Obituaries

Obituaries

Father Arthur Leo Kinsella, OP

Father Arthur Leo Kinsella, O.P., 88, native of Merna, Ill, died April 6, 2008 at the Resurrection Life Center in Chicago, from complications due to advanced age. Father Brendan Curran, O.P., was the main celebrant at the memorial Mass at Saint Pius V Church, Chicago.

Father Kinsella was born June 21, 1919. He made his religious profession as a Dominican friar on Aug. 16, 1940, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1946. During his Dominican life, he served as a teacher, preacher and pastor in Louisiana, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Missouri and Wisconsin. He was elected by his religious brothers as a superior on many occasions.

Father Kinsella was one of the first three friars to establish a Dominican foreign mission in Nigeria, West Africa in 1951. Upon his return in 1955, he joined the faculty of at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City. At the same time he conducted Thomist lectures in Dodge City, Great Bend and Garden City.

He left Dodge City in 1959 and was chaplain and professor of philosophy at the College of Santa Fe and Superior of the Dominican Community. He was chaplain to the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend (1965-66); professor at St. Edward University, Austin, Tex., and Prior (1966-75).

He returned to Great Bend in 1975 and was assigned to the Pilgrim House of Praise where he gave retreats and was part of a preaching team. In 1979 he was appointed pastor of St. Dominic Parish, Denver, Colo.

He returned to the Diocese of Dodge City in 1984. He was appointed pastor of St. Joseph, Scott City, and St. Theresa, Dighton, and was given approval to form a team ministry in these parishes with three Dominican Sisters. After celebrating his 25th anniversary as a priest, he left the diocese in 1986, on the advice of his physician.

Father Kinsella embraced the renewal mandated by the Second Vatican Council with enthusiasm. He promoted preaching within the Dominican family by being a member of a preaching team with his Dominican sisters until his health required that he give up this love of his life. At his request, his body was given to the study of science.

Ann M. Mader, 89, of St. Dominic Parish, Garden City, died March 30, 2008. She was a retired bookkeeper for J.C. Penney and gate keeper at the Zoo. Survivors include son, Leroy Mader; daughters, Theresa Marten, Kay Geis, and Nancy Simon; a sister, Mickey Brady; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

LeRoy V. Wilson, 69, of Garden City, died April 2, 2008. He served as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot stationed on the U.S.S. Saratoga. He is survived by his wife, Lola Geier; a son, Scott L. Wilson; a brother, Gail Wilson; sisters, Patricia Hedemark and Rebecca Martinez; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Deacon Dwayne Lampe presided.

Rafale David Ramirez, 37, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City, died April 3, 2008. Survivors include his wife; one son and one daughter; his father; two brothers; and three sisters.

Glenn E. Burger, 81, of Garfield, who belonged to Sacred Heart Parish, Larned, died April 5, 2008. He was a retired steam fitter for the Larned State Hospital. Survivors include three sons, Dennis, Benny, and Kennith; two sisters, Maxine Ford and Dorothy West; nine grandchildren; and nineteen great grandchildren.

Michelle M. Theis, 36, of St. Andrew Parish, Wright, died April 5, 2008. On Jan. 6, 2004, she married Nick Theis at Dodge City. He survives. Other survivors include: children, Michael Scott Theis, Alexandra Marie Schawe and Shyanne Nicole Theis; her mother, Sheila and Ray Pfeifer; her father, Robert and Candace Lattin, Jr.; brothers, Ethan Lattin, Todd and Tambra Pfeifer, and Cory Pfeifer; sisters, Rene and Wes Weber, and Rachel Lattin; and grandfather, Robert Lattin, Sr.

Virginia Rios, 61, of St. Joseph Parish, Scott City, died April 7, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Manuel Rios Jr.; sons, Roy, Andrew, and Alex Rios: daughters, Olivia Enriquez, Debbie Oronia, and Laurie Trejo: brothers, Felix Camacho, Don Camacho, Issaac Camacho, Raul Camacho, Cande Camacho, Emilio Camacho Jr., and Joe Camach: sisters, Mary Gonzales, Estella Lopez, and Anquilina Camacho; and 10 grandchildren.

Marie A. Miller, 91, of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Hoisington, died April 7, 2008. She retired in 1988 after serving as a cook for the Dubuque and Claflin schools. She was a member of the Altar Society and the Daughters of Isabella. Survivors include sons, Lawrence (Butch) and John; daughter, June Abbott; and seven grandchildren. Father Dwight Birket presided.

Russ Call, 46, of St. Anthony Parish, Liberal, died April 6, 2008. Survivors include his parents, Jack and Betty (Little) Call; his wife, Bobi Hinkle; sons, Jeremy and Jed; brothers, Mike and Doug Call; and a sister, Laura Zavala.

Vernon Eck, 81, of St. Boniface Parish, Sharon, died April 6, 2008. He was a farmer and had served in the US Navy during WWII. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Liebst; sons, Pete, Larry, Gene, and Steve; daughters, Yvonne Shippy, Shirley Ditgen, Cindy McNally, and Brenda Wright; brother, Steve Eck; sisters, Mildred Laudick and Lucille Laudick; 27 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. Father John Strasser presided.

Miguel “Willie” Ponce, 48, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City, died April 7, 2008. Survivors include his wife, Rose E. Sanchez; sons, Sergio, Manuel, Roberto, and Alex; daughter, Soledad; stepsons, Chris Rincon and Eric Rincon; stepdaughter, Monique DeBroeck; brother, Issias Arriage; sisters, Martha, Vicky, Elisabeth Alarcon, and Susana; and eight grandchildren.

