Melva Ilene Cronk, 78, of Salina, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 24th, 2014. Melva was born in Smith County, Kansas on February 5, 1936, to the late Melvin and Susie Eller. On February 5, 1952, Melva married Vernon LeRoy Cronk.
Survivors include two daughters, Debra Walters, of Salina, Kansas; and Sandy Bollinger, of Salina, Kansas; son, Doug Cronk, of Noble, Oklahoma; sister, Marvel Nelson of Topeka, Kansas; brother, Wayne Eller of Minnesota; 6 grandchildren, Rachelle Giroux (Chris), Jessie Lee, Jamie Miller (JP),Kelly Zentz, Michael Walters; 5 great grandchildren, Jaylin Zentz, Abby Miller, Avery Miller, Olivia Giroux, Gavin Giroux; and special family friend, Mike Blaine.
She is preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy; sister, Lola Eller; brother Moris Eller.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
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NEW CAMBRIA — Mabel “Josephine” Brown, 98, of New Cambria, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, at her home. Josephine was born Oct. 29, 1915, in rural Saline County to Joseph Jacob and Mabel Estella (Andrew) Gruber.
Josephine held a variety of jobs during her lifetime, including clerking at the New Cambria Elevator and Elm Street Groceries.
Josephine was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, George K. Brown; sisters, Marie Thompson, Florence Forkner and Mary Sink; brother, Raymond Gruber; brothers-in-law, Jack Thompson, George Forkner, Jeff Sink, Jim Kizer and Melroy Abbott; daughter-in-law, Cora Brown; and great-granddaughter, Jessica Clemence.
Survivors include sons, Raymond, Erwin and Donald Brown; sisters, Dorothy Kizer and Jane Abbott; sisters-in-law, Grace Brown and Leola Gruber; grandchildren, Joni (Marc) Oldham, Marc (Ella) Brown, Julie (Dan) Sachse, Laurie (Jeff) Decker, Stephanie Sherode, Kelly (Jeanie) Brown, Kimberly “Missy” Clemence and Donald Brown Jr.; stepgrandson, Jason (Ann) Jones; 17 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Josephine will be dearly missed by her loved ones. Her unintentional lessons of humility and selflessness will be treasured for generations to come.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, with family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Peace Lutheran Church, New Cambria. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, New Cambria.
The family would like to thank Josephine’s caregivers and Gentiva Hospice for their gracious care without which she would not have been able to stay in her own home.
Memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church or Gentiva Hospice, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth St. Salina.
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Eldon “Dale” Peck, 92, of Salina, passed away Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. He was born Dec. 20, 1921, on the family farm near Sylvan Grove, the son of Arney L. and Lottie R. (Pickett) Peck.
He graduated from Sylvan Grove High School and attended one year at Kansas State University at Manhattan.
He was a member of United Methodist Church of the Cross, where he served as an elementary grade Sunday school teacher for many years. He also served on many boards and committees as well as doing a lot of volunteer work. He also sang in the Chancel Choir for many years.
During World War II, he entered basic training for the U.S. Army Air Corps where he was assigned as an armorer at Deming Air Force Base at Deming, N.M. Several months later, at the convenience of the government, he was assigned to the Army Infantry. He served in both the European and Pacific theaters and was discharged in February of 1946.
On March 25, 1951, he married Dorothy (Hoopes) Bartlett. He farmed for several years and then moved to Russell, and worked as a salesman for Singer Sewing Machine Company. In 1961, he moved to Salina and served as a district agent for Prudential Insurance Company. He retired in 1986.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy; daughter, Judy Boersma; brothers, Cleo and Wilbur Peck; and sisters, Arlene Barclay, Neola Peck and Twila Thaemert.
He is survived by a brother, Loren (Ramona) Peck, of Neodesha, and their families; grandsons, Kevin Boersma, of Manning, Iowa, and Nathan (Lee Ann) Boersma, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; granddaughter, Mollie (Duane) Wilson, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; and great-grandchildren, Heather, Amy and Sarah Wilson and Nickolas and Adie Boersma.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at United Methodist Church of the Cross, 1600 Rush, Salina, with the Rev. Michael Eurit officiating. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Monday at the church.
Graveside services will be held at 2:15 p.m. Monday at the Rosette Cemetery, northwest of Sylvan Grove.
The family suggests memorials to the church. Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina, is handling arrangements.