Obituaries

Mar 17, 2026

Richard James (Dick) Friendly, 90, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away on March 17, 2026. Dick was born on May 22, 1935, in Hoxie, Kansas, to parents Joseph and Grace Friendly.

As a child, he moved with his family to Seldon, Kansas, where he attended school and graduated high school. Shortly after graduation, Dick served in the army...

Mar 16, 2026

Nicholas "Nick" Earl Schamberger, 40, of Ellis, Kansas, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026.

He was born on February 25, 1986, in Manhattan, Kansas, to Robert and Pamela (Jones) Schamberger. Nick grew up surrounded by family and friends who would come to know his quick wit, strong personality, and unmistakable sense of humor. He attended Trego...

Mar 11, 2026

Jack Edward Schmalzried, 32, of Denver, Colorado, passed away on March 11, 2026, at Gove County Medical Center in Quinter, Kansas. He was born on July 10, 1993, in Wichita, Kansas.

Jack graduated from Soaring Heights Academy homeschool and later took college classes at Abilene Christian University and Front Range Community College.

Jack was the...

Mar 6, 2026

Delores Emma Katt, 90, of Grainfield, Kansas, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026

She was born August 2, 1935, in Gove County, Kansas, to Michael and Marianne (Kuntz) Heier. Delores was the youngest of seven siblings and was raised in the Grinnell area.

On September 25, 1956, she was united in marriage to Leroy...

Mar 4, 2026

Kirk Alan Priefert, 66, of Gove, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the family farm where he was born, raised, and spent his life.

He was born October 12, 1959, in Gove County, Kansas, to August Jr. and Betty Jo (Gillespie) Priefert.

Kirk was a lifetime resident of Gove County, deeply rooted in...

Feb 24, 2026

Wanda Janice Roberts, 95, of Quinter, Kansas, passed away on February 24, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas.

She was born on April 5, 1930, in Roff, Oklahoma, to Bryan William McKinley "B.W." Weems, Sr., and Catherine Mae (Hamer) Weems. She spent most of her life in Quinter and became a deeply respected member of her community.

...

Feb 21, 2026

Edmund "Edd" James McDonald, 47, of Park, Kansas, passed away on February 21, 2026. He was born on January 12, 1979, in Dublin, Ireland, the son of James and Geraldine (Murphy) McDonald.

Edd was raised in Ireland with strong faith, a love of machinery, and a gift for storytelling that he carried proudly with him to Kansas....

Feb 16, 2026

Kenneth Alan Flees July 21, 1959 – February 16, 2026

Kenneth Alan Flees, age 66, passed away on February 16, 2026. Born on July 21, 1959, Kenneth lived a life defined by loyalty, strength, and a deep, unwavering love for his family.

Kenneth graduated from Fountain Valley High School in 1976. Shortly thereafter, he proudly...

Feb 12, 2026

Natalie (Paskhalova) Ikenberry, age 75, passed away at her home on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Natalie was born on July 20, 1950, in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, to Alexander Staviski and Nadezhda Paskhalova. She grew up in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, and graduated from high school and university there.

Natalie worked for many years as an English language professor...

Feb 7, 2026

Joel Patrick Schroeder, 56, of Thoreau, New Mexico, passed away on February 7, 2026. He was born March 7, 1969, in Salina, Kansas, the son of Nicholas and Judy (Cooper) Schroeder. He was raised in Rawlins, Wyoming, where he graduated from Rawlins High School with the Class of 1987.

Joel devoted his life to faith, education, and...

Jan 31, 2026

Mary Louise Roesch (Jennings), of McPherson, Kansas (formerly Quinter, Kansas), age 85, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on January 31, 2026, at The Cedars Long Term Care in McPherson, Kansas. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose life was marked by service, creativity, and deep love for her family.

Mary was born on...

Jan 28, 2026

Kenneth Eugene "Kennie" Breeden passed away Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Dawson Place in Hill City, Kansas, at the age of 90.

He was born March 6, 1935, in Sheridan County, Kansas, the only child of Forrest (F.I.) and Ethel (Reiter) Breeden. Raised in rural Sheridan County, Kennie learned early the values of hard work, responsibility, and...

Jan 19, 2026

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

--2 Timothy 4:7-8...

Jan 16, 2026

Born in the family home in Hooker, OK, on May 3, 1933, to Millard and Edith (George) Wells, Loretta Faye Hutchinson, 92, WaKeeney, passed away on January 16, 2026, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital.  Loretta's grade school years were spent in Hooker and the surrounding area towns.  She attended high school in Liberal, KS, and later earned her...

Jan 14, 2026

Raymond "Ray" Edward Zahn, age 90, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Trego County–Lemke Memorial Hospital. He was born December 5, 1935, in Bazine, Kansas, to Otto and Pearl (Kilpatrick) Zahn.

Ray was a man defined by hard work, quiet observation, and a deep love for his community and the simple...

Jan 8, 2026

David Loren Bongartz, age 75, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Hays Medical Center. He was born May 4, 1950, in Ellis, Kansas, to Frank and Cecelia (Jacobs) Bongartz.

David grew up in rural Trego County, where he spent his youth working on the family farm. He helped care for livestock,...

Jan 1, 2026

The bright light of her family dimmed on January 1, 2026, when Glenna "Jean" Hafenstine passed away peacefully at Trego County–Lemke Memorial Hospital at the age of 97.

She was born August 23, 1928, in Quinter, Kansas, to Reuben and Blanche (Benson) Shelley. Jean graduated from Grinnell High School with the Class of 1946.

On...

Dec 12, 2025

Barbara Ann "Barb" Funk, age 80, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away on December 12, 2025, at Golden Age Care Home in Cheney, Kansas.

Barbara was born on June 27, 1945, in Paris, Texas. She graduated from Great Bend High School and went on to study nursing at Fort Hays State University. It was there, in a square...

Dec 10, 2025

Louis Michael Felder, 100, of Hays, Kansas, passed away surrounded by his family on December 10, 2025, at Hays Medical Center. He was born October 30, 1925, in Hoisington, Kansas, to Andrew and Stephanna Felder. When Louis was 11, the family moved to a farm outside of Rush Center, and he attended schools in Olmitz, Rush Center, and LaCrosse....

Dec 8, 2025

James "Jim" Harries, 77, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away on December 8, 2025, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in WaKeeney. He was born on December 15, 1947, to Myron and Ruth (Mary) Harries. Jim now joins his wife of 43 years, Roberta "Robie" (Hetzel) Harries, who passed away on May 28, 2020. He graduated from...