Obituaries

Robert A. Whitmer, 62, Wilson, passed away May 24, 2015. Services are pending with Foster Mortuary in Wilson.

Edward Leon Vessey, 72, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in Kanopolis. He was born Aug. 3, 1943 in Wichita to Glenn Rae Vessey, Sr. and Evelyn Joyce (Chambers) Vessey.
  Edward is survived by brothers, Glenn, Jr. (Estella) of Kanopolis and John (Jane) of Chickloon, Alaska; sister, Joyce Strait (Ray) of Phoenix, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Dean, Dwaine, Dwight, Charles, and Robert.
  Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m., Saturday, May 28, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.
  Funeral service is at 10 a.m., Saturday at the funeral home with burial following in Kanopolis Cemetery.
  Memorial contributions to Smoky Hill Baptist Church, Ellsworth, in care of the funeral home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.
Condolences may be sent to parsonsfh.com
 

Ronda Sue Kasiska, 52, passed away May 18, 2016.
She was born May 26, 1963, to Mary “Pat” Patricia (Markham) and Ronald F. Lloyd in Pryor, Okla.
Ronda married Ernst Kasiska on Oct. 17, 1981 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. She was an administrator at the Ellsworth County Health Department.
Ronda is survived by her husband, Ernie Kasiska of Kanopolis; daughter, Lynsey Schultz (Andy) of Ellsworth; son, Joshua Kasiska (Lindsay) of Shawnee; sister, Karen Israel of Norman, Okla.; grandchildren, Jazlynn and Owen Schultz of Ellsworth; and aunt, Susan Metzger of Hot Springs, Ark.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Sidney “Butch” and Timothy Lloyd.
A memorial service will at 2 p.m. Monday, May 23, at the First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation or the First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.

Joaquina Gutiérrez, 96, passed away Friday, May 20, 2016 in Albuquerque, N.M.
She was born Aug. 17, 1919 in Fresnillo Zacatecas, Mexico to Creciencio and Felicitas (Coronado) Martinez.
Joaquina married Charles Joseph Gutiérrez June 16, 1937, in Lyons, Kan. She was a member of the St. Ignatius Catholic Church of Kanopolis, as well as, the church’s Altar Society.
Joaquina was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
Joaquina is survived by her son, Richard of Wichita; daughter, Alice Boese (Jim) of Lyons; son, Danny (Delia) of Wichita; son, Larry of Kanopolis; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren; and sisters, Angelita Moreno of Albuquerque, Mary Rodriguez (Joe) of Ellsworth, Rachel Martinez (Angel) of McPherson, and Ramona Martinez of Wichita.

Henry St. Clair O’Donnell died Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, Kan., following a brief illness.
He was born May 2, 1953 in Ellsworth, Kan., the son of Carolyn (Cooney) and Henry St. Clair O’Donnell, Sr. After graduating from Ellsworth High School in 1971, Henry St. Clair attended Fort Hays State University, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and did additional graduate work at Fort Hays.
He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father Floyd Kasiska; sister Deanne Carr; and nephew Michael Sutton.
He is survived by his son Patrick O’Donnell (Elizabeth) and two granddaughters, Lillian and Irene. He is also survived by his sister, Christina Simmonds, nieces and nephews and many loyal friends.  
Services are pending.
 

William M. ‘Abe’ Siefers, 80, of Wilson, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016 in Ellsworth.
Mr. Siefers was born April 11, 1936 in Wilson to John and Sarah (Pierano) Siefers. He married Barbara Martin Aug. 17, 1957 in Dubuque. He served in the U.S. Army.
He was preceeded in death by his parents; five brothers, John Jr, Orval, Milton, Merrill and Kenneth; a sister, Berniece Zorn; and infant grandson, Lyle Ptacek.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara of Wilson; son, William ‘Bill’ Siefers, Jr of Wilson; daughters, Rene (Stan) Ptacek of Dorrance, Denise (Mike) Slavens of Overland Park, Rosemary Dietz of Wilson and Stephanie (Todd) Brown of Russell; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation is 3 p.m. until Vigil with family present to receive friends from 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, May 24. Vigil service/Rosary is at 7 p.m., all at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson.

Ronda Sue Kasiska, 52, of Kanopolis, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 23, at First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth. There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation or First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, in care of Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.

Tom French, 60, of Bloomington, Ill. passed away at 10:58 a.m. Sunday, May 15, 2016 at the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria, Ill.
A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1706 RT Dunn Dr., Bloomington, Ill. 61701. Interment will be in Wilson, Kan. at a later date.  
Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.  
Memorials may be directed to the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, Peoria.
To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Tom was born Oct. 27, 1955 in Bloomington, the son of Raymond Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Vaughan French. He married Tamera Foran on June 4, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nev. She survives.

Melvin M. Svaty Sr. 83, Lucas, died Saturday, May 14, 2016. He was born June 19, 1932, in rural Lincoln County. He was a retired farmer/stockman.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Ramona Echer in 2016.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Shirley Mettlen Svaty, of Lucas; son, Michael (Stephanie) Svaty, Lucas; daughters Lori Ward, Lucas and Lynne (Gene) Angel, Paradise; brother, Norman (Verna) Svaty, La Grade, Ore.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Service will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 at the Lucas United Methodist Church with visitation 1-hour prior to service at the church. Burial will be in the Lucas Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Lucas United Methodist Church.

Rodrick & Minear Funeral Home, Lucas, was in charge of arrangements.

Vona Emma (Steinhaus) Schmoekel, 92, passed away on May 3, 2016 in Lincoln, Kan.
She was born to Henry and Pauline (Trapp) Steinhaus on Jan. 25, 1924 in Lincoln, Kan. On Nov. 7, 1943, she married John M. Schmoekel at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lincoln. To this union, two daughters were born, Marjorie Carol and Ruth Ellen.
For most of their married life, they lived on the family farm north of Ellsworth, while John farmed and Vona brought in extra income working at Stuckey’s. After selling the farm and moving to Ellsworth, she worked several different jobs, one being at Town and Country clothing store for many years. Along with working, she also volunteered at various places. One of her most treasured activities was belonging to the Lady’s Aid and quilting with the ladies at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of North Ellsworth, where she was a long-time member.