Obituaries

Gary Paul Nowlin, age 69, of Ridgedale, Mo., passed away Sept. 8, 2018 in his home surrounded by family. He came into this world on Nov. 29, 1948, to his parents, Neal and Georgia (Norwood) Nowlin in Picher, Okla.

Gary proudly served in the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. He enjoyed walking at the lake with his dog Chelsea, boating with his family, and attending and watching Oklahoma Sooner sporting events. A hard worker, Gary worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 35 years. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather for his family. Gary will be missed by many family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Rita Gay Carswell, and Gloria Jean Nowlin.

Memorial service for Earl E. Kempke, 94, Ellsworth will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at Parsons Funeral Home. Mr. Kempke died Monday, Sept. 10, at Good Samaritan Society, Ellsworth Village. He was born Sept. 19, 1923 in rural Lorraine, Kan., the second son of Robert and Myrtle Kempke.

Earl’s eighth grade education was obtained at Ellsworth Co. Public School, District 72, referred to as Canyon School. He grew up on a farm, the place he had been born, with five brothers and one sister. He married Madonna Fern Kempke of Lincoln, Kan. March 6, 1943, in Abilene, Kan., when he was 19 and she was 18.

Janet Fehr, 78, of Breckenridge, Minn., formerly of Ellsworth, Kan., passed away Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, at CHI St. Francis Nursing Home, Breckenridge under the care of CHI Health at Home Hospice.  

Visitation will be held from 1-8 p.m. today (Thursday, Sept. 13), at Parsons Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Ellsworth First United Methodist Church and burial will follow beside her husband Lloyd at 1:30 p.m., at Mission Hills Cemetery, Smolan, Kan.  

Eugene Staatz Boldt, 93, passed away peacefully at his home in Rural Bushton, Sept. 2, 2018. He was born Sept. 21, 1924, on the farm in rural Bushton. Eugene and Alnita farmed the family land throughout their life. He enjoyed time with family and friends. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, lover of sports and travel. He graduated from Bushton High School with the class of 1942. Eugene was a lifelong member of Salem United Methodist church, rural Bushton.

Eugene is survived by his wife, Alnita of 65 years. They were married Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953, at the Lyons Christian Church.

Marven Dale Modrow, 89, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 in Lindsborg.
He was born Oct. 9, 1928 in Lincoln, Kan. to John and Lena (Castle) Modrow. A 64-year resident of Kanopolis, Dale was a mechanic for White Construction for many years and also worked as a hoist operator for Independent Salt Co.
He married Muriel Ardith Bunch in Lincoln on March 26, 1952. He served his country during the Korean Conflict while in the U.S. Army. Dale was a member of the former American Legion Post of Kanopolis (now of Ellsworth) where he was a commander, vice-commander, and secretary. He also served as the mayor of Kanopolis and on the Kanopolis Volunteer Fire Department.
Dale is survived by his sons, Richard (Connie) Modrow and Jack (Joan) Modrow, both of Kanopolis; five grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; and brother, Lee (Carol) Modrow of Lincoln.

Nancy Kay Shute, 74, Ellsworth, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018 in Ellsworth.
She was born Nov. 22, 1943 in Ellsworth to Edward and Marci (Beureguard) Householter.
Nancy was a longtime resident of Ellsworth, where she married Roy Shute in 1962. She was a member of the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church and very active in the church’s altar society. She also spent time volunteering as a Girl Scout and Boy Scout leader, participating in EHU, entering different projects into the open class at the Ellsworth County Fair, and playing bingo.
Nancy is survived by her husband Roy Shute of Ellsworth; son, Jim Shute (Shawntelle) of Sedan; daughter, Cecelia Miller (Scott) of Junction City; grandchildren, Kaytlan Tanner, Austin Tanner, Bligh Shute, Jace Shute, and Lucas Bolen; and great-grandchildren, Carter and Justin Tanner.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Steve Shute; and sister, Shirley Urbanek.

Harold L. Press, 93, of Manhattan, Kan. passed away Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018.

Harold was born in Concordia, Kan. Jan. 18, 1925 to Delwert (Skinner) and Charles Press. He graduated from Salina High School with the class of 1943 and then served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

He married Evelyn Jane Reeves at the United Methodist Church of Salina, Kan. April 27, 1947.

He worked as a meat cutter in grocery stores from 1946 to 1952 and then worked as a salesman at Armour Meat Company for 32 years before retiring in 1984. After retirement, he started his own company called H&E Crafts. H&E made custom woodwork projects large and small.  

He was a member of the University Christian Church, Manhattan, and the Lions Club. He loved woodworking.

Harold is survived by his daughter Michelle (Jon) Netson, of Shawnee, Kan.; his son, Michael (Rose) Press, of Topeka, Kan.; as well as 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Fredrick Howard Miller passed away Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth, Kan. at the age of 75. He was born May 15, 1943 to the late Gerold and Vona Lee (McGuire) Miller in Alva, Okla.

After graduating from Alva High School with the Class of 1961, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962 and proudly served his country for 20 years until his honorable discharge and retirement in 1982. After having met on a blind date, he was united in marriage to Patty Whitmer in Alva June 30, 1967.  They were blessed with three children, Fredrick II, Danetta, and Theresa.

After retiring Fred went on to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in computer science from Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus (K-State Salina).  Always wanting to stay busy, he also worked several jobs including, Bob’s Plumbing, Russell County Sheriff’s Office–Lake Patrol, delivering mail in Ellsworth, locksmithing, and volunteering with the Ellsworth County EMS.  

Dr. Candy Kay Charowhas, 47, passed away July 31, 2018 in Ellsworth. She was born Feb. 24, 1971 in Ellsworth to Brent Cunningham and Irene Vodraska. She married Peter Charowhas in Ellsworth on Aug. 5, 1995.

Candy believed in family. Family was number one and important in her life along with God and her Catholic faith. She loved being a mother to Ava and Sailor. She loved her husband Pete and told him every day. She had a multitude of lifelong friends she felt were very important to her.

Candy was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church of Ellsworth and the church altar society. She was also a member of the Kansas Optometric Association and involved in many activities with her children including 4-H and youth church activities where she helped teach religious education classes.

Steven Edward Kingsbury passed away Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. at the age of 35.  He was born Oct. 12, 1982 in Russell, Kan. to Duane and Karla (Brown) Kingsbury. He grew up in the Wilson, Kan. area and graduated from Wilson High School with the Class of 2001.  He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan.