Obituaries

Apr 20, 2020

Juan Barrera-Cantu, 61, died April 20, 2020, at his daughter's home.  He was born January 12, 1959, in Matamoros, Mexico, to Manuel and Librada (Cantu) Barrera.

Juan worked as a mechanic.  He enjoyed working on cars and loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Juan is survived by: his children, Guadalupe (Sergio) Pineda...

Apr 19, 2020

Melba Inez Smith, 85, died April 19, 2020, at her home. She was born March 6, 1935, in Graham, Oklahoma, the daughter of A.C. and Tressie (Gage) Self.

Melba graduated from high school in Hobbs, New Mexico, and worked in the fabrication department at Kaiser Aluminum for many years. She was a longtime member of Eagles Aerie...

Apr 19, 2020

Richard Ratzlaff, 96, of Hutchinson, died April 19, 2020, at Hospice House, in Hutchinson.

He was born June 9, 1923, to Dan and Anna (Graber) Ratzlaff, in Pretty Prairie.

He grew up on a farm and spent his first eight years at Sam Hill Grade School. He graduated from Castleton High School in 1941 and...

Apr 19, 2020

Allen Dale Roberson, 63, died April 19, 2020, at his home.  He was born May 14, 1956, in Hutchinson, to Thomas F. 'Tommy' and Mary Catherine (Berry) Roberson.

Allen graduated Hutchinson High School in 1974, and Hutchinson Community College.  He retired as a salesman with Dillard's in Wichita, and most recently, enjoyed volunteering at the Delos V....

Apr 18, 2020

Maxine Powell, 95, of Hutchinson, died April 18, 2020, at Legend of Hutchinson.  She was born September 5, 1924, in Smith County, to Allen and Hilma Irene (Drotts) Detwiler.

Maxine was a graduate of Athol High School, Athol, KS, and Sterling College, Sterling, KS.  She taught school for 22 years at Obee School, Hutchinson, and was a...

Apr 18, 2020

Irvin Ray Schmidt, 88, of Hutchinson, died April 18, 2020, at his home. He was born August 26, 1931, in Greensburg, to Louis and Lodie (Wadel) Schmidt.

Irvin attended Greensburg High School. He was a truck driver for Kraft Foods and retired from Vulcan Chemicals. Irvin attended Journey Mennonite Church, South Hutchinson.

On October 1,...

Apr 17, 2020

Aavon M. Powers, 97, died April 17, 2020, at Hester Care Center.  She was born February 14, 1923, in Garden City, to Lester Layson and Bessie (Pace) Mendenhall.

Aavon graduated from Dodge City High School in 1940, and Dodge City Community College in 1942.  She was a Claims Representative for the Hutchinson Social Security Administration.  Aavon was...

Apr 17, 2020

Bobby Joe Van Buren Sr., 83, formerly of Hutchinson, died April 17, 2020. He was born January 31, 1937, in Arrow Rock, MO, the son of William H. and Thelma L. (Huff) Van Buren.

Bobby graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1954. He served 23 years in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1977, retiring...

Apr 16, 2020

Dale Dean Howard, 63, of Hutchinson, died April 16, 2020, at his home. He was born July 17, 1956, in Quinter, to William 'Bill' Dean and Twila Marie (Curtis) Howard.

Dale graduated from Dighton High School in 1974, and attended Hutchinson Community College, where he studied business and accounting.  He began his 44-year career in May 1976...

Apr 15, 2020

Born November 16, 1926, at her parents' home near Greenleaf, KS, Valera Hermena Harz Wieters was the daughter of Otto Carl Harz and Hermena Clara Genschorck Harz. She was baptized December 4, 1926, by Pastor Theodore Stolp. On March 17, 1940, she was confirmed by Pastor Oscar Bohnert at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Greenleaf.

Valera attended seven years...

Apr 14, 2020

James Dean 'Jim' Peterson, 73, died April 14, 2020, at his home.  He was born April 16, 1946, in Fort Scott, the son of James H. and Doris M. (Dennison) Peterson.

Jim graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1964 and Pittsburg State University in 1968.  He taught Industrial Arts at Highland Park High School in Topeka...

Apr 13, 2020

James Torbert, 65, died April 13, 2020, at his home. He was born April 14, 1954, in Hutchinson, to Lonnie and Lovella (Gingerich) Torbert.

James graduated from Partridge High School in 1972.  He retired from Rainbow Bakery.  James was very independent and enjoyed collecting coins, watching old country shows, and shooting guns.  His greatest enjoyment was spending...

Apr 12, 2020

Everett Lee Olson, 94, of Hutchinson, died April 12, 2020, at Hospice House. He was born January 13, 1926, in Big Creek Township, to Virgil and Myrtle (McGuffey) Olson.

Everett graduated from Chanute High School in 1943.  He served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII.  Everett then became a licensed engineer in 1951. He...

Apr 11, 2020

Viola Nadine McCue, 93, of South Hutchinson, died April 11, 2020, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.  She was born November 16, 1926, in Hutchinson, to Everett Carlson and Leora Helen (Finnell) Casey.

Nadine was a bookkeeper and bowling instructor for 17 years at Riverside Lanes, South Hutchinson.  She retired after nine years of working at Lawrence Vending,...

Apr 10, 2020

Herbert 'Herb' Warren, 81, died April 10, 2020, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born January 16, 1939, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, to James and Eileen (McNitt) Warren.

Herb was a 1956 graduate of Pratt High School and had been a conductor for Union Pacific Railroad for 43 years.

His favorite hobbies and pastimes...

Apr 8, 2020

David Stanley Wagler, 77, died April 8, 2020, at his home.  He was born January 25, 1943, in Hutchinson, to Willie and Alma (Nisly) Wagler.

David was a 1969 graduate of Bethel College, Newton, and attended graduate school at Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL.  He was an administrator for the Slavic Gospel Association from 1973 to 1992.  David...

Apr 7, 2020

Susan R. Durbin-Grindley, 58, of Hutchinson, died April 7, 2020, at Hutchinson Health and Rehab. She was born March 21, 1962, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Robert and Bonnie (Smith) Leslie.

Susan graduated from Central High School in 1980. She enjoyed journaling and painting.

On May 7, 2004, Susan married Charles R. Grindley, in Hutchinson....

Apr 7, 2020

Janet Clair Ryan, 94, of Hutchinson, died April 7, 2020, at Hospice House, Hutchinson.  She was born March 13, 1926, in Hutchinson, to Matthew Patrick and Mary Elizabeth (Maloney) Ryan.

Janet worked as a housekeeper and was a member of St. Teresa Catholic Church, Hutchinson.

She is survived by:  her brother, Bob (Marta) Ryan of...

Apr 6, 2020

Roxanne Johnson, 73, loving wife, mother, grandma, and sister, died Monday, April 6, 2020, at Wheatlands Health Care Center, Kingman. She was born on February 21, 1947, in Ottawa, to Dr. W. Harry and Helen (Groves) Lennard.

She was a 1965 graduate of Ottawa High School and received a journalism degree from the University of Kansas in...

Apr 6, 2020

Lioba J. Schmidt, 90, of Hutchinson, passed away April 6, 2020, at her daughter's home, in Edmond, OK, surrounded by her family. She was born December 15, 1929, in Emmeram, KS, to Adam and Anna (Scheck) Windholz.

A Hutchinson resident since 1960, she was a retired employee of USD 308-Hutchinson Public Schools, where she worked as a...