All Obituaries

NILES, KS   Michael C. Perez, 76, passed away Wednesday, July 28, 2021 in Kanopolis, KS. He was born December 8, 1944 in Ellsworth, KS to Isabelle “Mike” and Carrie (Grise) Perez.   After graduating from Kanopolis High School, Michael joined the United States Navy and served his country during in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Purple Heart after suffering an injury in combat as well as a Bronze Star and was a lifetime member of the former Kanopolis American...

ELLSWORTH   Dale George Grothusen, 101, originally of Ellsworth, died December 7, 2020 in Salina. He was born December 17, 1918 on a farm in Ellsworth County to William and Christine (Strella) Grothusen. He was a farmer and stockman known for his sunny disposition, his warm sense of humor, his generosity to others, and his ability to build, redesign, or repair just about anything. He served in the US Army Air Force during World War II. He was a waist gunner and flight engineer on a...

KANOPOLIS   Paula Mae Schneider, 82, passed away Friday, July 16, 2021, in Ellsworth. She was born March 5, 1939 in Ellsworth to Paul and Flora (Ruetz) Sparks.   Paula was a lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, where she married Edward Marvin Schneider on April 28, 1956. She was a homemaker, raising four children before becoming the Deputy County Clerk for Ellsworth County and the Ellsworth County Treasurer. She was a member of the Ellsworth First United Methodist Church and a...

ELLSWORTH   Patricia L. Bender, 90, passed away Saturday, July 3, 2021 in Abilene, KS. She was born September 12, 1930 in Scandia, KS to Raymond and Grace (Sandborn) Cooper.   Patricia married Donald C. Bender on December 31, 1950. She was a longtime resident of Ellsworth, KS where she was the secretary for Ron Svaty at Aylward, Svaty, Sherman then Svaty, Sherman, Hoffman law offices. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ellsworth.   Patricia is survived...

ELLSWORTH   Cleo Zvolanek, 89, of Ellsworth, KS, passed away Thursday, July 1, 2021 in Ellsworth. She was born in Lincoln, KS on February 25, 1932 the daughter of Reinholdt and Minnie (Plinski) Peterman. Cleo married Victor Zvolanek on August 1, 1951 in Ellsworth.   Cleo was preceded in death by her loving husband on January 10, 1994 and two brothers, Orvin and Gilbert Peterman. She is survived by her sister, Letha (Jerome) Waggle of Berryton, KS; four daughters, Joyce (Ric)...

RUSSELL   Dee Richard Holecek, 91, of Russell, KS, and formerly of Ellsworth, KS, passed away Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at Homestead Assisted Living in Russell.   Richard was born January 19, 1930 in Ellsworth, the son of Joe, Jr. and Bertha Eunice (Mead) Holecek. He grew up in Ellsworth and graduated from Ellsworth High School.   Richard was united in marriage to Mildred Virginia Judy on August 19, 1950 in Ellsworth. This union was blessed with five children: Debbie,...

ELLSWORTH   Donald R. Urbanek, 76, passed away June 22, 2021 in Ellsworth. He was born February 25, 1945 in Ellsworth to Benjamin and Margaret (Schroeder) Urbanek.   Donald married Opal Jones in Norton, KS on November 6, 1971. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Enterprise. He was a truck driver/operator for KDOT for 30 years and a member of the Ellsworth American Legion and VFW. He was also a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Ellsworth.   Donald is...

BUSHTON   Mary F. Folk, 86, passed away Sunday, June 13, 2021 in Lyons. She was born March 22, 1935 in Healdton, OK to Hosey D. and Eddie Lee (Underwood) Perkins.   Mary was a longtime resident of Bushton where she was a teller at the Bushton State Bank. She married Melvin Folk in Wellington, KS on December 29, 1951.   Mary is survived by her sons, Bob Folk of Great Bend and Jerry Folk (Vicki) of Bushton; grandchildren, Adam Folk, Abby Terrell (Fletcher), Andi Hicks,...

ELLSWORTH   Dana D. Hardcastle, 68, passed away Monday, June 7, 2021 in Hays, KS. She was born May 6, 1953 in Hutchinson, KS to Harold and Dorothy (Bundy) Hass.   Before retirement, Dana worked as a jailer at the McPherson County Jail. She was a member of the Geneseo American Legion Post 241 Auxiliary.   Dana is survived by her daughters, Pepper Smith of Wichita, KS and Kristi Hardcastle of New York City, NY; sons, Justin Hardcastle of Derby, KS and Dustin Hardcastle of...

ELLSWORTH   Gary W. Belt, 72, passed away Sunday May 24, 2020 at his home in Ellsworth. He was born December 24, 1947 in Ellsworth to Elmer Belt and Charldene “Elsie” (Kanak) Belt.   Gary was a lifelong resident of Ellsworth where he graduated from Ellsworth High School. He married Mary Ann Nondorf on March 23, 1968. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and then many years for Ellsworth Co-op. Gary served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam...