Johanna M. (Jo) Singer, 91, passed away Tuesday, October 11th, in Abilene. She was born November 20, 1924 in Abilene, the daughter of William S. and Mary G. (Hytrek) Stroda. Growing up on a farm south of Abilene, Jo attended Farmington School and graduated from Chapman High School and the Halstead School of Nursing. She had taught a year at Farmington School as well as having been employed as an RN at the Herington Hospital before marrying Don Singer on June 2, 1948. The early years of their married life were spent following Don’s naval career, stationed in the Philippines and various installations in the United States before returning to Abilene in 1962. Jo had worked as an RN in several Denver hospitals before being later employed by Beverly Estates in Abilene as Director of Nursing. Don preceded her in death in 2007. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and raising German short hair pointers. Jo was also preceded in death by: her parents; two sisters, Kort Hobson and Babe VanDeCreek and two brothers, Leon and Bill Stroda. She was a member of the St. Andrews Catholic Church and the Altar Society.
Jo is survived by: son Fred Singer of Abilene; daughter, Mary J. Mann of Salina; two grandchildren, Aubrey Cook of Kansas City, Missouri and Brian Rowe of Manhattan and two great-grandchildren.
The family has chosen cremation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, October 15th, at the St. Andrews Catholic Church with Fr. Panthalanickal officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Mt. St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Danner Funeral Home Friday, October 14th, beginning at 5:30 PM with a Parish Rosary at 6:30 PM. The family suggests memorial contributions in her name be made to the Hospice of Dickinson County or the Adopt-A-Student Fund through the St. Andrews Catholic School. They may be left at the church the day of the service or left at or sent in care of the Danner Funeral Home POB 759 Abilene, Kansas 67410.
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Donald Clay Christenson, 98, Tescott, died Monday, October 10, 2016 at the Ottawa County Health Center, Minneapolis. Clay was born October 10, 1918 in Tescott to B.E. and Edith (McCaddon) Christenson.
He attended schools in Tescott and was a 1937 graduate of Tescott High School. Clay and Bonnie Chambers were united in marriage on April 18, 1942 at the courthouse in Minneapolis. He served in the United States Army from 1942-1945. Clay worked for the Northern Natural Gas Company for over 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Choral Stover.
Survivors include his wife of 75 years, Bonnie; daughter Suellin Renninson; granddaughter Heather Berry; two great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a nephew Steven Stover,
Private inurnment will be in the Franklin Cemetery, Tescott. Memorials may be made to the Tescott United Methodist Church or the Tescott Lions Club.
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Damien Thomas Elder, 3 months, of Salina, passed away Saturday, October 8th, at Salina Regional Health Center.
Damien was born in Salina, on June 24, 2016, to Kristina Zeedyk and Keith Elder.
Survivors include his parents; sisters Hallie Elder, Ashley Franco, Nicole Elder, Marissa Zeedyk, and Mariah Ortiz; brother, Austin Elder; grandfather Steve Zeedyk; grandmother, Mary (David) Hall, of Salina; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Tammy Zeedyk and grandfather, Thomas Elder.
Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2016 at Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m.
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Bonnie Jane (Martin) Ward was born in Dodge City, KS on October 30, 1929, to Emry and Alice (Boyce) Martin. The younger of two children, along with Robert, the family lived in Bloom, KS. After Emry’s death, in 1935, Bonnie and Robert moved with their mother to McPherson, KS, where Alice became Registrar at McPherson College. Bonnie graduated from McPherson High School in 1947, and entered McPherson College, graduating in 1951 with a B.A. in History and a teaching certification.
Following graduation, Bonnie taught high school in Canton, KS, until her marriage to John K. Ward in 1953. Three children were born to his union: Martin, Steven and Anne.
In 1968, the family moved to Lincoln, NE, where John was a professor in the Animal Sciences Department at the University of Nebraska, and Bonnie became an administrative assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department, also at UNL.
