Council Grove – Mary Margaret Grokett, 93, of Council Grove, passed away Wednesday, 24 February 2016 at Diversicare of Council Grove.
She was born 21 January 1923 in St. Joseph, Missouri to George R. and Viola M. (Joslin) Lighthall. She graduated from Hiawatha High School, Hiawatha, Kansas and Long Beach State Teachers College.
After high school, she traveled with the USO in Europe and the South Pacific as an entertainer to the wounded military in hospitals and military on duty. She played the accordion and sang with the music group, 4 Pips and a Drip. Mary was an elementary school teacher for 28 years in California.
She loved music, family, travel, collecting rocks and making jewelry.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents Charles and Margaret (Day) Lighthall, Wilbur and Mary (Muntz) Josiln, great grandparents Handy and Nancy (Lindsey) Day, Frank and Luara (Curyea) Lighthall, her niece Jean (Lighthall) Malone, great nephew Taos Hein and her husbands, Wm. A. Sturdivant and Claude M. Grokett.
Mary is survived by her brother Georg A. and wife Bessie L. (Parr) Lighthall, of Dwight, KS; two nephews, Gregory S. Lighthall, Bellingham, Washington and David L. Lighthall, of Carbondale, KSg, great nephews, Dylan Lighthall and wife Patty, Wenatchee, WA, Daniel Malone and wife Katie, of Lee Summit, MO, Austin Lighthall, Jeremiah Haddox, both of Carbondale, KS, Colton Lighthall, of Denver, CO, Maverick Johns, of Randolph, KS. She is also survived by great nieces, Willow (Lighthall) and husband Ian Hein, Elizabeth Lighthall, all of Wenatchee, WA, Sarah Malone, of Randolph, KS and Mariah Lighthall, of Carbondale, KS.
At her request, Mary has been cremated. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
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Paul Elliot, 75 of Abilene passed away Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Salina Regional Hospital. He was born October 20, 1940 in DeKalb, County, Georgia, the son of James and Mattie (Locklear) Elliot. Paul moved to the Abilene area in 2003. Paul worked for Lockheed Martin and was a sign painter. He was a member of the Union Lodge #7 in Junction City and the Isis Shriner’s of Salina. He was a former member of the Rose Creek Baptist Church in Woodstock, GA.
Paul is survived by his two daughters, Suzanna Thomason of Austell, Georgia and Paula Harris of Powder Springs, Georgia. Three grandchildren: Jennifer Thomason, Tyler Harris and Nicholas Harris. Six step-children and numerous step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three wives, Shirley Elliot, Jerri Rutz-Elliot and Arletta Powers-Elliot.
Funeral services for Paul will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home with Alan Heath officiating. Burial will follow at the Abilene City Cemetery. Family will receive friends Monday evening from 6-8 P.M., at the funeral home. The family of Paul Elliot suggests memorials be given to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW Third St., Abilene, Kansas 67410.
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Council Grove – Harry Elbert Wirsig, 88, of Dunlap, Kansas passed away Saturday, February 27th, at his home.
He was born April 6, 1927 in Dunlap to Charles and Effie (Cannon) Wirsig. He graduated from Dunlap High School in 1945. In 1947, Harry married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Edwards.
Over the years, Harry worked at Beechcraft, Morris County Hospital, Didde Glaser, Thomas Gas and Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home. Even though he worked various jobs over his lifetime, his love of farming kept him working the family farm, always praying for the perfect weather for planting, growing, and harvesting.
Harry was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He sang for many years with a barbershop quartet. He enjoyed playing cards, dancing, playing the guitar and spending time with his extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Charles and Bill Wirsig; and two sisters, Nellye Colvin and Margaret Mary Osborn.
Harry is survived by his wife, Margaret, of the home; daughter, Kathy Beals and her husband Ray, Emporia; daughter, Sherry Anderson and husband Kurtis, Dodge City; son, Gary Wirsig and wife Doreen, Lawrence; son, Gene Wirsig and wife Tammi, Emporia; and son, Bill Wirsig and wife Jane, Dunlap; 22 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandson.
Rosary will be at 6:30 P.M., Thursday, March 3rd. Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 4th. Both services will be held at St. Rose Catholic Church in Council Grove. Interment will follow at Dunlap Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to one of Harry’s favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Hand in Hand Hospice in Emporia. They may be sent in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.
