Obituaries

Jan 11, 2026

Alex Thomas Gianakon, 90, passed away peacefully January 11, 2026, at Mennonite Friendship Communities, South Hutchinson. He was born December 16, 1935, in Hutchinson to Athanasios Thomas and Flora (Apostolou) Gianakopoulos.

Alex graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1953. He served his country following graduation and is an Army veteran. Alex loved watching sports and always rooted...

Jan 11, 2026

Donald C. "Don" Erickson, 74, of Buhler, died January 11, 2026, at Thorne Living Center, Hutchinson. He was born March 26, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri, to W.K. Erickson, Sr. and Edna May (Sickler) Erickson. The family moved to Hutchinson in 1958.

Don graduated from Buhler High School in 1969 and attended Hutchinson Community College. He served...

Jan 10, 2026

Gerald "Jerry" Elton Sanderson, 93, passed away January 10, 2026, at Ascension St. Francis, Wichita. He was born the fourth of five children, on February 3, 1932, in Hutchinson, to Charles Elton and Gladys Alma (McClintock) Sanderson.

Jerry graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1950 and attended Hutchinson Community College in 1952. He joined the Naval Reserve...

Jan 10, 2026

Sharon Floy Breneman, 85, died January 10, 2026, at Hester Care- The Wesley.  She was born May 17, 1940, to Roy and Floy Gorsuch Breneman in Portage, Wisconsin.

Sharon graduated from Pardeeville (WI) High School in 1958, Calvary Bible College with a bachelor's in Christian Education in 1962, Sterling College with a bachelor's in Education in 1964,...

Jan 9, 2026

Karen Marie Quiring, 72, of Hutchinson, died January 9, 2026, at Hospice House. She was born September 29, 1953, in Seneca, to Alvin Wendell "Red" and Doris June (Hiatt) Walker.

Karen graduated from Newton High School. In addition to being a devoted mother and homemaker, she contributed more than 25 years of service to the business office...

Jan 9, 2026

Lucinda "Cindy" Coletta Smith, 73, of Hutchinson, passed away January 9, 2026, at her home. She was born March 19, 1952, in Wichita, Kansas, to Norman and Dorothy (Walls) Bekemeyer.

On April 5, 1975, Cindy married Richard Smith, in Wichita. They shared 43 years of marriage before his death on June 29, 2018.

Cindy loved...

Jan 8, 2026

Charles Stephen "Steve" Brown, 75, died January 8, 2026, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.  He was born May 25, 1950, in Fort Scott, to Charles Robert and Dorothy Lou (Calame) Brown.

Steve graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1968.  He was the recipient of numerous awards in high school including the "Young American Award", and set and broke...

Jan 8, 2026

Bill M. Barron, 78, of Hutchinson, died January 8, 2026, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He was born November 27, 1947, in Wichita, to Raymond E. "Rex" and Marie W. "Billie" (Meyer) Barron.

Bill graduated from Hutchinson High School and attended Hutchinson Community College. He served in the United States Army Reserves. Bill...

Jan 7, 2026

Sherrill Jeanne "Sherry" Ball, 81, of Hutchinson, died January 7,2026, at Pleasant View Home, Inman.  She was born on October 22, 1944, in McPherson, Kansas, to Burdette and Ruby (Krehbiel) Johnson.

Sherry graduated from Hutch High in 1962, attended HCC for 1 year, transferring to Kansas State University, graduating in 1966 with a BS in Home Economics...

Jan 7, 2026

Sabra Marie Seifert, 76, passed away on January 7, 2026, at Hospice House in Hutchinson. She was born July 21, 1949, in Moline, IL, to Russell Lorraine and Patricia Louise (McCormick) Hanna.

Throughout her life, Sabra focused on her family. She was truly a homebody, who found joy in the simplest things in life. She enjoyed working...

Jan 6, 2026

Karen Dee Thielen, passed away January 6, 2026, at Mennonite Friendship Communities in South Hutchinson. She was born April 30, 1943, in Wilson, KS, to Glenn Harvey and Mildred Mae (Branda) Whitmer.

In 1961, Karen graduated from Wilson High School in her home town. Shortly after, she enrolled at Brown Mackie College in Salina, where she pursued...

Jan 6, 2026

Francisco P. "Frank" Torrez, Sr., 84, died January 6, 2026, surrounded by his family, at his home in Hutchinson.  He was the youngest child born to Silbestre and Isabelle (Ruiz) Torrez on December 18, 1941, in Larned.

Frank retired from Eaton Corporation, after over 40 years of service. He enjoyed attending estate sales and spending time with...

Jan 6, 2026

Pamela Stella "Pam" Lindstrom, 76, died January 6, 2026, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born October 11, 1949, in Joplin, MO, to Clifford F. and Ida Fern (Jenkins) Watkins.

Pam graduated from Topeka West High School in 1967. She earned her Licensed Practical Nurse certificate from Kaw Valley Nursing School in 1969. Pam became a labor...

Jan 5, 2026

Kristi Ann "Kris" Ekum, 72, died January 5, 2026, at her home in Dodge City. She was born December 25, 1953, in McPherson, to Thomas Roy "Tom" and Gwendolyn Osa "Gwynn" (Roth) Ekum.

Kris graduated from McPherson High School in 1972; she went onto Fort Hays State University and received her bachelor's and master's degree in special...

Jan 4, 2026

Helen Virginia Thornburg, 85, of Hutchinson, passed away January 4, 2026, at Pleasant Hills. She was born March 9, 1940, in Forsyth County, Georgia, to H.B. and Vera A. (Lowry) Brown.

On April 26, 1958, Helen married LeRoy C. Thornburg, in Atlanta, GA. They met while he was serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning. She...

Jan 3, 2026

Bettie Jean (Sinclair) Burns, 90, of Hutchinson, passed away peacefully January 3, 2026, at Hospice House, surrounded by her loving family. She was born December 30, 1935, in rural Hodgeman County, the eldest daughter of Francis and Elma (Ehrlich) Sinclair.

Bettie graduated from Larned High School in 1954. On September 4, 1955, she married her high school...

Jan 2, 2026

Daniel Creighton Heller, 66, died January 2, 2026, at his home in Hutchinson. He was born June 12, 1959, in Kansas City, KS, to Kenneth Charles Heller and Margaret Velore Edwards.

Daniel worked as a welder and travelled frequently for work. He was a simple man with a free spirit. Daniel enjoyed riding his motorcycle. He loved...

Jan 2, 2026

Mary Gail (Hiley) Eldridge was born on February 17, 1951, in Brinkley, Arkansas, to Arnold Stanford Hiley and Mary Evalyna Hiley. The baby of the family, Gail (or Mary Gail, as many called her in her early years) grew up adored from the start—a fact that never changed in her 74 years on this earth. From the beginning, she...

Jan 1, 2026

James Oscar Dick, 93, died January 1, 2026.  He was born November 28, 1932, in Hutchinson, to John and Ursula Dick.

Jim began working at age 9 selling newspapers on December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day. He never stopped working even after officially retiring in 1994. He mowed five lawns a week through his mid-80s.

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Jan 1, 2026

Arturo Castillo Luna, 90, passed away January 1, 2026, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born May 30, 1935, in Multe Balancan, Tabasco, Mexico, to Lucio Castillo Ferrer and Isabel Luna Chan.

Arturo is survived by: his loving wife of 55 years, Candelaria Castillo; children, Laura Yaneth Castillo Sanchez, Antonia Maribel Castillo Sanchez, Rodolfo Castillo Sanchez,...