Bonnie and John were active in the Antelope Park Church of the Brethren in Lincoln. Bonnie also enjoyed her volunteer work teaching English as a second language to the Southeast Asian community, as a class agent for the McPherson College class of 1951, compiling the history of the Antelope Park Church of the Brethren for its centennial calendar, and playing bridge monthly with friends from the University. Upon their return to McPherson in 1997, Bonnie was the editor of The Village Voice for the Cedars for many years. Several years ago, Bonnie completed the manuscript for ‘Prairie Courage’, a book about life in rural Kansas in the late 1800s, largely written by her mother more than 50 years earlier, which she and John then published.
Bonnie entered eternal rest on Friday, October 7, 2016, at The Cedars long term care facility in McPherson. She was 86.
Surviving family members include: son, Marty Ward and wife, Carol, of Corpus Christi, TX along with grandsons, Jared and his wife, Christy, and great-grandchildren, Micah and Eli, and Ryan and his wife, Shelby; son, Steve Ward and wife, Dalene, of Lincoln, NE along with grandchildren, Josh and great-grandsons, Noah and Oliver, and Lindsey and great-grandson, Peyton; and daughter, Anne Tell of Golden, CO.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; and her brother, Robert.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, November 11, 2016, at McPherson Church of the Brethren with Rev. Chris Whitacre & Rev. Kathryn Whitacre presiding. A private family inurnment will take place in McPherson Cemetery.
Cards and sympathy notes may be sent to the Ward family in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the John and Bonnie Ward Scholarship Fund at McPherson College in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
Nicholas M. “Nick” Boden was born December 15, 1925 in old Tipton, Kansas, to Mike and Cecilia (Brummer) Boden, and died October 9, 2016, at the Mitchell County Hospital Health System, Beloit, Kansas, at the age of 90 years, 9 months and 23 days.
Nick played in his Dad’s dance band in his younger years. He was in World War II, serving in the United States Army at the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg and Belgium. Nick received a purple heart for his injuries.
He met and married Arleta Haines on August of 1952. They lived in Covert, Downs, Webber, and Mankato. To this union four sons were born – Virgil, Randy, Rodney and Jeff.
Nick married Phyllis Small on March 13, 2004. They stayed on the farm until they retired and moved to Mankato.
He loved to give fruit and watermelons to his neighbors.
Nick was preceded in death by his parents; and one son – Rodney; and two brothers – Mike and Edgar. He is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis of the home; three sons – Virgil, and Randy of Downs, Kansas, and Jeff of Charlotte, North Carolina; grandson – Shane Boden of McPherson, Kansas; sister – Lorene and husband, Chuck Townsend of Beloit, Kansas; three brothers – Bud Boden of Ionia, Kansas, Jerome of Beloit, Kansas, and Charles and wife, Lucile Boden of Concordia, Kansas; three sisters-in-law – Patsy and husband, Ed Sims; Shelby Johnson; and Linda Nees.
A celebration of life service for Nicholas M. “Nick” Boden will be (was) Friday, October 14, 2016, at 10:30 a.m., at the Harmony United Methodist Church, Mankato, Kansas, with Pastor Gerry Sharp officiating. Mrs. Pat Grout served as the organist and Pastor Thaddeus Hinkle was the soloist, who sang “Go Rest High on the Mountain” and “Old Rugged Cross.” Casket bearers will be (were) Delvin Hanson, Jack Wilson, Todd Boxum, Max Freeman, Max Hulbert, Randy Slate, Paul Wilson, and Lynn Scarrow. Honorary casket bearers will be (were) – Ronald Boxum and Mitchie Worner. Interment followed military honors by the United States Army Honor Guard, Fort Riley, Kansas; V.F.W. Post No. 7830, Mankato, Kansas; and the Jewell American Legion Post 72, Jewell, Kansas, in the Wallace Cemetery, Jewell, Kansas. Visitation for Nick Boden will be (was) Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday October 13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Melby Mortuary, 402 N. High Street, Mankato, Kansas. The family suggest memorials to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, Mankato, Kansas, was in charge of arrangements.
Ronald Dean Headley, 87, of Russell, Kansas, died at his home on October 09, 2016.
Ron’s family will have a private family service at a later time. Cremation has been selected by the family and there will be no public service. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary is in charge of the the arrangements.