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Retha Marie Knox was born August 3, 1931 in Clay Center, Kansas. She was the daughter of Howard and Lucille Hileman.
On June 18, 1950 Retha married Melvin Kenneth Knox of Palmer, Kansas. Retha and Melvin met at the movie theater in Clay Center in the late 40’s where Retha was employed popping popcorn for the patrons of the theater. Soon after marriage they relocated to Salina, Kansas because Melvin had secured a job with the Kansas Highway Department where they then started their family.
Retha and Melvin decided early on that Retha would remain in the home until all the children were in school full days before she would work outside the home even though the extra money was much needed, parenting was their primary responsibility.
Retha worked in Salina in later years after her 6 children were all in school, as a waitress at the former Mars Restaurant as well as the former Hilton Inn in downtown Salina. Her family always enjoyed her homemade breads, cookies and pastries from the oven and her home canned fruits and vegetables. She was always making jams and jellies. Sometimes her jams would not set up and her family loved these “failures” as she called them because they were great on flapjacks and waffles as well as bread hot from the oven! She always made bread as she had a huge distaste for store bought bread and continued to make bread well into her late 60’s by hand so she could “feel the dough as she knead it until it felt right.”
In 1994 Retha and Melvin moved lock, stock and barrel to Coloma, Michigan where they purchased an Apartment complex with their son, Kevin Arthur Knox. They loved their place in Michigan right on Lake Michigan. Her family returned Retha back to Salina, Kansas in October 2015 due to failing health. Retha has turned over the day to day Apartment Complex operation to her sons. Retha and Melvin fell in love with their Michigan hide-a-way next to Lake Michigan where they could hear the Lake when it was angry, the waves beating the shoreline as well as hear that same wind whispering through the pine tree next to their deck. Retha and Melvin looked forward to May through September when they were busy picking strawberries and blueberries from the many large acres of fruits from nearby farm markets which they put in the freezer as well as making jams and jelly for those wonderful snowy, cold Michigan winters.
Retha was preceded in death by her husband Melvin and their youngest son Kevin Arthur. Retha is survived by Gary and wife Louise, Ronald, Sherri Hill and husband Jerry, Kathy Peters-Doty, all of Salina and Steven and wife Cindy of Minneapolis and 9 Grandchildren, 10 Great Grandchildren, 2 Great, Great Grandchildren.
Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home in Clay Center, KS
Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Vining, KS
Memorials to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital c/o the funeral home
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MARGARET SARVER, 86 died February 27, 2016 at Linn Community Nursing Home in Linn, KS. She was born on June 18, 1929 in Portland, OR, the daughter of Robert and Emma (Hedlind) Sarver. Margaret was raised in Oregon and Washington states before moving to Clay Center with her family in 1945. She was preceded in death by parents.
Private services will be held at a later date
Memorials: Linn Community Nursing Home c/o the funeral home
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DORIS A. PALMATEER, 86 died February 27, 2016 at Golden LivingCenter in Wakefield, KS. She was born on April 29, 1929 in Dickinson County, KS, the daughter of Robert and Agnes (Heigele) Palmateer. Doris made her home in the Longford Community her entire life. She was a member of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Longford. She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Josephine Steinbruck and Belle Balfour Chaffee, four brothers, George, Charlie, Robert and Frank Palmateer.
Survivors:
Brother: John and wife Beverly Palmateer, Manhattan, KS
Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 10:30AM at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Longford, KS
Officiating the service will be Pastor Deborah Thomsett-Welch
Inurnment will be in Rose Meron, Clay County, KS
Memorials: Golden LivingCenter or the church c/o the funeral home.
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Shirley R. Lucero Estrada, 69, of McPherson, passed away on Friday, February 26, 2016, surrounded by family at McPherson Hospital. She had worked as a CNA in the McPherson County area for 34 years.
Shirley was born on August 24, 1946, in Las Animas, CO, the daughter of Ralph and Flossie (Hernandez) Lucero. She graduated from Las Animas High School in Colorado and attended Otero College in La Junta, Colorado.
Shirley enjoyed playing bingo and lottery. Her two Chihuahuas, Paco and Chapita, were extra special to her.
