Richard “Steve” Funke, 70, of Salina, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. He was born April 9, 1943, in Evansville, Ind., the son of Rudolph and Lucille (Brenner) Funke.
Steve was a retired fire engineer for the Salina Fire Department, with 32 years of service, and he had worked at Sears in Salina.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy, of the home; sons, Daniel Funke and T.J. Swenson, both of Salina; daughter, Kyla (Josh) Allenbach, of Moundridge; brother, Michael (Mary Ann) Funke, of Williston, Vt.; sister, Nancy (Jim) Merkley, of Dupo, Ill.; five grandchildren, Brandon Funke, of Salina, and Hadley, Jenika, Lakyn and Makynna Allenbach; and his cat, Charlie.
Friends are invited to a memorial reception to honor Steve from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at Ryan Mortuary.
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PITTSBURG – Vernon McKee Stevens, 99, was born Aug. 8, 1914, in Abilene, on a farm to Clyde Gary and Deborah “Debby” Kean Stevens. He passed away Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. Vernon married Marjorie “Jean” Mowery on Nov. 6, 1942, in Salina.
He graduated from Abilene High School, where he was in National Honor Society, and then attended Kansas State University, earning a bachelor of science degree.
While at K-State, he received a baseball scholarship and lettered three years. While playing baseball, he tried out for the Cleveland Browns, a professional team.
He served in the United States Army and retired from the Army Reserves as a lieutenant colonel. He owned hardware stores in Solomon and Gypsum and was mayor of Gypsum.
After moving to Salina, he spent many years selling insurance and real estate. He owned StevensInsurance Agency, was an elder and active in First Presbyterian Church, was committed to peace and coordinated a three-year program called the Noon Hour Monitor.
He lived by the motto, “Peace — The Best Game on Earth.”
He was an avid sports fan and especially loved baseball, golf and being a “mascot” to the K-State girls basketball team for several years. He was a strong competitor and played handball and golf into his 80s. He exercised daily until health and the doctor forced him to quit.
He is survived by three children, Linda L. (Gaylord) Hoffman, of Pittsburg, Jill (Gene) Lundgrin, of Charleston, S.C., and Jack Stevens, of Salina; sister, Vivian Olsen, of Manhattan; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
His wife and parents preceded him in death.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, in the chapel at First Presbyterian Church in Salina.
Memorials may be made to Harry Hynes Hospice in Pittsburg, the American Legion, Elks Club, Military Advisory Council for the Center for Defense Information, Veterans for Peace, or a charity of your choosing.
Ryan Mortuary, Salina, is handling arrangements.
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TORREON, Mexico — Javier Humberto Ibarra Hernández, 35, of Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, at Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis in Wichita. He was a seminarian for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina and a student at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.
Mr. Ibarra Hernandez was born Nov. 21, 1977, in Torreon to Fermin Jesús Ibarra Lira and Elvira Hernández Dominguez.
He worked as a nurse at a psychiatric hospital in Mexico before entering the seminary to study for the priesthood, first in Mexico and then for the Diocese of Salina. He attended three years of school at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo., and one year at Sacred Heart in Wisconsin and also studied English at Wichita State University.
During summer breaks from seminary, he was active in the Diocese of Salina’s Prayer and Action mission project and Totus Tuus catechism program.
Survivors include his parents; brother, Victor Jesús Ibarra Hernández; sister, Norma Lizete Ibarra Hernández; and five nieces and nephews.
A parish vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Burial will be in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. Memorial contributions may be given to the Diocese of Salina Seminary Fund and left in care of Ryan Mortuary, Salina.
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Jack Douglas Gill, 76, of Salina, passed away Monday, August 26th, at Hospice of Salina.
Jack was born in Franklin, Indiana on February 21, 1937, to the late Pearl Edna (Tucker) and Gary Estel Gill.
Jack was a master electrician. He owned and operated Jack Gill Electric for over 25 years. Afterward he worked for B&W Electric in Salina.
He was the husband of Maryetta Ruth (Hoyt) Gill. They were married on December 16, 1959, at Solomon, Kansas.
Jack is survived by his wife, Maryetta; daughter, Teresa Gill, of Salina; son, Jeffrey D. (Roxane) Gill, of Lindsborg, Kansas; as well as his grandchildren, Danny Verhoeff, Kelly Verhoeff, Tyler Gill, and Trevor Gill.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, David Gill, Paul Gill, Ivan Gill, and Jim Gill; and sisters, Mae Fowler, Louise Mann, and Fern Pevler
A funeral service will be held at Central Baptist Church, at 10:00 am on Friday, August 30th, with Pastor Gene Davis officiating. Interment will follow at Gypsum Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Carlson – Geisendorf Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 6-8.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1315 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jack Douglas Gill please visit our Sympathy Store.
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Susan Georgietta McConnell, 69, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Monday, August 26th, at Smoky Hill Rehabilitation Center.
Susan was born in Salina on March 14, 1944, to the late Rosemary (Bates) and Leroy Hill, Jr.
She was a housekeeper at St. John’s Hospital and a waitress at Bayards Cafe.
On June 4, 1965, she married the late George W. McConnell.
Survivors include two daughters, Sherry Vance and Janet Steinle; two sons David Caswell and Dan McConnell; step son Jeffery Gross; three brothers, James (Sandy) Hill, Steven (Gloria) Hill and Allen (Margaret) Hill; grandchildren Joshua (Amber) Caswell, McKalab Caswell, April (Justin) Blair, Christopher and Corey Steinle, Dameon McConnell, Courtney (Steven) Mayer, Jeff Gross Jr. and Shawn Gross, and Christopher Goodall; great-grandchildren Garret Caswell, Adalynn Caswell, Gracelynn Caswell, Waden Caswell, Mackenzi Blair, Kyndra Blair, and Camryn McConnell.
Susan is preceded in death by her parents and husband George McConnell.
A memorial service will be held at Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home, Salina, Kansas, at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 30th with Pastor Jon Fillipi officiating with inurnment to follow at Gypsum Hill Cemetery.
At the family’s request there will be no visitation as cremation has been chosen.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family to defray funeral expenses.
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Martha “Marty” Jean Tipton, 62, Minneapolis, passed away Monday, August 26, 2013.
It was Marty’s wishes that no services be held.