Ruth Willa Hart Geisen, 99, passed away November 3, 2015, at Ottawa County Health Center in Minneapolis. She was born in Ottawa County on August 2, 1916. She was a graduate of Minneapolis High School Class of 1934. She married Louis B. Geisen after he returned from serving in World War II.
Kathryn L. Hanchett, 51, of Salina, was called home to be with her beloved Lord Jesus Christ, Tuesday, November 3, 2015, after a brief battle with a rare and aggressive cancer.Kathy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to many and lived her life with a very strong Christian conviction and outlook.
She was born November 3, 1964, in Oakley, KS. Kathy’s family moved to Salina in 1968, where she attended and graduated from Sacred Heart High School and Brown Mackie College.
On May 3, 1986, Kathy was untied in marriage with the love of her life, Trey Hanchett. They were later blessed with two beautiful children, Kevin and Tiffany.
Kathy worked for the District Court, where she had many friends, whom she loved and cherished. She also loved the old movies with John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Lucille Ball and Elvis, among others.
Kathy was such a vibrant and giving person who was always ready and willing to help anyone in need. She also loved the holidays and was the host to large and festive Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, as well as family birthdays and anniversaries.
Kathy’s precious and loving heart will truly be missed by her husband, Trey; son, Kevin Hanchett and wife Amanda; daughter, Tiffany; and grandson, Kaden; parents, Wilford and Marlene O’Connor; sister, Cyndy Mallon and husband Dean; brothers, Ed O’Connor and Doug O’Connor and wife Cindy; Bob and Shelly Hanchett; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 7, at First Covenant Church, 2625 E. Magnolia, Salina, with burial to follow in Gypsum Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, November 6, with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St., Salina. Memorial contributions may be given to Tammy Walker Cancer Center or Hospice of Salina and left in care of the mortuary.
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Warren Ray Wilson was born February 26, 1928 in Abilene the son of Ray Dudley and Clara Ann (Landis) Wilson.
A lifelong Abilene resident, Warren married Mary Jean Harrington on August 14, 1954 in Solomon. Together they farmed south of Abilene and raised their family. Warren was a farmer all of his life and was the owner of Warren Wilson Hay in Abilene. He was a member of the St. Andrew Catholic Church in Abilene and later in life witched water wells, collected antiques, traveled, and helped restore Old Abilene Town.
Warren passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at his home near Abilene. Survivors include his loving wife Mary Jean of the home. Other survivors include his daughters Martha Strunk (Aaron, Kale, McKenzie) of Abilene, Julie & her husband Brent Milleson (Nolan, Alex) of McPherson; sons Mark & his wife Teresa Wilson (Bryan, Chris, Devin) of Abilene, Greg & his wife Marcia Wilson (Hannah, Hillary) of Abilene, David & his wife Julie Wilson (John, Matt, Sarah) of Troy, Michigan, Jeff & his wife Nancy Wilson (Ben, Will, Jacob) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Evan and his wife Annette Wilson (Kelly, Jordan) of Abilene. There are also six great grandchildren and nieces Liz Crawford, Sally Wilson, and Sharon Mosher surviving. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter Jane Lee Wilson, sister Gayle Hanna, brothers Philip Wilson, Hugh Wilson, and his parents.
Warren’s final resting place will be in the Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery near Abilene. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Historic Old Abilene Town or to the Warren & Mary Jean Wilson Family Scholarship Fund administered by the Dickinson County Community Foundation.
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Charles M. Dougherty, Jr., 69, of Herington, died Thursday morning, October 29th, 2015, at his home. He was born on July 9th, 1946, at Herington, the son of Charles M. Sr. and Maxine W. (Inmon) Dougherty.
The family will receive friends Friday, November 6th, from 1pm until 2pm at the Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington Chapel.
Mr. Dougherty was an over the road truck driver. He worked for Guy’s out of Kansas City for many years prior to being self-employed. He was with the Herington High School class of 1964.
He is survived by his daughter Katherine “Kathy” Lumbard (husband-Brian) of Prairie Village, son Brian Dougherty (wife-Katherine) of Overland Park, sister Bonnie Stevenson of LaPorte, Indiana, a brother Jerry Dougherty (wife-Linda) of Kansas City, and four (4) grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his sister Joyce Menefee, and his parents.
Memorials to the Donor’s Choice; and may be sent in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington Chapel, 404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS, 67449-3038.
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PILSEN – Magdalen M. Dvorak, 96, passed away November 3, 2015, at the St. Luke Hospital in Marion. She was born September 9, 1919, near Lost Springs, Kansas, the daughter of Peter and Christina (Urbanek) Silhan. She was a graduate of Lincolnville High School. On May 30, 1939, she was united in marriage to Leonard Dvorak. Their marriage was blessed with 9 children. She worked in Housekeeping at St. Luke Hospital, retiring after 28 years of service. She was a member of the Holy Family Parish, the St. Anne’s Altar Society, and active in the Tampa Senior Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; siblings: Peter Silhan and Valerian Silhan; and a daughter in law, Connie Dvorak. She is loving survived by her sons: Roger and wife Lolita of Killeen, TX; John and wife Carol of Marion; Thomas and wife Janell of Newton; Emil of Indianola, IA; David and wife Susan of Andover; and Michael and wife Carleen of Emporia; her daughters: Karen Druse and husband Don of Marion; Margaret Niles and husband Tom of El Reno, OK; and Marlene Clayton and husband John of Ellinwood; sisters: Beatrice Riedy and husband Ed of Hope; and Mildred Ireland of Hutchinson; 20 grandchildren and their families. The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., Friday, at Zeiner Funeral Home of Marion. The Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Holy Family Parish, St. John Nepomucene Church of Pilsen. Interment will follow in the Pilsen Cemetery. A Memorial Fund has been established for the St. Luke Hospital in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm, Marion, KS, 66861.
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Betty L. Cole
(March 11, 1921 – November 3, 2015)
Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at the McDonald Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or the Ile Hillman Scholarship Fund.
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Phyllis June Esslinger was born May 31, 1931 at Densmore, Kansas to Edward Edwin and Helene Mary (Cramer) Luther. She passed away November 2, 2015 at Salina Regional Medical Center at the age of 84 years, 5 months and 2 days.
Her parents, Phyllis, her older brother Raymond and two younger sisters, Leta and Mary made their home on a farm southeast of Norton, Kansas. Phyllis attended a country school and then later lived in Norton with a family to attend school there and graduated in 1948 from Norton High School. She married Buford Francis Esslinger June 2, 1948 and they made their home at Green Mountain Falls, Colorado managing a hotel there. After the oldest son Ronald was born, they moved back to Kansas and resided just south of Esbon, farming, milking and trying their hand at other agriculture endeavors.
While living at Esbon, nine more children arrived to make this a family of twelve. In March 1962 Buford and Phyllis purchased a farm northeast of Mankato, packed up the family and made this their home for the next 28 years. After settling down in this home they decided to bless it with three more children. They joined St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, in Mankato. Phyllis became active in the St. Theresa’s Guild and the V.F.W. Auxiliary, Post No. 7830 as a life member.
Phyllis worked hard raising thirteen children, from cooking, cleaning, baking, sewing and she still found time to help with homework assignments, listen to us practice our instruments or best of all sit down to the piano and play sheet music that we sung along with. She also tried her hand at being a nurse aid at the hospital.
In 1980 Buford and Phyllis purchased a home in Mankato and leaving the family farm to their son, Phillip, they moved with the last three children still in High School. Phyllis then took up cleaning motel rooms at the Dreamliner Motel. She later worked at the Jewell County Hospital as a cook. Later in life, she worked at the Jewell County Extension Office, ASCS office and recycling center.
After selling her house in town, she moved to an apartment and due to a fractured leg in a fall, eventually made her home at the Jewell County Hospital ISB, Mankato, Kansas. She enjoyed participating in Bingo, Tuesday Happenings and the Friday Card Social she implemented. As one granddaughter stated, she could play a wicked game of cards and everyone was willing to challenge her ability to be the winner either in cards or other board games.
There are so many fond memories to be shared by a family of thirteen children, in-laws, 33 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and a host of other family and friends. But all would say that her love of music, her work ethics, her caring, sharing, loving arms and listening ear were traits that are irreplaceable. And of course her laughter at a good joke, or even that smile with the twinkle in her eyes, will sorely be missed.
The love of her life, Buford, died January 4, 1990 and a daughter Bonita Delly, was killed in a vehicle accident March 11, 1999. Also preceding her in death were her parents, her brother Raymond, and her sister Mary, a granddaughter, Catherine Esslinger and daughter-in-law, Debbie Esslinger.
Surviving are: Ronald Esslinger, Basehor, Kansas: son and spouse Chad and Kelly Esslinger, children Lola and Abram; and daughter and spouse Hicham & Vanessa Morsse, child Alexa. Bonita Delly (deceased) Missouri: daughter Christine Delly; daughter and spouse Curt & Carolyn Snow, children Carleigh, Cullen & Caden; son and spouse Brian & Rachel Delly, children Reese & Oliver and son/spouse Justin & Sophia Delly, children Jackson, Brooklyn & Isaiah. Dennis and Angie Esslinger, Wichita, Kansas: son Jason Esslinger (significant other) Deanna Dick, child Leann; daughter and spouse Josh & Libby Weed, children Caleb, Kyle and Madeline; daughter Darcy Esslinger (significant other) Alejandro Pineda, children Lily, Violet and Ethan; daughter and spouse Billy and Molly Carr, children Emma and Elouise.