Marianna Sander, 84, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City, died April 14, 2008. Survivors include sons, Bill and Dennis; daughter, Anita Wills; brother, George Heskamp; sisters, Erma Vierthaler and Eloise Hoffman; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Porfiro V. Gonzalez, 85, of Ulysses, died April 13, 2008. He worked for Ulysses Irrigation Pipe, and was active in the Grant County Senior Center. Porfiro’s siblings include 10 brothers, Fortanato, Fidel, Pablo, Jaun, Leandiro, Santago, Lamasio, Librao, Juan and Daniel; and three sisters, Antonia, Victoria and Guadelupe. Father James P. Dieker presided.

Rita E. Mater, 86, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend, died April 15, 2008. She was a homemaker. She moved to Great Bend in 1998, after living on a farm in Olmitz. She belonged to the Altar Society. Survivors include sons, Ken Mater, Gary Mater and Daniel Mater; stepbrother, Urban Fuerst; sisters, Augusta VanAutreve and Ella Lehmkul; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Father Ultan Murphy presided.

Laura Carrasco, 37, of St. Anthony Parish, Liberal, died April 16, 2008. Survivors include her parents, Calletano and Juliana Estrada Ramirez; her husband, Ramon Carrasco; sons, Ramon Carrasco Jr., Alan Carrasco, Ivan Ramirez, and Omar Ramirez; brothers, Enrique Ramirez, Gerardo Ramirez, and Hernundo Ramirez; and sisters, Adrian Romero and Sylvia Ibarra.

Helen “Louise” Werner, 94, of St. Nicholas Parish, Kinsley, died April 11, 2008. Survivors include sons, Ronald and Thomas; daughters, Sue Kramer and Marietta Strecker; brother, Harold Burkhart; sister, Mary Ann Taylor; 14 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.

Donald Leo Herrman, 75, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City, died April 13, 2008. Survivors include his wife, Ellen Marconnet Blattner; two step-sons, Randy and Rick Blattner; a step-daughter, Roxanna Jacobs; two brothers, Gerald and Clarence Herrman; a sister-in-law, Betty Herrman; 20 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Alfred James “Fritz” Stecklein, 87, of Sacred Heart Parish, Ness City, died April 10, 2008. Survivors include sons, Alfred L. and Dean Stecklein; daughters, Evelyn Ann Lynne and Elanor Sue Schweitzer; brother, Edward Stecklein; sister, Lorene Pfannenstiel; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Anna Lucille Coulson of Sacred Heart Parish, Larned, died April 10, 2008. She was born to George Denker and Anna Christoph Denker on June 16, 1918. Survivors include daughters, Barbara Hammond, Ruth Searight, and Virginia Dean; sons, James R., Thomas R., and George R.; 13 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

Linda Rupp, 95, of Sacred Heart Parish, Ness City, died April 19, 2008. Survivors include daughter, Jolene M. O’Connell; brother, George Depperschmidt; sister, Mary Pfannenstiel; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Father Henry Hildebrandt presided.

Daniel R. Mujica, 80, of St. Dominic Parish, Garden City, died April 19, 2008. Survivors include his wife, Susan Robles; sons, Bernie D., Ray R., and Patrick; brother, Gregory A.; sister, Felisha Garcia; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Father Wesley Schawe presided.

Eleanor Ille, 83, of Holy Family Parish, Odin, died April 20, 2008. She was a homemaker, and was a member of St. Ann’s Altar Society. Survivors include a son, Loren; two daughters, Doris Ille and Diane Dolechek; three sisters, Anna Boor, Hilda Ille, and Mary Wondra; and eight grandchildren. Fathers Dwight Birket and Pascal Klein presided.

Dr. Jerry Brands, D.V.M., 62, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City, died April 21, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Judy Ray; and his son, Quentin J. Brands. Father Ted Skalsky presided.

Richard P. “Rick” Imel, 62, of Dodge City, died April 21, 2008. Survivors include two sons, John and Dustin; his father, Richard C. Imel; two sisters, Mary Christina Imel, and Jeani Perkins; and four grandchildren. Father Ted Skalsky presided.

Jane F. Stephens, 61, of La Crosse, died April 24, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Mike C. Stephens; a son, Jeff M.; and brother, Mike Bieber. Rev. Linda Bolz and Father Charles Mazouch presided.

R.L. “Bob” Branan, 81, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend, died April 26, 2008. He is the former owner of Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Claflin. He is survived by his wife, Lucille Hickel Kaiser; two sons, Thomas Branan and James P. Branan; two stepsons, Gary Kaiser and Jim Kaiser; one daughter, Laurie Branan; one grandson; and four step-grandchildren. Father Reginald A. Urban officiated.

Margaret M. Feist, 100, of St. Joseph Parish, Ellinwood, died April 26, 2008. Survivors include sons, Aaron, J. Alan, Donald, and Kenneth; daughter, Marlene Feist; 15 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. The Altar Society and the Daughters of Isabella held rosaries for Margaret.

Marcella “Sally” Gomez, 84, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City, died April 27, 2008. Survivors include her husband, Pete Gomez; daughters, Carol Bristow and Mary Jane Griffiths; nine grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Betty Jo Laudick, 74, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick, Great Bend, died April 27, 2008. She was an organist for Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick, and a member of the Altar Society. She was a former bookkeeper for Wells Furniture, Great Bend. Survivors include six sons, Douglas Laudick, Dennis Laudick, Ron Laudick, Gregory Laudick, Curtis Laudick, and Bill Laudick; one daughter, Cheryl Armstrong; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Father Floyd McKinney presided.