Obituaries

Lonnie A. Kruse, 67, died Sept. 23, 2016 in rural Ellsworth, Kan.  
He was born Dec. 28, 1948 in Ellsworth, Kan., the son of Arthur E. and Helen Louise Hurd Kruse. Lonnie has resided in Sterling since 1981, formerly of Lorraine, Norton, and Kiowa.  He graduated from Holyrood High School with the class of 1967. Lonnie received his Bachelor of Science degree from Sterling College in 1971 and Master’s degree from Wichita State University in 1972.  He taught at Norton and Kiowa in the public school system from 1972-1981. He was  Professor of Physical Education, former Athletic Director and head Women’s Basketball Coach at Sterling College from 1981-2014. Lonnie was also a lifelong farmer and rancher.  

 Georgia Marie Rodriguez, 76, passed away Sept. 20, 2016 in Ellsworth.
She was born February 22, 1940 in Kanopolis, Kan. to Isabelle “Mike” Perez and Carrie (Grise) Perez. Georgia married Marcus “Marc” Rodriguez, Sr. in Kanopolis on June 11, 1962. She was a member of the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, St. Bernard’s Catholic Council of Women, and the American Legion Auxiliary in Ellsworth. She worked for the Green Thumb Program at Ellsworth Correctional Facility doing clerical work and working in the mailroom. She was also a homemaker. What Georgia loved the most was fixing Mexican food for her family and the community.

David L. Sheridan, 70, passed away Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 in Ellsworth, Kan.
He was born Jan. 30, 1946 in Ellsworth to William J. and June (Brady) Sheridan. A longtime resident of Ellsworth, David worked for the City of Ellsworth Water Department for several years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, and served his country during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Navy.
David is survived by sons, Dustin Sheridan (Melinda) of Georgia and Scott Sheridan (Susan) of Salina; four grandchildren; sisters, Carol Schwemmer (Gene) of Ellsworth and Janet Noe of Mesa, Ariz.; and brothers, Bill Sheridan of Edna, Kan., Fred Sheridan (Kathy) of Hartsburg, Mo., Larry Sheridan (Janean) of Holyrood, Phil Sheridan (Stacy) of Ellsworth, and Mark Sheridan (Stacy) of Virginia.
He was preceded in death by parents; sister, Grace Holland; nephew, Jack Sheridan; and niece, Billy Jo Heiser.

Donald G. Dumler, 77, passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 in Ellsworth, Kan.
He was born April 13, 1939, in Great Bend, Kan. to Adolph and Florence (Ochs) Dumler. Don married Marilyn Kruger, Jan. 20, 1957 in Ellsworth. She survives him.

O.E. “Brownie” Blanke, 96, died Sept. 16, 2016 in Beloit.
He was born Oct. 5, 1919 in Nowata, Okla. to Edward and Dessie (Brown) Blanke. He was a retired technician for H & B Communications in Holyrood and had also worked for Boeing as a radio technician. He was a U.S. Army-Air Force Veteran and member of the Church of God, A Worldwide  Association, Salina.
Survivors include his daughter, Charlotte Hutton and husband, Don, of Nowata; step-daughter, Gale Clifton of Phoenix, Ariz.; step-son, Jim Franklin of Kingman, Kan.; niece, Betty Koch of Holyrood; nephews, Kennth Blanke of Russell, Kan., Dan Blanke of Shell Knob, Mo. and Terry Kemmerer of Yuma, Colo.; grandchildren, Ray, Dwayne and Robert Blanke, Kristine Estes and Richard Hutton, 10 great- grandchildren and three great-great- grandchildren.

     Arlene Milberger Mitchell, 80, passed away Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016 at her home.
     Arlene Milberger Mitchell was born Sept. 2, 1936 in Wilson Kan. She was the daughter of Henry and Edna Milberger. After graduating from high school in Wilson, she moved to Kansas City where she attended St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing. She received her R.N. diploma in 1958. She worked in the specialty of urology for over 20 years. Later, she worked for Hospice Care of Mid-America. She was involved in many volunteer services. She was a member of St. Luke’s Medical Wives Auxiliary, St. Luke’s Nurses Alumni Association. She was a member of the Village Presbyterian Chancel Choir for many years.
     Arlene married Dr. Andrew D. Mitchell in 1970.
     Arlene is preceded in death by her husband, niece Patty, her parents, sister, Delores, and brother, Richard.

     Linda JoAnn Kornegay, 69, Castle Hayne, N.C., died Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice, Wilmington, N.C.
     Mrs. Kornegay was born June 16, 1947, in Ridgecrest, Calif., to Jack D. and Virginia J. Forrest Avis. She married Linwood W. Kornegay Nov. 25, 1989, at Kanopolis, Kan. He survives.
     Also surviving are their children, Robert Wuest of Kearney, Mo., Amy Morgenstern and her husband, Darrell, of Salina, Kan., Joseph Wade Wuest and his wife, Kristen of Salina, and Roger Gregory Wuest of Castle Hayne; sisters, Deana Ostrom and husband, Cliff, of Ellsworth, Kan., Beverly Stroede and husband, Mike, of Kanopolis, and Nancy Kelley of Kansas City, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members.
     She was preceded in death by her parents.

Carolyn Lantz Willoughby 72, of Rapid City, S.D., passed away Aug. 30, 2016.  
She was born May 27, 1944 to Harold and Lois (Ward) Lantz. She graduated from Sylvan Grove High School. She married Leroy Fischer in 1966.They had three children,Tim, Jim and Tammy. On Oct. 1, 1985, she married David Willoughby.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, David, of the home; daughter, Tammy Bradford, Rapid City; son, Tim Fischer, Gillette, Wyo.; step-daughter,  Tina Dahl, Westminster Md.; brothers, Richard (Sue) Lantz, Wilson, Kan. and Randy(Renee) Lantz, Dodge City, Kan.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
 She was preceded in death by  her parents, infant son Jim, and daughter-in-law, Kim  Fischer.
 A Celebration of Life was conducted  Saturday, Sept. 10, in Rapid City.

     Ronald Dean Folk, 74, Holton, Kan., passed away Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 at Medicalodges Jackson County.
     Mercer Funeral Home, Holton, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Holton High School (to be designated at a later date) in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, Kan. 66436.  
     www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
 

Horace G. Wooten, 85, passed away Sept. 10, 2016 in Ellsworth.
He was born July 6, 1931 in Wynona, Okla. to Claude Landis Wooten and Florence Elizabeth (Key). He married Donna M. Mathis on June 15, 1951, in Shidler, Okla.
  Horace was head mechanic for KDOT in Ellsworth for 30 years. He was an avid sportsman, loved playing sports and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. He also loved camping.
Horace is survived by his wife, Donna Wooten of Ellsworth; sons, Gary Wooten of Oklahoma City, Coy Wooten (Chris) of Ledyard, Conn., Dale Wooten (Ginger) of Salina, and Kelly Wooten (Kristy) of Washington; daughter, Judy Wooten of Salina; 12 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Thelma Rader and Hazel Maynard; and three brothers, Jack Wooten, Paul Wooten, and Wayne Wooten.
Memorial service was at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at the First United Methodist Church, Ellsworth.