Obituaries

Dec 15, 2023

Elizabeth Ann (Pickering) Simmons, 79, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Friday, December 15, 2023 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Liz was born October 30, 1944 in Bolivar, Missouri.  She was one of 13 children born to Gene and Wanda (Bean) Pickering.  She grew up in Missouri before her family moved to Bakersfield, California.

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Dec 14, 2023

Merlin Wayne Siroky was born May 21st 1956. His passion for sharing bible teachings and building others up was his lifelong achievement.

His occupation as a mechanic was catalyst to his hobby of building many metal works of art and revolutionary welded creations as he always aspired to devise a new steel or iron innovation to move,...

Dec 13, 2023

Lucille Joyce “Lucy” Shearer, 77, of Paradise, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at her home in Paradise.

Lucy was born on August 18, 1946, in Paradise, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence and Della (Burger) Houser.  She grew up in Paradise and graduated from Paradise High School in 1964.  After high school, she graduated from Ft....

Dec 5, 2023

Michael David Wolfe, the son of Donald E. and Ruth (Ochs) Wolfe, was born June 20, 1942.  He graduated from Russell High School in the Class of 1960 and then attended the University of Kansas.  Upon his completion of studies at the University of Kansas, he resided and worked in Colorado Springs, initially as a math teacher and then...

Dec 3, 2023

Gail Samone Williams, 83, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, December 03, 2023, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Gail was born on September 17, 1940, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the daughter of Leroy C. and Florence E. (Owens) Sack.  She grew up in Bunker Hill, Kansas, and graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1958. ...

Nov 22, 2023

JoAnn J. (Dietz) Kilian, 75, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at the Russell Regional Hospital.

JoAnn was born February 27, 1948 in Russell.  She was the daughter of Jacob and Freda (Batt) Dietz.  She lived her whole life in Russell.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Bender Hill Lutheran...

Nov 22, 2023

Birdie Mae Oden, 93, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at the Russell Regional Hospital.

Birdie was born on October 11, 1930 in Marienthal, Kansas, the daughter of Walter Edward and Ivry Lea (Harkness) Hall.  She grew up in Sterling, Sylvia and permanently moved to Stafford, Kansas.  The family moved to Stafford due to...

Nov 12, 2023

Ruth Mae (Waudby) Moyer was born October 14 1924; she had just turned 99, when she passed away at Wheatland Nursing Center on November 12.  Ruth graduated from Russell High School in 1943, and from business school at Brown Mackie Business School in Salina.  She was married to Ernie Reissig, and they have a daughter, Mervis Reissig, who lives...

Nov 6, 2023

Candi Mae (Bernard) Wagner, 46, of Russell, Kansas, entered into her eternal rest Monday, November 6, 2023, with her loving family by her side after a courageous battle against cancer.

Candi was born December 17, 1976 in Beloit, Kansas. She was the daughter of Dan E. and Deborah M. (Brummer) Bernard. Candi grew up in Beloit until...

Nov 4, 2023

Jeffrey Wayne Hare, 46, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, November 04, 2023, at the Russell Regional Hospital

Jeffrey was born on September 11, 1977, in LaMesa, California the son of Cindy L. Ford. He grew up in LaMesa until he was 10 years old and moved to Kansas in 1987. He attended school in Haviland Schools...

Nov 2, 2023

Evans Lawerence Cooley, 82, of Alton, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the Salina Medical Center from complications associated with MDS.  He passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

Evans was born on Christmas Day in 1940 on the family farm south of Alton.  He was the only child of Everett and Verla ...

Oct 25, 2023

Janice Elaine Stoppel, 89, of Russell, Kansas, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, in Russell, Kansas.

Janice was born on September 27, 1934, in Russell, Kansas, the daughter of Albert E. and Amelia C. (Meier) Strecker.  A lifelong resident of Russell, she graduated from Russell High School in 1952.  She married the love...

Oct 24, 2023

Donna Boxberger-Vise, 80, of Johnstown, Colorado, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

Donna was born on September 7, 1943 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The daughter of Betty Rae (Morgan and Dennis Bluejacket.  Dennis was killed in WWII in 1944.  Betty married Harlan Boxberger, who later adopted Donna.  She graduated from Russell High School...

Oct 19, 2023

Janet Joan Funk, 77, of Russell, Kansas died on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Main Street Manor of Russell, Kansas.

Janet was born on June 30, 1946, in Russell. She was the daughter of LaVern H. and Elaine L. (Karst) Becker. She grew up on the family farm near Milberger, Kansas. She graduated from Russell High School...

Sep 14, 2023

Kenneth Wayne Kuntzsch, Sr., 77, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.

Kenneth was born on March 19, 1946, in Russell, Kansas, the son of William H. and Margaret F. Reddig.  He grew up in the Russell and Bunker Hill, Kansas, areas and attended local schools.  He...

Sep 7, 2023

Irene Emma Satchell, 98, of Russell, Kansas, and former Bunker Hill, Kansas, resident died on Thursday, September 07, 2023, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell.

Irene was born on July 15, 1925, in Bunker Hill, Kansas, the daughter of David J. and Anna (Steinle) Waymaster.  She grew up in Bunker Hill and attended Bunker Hill Schools...

Sep 6, 2023

Leonard Brown was born June 23, 1943 to Donald and Evelyn Brown on the family farm southwest of Lucas.

Leonard attended District 44 Elementary School – a one-room school southwest of Lucas, he graduated from Lucas High School, then attended Fort Hays State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag-Business.

He married...

Aug 30, 2023

Vernon Delano Radke, 90, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.

Vernon was born July 9, 1933 on the family farm near Milberger, Kansas.  He was the son of Tobias and Amelia (Bitter) Radke.  He grew up in the Milberger area and attended schools in Milberger and Russell.  He...

Aug 29, 2023

Ronald Hugh Combs, 85 departed this life quietly at his home in Georgetown, Texas on August 29, 2023.

Ron was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on December 11, 1937.  He was the son of Cleo and Tessie Combs.  Ron’s childhood included frequent relocations, as his dad’s job took his family to many different oil fields.  He often lived...

Aug 24, 2023

Robert Charley “Basswood Bob” Oliva (62) was born on September 27, 1960 in Plainville, Kansas, to Ruth Lee (Price) and Charley Robert Oliva. Tragically, Bob lost his life in an automobile accident near his home in Ely, Minnesota, on August 24, 2023.

Raised in Russell, Kansas, Bob was no stranger to adventures with his siblings. From a...