Obituaries

May 11, 2018

Jeffrey K. 'Jeff' Giffin, 54, formerly of Hutchinson, died Friday, May 11, 2018, at his home in Winfield, KS. He was born April 19, 1964, in Orlando, FL, the son of Larry L. and Sharon K. (Coffman) Giffin. Jeff was a 1982 graduate of Hutchinson High School and then attended Hutchinson Community College and Fort Hays State University. He was...

May 10, 2018

Jim Hopengardner, 84, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born September 7, 1933, in Hutchinson, to Earl and Katie (Burling) Hopengardner. Jim graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1951. He served in the United States Navy, during the Korean War, from 1953 to 1955. Jim was the owner of Central Glass, working there...

May 8, 2018

Beverly Ann Johnson, 71, died May 8, 2018, at her home in rural Plevna. She was born August 9, 1946, in San Diego, California, to LaVern and Lorene (King) Young. Beverly attended Arlington Schools, but they closed her senior year. Subsequently, she graduated from Partridge High School in 1965 and Sidney's Hairdressing College in 1973. She was a hairdresser, prep...

May 6, 2018

It is with sadness that the family of Lois Charlyne Wilt announces her passing after a brief illness on Sunday, May 6, 2018, at the age of 92 years. She will be greatly missed by her devoted and loving husband, Warren, of almost 72 years, her children, and grandchildren. Charlyne and Warren were married on August 8, 1946 in...

May 4, 2018

Carl Joseph Buhrman, 89, of Hutchinson, died Friday, May 4, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born January 5, 1929, in Attica, Kansas, the son of Charlie and Mary (Nicholson) Buhrman. Carl graduated from Attica High School in 1948, and was drafted into the United States Army in 1951. He was stationed at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina,...

May 3, 2018

Sherrill Lee Bredfeldt, 84, of Hutchinson, died May 3, 2018, Hospice House, Hutchinson. Survived by: wife, Connie of the home; sister, Carol Hutton of Corona, CA; and brother, Ronald of Arlington. At Sherrill's request, cremation has taken place and there will be no services. Memorials may be made to Hutchinson Public Library, in care of Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

May 2, 2018

Michael P. 'Mike' Baker, 62, of Hutchinson, died Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. He was born April 16, 1956, in Long Beach, California, to Earl and Laura (Cook) Baker. Mike worked at Tyson Foods as a maintenance mechanic for over 16 years. He also enjoyed stamp collecting and performing small electrical repair work for family and...

May 1, 2018

Darold E. Devena, 85, of Hutchinson, joined his Savior in his heavenly home, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community, Buhler.  He was born February 28, 1933, in Columbus, Kansas, to Edward 'Ernie' and Mary (Daniels) Devena.

Darold graduated from Haven High School in 1951 and then entered the United States Army, proudly serving during...

Apr 28, 2018

Virginia Pearl 'Gin' Greer, 102, of Langdon, died April 28, 2018, at Mennonite Friendship Communities in South Hutchinson. She was born February 12, 1916, to Otto Wayne Dell and Liza (Leroux) Cunningham on the family farm near Preston. Virginia graduated from Preston High School in 1934. On August 22, 1934, she married Conrad Wells in Hutchinson. He died on October...

Apr 27, 2018

Wesley E. Wills, 64, of South Hutchinson, died April 27, 2018, at Diversicare of Hutchinson. He was born February 10, 1954, in Yoder, to Wesley M. and Luleta (Buck) Wills. He worked for Pepsi Beverage Corporation for 20 years, starting out as a driver and working his way up to an office job. Later, he worked for Sears in their...

Apr 27, 2018

Robert John 'Bob' Reece, 72, died Friday, April 27, 2018, at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, Kansas. He was born July 8, 1945, in Hutchinson, the son of John F. and Elizabeth Jane (Ferguson) Reece.  Bob lived in the Langdon and Turon area all of his life and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1963. In 1967, he graduated...

Apr 25, 2018

Patricia C. Verstraete passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at her home in Langdon. She was born March 31, 1946, in Pittsburg, Kansas, to Jack and Velma (Devine) Long Sr. She is survived by: husband, Gary; sons, Wilson (Janelle), and Bradley; grandchildren, Ashley Dylan, Cassandra; numerous great-grandchildren; three brothers, Jack Long Jr., (Glenda) Steve Long, all of St. Cloud,...

Apr 25, 2018

Dr. William DeWitt "Bill" McLaurine, Jr., 63, died Wednesday, April 25, 2018, at Prairie Sunset Home, Pretty Prairie. He was born February 5, 1955, in Nashville, TN, to William D. and Bessie L. (Tidwell) McLaurine Sr.

William received his PhD in psychology from Capella University  and two Master's degrees. William worked for Hutchinson Correctional Facility for 13...

Apr 24, 2018

Donna Mae Rump, 88, of Hutchinson, died Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. She was born August 18, 1929, at Clinton, Kansas, the daughter of William Ray and Erma (Weybright) Harrell. She was a 1947 graduate of Lawrence High School. Donna was a charter member of both Northminster and New Covenant Presbyterian Churches, serving as a deacon and...

Apr 24, 2018

Ronald Smith 'Ron' Wagerle, 82, of Hutchinson, died April 24, 2018, at Wesley Tower's Hester Care Center, Hutchinson, with Hospice of Reno County in attendance. He was born September 3, 1935, in rural Sterling, the son of Henry J. and Stella M. (Smith) Wagerle. Ron graduated from Reno Community High School in 1953. He served in the United States Navy...

Apr 22, 2018

Donald Leon Shorter, 84, died Monday, April 23, 2018, at his son's home in Goddard.  He was born May 18, 1933, in Ponca City, OK, to Ivan and Lucille (Ward) Shorter.

Leon graduated from Tonkawa High School in Tonkawa, OK, and Bartlesville Business College in Bartlesville, OK. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to...

Apr 22, 2018

Lee Graham, 74, of Hutchinson, died Sunday, April 22, 2018, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.  He was born May 4, 1943, in Hays, to Harrison Keith and Ilis Fannie (McGuire) Graham.

Lee graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1961 and attended Hutchinson Community College.  He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.   Lee inspected...

Apr 19, 2018

Apr 19, 2018

Joan Pauline Rodgers, 85, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, April 19, 2018, at Sunshine Meadows Retirement Community, Buhler. She was born November 4, 1932, in Halstead, the daughter of Homer and Pauline (Schaplowsky) Stewart. Joan graduated from Mount Hope High School in 1951 and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Eastwood Church of Christ. On June 29,...

Apr 18, 2018

Warren Ray Whithorn,  79, of Hutchinson, passed away on April 18, 2018.  He was born on February 17, 1939, in Nevada, Missouri, to Virgil and Almeda Whithorn.

Warren attended Hutchinson High School and Sidney's Hairdressing College and was a licensed cosmetologist.

For a short period of time, he worked as a CNA for elders suffering...