Phillip Esslinger, Mankato: daughter and spouse Jason and Kameron Moebes. Mark and Sherri Jeffery, Burr Oak, Kansas: sons Dustin and Kevin Boley. Steve and Loreita Dunstan, Formoso, Kansas: daughter and spouse Jim and Mindy Tighe; son and spouse Russell and Kayla Dunstan, children Griffin and Emmit; son and spouse Tyler and Courtney Dunstan, children Cohen, Stephen and Haven. Stan and Tamara Skelton, Wichita, Kansas: daughter Amber Skelton and son Chase Skelton. Bill and Denise Kearney, Wichita, Kansas: sons Ryan and Shane Kearney. Randy & Linda Skiles, Sedgwick, KS: son Nicholas Skiles and daughter Erica Skiles. Gerald and Jennifer Templeton, Wellington, Kansas: son and spouse Michael and Rachel Murphy, children Shaylon and Cali; son Eric Murphy, children Malachi and Carter; and son and spouse Chris and Sarah Murphy. Rick and Rebecca Jengo, Salem, Virginia: son and spouse Jacob and Ashley Miller, child Claire; daughter Mallory Jengo. Starrlene Parrish (significant other) Doug Geyer, Shawnee, Kansas: sons Toby, Brayden and Mason Parrish. Darren and Kristi Esslinger, Fort Collins, Colorado: sons Cory, Devan and Logan Esslinger; sister, Leta Koel, Wichita, sister-in-law, Lorene Hessenflow, Hays and many step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Mass for Christian Burial will be (was) offered, Friday, November 6, 2015, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Father Damian Richards, and Father Joseph Kieffer officiating. Music will be (was) with Karen Boden, organist and Mike Flavin, cantor. Melvin Brown will be (was) the lector. Casket bearers will be (were): Mark Jeffery, Steve Dunstan, Stan Skelton, Bill Kearney, Randy Skiles, and Gerald Templeton. Honorary casket bearers will be (were): Phyllis’ grandsons. Interment followed the mass in the St. Theresa’s Cemetery, Mankato, Kansas. Visitation was Thursday, November 5, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, Mankato, Kansas. Vigil service with Father Merlin Kieffer, and Rosary service with Mr. and Mrs. Vic Schoenberger, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Mankato, Kansas at 7:00 p.m. The family suggests memorials to: St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Jewell County Hospital, or V.F.W. Post 7830 Auxiliary.
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Merle Dean Ingemanson, 84, of Marquette, passed away November 2, 2015.
He was born April 1, 1931, the son of Terrance and Faye (Wise) Ingemanson in Marquette, KS.
On October 12, 1975, Merle was united in marriage to Georgie Berg in Marquette, KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Larry Douglas Ingemanson.
Merle leaves behind many loved ones including his wife, Georgie of Marquette, daughters: Vicky Roy of Olathe, Debbie Ortega of Hutchinson, Pat Barr (David) of Wichita, Bernice Peterson (Jim) of Lindsborg, Barb Wishon (Dan) of McPherson, Bernita Dauer (Rick) of Lindsborg, sister, Karen Teague of Marquette, 14 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Thursday, November 5, from 5-7 p.m. at Elim Lutheran Church, Marquette.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 6, at Elim Lutheran Church, Marquette. Private family burial will be at the Marquette Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials may be designated for the Marquette Senior Center in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington, PO Box 386, Lindsborg, KS 67456.
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Sarah Ann (Pfannenstiel) Hearld, 37, of Wilson, Kansas passed away Monday, November 2, 2015 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.
Sarah was born January 22, 1978 in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Baral) Pfannenstiel. She grew up and attended schools in Russell.
Sarah was a free spirited woman with a big heart. She loved working in the medical field as a CNA for Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, Golden Living Center in Wilson and the Rooks County Hospital in Plainville. She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Russell. She enjoyed shopping, doing her nails and hair, riding motorcycles and cooking. She loved hunting, fishing, going mudding and spending time with Brenton.
Surviving family include three children, Brenton Danne Lumpkins of Russell, Kansas, Lakota Len Hearld and Chloe Laden Hearld both of Great Bend, Kansas; mother, Mary VonFeldt (Steve) of Russell, Kansas; father, Frank Pfannensteil of Bunker Hill, Kansas; brothers, Derrick Pfannenstiel (Amy) of Phoenix, Arizona, Tony Pfannenstiel (Manuela) of Bunker Hill, Kansas, Trent Pfannenstiel (Lorena) of Phoenix, Arizona and Brent Pfannenstiel of Russell, Kansas; sisters, Christine LaMar (Barry) and Amy Moresco (George) all of Russell, Kansas; half brother, Walter Andrulis (Tammy) of Great Bend, Kansas; companion D.J. Bushell of Dorrance, Kansas; and dearest niece Mariah LaMar of Russell, Kansas and dearest nephew, CPL Herbert LaMar of the U.S. M.C. She was preceded in death by her grandparents.
Celebration of Sarah’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. Burial will follow in the Bunker Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday, November 9, 2015 at the mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Memorial has been established as the Sarah Hearld Memorial Fund. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.