Obituaries

Jun 27, 2023

Esther Yoder, 90, died June 27, 2023, at Mennonite Friendship Communities, South Hutchinson. She was born May 17, 1933, in Hutchinson, to Jacob N. and Barbara Edna (Nisly) Yoder.

Esther was passionate about caring for and helping children and she impacted many people during her life. For many years she was a nanny for the McCoy family...

Jun 27, 2023

Douglas Duane "Doug" Cook, of Hutchinson, Kansas, died peacefully on June 27, 2023. Doug was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, and friend who will be missed by many.  He was born in a stone house in Carneiro, Kansas in 1932, and moved to Hutchinson when he was 10 years old. In the interim, his family moved to...

Jun 26, 2023

Jacob Robert Floyd Perry, of Hutchinson, died June 26, 2023, at his home, in Hutchinson. He was born June 28, 1996, in Hutchinson, to Dena Conner.

Jacob was a brilliant young man. His family called him their 'IT' guy. He would frequently work on and fix computers and various other electronics. When Jacob wasn't fixing computers, he...

Jun 26, 2023

Irene June Robinson, 93, of Caledonia, MI, died June 26, 2023, at Legacies Assisted Living. She was born June 21, 1930, in Great Bend, to Samuel and Margaret (Christians) Ahrens.

Irene graduated from Ellinwood High School and Hutchinson Community College. Before her children were born, Irene worked as a secretary at Morton Salt. She then stayed home...

Jun 22, 2023

Shirley Ann Dierks, 87, died June 22, 2023, in Hutchinson. She was born October 21, 1935, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, to Wilce and Ollie (Wilson) Spence.

Shirley was a homemaker as her children grew up and later did cleaning in homes and at the Lutheran school and church in Haven. She was a member of Bethany Nazarene Church...

Jun 22, 2023

Paul Victor 'Vic' Kropf, Jr., 78, of Hutchinson, died June 22, 2023, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born November 5, 1944, in Coldwater, KS, to Paul Victor, Sr. and Lela (Byram) Kropf.

Vic graduated from Coldwater High School and a business college. He worked for Grede Foundries as an industrial engineer. Vic enjoyed watching and participating...

Jun 22, 2023

Evelyn R. Rose, 88, of South Hutchinson, KS, passed away peacefully June 22, 2023, at Hutchinson Hospice House.  She was born to John C. and Lona (Rehmert) Wight on January 14, 1935, in Fall River, SD.  Evelyn met and married Donald L. Rose of Lewis, KS, on June 7, 1953, in her hometown of Kinsley, KS.

Don...

Jun 21, 2023

Austin William Rea, 29, of Fort Worth, TX, died June 21, 2023. He was born October 29, 1993, in Newton, to Troy A. Rea and Tanya S. (Laughlin) Ketchum.

Austin attended Trinity Jr./Sr. High School and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 2012. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator at Rock Solid, Inc. Austin enjoyed...

Jun 21, 2023

Raechell Dyanne (Christopher) Swanson, 25, entered Heaven's Gates on June 21, 2023. She was born April 16, 1998, in Wichita, to Dale and Mary Jane (Turpen) Christopher.

Raechell graduated from Hutchinson High School in 2015. She was an outgoing, loving, caring, passionate and classy young lady. Raechell loved helping the older generation. She especially loved helping her...

Jun 20, 2023

William 'Bill' Waine Ogden, 69, died June 20, 2023, at his residence in Hutchinson. He was born July 28, 1953, in Bowling Green, MO, to Mason and Virginia Hamlett (Lindemann) Ogden.

He graduated from Cunningham High School, Cunningham, KS in 1971. Right after graduating, he joined the U.S. Navy until his retirement in 2005. Following his years...

Jun 20, 2023

Sharon Kay Ansel, 76, of Hutchinson, died June 20, 2023, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born August 14, 1946, in Walsenburg, CO, to Mike and Rose R. (Zorich) Maxwell.

Sharon graduated from Walsenburg High School, attended Southern Colorado State College in Pueblo and Hutchinson Community College. She worked in the district offices of Nickerson USD...

Jun 17, 2023

Way Elmer Eikleberry, 80, died unexpectedly June 17, 2023, at his home.  He was born March 8, 1943, in Salina, to Ray Oren and Maude O. (Manon) Eikleberry.

Way graduated from Salina High School and worked as an insurance salesman and at Gregory, Inc.  He was one of a kind with his magnetic personality.  Way enjoyed playing...

Jun 17, 2023

Diana L. Lyons, 69, of Hutchinson, died June 17, 2023, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Wichita. She was born February 6, 1954, in Garden City, to Chester W. 'Bud' and Erma Joyce (Giesaking) Marker.

Diana graduated from Garden City High School in 1972. She also graduated from Brown Mackie College. She worked for Integrated Solutions Group,...

Jun 17, 2023

Orville Duane Dennis, 85, died June 17, 2023, at his home in Hutchinson. He was born May 16, 1938, in a farm house in Clay County, Hayes Township KS, to Frank Hudson and Viola Marie (Marsh) Dennis.

Orville attended a little one room school for a year and a half, then he transferred to Green Grade School...

Jun 16, 2023

Patricia Lee Simpson, 87, died peacefully at home in Hutchinson on June 16, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. She was in the comfort of family at the time of her passing.

Born on August 16, 1935, in Kansas City, KS, to Will and Edna (Welker) Farris, Pat graduated high school in Argentine, KS. She then...

Jun 15, 2023

Thomas Smith Hymer, 80, died June 15, 2023, at his home.  He was born November 24, 1942, in Omaha, NE, to Glenn Wade Hymer and Wilma Ruth (Smith) Hymer.

Thomas was a 1961 graduate of Benson High School, Omaha, NE.  He was the owner of the shoe store located in the Pegues Department Store, Hutchinson, KS, and...

Jun 15, 2023

William Leslie "Bill" Strawn, 61, of Hutchinson, died June 15, 2023, at his home. He was born October 13, 1961, in Hutchinson, to Howard L. and Nancy A. (Kirkbride) Strawn.

Bill graduated from Tribune High School in 1980. He was the owner and operator of Strawn Garage in Kinsley for over 30 years before returning to Hutchinson....

Jun 13, 2023

Donald Joseph "Don" Murray, 86, of Nickerson, died June 13, 2023, at his home. He was born August 21, 1936, in Mound Valley, to Joseph S. and Eunice O. (Traxson) Murray.

Don graduated from Nickerson High School. He became a certified electrician and owned his own business in Johnson before moving to Colorado Springs, CO, and working...

Jun 12, 2023

Harriett 'Gail' Wolfe, 79, of Hutchinson, died June 12, 2023, at Diversicare of Hutchinson. She was born June 22, 1943, in Evansville, IN, to Julius Elmore and Anna (Fox) Scherzinger.

Gail graduated high school in New Harmony, IN. From a young age, she loved watching semi trucks pass by her small school house. When Gail grew up,...

Jun 11, 2023

Fred Ellis Lutz, 80, formerly of Perryton, TX, died June 11, 2023, at Research Hospital in Kansas City, MO. He was born July 28, 1942, in Ellsworth, to Fredrick E. and Lucille (Harmon) Lutz.

Fred graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1960. He served in the United States Navy from 1960-1963. Fred served as a "Boilerman" on...