Obituaries

Apr 4, 2022

Theodore Calvin Ronen, better known as Ted, 86, Hutchinson KS, died on April 4, 2022, at Hospice House.

He was born July 29, 1935, in Wichita KS, to William Loren and Marie Olivette (Weihe) Ronen.  He grew up in Kansas and was a graduate of St. John High School in 1953.  He graduated from Kansas State Teachers...

Apr 3, 2022

Leah Fern Walker Crotts, 96, died April 3, 2022, in Pretty Prairie. She was born December 5, 1925, in Bluff City, KS, to Walter and Ida (Preheim) Walker, the fifth of seven children.

Fern graduated from Bluff City High School and Grace Hospital School of Nursing.  On August 24, 1947, she married Harold Eugene Crotts, in Harper,...

Apr 2, 2022

Barbara Jane Spencer, 80, died April 2, 2022, at Diversicare of Hutchinson. She was born October 21, 1941, in Hutchinson, to Bill and Marjorie (Goodwin) Wallace.

Barb graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1958. She did some modeling in her teenage years. Barb was an avid frog collector, amassing nearly 4,000 frogs. She also enjoyed making Christmas...

Apr 2, 2022

Carol Nurse Vester, 84, died April 2, 2022, after a long battle with IPF.  She was born January 16, 1938, in rural Barber County, KS, to Walter Scott and Ethel (Hunt) Nurse.

Carol attended schools in Barber County and graduated from Oklahoma State University (OSU).  She was a member of and strong supporter of the Alpha Chi...

Apr 2, 2022

Funeral services for Linda Kay Branson, 77, Lawrence, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 8, 2022, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson.  Burial will follow in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson.  The family will greet friends from 9:30 a.m. to service time Friday at Elliott Mortuary. Linda died April 2, 2022, at LMH Health in Lawrence, in the company of...

Apr 2, 2022

Evelyn A. Woerz, 89, died April 2, 2022, at Diversicare of Hutchinson. She was born April 4, 1932, in Great Bend, to Charles and Mary (Bieberle) Beck.

Evelyn married William W. Woerz on October 12, 1954, in Claflin. They moved to Hutchinson in 1959. Evelyn was a homemaker. William died on June 26, 1987, followed by her...

Apr 1, 2022

David Van Asselt, 76, of Hutchinson, passed away in his home, Friday, April 1, 2022. He was born January 7, 1946, in Zeeland, Michigan and graduated from Grand Haven High School. David moved to Hutchinson with his family in 1979.

David was co-owner and head salesman for Lea J. Alan Enterprises, Inc. in Newton, KS. He was...

Apr 1, 2022

William 'Will' Frank Ruckle, 80, passed away April 1, 2022, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.  He was born August 23, 1941, in Wichita, to Frank and Melba (Barricklow) Ruckle.

Will lived on a farm south of Cheney for 42 years, before moving to Hutchinson 10 years ago.  He was the owner of Ruckle Manufacturing, where he worked...

Mar 31, 2022

Armella Marie Pohl, 85, died March 31, 2022, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born April 9, 1936, at rural Mt. Hope, Kansas, to Werner and Margaret (Halfmann) Orth.

Armella worked at Holy Cross Catholic School in the kitchen and was a custodial assistant, as well as working in partnership with her husband in their painting business....

Mar 30, 2022

Roger Earl Eckert, 81, passed away March 30, 2022, at Hospice House. He was born July 14, 1940, in Hutchinson, to Earl and Laberta (Stanke-Cook) Eckert.

Roger grew up in Hutchinson and attended Hutchinson schools. He served in the United States Army from 1961-1962. Roger worked as a plasterer for over 50 years - first with his...

Mar 30, 2022

Brenda Purdue, 61, died unexpectedly March 30, 2022.  She was born February 4, 1961, in Hutchinson, to Jesse Franklin and Erma Lee (Ahrens) Reed.

Brenda graduated from Hutchinson High School, and for over 20 years, was the billing manager at Health-E-Quip. She enjoyed traveling, enjoying adult beverages with her friends, and eating at Anchor Inn.  Above all,...

Mar 30, 2022

Kenneth E. Shank, 93, died March 30, 2022, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.  He was born February 24, 1929, in Priest River, ID, to Audra and Robert Shank.

Kenneth is survived by:  his wife of 68 years, Bonnie Shank; sisters, Gloria Garcia, Lucille Kidder, and Dorothy Knauss; nephews, Duane Beichley (Kathleen), Chuck Snapp, and John Snapp; nieces, Linda...

Mar 28, 2022

Gregorio Sergio "Greg" Mesa, 62, died March 28, 2022, at Hospice House.  He was born April 9, 1959, in Hutchinson, to Luis and Socorro (Valenzuela) Mesa.

Greg was a longtime Hutchinson resident.  He loved music, especially rock and roll and jazz.  Greg played the guitar in a number of bands, and passed his love for music and...

Mar 28, 2022

Weldon Arthur Cook, 81, passed away March 28, 2022, at Mennonite Friendship Communities, South Hutchinson.  He was born October 30, 1940, in Hutchinson, to Arthur Sydney and Evelyn Irene (Schnurr) Cook.

Weldon was a 1958 graduate of Partridge High School, Partridge.  He was employed as the warehouse manager at Pepsi Cola for 28 years, and then worked...

Mar 28, 2022

Waylon James Beshears was born in silence March 28, 2022, to Dalton James Beshears and Taylor Michelle Britain.

Waylon is survived by:  his parents, Dalton and Taylor; 20-month-old sister, Everleigh Beshears; paternal grandparents, Travis and April Beshears, maternal grandparents, David Britain and Jason Goertz, all of Hutchinson; aunts and uncles, Dylan, Alex, Carter, Bailey, and Chailey; and...

Mar 28, 2022

Marian Joan "Jo" Murphy, 91, died March 28, 2022, at Hospice House. She was born January 11, 1931, in Cleveland, MO, to Albert and Beulah (Hockensmith) Witherspoon.

Jo graduated from Waverly High School in 1949. She was a homemaker and very devoted to her husband and family. Jo was an avid quilter who stitched all her quilts...

Mar 28, 2022

Iola Ferne Clements, 97, of Hutchinson, died March 28, 2022, at Mennonite Friendship Communities. She was born February 24, 1925, in Davenport, Nebraska, to Cuthbert and Cordie (Snyder) Miller.

Iola graduated from Davenport High School in 1942, and then earned her teaching certificate. Before she was married, she taught in a one room country schoolhouse for two...

Mar 27, 2022

Jameson Scott Driskell was born at 7:50 a.m. March 25, 2022, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, to Joshua Scott Driskell and Kaci Marie Ferguson.  He gained his angel wings two days later on March 27, 2022.

Jameson is survived by:  his parents, Josh and Kaci; sisters, Jillian Ferguson, Willow Driskell, and Oakley Driskell; twin brother, Easton Eugene...

Mar 26, 2022

Gary Dee Jacobs, 82, passed away March 26, 2022, at Hutchinson Health and Rehab.  He was born January 1, 1940, in Lyons, to Melville and Juanita (Clark) Jacobs.

Gary was a 1957 graduate of Hutchinson High School.  He worked in the lab at Eaton Corporation, retiring with over 40 years of service.  Gary was a member of...

Mar 25, 2022

Nancy "Nan" Dowzer Meschke, 93, died March 25, 2022, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.  She was born September 22, 1928, in Ann Arbor, MI, to Orville L. and Nancy (Curry) Dowzer.

Nan graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1946.  She attended Smith College, Northhampton, MA, before graduating from Katharine Gibbs School, Melville, NY, in 1949.  Nan was...