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John Richard Motto
John Richard Motto, 76 of Pittsburg, Kansas passed away Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. John was born April 1, 1936 to John P. and Helen M. (Trolgia) Motto. He lived in Wichita, Kansas for 32 years before moving to Pittsburg. On May 6, 1956 he married
Sharon (Fears) Motto in Pittsburg. She survives of the home. John enlisted in the Marines in 1954. He spent six years as reserved Marine during the Korean War. John and Sharon were members of the Gateway Baptist Church in Wichita before moving to Pittsburg where they became members of the Open Door Fellowship Church in Pittsburg. Together they gave young children the opportunity to attend church by driving a bus, picking kids up one by one. John worked as a machinist and farmer for several years, retiring in 1996. John is survived by his wife Sharon of the home. Son Shane Motto and wife Lauri of Pittsburg, two daughters, Donna Munson and husband Kevin of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Shanna Gore and husband Richard of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. 12 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Jona Allo, 2 granddaughters and a sister. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Open Door Fellowship Church in Pittsburg with Pastor Don Talent officiating. Interment will follow at Frontenac City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, November 6 at Friskel Funeral Home in Frontenac. Friends may call on Tuesday anytime after 10 a.m. at Friskel Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Clarehouse Hospice Care of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Friskel Funeral Home, 230 East McKay, Frontenac, Kansas 66763. Arrangements are under the direction of Friskel Funeral Home.
Jack W. Swartz
FRONTENAC, KS – Jack W. Swartz, 90, of Frontenac, died at 3:38 pm Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at the Sunset Manor Nursing Home in Frontenac. He was born March 1, 1922 in Winner, South Dakota at the family farm that continues in operation today in the family, the son of Clint and Daisy Shiner Swartz. He had lived in Frontenac since 2002, moving from Grove, Oklahoma. He was graduated from Winner High School and the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict, serving in the US Army. He married
Mary Agnes Phillips on October 11, 1943 in Hamill, South Dakota. She preceded him in death on December 28, 2006. Mr. Swartz was a pilot and mechanic working in the Aviation Industry for 50 years. He did flying for Sinclair Oil Company, Shreveport Times Newspaper, RL Manning Drilling Company, Garber Aviation, was a pilot for President Jimmy Carter, and other corporate aviation departments. He and his wife Mary started a Fixed Base Operation (FBO) in Buffalo, WY where the raised a family of 5 children until they sold the business in 1970. They also operated flying services in Magnolia, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas and Casper, Wyoming. Mr. Swartz also taught at the Aviation Department of a local College in Cheyenne, WY until he retired and moved to Pittsburg. After retirement he continued to do aircraft inspections for the Federal Aviation Agency in Kansas and Oklahoma. In his later years he was a member of the Confederate Air Force, flying B-25; B-17; B-24; Corsairs; Bearcats; P-51; and the AT-6. He also holds records in a P-51 Mustang, flying in the Reno Air Races in Reno, Nevada. Membership was held in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac, KS and his hobbies and interests included woodworking, crossword puzzles, fishing and Aviation. Survivors include two sons Mike Swartz and wife Ramona of Pittsburg; Tony Swartz and wife Mary of Irvine, California; three daughters Jacqueline Swartz of Lake Havasu, Arizona; Patricia Henderson and husband Bill of Buffalo, South Dakota; Elizabeth Moore and husband Skip of Jeffersonville, Indiana; eight grandchildren Adam Swartz and wife Stacy of West Chicago, Illinois; Travis Swartz of Anchorage, Alaska; Amanda Sander and husband Mark of Thornton, Colorado; Chrissy Page and husband Josh of Buffalo, South Dakota; Levi Swartz and wife Danessa of Wichita, KS; Alena Shupp and partner Katherine Bale of Denver, Colorado; Sara Metzger and husband Adam of Thornton, Colorado; Jennifer Butler and husband Donny of Jeffersonville, Indiana; eight great-grandchildren Lauren; Brandon, Abigail, Emerson, Copper, Carson, Ethan, and Bobby. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, one brother and four sisters. Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 pm, Thursday, November 29, 2012 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac, KS with Father Thomas Stroot, as celebrant. Inurnment will be in Mt. Carmel cemetery in Frontenac, KS. Military graveside rites will be by the Benjamin Fuller American Legion Post #64 of Pittsburg, KS. A fly over at the cemetery will be conducted by Terry Calloway. The family will receive their friends from 7 to 8 pm Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the Friskel Funeral Home, 230 E. McKay in Frontenac, KS. The parish rosary will be recited at 7:30 pm Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at the funeral home. A memorial has been established to Mount Saint Marty College in Yankton, SD in the name of Jack and Mary Swartz in care of the funeral home.
