All Obituaries

ELLSWORTH UPDATE (9/23/2022): There will be a memorial service for Fern Kempke at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 1, 2022 at JH Robbins Memorial Library, in the basement. A luncheon will follow. Please join the family for a service and fellowship. UPDATE: The funeral services for Fern Kempke have been postponed due to illness. Public visitation will still take place 1-8 p.m., Friday, September 9, 2022 at Parsons Funeral Home. A private family graveside will take place at Ellsworth...

WILSON   Una Joyce Podlena, 97, passed away Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Home in Ellsworth, KS. She was born to Theodore Buehler and Francis (Tobin) Buehler on October 31, 1924, in Wilson, KS. Joyce spent her early years in Wilson going to school and working for Sam Klema at the IGA store.   On September 19, 1944, Joyce married her long-time sweetheart, Bill Podlena in Scott City, KS. While Bill was overseas, Joyce worked for Dr. Kippinberger as a CNA. In...

GENESEO   Ernest “Ernie” E. Habiger,54, passed away September 28, 2022, at his home in rural Ellsworth County. He was born August 24, 1968, in Lyons, KS, to F. Joe and Norma (Vanek) Habiger. Ernie was a longtime shop foreman at Moly Manufacturing, Inc. in Lorraine, KS.   Ernie is survived by his children, Clay Joseph, Rylee Jane, and Easton James; sisters, JoAnn Christianson (Robert) of Allen, TX, Cyndi Evins of La Grande, OR, and Dorothy Claussen (Brad) of Manhattan,...

ELLSWORTH   Helen Julia Nesje, 89, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 23, 2022, at the Salem Home in Hillsboro, KS. She was born December 27, 1932, in Crosby, ND to John and Helga (Sanvik) Thorson. Helen was the mother of the late Douglas Bach, Dianna (Bach) Vanek, and the late Daniel Bach. She married Clifford Orbilly Nesje.   Helen lived much of her life in Crosby where she was a farmwife and a member of the Crosby curling team. She also lived a portion of her life...

ELLSWORTH   James “Jim” Robert Warta, 80, passed away, Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at his home in Ellsworth. He was born November 25, 1941 to Frank and Mabel (Donley) Warta in Ellsworth.   Jim married Laura Adamek in Ellsworth on January 4, 1962. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church and was a farmer and rancher. He loved the land, cattle, and horses.   Jim is survived by his wife, Laura of Ellsworth; sons, Travis...

HOLYROOD   Randall “Randy” Lee Zajic, 63, passed away Sunday, August 28, 2022, at his home in Holyrood. He was born December 2, 1958, in Ellsworth to Harold and Fern (Westerman) Zajic. Randy married Denise Hildebrandt on December 5, 2003, in Holyrood. He owned and operated a tree service for 32 years and volunteered on the Holyrood Fire Department for 28 years.   Randy is survived by his wife Denise of Holyrood; sons, David Zajic, Trifton Fluke (Ariel) and Nicholas...

COTTONWOOD FALLS   Tamara Ann Green, 46, passed away Sunday, August 28, 2022, at her home in Cottonwood Falls, KS. She was born February 18, 1976, in Great Bend, KS to Gary and Nancy (Morris) Apel.   Tamara is survived by her husband Christopher of Cottonwood Falls; daughter Kerstie Dunlap (Jacob Bach) of Ellsworth, KS; son Devin Stumps of Bushton, KS; mother Nancy Siefers of Great Bend, KS; brothers, Gary Apel, Jr. of Maryville, MO, Mathew Apel of Edwardsville, KS, and Kristofer...

WICHITA   Billy Don White, 65, passed away peacefully Friday, August 26, 2022, at his home in Wichita. He was born August 20, 1957, in Bridgeport, TX to Marvin Don and Mary Jon (Cates) White. Billy married Barb Johnson in Harper, KS on September 20, 1980. He was a 43 year employee of Acme Brick Company, retiring as sales manager in 2020.   Billy is survived by his wife Barb White of Wichita; son Brody White of Wichita; daughter Beth Koehn (Brett) of Kansas City, MO; and...

BUSHTON   Sandra C. Johnson, 78, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2022, at her home in Bushton. She was born April 3, 1944, in Cincinnati, OH to Harold and Wanda (Wilson) Johnson.   Sandra is survived by her sisters, Sherry Schafer and Joann Hager; brothers, Bill Johnson, George Johnson, Carl Johnson (Yun), Frank Johnson (Morena), and Terel Johnson; as well as 41 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert and Patrick Johnson; and nephews,...

ELLSWORTH   Donna Mae Davis, 86, passed away Thursday, August 18, 2022, in Cheney, KS. She was born October 22, 1935, in Ransom, KS to Hillard Grant and Ruth Mae (Wallace) Allen.  Being a resident of Ellsworth, KS for the past 30 years, she also resided in Geneseo, KS where she raised her children.   Donna enjoyed many activities, but her favorites were building puzzles and gifting them to her many grandchildren and friends. She enjoyed a competitive game of Yahtzee or...