Franklin Gene Bissell, 89, of Salina, Kan., passed away peacefully at Salina Regional Health Center on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. Born in Akron, Ohio, on April 12, 1926, he was the beloved son of Frank and Georgene Bissell.
Bissell was married to his loving wife, Emma Evelyn (Deeker), for 66 years. In addition to his wife, Coach leaves behind his son, Mark and wife Kristi, of McPherson; his daughter, Nancy and husband Ted, of Port Murray, N.J.; seven grandchildren, Katie, Kristine, Laura, Emily, Evan, Nick and Ally; and two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Audrey. Bissell was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Ted.
Bissell graduated from North Royalton High School in North Royalton, Ohio, in 1944, and proudly served in the Navy as a citizen soldier from 1944-46. After graduating from Heidelberg College and Case Western Reserve, Bissell and his wife headed west, settling in Salina, where he taught and coached for 44 years at his beloved Kansas Wesleyan University. In addition, Bissell was a faithful member of University United Methodist Church, where he served on numerous committees.
Gene was a committed educator and coach, and he loved spending time with his family and his God. His wish was that he left the world a better place.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City, Mo., with burial in Hugo Cemetery, New Florence, Mo. A celebration of Coach Bissell’s life and loves will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at Sams Chapel on the campus of Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Kansas Wesleyan or the University United Methodist Church.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27
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Herbert L. Walle, 93, of Salina, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, while at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. He was born Nov. 17, 1922, in his home in rural Saline County to Paul August and Ethel Mae (Hughes) Walle.
In April of 1939, he began dating his high school sweetheart, Opal Fernne Tallman. They were married May 3, 1942. It was a loving relationship, admired by family and all who knew them. Mr. Walle was a very successful farmer and stockman, living on the farm where he was born until his retirement in 1988, then moving to Salina. He was extremely proud of his military service, having served honorably in World War II. He was an active member and volunteer of the VFW, serving on the Honor Guard for several years, as well as numerous other local organizations in the rural community. Herb was equally proud of his volunteering and caregiving, which he provided for his parents, wife, brothers, sisters and other relatives or friends in need. Among all his successes, he always felt his family was his greatest love and accomplishment. Those who knew him were amazed by his physical toughness and strong, positive mental outlook. He will be greatly missed.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Paul and Ethel; brothers, Fred, William, Roy, Paul Jr. and Carl; sister, Evelyn Burger; and daughter, Sharon Johnson.
Mr. Walle is survived by his wife of 74 years, Fernne; daughter, Sandra Cristina (Lyle); sons, Steven (Leila) and Sheldon (Danette); 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Ryan Mortuary. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Ryan Mortuary, followed with burial at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Saline County.
Memorials may be made to Salina VFW Post 1432 or Walnut Grove Cemetery, and may be sent in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401.
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Ronda S. Thoman, age 65, entered into rest on January 30, 2016 at the Cloud County Health Center, Concordia. She was born on December 22, 1950 in Concordia, Kansas to Wilfred and Jane (Charbonneau) Thoman.
Delmar Garst was born May 17, 1944, in Minneapolis, Kansas to Charles Alfred and Velma Gertrude (Jamison) Garst. He was one of 11 children born to them. He passed away, Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 71 years, 7 months, and 9 days.
Delmar spent time in the Kansas National Guard, then worked at the meat packing plant in Mankato, Kansas, until a heart attack left him retired to raise his 5 children.
He is survived by his previous wife, Josephine Marie Garst of El Reno, Oklahoma; his children – Michael Jones of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Monty and wife – Judith Garst of El Reno, Oklahoma, Todd and wife – Rebecca Garst of Blanchard, Oklahoma, Amy and husband – Randall Wells of Mineral Wells, Texas, and Jamie Langford of El Reno, Oklahoma; his siblings – Paul and wife, Darlene Garst, James and wife, Aletha Garst both from Mankato, Kansas, Shirley Hancock of Englewood, Colorado, and Sandra and husband – Junior Leonard of Kearney, Nebraska; 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Delmar is proceded in death by his parents – Charles and Velma Garst; brothers – Darrell and wife, Carol Garst, Charles and wife, Lenora Garst, Virgil and wife, Freda Jamison, Veril Jamison, Guy Neal and wife, Shirley Garst, sister – Norma Garst.
Delmar was a loving husband, father and brother and had an enormous heart. He will always be loved and missed.
A celebration of life service for Delmar Garst will be (was) Friday, February 5, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary Chapel, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle officiating. Interment will be (was) in the Glasco Cemetery, Glasco, Kansas, next to his parents. Visitation will be (was) Thursday, February 4, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The family will determine a memorial at a later date. Online condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of local arrangements.
(April 27, 1921 – January 31, 2016)
Marcella G. Hood, 94, of Washington, KS, died Sunday, January 31, 2016 at the Centennial Homestead Nursing Home in Washington.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 6 at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. Visitation will begin one hour prior to service time.
Burial will be in the Washington City Cemetery.
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Eleanor (Eulert) Laubhan, 86 of Russell, Kansas, died January 29, 2016, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.
She was born Jan. 13, 1930, the daughter of Otto and Elsie (Reich) Eulert. She grew up in Rural Russell County and attended Paradise High School. She attended Ft Hays State University and taught school for a short time. She worked at various businesses in Russell. She worked as a bookkeeper at Laubhan Electric when she married Paul Laubhan on May 27, 1959. He preceded her in death on June 30, 2001. She was a longtime member of St John Lutheran church in Russell. She enjoyed her many pets throughout her life time.
Survivors include two sisters, Irene Schmidtberger, of Corpus Christi, Texas and Lynda Koelling of Paradise, Kansas; Two brothers, Lewis Eulert of Hays, Kansas and Don Eulert of Santa Ysabel, California.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister Joyce Gillett and a brother Harold Eulert.
Funeral services to honor Eleanor’s life will be held at 2:30 PM on Thursday, February 04, 2016, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Roger Dennis officiating. Private burial will follow at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorial contributions be given to the Hays Humane Society and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.