Frances (Fran) Maxine Carleton Bonner
Frances (Fran) Maxine Carleton Bonner, 70, of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed away, November 19, 2012, after a fight with cancer. Fran was born on July 9, 1942 to Max Owen Carleton and Sarah Frances Carleton of Jackson County, Missouri and was later joined in life by her brother Max Owen Carleton Jr. Fran graduated from Southeast High School, Kansas City, Missouri in 1960. In 1961 she moved to Detroit, MI where she worked for the Democratic National Party. She returned to Kansas City in 1962, where she later married
Louis Bonner. The couple had two children, Louis and Robin. In the mid 1980s Fran continued her education at Labette County Community College, Parsons, Kansas and Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, studying nursing. During her working career, Fran worked as an administrative assistant, child care provider, and a nursing assistant. She finished her career in sales and sales support with Names and Numbers in Pittsburg, KS. She was a member of the Eastern Star and Lady Eagles. Fran enjoyed antiquing, crafts, watching tv and being a social butterfly within her community. Most importantly, she enjoyed her family and spending time with them. Fran is survived by her son Louis Bonner of Frontenac, KS, his wife Lisa Bonner and their three children: Matthew Bonner, Samantha Bonner and Emma Schwatken. Her daughter Robin Bonner of Gardner, KS and her son Logan Bonner, as well as her sister in law Cathy Carleton and nephew Ian Carleton both of Pleasant Hope, MO. Fran is preceded in death by her parents and her brother. Visitation will be Monday November 26th from 5-6 pm at the Friskel Funeral Home in Frontenac with Reverend Steve Cole officiating, funeral services immediately following at 6pm. Burial will be at 11am Tuesday November 27th at the Appleton City cemetery in Appleton City, MO. Donations are encouraged to the cancer research organization of your choice or the American Diabetes Association. Memorials may be brought by or mailed to the Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay/P.O. Box 907 Frontenac, KS 66763.
Rita F. Leibbrand
Rita F. Leibbrand, 56, of Mindenmines, MO went to be with her Heavenly Father at 5:25 a.m. Friday December 7, 2012 at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg following an 18 month battle with cancer. She was born November 7, 1956 in Pittsburg, KS the daughter of Doyle and Norma (Edds) Dingman. She was a lifetime resident of the Mindenmines area and graduated from Liberal schools. Rita married
her best friend, James “Jim” Leibbrand on July 26, 1974 in Mindenmines; he preceded her in death on October 30, 2006. Rita was a longtime member of the Mindenmines Christian Church, serving in many capacities, including, pianist for many years, cooking many meals, and being a concerned prayer warrior for all those around her. She also enjoyed working with her sister as a housekeeper for several years in the Mindenmines/Pittsburg area. Survivors include a son Troy Leibbrand and wife Melanie of Liberal, MO; a daughter Mandy Pike and husband Greg of Mindenmines, MO; her father Doyle Dingman of Mindenmines; 3 sisters Terri Thornton of Pittsburg, Anita Rose and Lisa Lovell both of Mindenmines; 4 grandchildren Brett and Brady Leibbrand and Gracie and Millie Pike and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother and husband. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday December 11th at the Mindenmines Christian Church with Reverend Dan Moss officiating. Burial will follow in the Nashville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the Friskel Funeral Home in Frontenac. Memorial contributions can be made to Angels Among Us or the Mindenmines Christian Church, memorials may be brought by or mailed to the Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay/P.O. Box 907 Frontenac, KS 66763
Robert Eugene Coomes
Robert Eugene Coomes, 80, of Frontenac died at 7:35 am, Monday, December 31, 2012 at the Via Christi Hospital Pittsburg following a short illness. He was born December 30, 1932 in St. Paul, KS the son of Ray and Cora (Brazil) Coomes. On March 2, 1962 he was united in marriage to Roberta Jean Witty in Miami, OK, she survives of the home. Bob was a general contractor and was the owner and operator of Coomes Construction and Coomes Self Storage. He was a longtime area resident and a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac. He was a former member of the St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul where he was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Additional survivors include a son Ben R. Coomes and a daughter Kyra Hensley both of Frontenac; a brother Jack Coomes of Pittsburg; three grandchildren Keele Allen and husband Travis, Natalie Coomes and Karsyn Hensley and a great-grandson Karter Allen all of Frontenac. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, a brother Jimmy Coomes and a sister Mary “Sis” Phelan. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am, Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac with Fr. Thomas Stroot as Celebrant. Inurnment of cremains will take place at a later date in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Rosary will be 7 pm Wednesday at the Friskel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends following the rosary. Services by Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay Frontenac, KS
