son of Harold, Sr. and Helen (East) Keeler. Harold was raised in Burton, KS before moving to Clay Center. He graduated form CCCHS in 1944. Harold served in the US Navy during WWII. He worked for Northern Natural Gas Co. for 36 years. On January 14, 1955, Harold married Dorothy Mae Knox. She preceded him in death on May 30, 2011. He was a member of the Clifton American Legion. He was also preceded in death by parents and step-daughter, Karen Gerrelts.

Survivors:

Step-son: Lyle and wife Brenda Kahrs, Mesa, AZ

Step-Daughter: Deanna and husband Dean Buttermore, Oakdale, MN

Daughter: Barbara Ann and husband Randy Weatherly, Bartlesville, OK

10 Grandchildren, 10 Great-Grandchildren and 5 Great-Great-Grandchildren

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, KS

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2015 from 3-8 PM at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home

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RONALD ARTHUR HAMMEL, 84 died October 16, 2015 in Clay Center, KS. He was born on June 2, 1931 in Clay County, KS, the son of Arthur and Mary (Christensen) Hammel. Ronald graduated from Clay County Community High School in 1949. He attended the University of Kansas his freshman year on a football scholarship and graduated from Kansas State University with a BA degree in education. He received his Masters degree in Education from Emporia State Teachers College. Ron married Dalene McMahan on June 12, 1953 and she preceded him on March 26, 1994. Ron taught and coached for over 30 years at Bryan country school, Morganville, Clifton, Clyde, Miltonvale and Riley County before retiring. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and served in the Navy Reserve. He was also preceded in death by parents, a brother and a sister.

Survivors:

Son: Kelly and wife Linda Hammel, Manhattan, KS

Son: Kirk and wife Amy Hammel, Clay Center, KS

Daughter: Kim and husband James Crimmins, Clay Center, KS

Daughter: Kristen and husband Grant Ryan, Lawrence, KS

Grandchildren: 12 grand and 5 great-grandchildren

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Clay Center United Methodist Church in Clay Center, KS, cremation will follow

Officiating the service will be Pastor Ryan Lynch

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 19, 2015 from 3-8 PM at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home

Memorials: Meadowlark Hospice c/o the funeral home

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DATELINE:  Lyons, Kansas
NAME:  Benjamin “Ben” Jesse Bates
AGE:  41 yrs
DATE OF DEATH:  October 13, 2015
PLACE OF DEATH: Weld County, Colorado
DATE OF BIRTH: November 13, 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH:  Powell, Wyoming
PARENTS: Steven & Mary Walters Bates
RESIDENCE: Lyons since 2008 formerly of Driggs, Idaho
OCCUPATION: Owner-President for WestCrete-Concrete
EDUCATION: Teton High School in 1992, graduated from Ricks College in Rexburg,
Idaho with a Construction Management Degree
MEMBERSHIPS: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints;
volunteer for Boy Scouts Troop 7111, both of Great Bend
DATE OF MARRIAGE:  May 2, 1997
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Salt Lake City, Utah
SPOUSE:  Angela “Angie” Leigh Barnard
SURVIVORS: Wife, Angela of the home; 3 sons, Jesse, Luke, Oren Bates of the home;
3 Daughters, Cameryn, Caroline, Annaleigh Bates of the home; Mother, Mary Bates, Driggs, Idaho;  Siblings, George & Susan Bates, Driggs, Idaho, Ruth & Bill Loveland Burlington, Wyoming, Rachel Bates, Driggs, Idaho, Debra Bates, San Gabriel, Ca., Brenda & Ron Perry, Layton, Utah, Rebecca & Kipp Manwaring, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Kamele & Steve Crabtree, Paradise, Ca., Jennie & David Perry, Vernal, Utah, Frana & Terry Stanworth, Burlington, Wyoming, Martha & Lance Layman, Midlothian, Virginia,Charlotte & Ben Loveland, Kearns, Utah, Maren & Christian Phillips, Eagle Mountain, Utah
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY:  Son, Jack Bates; Father, Steven Bates
SERVICES: 3:00 P.M., Monday, October 19, 2015 at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Great Bend
PRESIDING:  President Sterling G. Knapp
BURIAL: Bates Cemetery, Driggs, Idaho
VISITATION: 5:00 to 7:00 P.M., Sunday, October 18, 2015 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Great Bend
MEMORIAL: Benjamin Bates Memorial Fund in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons,

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Wamego–Lloyd Dale Wiersma, 85, passed away October 15, 2015 in Topeka.  He was born on January 9, 1930 on the family farm north east of Downs, near Dispatch, the son of Martin and Gertie (Renken) Wiersma.

After his father remarried, the family moved to the Meadowview Farm northeast of Portis.  Grade School years were spent at Oak Creek and Union 4 schools.  He attended Downs High School, graduating in 1948 as the class valedictorian.  Lloyd served his country in the Sea Bees, stationed in Adak, Alaska and later on the island of Guam.  He moved to Wamego in 1953 where is started his own dirt excavating business.  He worked on the Tuttle Creek Lake and did some construction work on the interstate near Topeka.  Later he was employed by nearby energy plants.  Along the way, he became involved in the sale of Army surplus items.  Lloyd quietly lived out his life in touch with commodities, listening to country music, and watching ball games.  He particularly enjoyed the Kansas City Royals, the Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals, and KU sports.

He is preceded in death by his father, Martin, his mother, Gertie, his step-mother, Mabel, brothers Miles and Calvin Cooley, Ned Wiersma and sister, Helen Seaman.

He is survived by his siblings:  Marlene Heyer of Downs, Lee (Linda) Wiersma of Paola, Donna (Robert) Stadler of San Jose, CA., Ray (Janice) Wiersma of Hill City, and Janice (David) Bowman of North Bend, OR and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held Monday, October 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the East Dispatch Cemetery. There will be no visitation.  Memorials may be given to the Downs High School Alumni Association and the Oak Creek School in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, KS  67437