Archived Marriage Records
Eric L. Kowitz 1956-2004
HUTCHINSON — Eric L. Kowitz, 48, died July 30 at his home in Hutchinson. He was born July 12, 1956, at Hutchinson, the son of William C. “Bud” Kowitz Jr. and Neta E. Herman Kowitz. He married
Susan J. Knop on July 19, 1980, in Hutchinson. A lifetime Hutchinson resident, he graduated Hutchinson High School in 1974 and from the IBEW Local No. 661 Apprenticeship Program in 1978. He was an electrician and owner/operator of Kowitz & Kowitz Electrical Contractors.
Kowitz was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, a former member of the Sky Riders Drum & Bugle Corp and a member and former board member of the Hutchinson Water Sports Club, all in Hutchinson.
Survivors include his wife of the home; his mother of Hutchinson; a son, Cory Kowitz; a brother, Jeff Kowitz of Hutchinson; and two grandchildren.
Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Tim Carey and the Rev. Loren Mai officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Park cemetery in Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson. Memorials are suggested to The Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Elliott Mortuary
1219 North Main
Hutchinson KS 67501
620-663-3360
Aug. 1, 2004
Warren A. Rugan 1922-2004
ELLINWOOD — Warren A. Rugan, 81, died July 30 at Ellinwood District Hospital. He was born Oct. 18, 1922, in rural Ellinwood, Stafford County, the son of Walter A. and Clara Ahrens Rugan. He married
Catherine Krug on March 25, 1951, at Hoisington. She died March 17, 2004. A lifetime resident of Barton and Stafford counties, he was a farmer.
Rugan was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, a longtime Sunday school teacher and a member of the Lutheran Church Endowment Board. He also served on the Wheatland School Board District 105. A University of Kansas graduate, he attended law school at KU and was a member of the TKE fraternity. During World War II he was a co-pilot and Second Lieutenant with the Army Air Corp, flying B-24s in the European Theater.
Survivors include three sons, Kurt and Sheila Rugan of Ellinwood, W. Gene and Gina Rugan of Lyons, and Walter P. and Sherrie Rugan of Ellinwood; a daughter, Sharon and Ben Theimer, Winfield; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Norma Lee Pickard.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellinwood with the Rev. Andy Keltner officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery in Ellinwood. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorials are suggested to St. John Child Development Center or Ellinwood Area Health Care Foundation.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Kimple Funeral Home*
113 North Main
Ellinwood, KS 67526
620-564-2300
Aug. 1, 2004
Floyd G. Griffith 1927-2004
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Floyd G. Griffith, born Sept. 30, 1927, died July 30, 2004, and slipped into the hands of God. He is survived by his wife Doris of Scottsdale, Ariz.; son Craig of San Francisco, Calif.; daughters Carol Rakes of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and June Griffith of McKinney, Texas; and step-sons Scott and Troy Ackley and brother Jerry Griffith of Derby, Kan.
Floyd moved to Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1991, living previously in Hutchinson and Ellinwood, Kan. He was owner and operator of Dover Drilling Co. in Ellinwood for many years. He was an active participant in many community activities, as well as the oil and gas industry.
Memorial services are planned for today, Aug. 1, at 2 p.m. at 6323 E. Kathleen Road, Scottsdale, Ariz. Please call 480-443-1048 if you wish to attend. It will be a celebration of a beautiful, caring person who touched many lives in his life’s journey. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ellinwood Public Schools and Library Foundation in care of Kimple Funeral Home, Ellinwood, Kan. 67526.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Desert Hills Mortuary•
6500 E. Bell Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-991-5800
Aug. 1, 2004
Anna Dorothy Clowers 1922 - 2004
Anna Dorothy Clowers, 82, died Sept. 29 at Meadowlark Adult Care Home in Wichita. She was born Apr. 17, 1922, in St. John, the daughter of Chester and Neta Esther Culbreath Green. She married
Scott Clowers on Feb. 7, 1942, at St. John. He preceded her in death. A resident of St. John for 66 years, she was a medical receptionist for Dr. Louis Graves in St. John.
Mrs. Clowers was a member of First United Methodist Church in St. John.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Broadfoot; and one brother, Sam Green, both of Wichita, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Diana Clowers.
Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Minnis Chapel Inc. in St. John with the Rev. Robbie Fall officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. There is no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas or First United Methodist Church.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel, Inc.
526 E. 4th
St. John, KS 67578
620-549-3556
Sept. 30, 2004
Thomas Alan Peschka 1931 - 2004
KANSAS CITY — Thomas Alan Peschka, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at St. Joseph Health Center as a result of Parkinson disease complications.
A private memorial service is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sanctuary of Hope, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, KS, 66102; The Parkinson Foundation, 7800 Foster, Overland Park, KS, 66204; or to Cure’ of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, KS, 66206.
Alan was born October 15, 1931, in Great Bend to William A. and Elsie (Austin) Peschka. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1949 and from the University of Kansas in 1953 where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Alan served as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-55. He received a law degree from the University of Kansas in 1958. He served as a law clerk to the U.S. district of Kansas under Judge Arthur E. Stanley during 1958-60. Alan worked for Commerce Bank of Kansas City for 34 years, where he served as vice president, secretary and general counsel. He was a member of Cure’ of Ars Catholic Church.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents and his bother, Rollin Peschka. He is survived by his wife, Joan of the home, cousin Carolyn Nagle of Ft. Collins, Colo., and three sisters-in-law and their husbands, Mary Lou and Ronald Gilliland, Norma Jean and Robert Kopke, and Nina Sue and Wayne Stark.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri*
8837 Roe Ave.
Prairie Village, KS 66207
913-383-9888
Sept. 30, 2004
Steven L. Pendleton 1948-2004
Steven L. Pendleton, 55, died Sept. 26, 2004, at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. He was born Sept. 27, 1948, in Caney, the son of Laland Deryl and Alma Louise Fieg Pendleton. He married
Janet K. Oberle on June 7, 1970, in Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend since 1980, coming from Pittsburg, he was a former co-owner of Marmie Ford in St. John and was a car salesman for 35 years for Marmie Motors.
Pendleton was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Chamber of Commerce, Stoneridge and Barton County Farm Bureau, all of Great Bend. He served in the National Guard.
Survivors include one son, Damian K. Hilton of Manhattan; two daughters, Morgan F. Pendleton of Great Bend, and Jana C. Steck of Salina; his fiancee, Mary Jane Leiker; his mother, Alma Louise Pendleton of Caney; one sister, Patricia Wheeler of Caney; two grandchildren, William C. Steck and Ellen M. Steck; and a nephew, Vince Wheeler of Wichita. He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Havana cemetery in Havana, Kan. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association or Arthritis Foundation.
Sept. 30, 2004
Steven L. Pendleton 1948 - 2004
Steven L. Pendleton, 55, died Sept. 26, 2004, at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. He was born Sept. 27, 1948, in Caney, the son of Laland Deryl and Alma Louise Fieg Pendleton. He married
Janet K. Oberle on June 7, 1980, in Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend since 1970, coming from Pittsburg, he was a former co-owner of Marmie Ford in St. John and was a car salesman for 35 years for Marmie Motors.
Pendleton was a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, Chamber of Commerce, Stoneridge and Barton County Farm Bureau, all of Great Bend. He served in the National Guard.
Survivors include one son, Damian K. Hilton of Manhattan, two daughters, Morgan F. Penleton of Great Bend, and Jana C. Steck of Salina, his mother, Alma Louise Pendleton of Caney, one sister, Patricia Wheeler of Caney; two grandchildren, William C. Streck and Ellen M. Steck; and a nephew, Vince Wheeler of Wichita. He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Havana cemetery in Havana, Kan. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home, with family receiving friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association or Arthritis Foundation.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-793-3525
Sept. 29, 2004
Harold Arthur Younkin 1909 - 2004
Harold Arthur Younkin, 95, died Sept. 26 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born June 4, 1909, in Great Bend, the son of John King and Edna C. Verbeck Younkin. He married
Glenda Pfister on May 30, 1942, at Great Bend. She died Oct. 30, 1987. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a mail carrier for 50 years for the United States Postal Service.
He served as a sergeant with the United States Army during World War II.
Younkin was a member of First Christian Church of Great Bend, Great Bend Masonic Lodge No. 15 and its affiliate bodies, also York Rite and Amarath Inc. The past few years he served as the Worthy Patron of the local chapter of the Eastern Star. He was active in the Masonic bodies for over 50 years. He was active in the world wide military branch of the Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, serving as General Commanding officer from 1976-1977. He was the grand officer of the Encampment of Kansas from 1964-1965, D.C. of Kansas 1960-1965, he was a member of the American Legion and the Barton County Farm Bureau and the National Letter Carriers Association.
Survivors include one brother, Paul R. Younkin of Redding, Calif.; one sister, Marietta Showwalter of Healdsburg, Calif; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.
Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at First Christian Church in Great Bend with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery with Military Committal Rites conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church Building Fund.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-793-3525
Sept. 29, 2004
Sister Bridget Wenta 1917 - 2004
Sister Bridget Wenta, 87, died Sept. 27, 2004, at Dominican Sisters’ convent infirmary in Great Bend. She was born July 12, 1917, in Fowler, as Agnes Caroline Wenta, the daughter of John and Bridget Hageman Wenta. She entered the Dominican Sisters’ Community on May 29, 1933, and pronounced her first vows Aug. 10, 1936. She celebrated 65 years of religious profession in 2001.
Sister Bridget engaged in domestic work all her religious life in the missions of the sisters and in the convent infirmary. She was also supervisor of the laundry at both Sacred Heart Hospital in Lamar, Colo., and at the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She assisted in the sewing room at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend and in the gardens of the motherhouse. For a brief period in the late 1970s she ministered as a health service assistant. She had been in the motherhouse infirmary since 1995.
Survivors include one brother, Leo Wenta of Fowler, and one sister, Mary Ann Bernard of Landcaster, Calif.
Sister Bridget’s body was taken to the hospitality area of the Dominican Chapel of the Plains, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, where it will lie in state until the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. today at the convent, with the Rev. Gerald Hammeke officiating. Friends may call this morning until service time. A wake service was held Tuesday. Burial will be in the Sisters’ Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in honor of Sister Bridget may be sent to: Dominican Sisters Ministry Fund, Office of Mission and Ministry, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
620-793-3525
Sept. 29, 2004
Sister Bridget Wenta
Sister Bridget Wenta, 86, of Great Bend, died Sept. 27, 2004 at the Dominican Sisters Convent Infirmary in Great Bend. Vigil service will be held at 7 tonight at the Dominican Sisters Chapel of the Plains, and the funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Dominican Sisters Chapel of the Plains in Great Bend. Arrangements are with Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Sept. 28, 2004