Angelene Brunskill
Angelene Brunskill, 92, passed away Monday, December 31st, 2012 at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. She was born on September 29th, 1920 in Capaldo, KS to Gaetano Merando and Carmella (Serra) Merando. She lived her whole life in Capaldo until moving to Via Christi Village in 2010. In 1945 she met Harvey Brunskill, Jr. and they married
on January 22nd, 1946. They resided together in Capaldo in the home of her birth until his death in December 1991. Angelene was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker for many years. After graduating from Frontenac High School in 1938 she worked at the Courthouse in Girard, KS. She later worked as a cook for the South Radley Grade School in South Radley, KS while her children attended school there. She later worked at the PSU dining hall, Parsons Army Ammunition Plant, and was a loving caregiver and babysitter for family and friends who needed her. She took great pride in all her work and enjoyed the people she met over the years. Angelene loved to do arts and crafts, crocheting and counted cross stitch making many beautiful things. She loved to cook and care for her home and family. She was an avid gardener and grew many types of flowers and vegetables. Angelene loved animals and was a long time supporter of the SEK Humane Society. She and her husband were members of Saint Alice Catholic Church in Capaldo for many years until it closed and then became members of Sacred Heart Parish in Frontenac where she was a member of the Altar Society. She is survived by her children: a son Richard Brunskill and wife Dorothy of Clever, MO and a daughter Vicki Stus and husband Jon of Baldwin City, KS, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren several nieces and nephews and many extended family. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers: James, Joe, Gene, Tony and Leo Merando and their spouses, her sisters: Mary Naccarato and Lillian Elnicki and their spouses, and several nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am, Monday, January 7, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac with Fr. Thomas Stroot as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 7:00pm Sunday at the Friskel Funeral Home where the family will receive friends before the rosary from 6-8pm. Memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart Church and/or the SEK Humane Society; these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home. Services by Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay Frontenac, KS.
Frances Purdon
Frances Purdon, 73, of Pittsburg, KS died at 1:23 p.m. Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at Freeman Hospital Joplin, MO. She was born February 1, 1939 in Honolulu, HI, and lived there until she moved to the mainland when she was 21. She was a member of the Catholic Church and she enjoyed her family. She moved to Girard in 1977 and lived there until 1995 when she moved to Pittsburg, KS. While in Girard she attained her CNA and GED. She worked at Heritage Nursing Home in Girard and Sunset Manor in Frontenac, where she enjoyed taking care of and interacting with the patients. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family, Yatzee, Wheel of Fortune, and anything John Wayne, and going out to dinner. She also loved when she got to travel to see her daughter Christina while she lived in both Hawaii and Washington. She loved when people stopped by to visit especially her grandson A.J. In March 2012, she went to stay with her daughter Christina and her fiancé Nathan Ferrell who both helped take care for her until her hospitalization. While there she enjoyed the dogs but her daily protector on the arm of her was Boo. Survivors include the love of her life, companion and caregiver Leroy Purkey, Girard, her children Lisa Stumfoll, Springfield, MO, Theresa Purdon-Taylor (Ron), Kansas City, MO and Christina Purdon and Fiancé Nathan Ferrell, Joplin, MO; grandchildren: Danica (Jason) Childress, Seymour, MO, Kristal (Nathan) Amos, Republic, MO, Brent (Amy) Ewan, Marshfield, MO, A.J. Purdon, Kansas City, MO, Jason Stumfoll, Rolla, MO and Ashlin Taylor, Kansas City, MO; her great-grandchildren Dakota & Kaytlin Childress, Gavin, Talan & Brynn Amos, and Vincent Ewan. She was preceded in death by her children’s father, Joseph Raymond Purdon and her foster parents Antone and Clara Almeida. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am, Monday, September 10, 2012 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Girard Fr. Roger Lumbre as celebrant. Burial will be at the Girard City cemetery at a later date. Family will receive friends at the Friskel Funeral Home in Frontenac from 6-8 pm on Sunday. She was a breast and lung cancer survivor, therefore the family would appreciate memorials to be made to the American Cancer Society; these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home. Services and by Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay Frontenac, KS.
George Arthur Trout
George Arthur Trout, 84, of Liberal, MO passed away at 9:38 am, Thursday, Nov. 1st, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born December 7, 1927 in Girard, KS the son of George Fred and Pearl Edna (Watson) Trout. He attended school in Girard and graduated from the Girard High School with the Class of 1945, he then went on to PSU where he received an electrician’s degree. He joined the Air Force in 1946 and was honorably discharged in 1949 attaining the rank of Sergeant. He spent time at Elgin AFB in Boca Raton, FL where he was a Radar Mech Night Fighter and was a qualified marksman with the Carbine rifle. On September 25, 1948 he was united in marriage to Wilma Russell in Lucedale, MS, she survives him of the home. George spent most of his life farming, he also worked for local elevators hauling grain and was a reserve deputy officer and jailer for Crawford Co. Sheriffs Dept., Crawford Co. road Dept., KS State Highway Dept. and was a bus driver for the Liberal and Nevada School Districts. Additional survivors include a son Dennis (Brenda) Trout of Mindenmines, MO, four daughters: Belinda (Ralph) Ghumm of Jasper, MO, Tina (Frank) Cheney of Carl Junction, MO, Kim (Darrell) Spurling of Liberal, MO and Rebecca (William) Wheeler also of Liberal; a mother-in-law Helen Dumm of Girard; two sisters: Pat Davied of Pittsburg, KS and Marjie Hallacy of Radley, KS; several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son George Steven Trout in June 2012, a brother John William Trout, two sisters Ruth Thrasher and Janie Statler, two grandsons Jody Ghumm and Phillip Trout, and granddaughter Ashley Wheeler and a great granddaughter Autumn Vest. Funeral services will be 2pm, Monday, November 5, 2012 at the Friskel Funeral Home with Pastor Don Wymore officiating. Burial will follow in the Farlington Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6-7pm Sunday evening. Services by Friskel Funeral Home Frontenac, KS.
Pete A. Masser
Pete A. Masser, 96, of Girard, Kansas passed away Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at Heritage Nursing Center in Girard. He was born in Fleming, Kansas on November 24, 1914 to Josef and Aloisia (Kiigerl) Masser. Pete attended Coal Valley Grade School up until the 8th grade, before receiving 4 years of GI Instruction. He Joined the Army in 1941, serving in Europe during WWll as a Staff Sgt. He married
Hazel (Workman) Masser November 24, 1941 in Girard. She preceded him in death June 5, 2008. Pete was a lifetime farmer. He was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Girard and a member of the VFW Post 7949 of Girard. He is survived by his nieces, Marilyn White and husband Bill, Dorothy Wynberg, Barbara Mack and husband Bob, Evelyn McClendon, Linda Cavallaro, Jane Carr and husband Dennis, Jean Stevens. Nephews, William Workman and wife Jan, Merle Boudoux and wife Kay, Donald Workman and wife Joann, Herman Masser and Francis Strasser. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, 2 brothers, Herman and Joe Masser and a sister, Elizabeth Strasser. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Monday, August 27, 2012 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Girard with Father Roger Lumbre as Celebrant. Burial will follow at the Garden of Memories cemetery in Pittsburg. Visitation will be from 7-8 pm, Sunday, August 26 at Friskel Funeral Home in Frontenac. Rosary will be recited at 7pm. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made out to St. Michael’s Catholic Church of Girard. Memorials may dropped off or mailed to Friskel Funeral Home, 230 E. McKay Street, Frontenac, Kansas 66763. Arrangements are under the direction of Friskel Funeral Home.
