Obituaries

Larry Lee Choitz, 53, passed away Feb. 29, 2016 at his home in rural Ellsworth County. He was born Aug. 21, 1962 in Ellsworth to Erma J. (Wehrenberg) and Lawrence C. Choitz.

A lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, Larry was a farmer and stockman and was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ellsworth. He worked at A-1 Welding for more than 20 years while farming in a partnership with his father.

Larry is survived by his parents, Lawrence and Erma Choitz of Ellsworth; sister, Mary Meier (Randy) of Lincoln; brother, Bob Choitz (Megan) of Ellsworth; and one niece and two 2 nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Rita K. Choitz.

Visitation is from 1-8 p.m., Friday, March 4 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, with family present from 5-7 p.m.

Funeral service is at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ellsworth with burial following in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.

Darrel Dean Kratzer, 67, of Granite City, Ill, passed away at 5:04 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 11, 2016 at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Ill.

He was born March 17, 1948 in Ellsworth, Kans. to the late Henry and Vivian (Borecky) Kratzer.

On Oct. 12, 1974, he and Martha Irene Wiser were married in Granite City. She survives in Granite City.

Mr. Kratzer was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had been employed with Scott Credit Union and was a member of Calvary Life Church and the VFW.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Scott Kratzer of Granite City and Daniel (Angela) Kratzer of O’Fallon, Ill.; a granddaughter, Kaitlyn Kratzer, and three siblings, Harlan Kratzer of Escondido, Calif., Iris Haime of Rockford, Ill. and John Kratzer of Ellsworth, Kans.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Kratzer.

Clara A. Brown, 96, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016. She was born Clara A. Rogers on July 2, 1919. She was the daughter of Oren and Cora (Luckinbill) Rogers. Clara grew up on a farm two miles north of Glasco and graduated from Glasco High School in 1937. She was the sixth of seven children having two brothers, George and Onie, and four sisters, Mary, Nellie, Alma, and Del.

In 1940, Clara married James K. Brown and moved to Wichita in 1942. They lived in Wichita until they moved to Ellsworth in 2001.

Clara was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, and three sisters.

Bill Ranker, 85, died Feb. 16, 2016, at his residence in Great Bend.
Mr. Ranker was born April 16, 1930, at Ellsworth to Robert Von and Susan (Kalb) Ranker. In 1956, he moved from McCook, Neb., to Great Bend, where he worked for the television station for 33 years as chief engineer and station manager. He was a SSGT in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and American Legion Argonne Post 180, both at Great Bend.
He marred Della Haase on Nov. 23, 1951, at Ellsworth. She survives.
Also surviving are three sons and their wives, David and Ronda Ranker of Hays, Steve Ranker of St. Louis, Mo. and Philip and Darcee Ranker of Solana Beach, Calif.; a brother, Kenneth Ranker of Topeka; four grandchildren and their spouses, Matthew and Becca Ranker, Amy and Wyatt Brooks, Hayley and Jason Brenneis and Lynsie Ranker; and four great-grandchildren, Noah, Caleb, Gracie and Hope Ranker.

Ramon Lee Stoltenberg, 82, passed away Feb. 15, 2016 in Hoisington.
He was born Feb. 14, 1934 in Ellsworth to Leona Ann (Kootz) and Henry Herman Stoltenberg. A lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, Ramon was a mechanic and engine analyst technician for Northern Natural and Enron.  
He served his country in the U.S. Air Force between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was also a member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church, Holyrood.
Ramon is survived by his son, Henry Stoltenberg (Kay) of Bellevue, Neb.; and grandchildren, William Wilkins, and Andrew, and Sarah, Ryan, and Thomas Stoltenberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
  No services are scheduled at this time. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Peter Lutheran Church, Holyrood or Wounded Warrior Project, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.
Condolences may be made at parsonsfh.com
 

     John Allen Prewett, 87, of Lincoln, Kan., died Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, in Lincoln. John was born Dec. 17, 1928 in rural Mitchell County to Ernest and Alice (Yunker) Prewett.
     He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Larry John Prewett; brother, LV Prewett; and infant sister, Ardith Elaine.
     Left to celebrate his life include his wife, Maxine (Rogers) Prewett, of the home; son, Mike (Cheryl) Prewett, of Andover; daughter, Teresa Benton, of Augusta; brother, Richard (Betty) Prewett, of Arkansas City; sister, Mary B. Miller (Lew Rogers), of Florida; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
     Visitation is from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at Hall Chapel in Lincoln, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m.
     Funeral is 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, with interment following in Old Ellsworth Cemetery.
     John is in the care of Hall Funeral Home, Lincoln.

 Robert Lee “Bob” Wacker, 78, passed away Feb. 13, 2016, at his home in Kanopolis, Kan.
He was born Sept. 13, 1937 in Vesper, Kan. to Albert and Ferne (White) Wacker. Holding many jobs throughout his lifetime, Bob was co-owner of Hi-Plains Sand in Kanopolis.
Bob served his country in the U.S. Army and was a member of American Legion Post 174 of Ellsworth. He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ellsworth and a former volunteer firefighter for the Kanopolis Volunteer Fire Department.
Bob married Karen Jandos on Dec. 3, 1961 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. He was married to his loving wife for 54 years. She survives him.
Bob is also survived by his son, Todd Wacker (Tracy) of Ellsworth; grandson, Quentin Wacker (Josie Peterson) of Ellsworth; granddaughter, Laurel Wacker of Ellsworth; brothers, Gary Wacker (Vicki) and Larry Wacker, both of Kanopolis, and Steve Miley (Glynnis) of Salina; and sister, Kathie Taylor (John) of Hays.

Esperanza “Hope” Magaña Rios, 96, beloved wife of Blas (deceased), passed away peacefully Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 in the comfort of her home in Parma, Ohio, surrounded by her family.  
She was born in Michoacán, Mexico to Jesus and Sara Magaña (deceased) and raised in Kanopolis, Kan.  She graduated from Kanopolis High School in 1938.  
Esperanza is survived by her seven children, Richard Rios, Joan Eppich, Gloria Bethea, Beatrice Owen, Ronald Rios, Robert Rios, and Michelle Wojciak; 19 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by five siblings, Andres Magaña, of California; Virginia Caldwell, of Arizona; Jesse Magaña, of Brookville; Frank Magaña, of Kansas City; and Concepcion Magaña, of Wichita.
Esperanza was predeceased by sisters Theresa Magaña and Albina Mesa, who lived in Kanopolis; Socorro Hernandez, who lived in Salina; and brother Celestino Magaña, who lived in Cleveland, Ohio.

     Presley Nicole Ruch, age 15, of Joplin, Mo., passed away Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin.
     Born Sept. 4, 2000 in Independence, Kan., she had lived in Joplin since 2009, moving from Independence. A freshman at Joplin High School, she was previously active in cheerleading, art and volleyball.

Vivian Marie Kratzer, 89, passed away Feb. 8, 2016, in Ellsworth County.
 She was born April 20, 1926 in Ellsworth County to Marie (Janda) and John Borecky. She married Henry Kratzer at the Immanuel Lutheran Church on May 13, 1945.
A lifetime resident of Ellsworth County, Vivian was a homemaker and farmer’s wife and a clerk at the local bakery. She also worked at Duckwall’s and the Blackwolf General Store. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, Town and Country FCE, Holyrood American Legion Auxiliary, LWML, and she enjoyed genealogy.