Obituaries

Kenneth  Lee Snowball, 76, formerly of Salina, passed away Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018.  

He was born Aug. 31, 1941 in Ellsworth, to Ralph and Florence (Neuschafer) Snowball.
Kenneth worked many jobs throughout his life. In his early years he was employed by Busboom and Rauh Construction. He then joined the U.S. Postal Service, working there for 30 years. Throughout his life, and especially in retirement, he loved carpentry and being the neighborhood handyman.
Kenneth was preceded by his parents and sister, Karen.
He is survived by his children, Wendy Snowball of Salina, Perry Snowball of Wichita, Leslie Snowball (Michele) of Abilene; a sister, Carol Robbins; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.  
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at Ryan Mortuary.  Burial will be in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Support and Education Group, 1414 Meyer Dr. Salina, Kan. 67401.  

Richard C. Daniels, born May 24, 1941 in Dodge City, Kan., passed away on Feb. 6, 2018 in Marietta, Ga., where he lived for 42 years and was a member of the EastSide Baptist Church.
Richard, 76, was the son of William Wesley Daniels and Ruth Helena Marie Scheuch Daniels, formerly residents of his beloved hometown of Ellsworth, Kan. He later spent a large part of his retirement residing on his farm that he restored. This land was extremely significant to him, as both his grandfather, who built the homestead in 1924, and his Aunt, whom he purchased the property from in 1978, formerly owned it.

Mervyn G. Harms, 83, longtime business man and resident of Ellsworth, passed away Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018. He was born, the youngest of five children, on May 17, 1934, on the family farm near Hildreth, Neb. to George Dirk and Fannie (Schmidt) Harms.

Merv graduated high school at Hildreth. He then received a degree in education with a minor in business from Kearney State. In 1962, he obtained his master’s degree.

On April 23, 1955 he married Patricia J. Clinebell in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They were married 62 years.

Arcola A. McCoy died early Monday morning, Feb. 5, 2018, at her home in rural Ellsworth County following a three-year affliction with cancer. She was 55- years old.

She was born Arcola Ann Potter April 16, 1962 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Hutchinson, to Reba (Norris) and Everett “Butch” Potter, the youngest of six siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister (Barbara) and two brothers (Everett Jr. and Charles).  

Arcola attended Holy Cross Catholic Elementary before transferring to the Nickerson public school district. She graduated from Nickerson High School at semester in January 1980.

She worked at Doscoile Foods immediately after high school before leaving to attend Hutchinson Community College. Arcola also managed the Pik Kwik convenience store located on East Fourth Ave. prior to moving to Ellsworth.

Donald E. Pruitt, 75, passed away Friday, Feb. 2, 2018 in Ellsworth. He was born Aug. 16, 1942 in Lyons to Ray and Zona Gail (Stahlman) Pruitt.

Don was a longtime resident of Geneseo where he was the Mayor from 1983 to 2001. He was an oil well pumper for 35 years. He also worked as a machinist at Lyons Mfg. Co. and erected grain elevators for Chalmers & Borton.

Don served his country in the U.S. Army from 1964-1966 and was a member of the Geneseo American Legion Post 241 and Ellsworth VFW Post 6485. He taught hunter’s safety for 25 years and attended the Geneseo United Methodist Church. He was an avid gardener, fisherman, and hunter. He also enjoyed family vacations and entertaining his grandkids. Don married Lois L. Kratzer in Frederick on Sept. 21, 1968. She preceded him in death.

Caryle Jean (Bender) Carr, 86, died Jan. 30, 2018.

She was born Feb. 21, 1931, to William and Erna (Choitz) Bender at Ellsworth, Kan. She received degrees from Emporia State University (BS) and the University of Kansas (PhD). Her career was in healthcare education (pathology and medical technology), mostly at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Many healthcare workers knew her as Dr. Caryle Bender.

She married Dan Carr and they resided in Overland Park, Kan., for 38 years before “retiring to the farm” in Leavenworth County, Kan. in 2001. While in Overland Park, she was active in various civic organizations, the KU Medical Center Auxiliary, and several historical societies. After moving, she continued her support of several museums and historical societies in Leavenworth, Kan. and Tonganoxie, Kansas.

Henry George Pechacek, age 88, of Bristol, Tenn., passed away on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017 at Bristol Medical Center.

He was a native of Ellsworth, Kan., and served two stints in the U.S. Air Force. Hank retired from the Air Force and had been a resident of Bristol since 1990 where he worked as a lawyer. He was also a member of VFW Post 6975 honor guard and participated in more than 2,000 memorial ceremonies.

Survivors are his son Michael Pechacek; and a sister, Marie Walker.

Sylvia Ann Bobbett, 79, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018 in Salina, Kan. She was born Sept. 14, 1938 in Pueblo, Colo. to Carlo and Saveria “Sylvia” (Gagliano) Martellaro.

Sylvia married Darrell Bobbett in Pueblo on June 8, 1959. They were longtime residents of Kanopolis where she was a homemaker, mom, grandma, and great grandma. She was also a member of the Sunflower Civic Club in Kanopolis.

Sylvia is survived by her daughter, Jeannell Dolezal of Kanopolis; sons, Mark Edward Bobbett of Salina, Timothy Wayne Bobbett (Joomi) of Salina, and Danny Bobbett (Christina) of Kanopolis; daughters, Kimberly Hoyt (Dion) of Geneseo and Deanna Cunningham (Maynard) of Ellsworth; 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren with two on the way; sisters, Jennie Rodasta and Rose Payne; and brother, Tony Martellaro. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Darrell; grandson, Chad Dolezal; brother, John Martellaro; and sister, Ann Purkett.

Larry G. Herber passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018 at his home near Dorrance, Kan. at the age of 79.  

He was born on the family farm in Russell County, near Dorrance, on June 11, 1938 to the late Chester and Ethel (Washburn) Herber. He grew up in Russell County and graduated from Dorrance High School with the Class of 1956. He served in the United States Army from 1957-1959 and was stationed in Germany. Following an honorable discharge, he went on to attain an associate’s degree from Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa, Okla.

A memorial service for former Wilson resident Geraldine Thelma ‘Geri’ (Cunningham) Skalicky will be held at 11 a.m., Jan. 26 at Stork Family Mortuary, 1895 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, Colo. 80214.  
A complete obituary can be seen at: http://www.storkfamilymortuary.com/obituaries/Geraldine-Skalicky?obId=28...