Louise Llamas
87, passed away Sunday, August 23rd, in Abilene. She was born March 14, 1928 in Niles, Kansas, the daughter of Miguel and Jesse (Guzman) Alvarez. Growing up in Lost Springs, Louise attended local schools, graduated from Lost Springs High School and went on to earn her C.N.A. certification. She had been employed by St. John’s Hospital in Salina as a C.N.A. On June 22, 1961 she was married to Paul Llamas. All of their married life has been spent in Abilene. Louise was employed by Chap-Parel, and Alco Warehouse. She enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, her flowers, bingo, gambling, and her dogs. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Easter Alvarez, Lupie Fuentes and Katherine Alvarez; and seven brothers, Raymond, Saymon, Juan, Joe, Frank, Tony and Manuel Alvarez. Louise was a member of the St. Andrews Catholic Church, Eagles, V.F.W. and American Legion.
Survived by: Husband Paul Llamas Abilene
Daughter Katherine (John) Dobkins Abilene
3 Sons Felix (Sandy) Hernandez Jr. Platte City, MO
Michael (Marlene Dame) Hernandez Salina
Bernie (Annette) Hernandez Abilene
Special Granddaughter Michelle (Vance) Riffel Abilene
14 Grandchildren
37 Great-grandchildren
1 Great-great-grandchild
2 Sisters Pat Estrada Newton
Rose Ybarra Galva
2 Brothers Ralph Alvarez Chula Vista, CA
John Alvarez Abilene
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM Friday, August 28th, at the St. Andrews Catholic Church with Fr. Henry Baxa officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. St. Joseph Cemetery north of Abilene. A Parish Rosary will be recited 5:00 PM Thursday, August 27th, at the Danner Funeral Home with family receiving friends afterwards until 6:30. The family suggests memorial contributions in her memory be given to the Elsie Brooks Cancer Fund. 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 758 Abilene, Kansas 67410.
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Maxine Corine Wallace, 91, of Salina, passed away peacefully the morning of Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. She was born Feb. 9, 1924, in Memphis. Tenn. Maxine was a homemaker and secretary. She worked for Richardson Transfer and Storage as a secretary for many years.
Maxine’s survivors include her daughter, Terry Brightbill and spouse Robert Brightbill, of Salina; three grandchildren; two great-grandsons; two brothers and several nieces and nephews, all of Memphis.
Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; first husband, Byrl; her son, Gary Michael Glendening; and her parents, three brothers and two sisters, all of Memphis.
Ryan Mortuary, of Salina, is handling arrangements. There will be no visitation. Graveside service will be held at a later date in Memphis.
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Erika “Wally” W. Thornton, age 88, Concordia, KS, passed away on Sat., Aug. 22, 2015 at the Mitchell County Health Systems Resident Care Center, Beloit. She was born on Feb. 7, 1927 in Possnekck, Germany to Fritz & Gertrude (Patcer) Distler.
She married Melvin A. Thornton on May 19, 1961 and he preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 2013.
She was preceded in death by her parents & 6 brothers.
Per Erika’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no services. Private inurnment with her husband Melvin will be in the Randall Cemetery, Randall. Condolences may be left online at www.chaputbuoy.com. Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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ALMA DECKER, 103 died August 22, 2015 at Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center, KS. She was born on May 29, 1912 in Wakefield, KS, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Ferguson) Buchanan. Alma lived in the Wakefield area before moving to Wakarusa. She worked for Hallmark Card. Alma married Ernest Decker on July 23, 1941. They made their home in Lyons, KS Great Bend, Minneapolis and later in Lincoln, KS before moving to Clay Center in 1993. Ernest preceded her in death on October 17, 2010. Alma was a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters and 3 brothers.
Survivors:
Daughter: Marsha and husband Gail Habluetzel, Clay Center, KS
Son: Gary and wife Elizabeth Decker, Tulsa OK
6 Grandchildren and 12 Great-grandchildren
Brother: Delbert Buchanan, Copan, OK
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Clay Center, KS
Officiating the service will be Pastor Grant Clay and Pastor Mark Habluetzel
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center, KS
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 28, 2015 from 3-8 PM at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home
Memorials: Evangelical Covenant Church or the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor c/o the funeral home
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Mary Opal Wirth, 90, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 7:56 a.m., Sunday, August 23, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri.
Mary was born in Beulah, North Dakota on February 22, 1925, a daughter of Julia M. (Hoener) and John H. Pollreisz.
Mary attended the Beulah grade schools, Beulah, North Dakota. She received her GED in Silvis, Illinois at the age of 40 years. She also went on to take a few college courses, at Blackhawk Community College, East Moline, Illinois.
Mary was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church McPherson, Kansas, where she was Eucharistic Minister. She was a former member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Colona, Illinois.
She served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a Cpl in WW II. She received the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and American Campaign Medal.
Mary was a homemaker and she worked in a defense plant in Minneapolis, MN as Rosie the Riveter, was a waitress at the East Moline, Illinois Country Club, worked in the accounting department in a bank at Silvis, Illinois, was a comptometer operator for Kraft Foods, in Milan, Illinois, and retired as an accountant for Illini Hospital, Silvis, Illinois.
