Obituaries

Richard Lloyd “Dick” Blake, 94, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed peacefully at Westwing Place, DeWitt, on March 20, 2017.  Mr. Blake donated his body for scientific research at the University of Iowa, Iowa City; and a private Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date.

Juanita Denise Perez, 74, passed away March 18, 2017. She was born Oct. 9, 1942 in Kanopolis to Carrie (Grise) and Isabelle “Mike” Perez.

Juanita was a nurse’s aide, retiring from the Ellsworth Hospital. She was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church and Altar Society of Kanopolis, and Catholic Women’s Organization.

Juanita is survived by her brother, Dale Perez (Velma) of Gypsum; sister, Isabelle “Bonnie” Tripp of Kanopolis; brother, Michael Perez (Nancy) of Niles; sister, Mary Tripp (Jimmy) of Spring Hill, La.; and many nieces and nephews.

Rosary service is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church.

Memorial service is 10 a.m. Monday, March 27 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Kanopolis with burial following in the Kanopolis Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Parsons Funeral Home to help with service expenses, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, Ks. 67439.  

parsonsfh.com

James K. D. Mikulecky, Jr. went to meet his Heavenly Father on March 16, 2017 after a lengthy hospital stay. He was born in Long Beach, Cal. on March 15, 1959 to James K. Mikulecky, Sr. and Sharon F. (Wamoff) Mikulecky. He grew up in Olathe, Kan. and graduated from Olathe High School. He served in the U.S. Navy for 6 years. James was an avid reader who loved books and SiFi movies. He enjoyed his computer and had many online friends worldwide. His favorite job he held was traveling coast to coast as an over the road truck driver.  

He lived with his parents in Emporia, Kan. and is survived by them. Also surviving him are his sister, Merridy (Mikulecky) Heard and her husband Tim; three loving nieces, Nisha (Duffey) Trevino and her husband Shane, Mara (Duffey) Morgan and her husband Bryan, and Linette (Duffey) Wallace and her husband Ben; nine great- nieces and nephews; great- aunts, aunts, uncles and cousins who share many great memories of James.  

Cameron James Redding passed Thursday, March 16, 2017 at his home near Bushton, Kan. He was born Nov. 4, 2015 in Great Bend, Kan. to Azariah Redding.

Cameron leaves behind his mother Azariah and step-father, Adrian Cervantes of Bushton; brothers, Aiden and Liam Cervantes and twin-brother, Michael Redding; grandfather, Randy Redding of Bushton; grandmother, Irene Guzman of Hays; great-grandparents, Don and Connie Redding of Bushton; great grandmother Maria Inez Gonzales of Falfurrias, Texas; and many many more loved ones. He was preceded in death by his great-grandfather, Febronio Benavidez.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Sunday, March 19 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, Kan. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m.

Funeral service is at 2 p.m., Monday, March 20 at the funeral home, with burial following in the Bushton Cemetery.

Larry Lee Sawyer, 75, passed away Feb. 26, 2017 in Lyons, Kan. He was born July 11, 1941 in Ellsworth to Anna (Urbanek) and Harry Sawyer. He married Carol Kuck in Salina, Kan. on Feb. 17, 1986.

A lifetime resident of Ellsworth, Larry was a sheriff’s dispatcher for 36 years. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Wizards of Wichita Ring 47 Magic Club and McPherson Gem and Mineral Rock Club.

Larry is survived by his wife, Carol Sawyer of Ellsworth; son, Raymond Kuck of South Dakota; daughters, Audria Larsen and Brenda Herrman, both of Ellsworth; son, Kenneth Kuck of Hartzel, Colo.; grandchildren, Amanda Larsen, Darin Larsen, Brittany Herrman, Kody Herrman, Shelby Herrman, and Lars Kuck; and great-grandchildren, Aiden and Jayce Larsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Charles “Tom” Sawyer; and infant sister, Delores Sawyer.       

Richard J. “Rick” Wright, 43, passed March 7, 2017 in Salina, Kan.He was born Jan. 9, 1974 in Salina to Randy and Mary (Ravenkamp) Wright.Rick owned a small engine repair shop in Bridgeport.
  Rick is survived by his son, Brandon (fiancé Wednesday) of Ellsworth, Kan.; mother, Mary Miller, also of Ellsworth; father, Randy of Bridgeport; brothers, Joey and Dillon Wright, both of Salina; sisters, Maria Meier of Ellsworth, Lisa Howell (Steve) of Rawlins, Wyo., and Heidi Miller (Jimmy) of Camdenton, Mo.; brothers, Trey Miller (Sandy) of O’Fallon, Ill. and Stewart Miller (Natalie) of Rock Springs, Wyo.; and one granddaughter, Charlotte.
The memorial service will be at 11 a.m.  Friday, March 10, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rick Wright Memorial Fund to help family defray funeral expenses, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.
Condolences may be left at parsonsfh.com

  Marilyn A. Showalter, 74, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Ellinwood, Kan.She was born Dec. 29, 1942 in Ellsworth, Kan. to Gilbert and Caroline (Stoltenberg) Horejsi. Marilyn was a longtime resident of Ellsworth County. She married Richard Showalter in Holyrood on Dec. 26, 1964. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in education and was a teacher for a number of years and a homemaker. She also worked other odd jobs throughout her life. Among other jobs, she painted houses, grew and maintained a large garden, did fire damage restoration, and did farm work. She was also a member of the St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Holyrood and the Ellsworth County Historical Society.

     Jonny Kay (Dyck) Bunker, 73 passed away on Monday, March 6, 2017 in Calvin, Okla. She was born on Nov. 3, 1943 in Hillsboro, Kan. to Fred and Ruby Margaret (Severns) Dyck. After graduating from Wilson High School in Wilson, Kan., Jonny married her lifetime love, Dallas Herman Bunker. The couple wed on Sept. 22, 1962 in Dorrance, Kan. They enjoyed working together for many years co-owning a restaurant.  
     Jonny always enjoyed coloring and painting, even creating beautiful ceramics. She also enjoyed going fishing, working crossword puzzles and working in garden and flowerbeds. She loved her family and spending time with them and that included her beloved dogs, Saphira and Frodo.
     She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Ronald Gene Dyck.

Marilyn A. Showalter, 74, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017 in Ellinwood, Kan. Services are pending. Parsons Funeral Home is handling arrangements. parsonsfh.com

Esther S. Weinhold, 99, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born July 13, 1917 in Columbia Township, Ellsworth County to John A. and Rosaline W. (Peterman) Stroede.

A lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, Esther married Ivan Weinhold on May 15, 1938 in Russell, Kan. He preceded her in death in 1997.

Esther was a homemaker and member of the Excelsior Lutheran Church, a country church in northern Ellsworth County.

Esther is survived by her sons, Dale (Peggy) Weinhold of Ellsworth and Tom (Joan) Weinhold of Wilson, Kan.; 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan; daughters, Laura Lee Parrish and Debra Weinhold; sisters, Francis VonFange and Ruth Wood; and brothers, Raymond and LeRoy Stroede.

Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, with family present from 6-8 p.m.