Obituaries

     Pastor Duane B. Johnson, 75, passed  away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in Ellsworth. He married Jeanne (Booth) Johnson Nov. 11, 1961 in Lomax, Ill. She survives.
     Other survivors include two sons, Randall Johnson, Wilson, and Andrew (Kristina) Johnson, Delia, Kan.; and daughter, Wendy (Pastor Brett) Denham, Wilson.
     Duane served as a pastor for over 50 years at several churches. Most recently he taught the Bible at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility.
Funeral was Monday, Sept. 28, at the First Baptist Church in Wilson, with internment in Wilson City Cemetery
     Condolences may be sent to fostermortuary.com

Ruby Johnson, 70, of McPherson, Kan. passed away at 3:50 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015 surrounded by her family, at her home.
    

  Louis R. Vopat, 76, passed away Sept. 25, 2015. He was born Oct. 24, 1938 in rural Kanopolis to Rosa A. (Stepanek) and Arthur F. Vopat.
Louis married Marsha L. Zvolanek in Santa Fe, N.M. on Dec. 28, 1959. He was a farmer and stockman, ran H&R Block in Ellsworth with his wife, Marsha, and was also a jack-of-all trades working many different jobs throughout the years. He was a former FFA member and NFO member and officer.
Louis is survived by his son, Valan Vopat (Beverly) of Ellsworth; son, Vawn Vopat (Linda) of Lyons; sister, Ruth Hulse (Robert) of Ellsworth; sister-in-law, Pat Zvolanek of Ellsworth; grandchildren, Leigh (Kyle) Nemechek, Kimbre Vopat, and Sheldon Louis Vopat; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marsha; and brother-in-law, Ronnie Zvolanek.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.

Ruth Marie Root, 99, passed away, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 in Ellsworth, Kan. 

     John Melvin Snook, 81, of Bartlesville, Okla., died Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, at The Journey Home Hospice  in Bartlesville following a strong fight against renal failure and other ailments. His family was at his side where they had been during the last several weeks of his earthly walk.
     John was born March 27, 1934 at Christ’s Hospital in Topeka, Kan. to Edward and Elizabeth Snook. His father was a Methodist pastor and times were never easy in their small pastorates. In time, John was joined by his brother, Ray, followed by two sisters, Miriam and Priscilla. Their father then moved to the Pilgrim Holiness Church and pastorates followed in Kansas, Colorado and finally Oklahoma.

(1941-2015)