Mary was a member of American Legion Post 24, was a former member of the V.F.W. Post 2715, both of McPherson, and volunteered at the McPherson Hospital. Mary was a past president of and Woman of The Year 1970, of the American Business Women, Plow Capital Chapter of Rock Island, Illinois. She also was a baseball coach for the girls little league, and a den mother for the cub scouts. She enjoyed bowling, golfing, and playing bingo.
Mary O. Pollreisz was united in marriage to Vernon E. Stout on June 27, 1944 at Jacksonville, Mississippi. Vernon died in December of 1969. Mary Stout was united in marriage to Henry J. Wirth on November 29, 1973 at Moline, Illinois. He died in December of 2003.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Bonita “Bonnie” Miller and her husband Doug, of McPherson, Kansas; her sister, Doreen Teeters, of Jerome, Idaho; her 9 grandchildren – Brent Bowen (Leslie), Tira Bowen, Andrea Weekly, Kristopher Stout, Debra Jett (Chris), Monica Miller, Preston Miller (Becky), Heather Curle (Lee), Ryan Miller; her 10 -great-grandchildren; 1-great-great-grandchild; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Vernon Stout and Henry Wirth; her son, Ronald Stout; her brothers, Louis Halter, Joseph Halter, Wayne Pollreisz, Charles Pollreisz, Clarence Pollreisz, and Glenn Pollreisz.
Friends are invited to call on Thursday, August 27, 2015 from 6 to 7 p.m. with rosary to follow at 7:15 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, McPherson, Kansas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, McPherson, Kansas, at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2015 with Fr. Hien Nguyen officiating. Members of the American Legion Post 24 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2715 will provide military honors.
The final resting place will be at the Roselawn Memorial Park East Moline, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post 24 Honor Flight in memory of Mary and they can be sent in care of the Glidden – Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.
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Merle D. Becker, 78, of Galva, KS, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2015, at Via Christi – St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Wichita. He had worked for 42 years as a rework mechanic for Hesston Corporation.
Merle was born on August 17, 1937, in Galva, KS, the son of Reuben P. and Malinda L. (Koehn) Becker. On March 11, 1960, Merle was united in marriage to Ruby J. Schrag in Moundridge, KS.
He was a member of First Mennonite Church, McPherson.
Survivors include: wife, Ruby of the home; son, Gene Becker and wife, Brenda, of Wichita, KS; daughter, Cheryl Schmidt and husband, Terry, of McPherson, KS; brother, Wayne Becker and wife, Bernice, of Jamestown, MO; three grandchildren, Tyler Becker, Paige Schmidt, and Madison Schmidt.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, August 28, 2015, at First Mennonite Church with Rev. Kathy Neufeld Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at the McPherson Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, August 27, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Memorial donations may be given to First Mennonite Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
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Joe Wirtz
DATELINE: Ellinwood, Kansas
NAME: Joseph “Joe” Herman Wirtz
AGE: 91 yrs
DATE OF DEATH: August 23, 2015
PLACE OF DEATH: Woodhaven Care Center, Ellinwood
DATE OF BIRTH: March 24, 1924
PLACE OF BIRTH: family farm east of Ellinwood
PARENTS: Frank and Anna Schaplowsky Wirtz
RESIDENCE: lifetime Ellinwood area resident
OCCUPATION: Farmer
EDUCATION: Graduated from Ellinwood High School
MEMBERSHIPS: St. Joseph Catholic Church; he served on the board of Farmers Mutual Insurance of Ellinwood for 47 years
DATE OF MARRIAGE: November 7, 1945
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Ellinwood
SPOUSE: Joyce E. Mefford
SPOUSE DECEASED DATE: September 16, 2000
SURVIVORS: 3 Sons, Jonathan & Patti Wirtz, Olathe, Jeff & Cindy Wirtz, Buhler,
Jerry & Debbie Wirtz, Ellinwood; 5 Daughters, Judy & Rod Berger, Halstead, Jayne Wirtz,
Ellinwood, Joleen Wirtz, Topeka, Juanita & Allen Landry, Tulsa, Okla., Jeanette & Ted
Trinka, Hoisington; Sister, Maggie Gerstenkorn, Great Bend; 12 Grandchildren;
14 Great-Grandchildren; 1 Great-Great-Grandchild
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Parents Son, James Wirtz; Grandson, Christopher Gross;
5 Brothers, 2 Sisters
FUNERAL MASS: 10:00A.M., Friday, August 28, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellinwood,
OFFICIATING: Father Terrance Klein, Father Ted Stoecklein
BURIAL: Lakin Comanche Cemetery, Ellinwood
VISITATION: 10:00 A.M. to 5:00P.M., Wednesday, August 26, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons
10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, August 27, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic
Church, Ellinwood with Parish Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M.
MEMORIAL: St. Joseph School Endowment Fund or Kans for Kids in care of Birzer Funeral
Home, Lyons, Ks.