Survivors include: her companion of over 30 years, Harold Allen of the home; three sons, Matthew Lucero of McPherson, KS, Ronnie Lucero and wife, Paula, of Thorton, CO, and Lonnie Lucero and wife, Bonnie, of Lakewood, CO; sister, Betty Trujillo; three brothers, Pete Lucero, Jerry Lucero, and Louie Lucero; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by; her parents, Ralph and Flossie Lucero; son, Vernon Pat Velasquez; brothers, Ralph Lucero, Raymond Lucero, and Joe Lucero.
A memorial service will be held in Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Shirley R. Lucero Estrada memorial fund in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
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Charles R. Kleveland, son of Ervin H. Kleveland and Rozelle M. (Howell) Kleveland was born December 19, 1942 at Belleville, Kansas and passed away on February 26, 2016 at his home in Chester, Nebraska at the age of 73 years, 2 months and 7 days.
Chuck graduated from Chester High School in 1961. He was united in marriage to Kathleen Ogilvie on August 13, 1964. After graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Chuck, Kathy and Chas moved to Rochester, New York, where he worked for Eastman Kodak for two years. While there, daughter Rebecca was born and shortly thereafter the family moved to Belleville, Kansas and then to Chester, Nebraska where he lived the rest of his years. After moving to Chester, the births of Amy and David completed the family. For the next 11 years, Chuck worked with his father Ervin “Shorty” Kleveland until his passing at which time Chuck took over the business for the next 37 years.
Chuck was a loyal member of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, a past member of the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, served on the Chester town board, and was a long time member and past president of the Nebraska Petroleum Marketers Association.
Chuck enjoyed hunting for game birds and fishing and was a huge Nebraska Husker football fan. However, his greatest joy in life was his family: wife Kathy, four children, and most especially , his 6 grandchildren. He enjoyed taking his family (and at times extra kids) on vacations to Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Kathy to places like Alaska and Panama and enjoyed taking many other cruises together.
Chuck not only loved cruising the waters, but also the streets of Chester and roads of Thayer County. He loved being able to take his granddaughters out to learn how to drive, regardless of age or whether their parents knew what was up.
Chuck will always be known for his kindness, humor, and generosity. He truly enjoyed cooking for everyone else even while battling cancer. His beef jerky was a local treat for many whom he delighted in sharing. So many will remember Chuck for wanting to take care of everyone else, which was how he showed his love.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Rozelle Kleveland, one grandson, Taylor.
He is survived by his wife Kathy Kleveland of Chester, Nebraska, two sons, Charles R. Kleveland Jr of Kearney, Nebraska, David Kleveland of Kearney, Nebraska, two daughters, Rebecca (Brian) Hulse of Bruning, Nebraska, Amy (Roger) Crouse of Chester, Nebraska, six grandchildren, Kelsey, Brian, Adam, Madalyn, Stephanie, Brynna, two brothers, Steve Kleveland of Hastings, Nebraska, James Kleveland of Iowa, three sisters, Ramona Mumford of Omaha, Nebraska, Barbara Kasl of Hebron, Nebraska, Charlotte Gonzales of Beatrice, Nebraska, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held Eleven AM, Wednesday, March 2, 2016, United Methodist Church, Chester, Nebraska, conducted by, Pastor Mark Baldwin.
Interment will be in Chester Cemetery, Chester, Nebraska.
Memorials may be given to Family Choice.
Friends may call on Tuesday from 9 AM to 9 PM at Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, Kansas, where the family will receive friends from 6 PM to 8 PM
Online condolences and information at www.bachelor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS. in charge of arrangements.
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Wanda (Graybill) Hedberg passed away February 29, 2016, at Bethany Home, Lindsborg. She was born, July 7, 1925, in Salina, daughter of Weldon and Madline (Phillips) Graybill.
She married Harvey Hedberg in Salina, December 6, 1963. He preceded her in death.
Survivors: son, Scott Acree, Falun, step-son, Jerald (Elizabeth) Hedberg , Lindsborg, step-daughters, Nancy (Vincent) Montoy, Lindsborg, and Janice (Mike) Shelley, Howard, Kansas, 9 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Wanda was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lindsborg and the ABW. She enjoyed camping and spending time with her grandchildren.
Visitation Wednesday, March 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. with family present 6-7 p.m. at Christians Funeral Home, Lindsborg. Funeral service Thursday, March 3 at 10 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Lindsborg with burial following at the Falun Cemetery.
Memorials may be designated to the First Baptist Church, Lindsborg, in care of Christians Funeral Home 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67456.