Obituaries

Eugene Verl Knott, 90, a resident of Fort Dodge who belonged to St. Bernadette Parish, Johnson, died Dec. 25, 2007. He was a farmer, and had served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. Survivors include a son, Ronald; five daughters, Lee Tune, Jo Knott, Sandra LaFay, Patsy Diedrich, and Norma Porter; two brothers, Rich and Gregg; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Father James P. Dieker presided.

Joseph P. Felder, 91, of St. Nicholas Parish, Kinsley, died Jan. 1, 2008. He was a retired farmer. He is survived by his wife, Katherine T. Schinstock; a son, Jerry; two daughters, Carolyn Sawyer and Marilyn Davis; two brothers, Vernon and Louis; a sister, Pauline Oborny; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Daniel C. Stejskal, 72, of Holy Trinity Parish, Timken, died Jan. 3, 2008. He was a truck driver until retiring, and had served in the U.S. Army. Survivors include three daughters, Theresa Thompson, Tracy Myers, and Tammy Pugh; a sister, Evangline “Vangie” Anderson; fiancée, Marilyn Ewing; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Father Rene Labrador presided.

Eugene “Gene” Zorn, 62, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick, died Jan. 4, 2008. He was an accountant for Harper Construction Co. for many years, and was also in farming. Survivors include his wife, Arlene M. Lamatsch; two daughters, Julie M. Smith and Carrie A. Rueger; two sisters, Leona Birzer and Eleanor Zecha; a grandson; a step-grandson; four nephews; and two nieces. Fathers Marvin Reif and Wesley Schawe presided.

Miguel Jimenez, 89, of St. Mary Parish, Garden City, died Jan. 4, 2008. Survivors include two sons, Jose and Donato Jimenez; a daughter, Maria Jimenez; 25 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and a nephew.

Manuel Varela-Rascon, 53, of St. Mary Parish, Garden City, died Jan. 7, 2008. He was a farmer. Survivors include two sons, Manuel Varela Jr. and Jasiel Varela; two daughters, Cizdy Varela and Judith Varela; his mother, Maria Varela; four brothers, Luis Varela, Roberto Varela, Adolfo Varela, and Osvaldo Varela; a sister, Irma Oralia Varela; and three grandchildren. Father Trong Binh Tran presided.

Mae Alice Bowman, 70, of St. John the Baptist Parish, Spearville, died Jan. 10, 2008. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son Lynn Walker; a brother, Jake Enslinger; a sister, Edith Burghart; and a grandson, Cameron Cassidy. Father Ted Stoecklein presided.

Edmund B. Keiter, 84, of Sacred Heart Parish, Larned, died Jan. 9, 2008. He was a retired farmer and Greens Superintendent for the Larned Country Club. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include longtime companion, Pauline Atteberry; a son, Wayne Keiter; six daughters, Patricia C. Peterson, Jo Harris, Janice M. Christenson, Joyce A. Simon, Sandy S. Krohne, and Dena M. Kerr; companions children, Clarissia Lichliter, Michael Tiry, and Jerry McBride; two brothers, Gilbert Keiter and Vincent Keiter; four sisters, Juliana Landwehr, Thelma Traffas, Marjorie Blubagh and Bernatta Lebrick; 22 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Father Bernard Felix presided.

Brother David James ‘Larry’ Downey mourned

SHAWNEE, Okla. - Brother David James “Larry” Downey, O.S.B., a monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey, Shawnee, Okla., died on Jan. 9, 2008. He was a religious vocation from Sacred Heart Parish, Dodge City. Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen was the principal celebrant of the funeral Mass. Burial was in St. Gregory’s Abbey Cemetery.

Brother David was born on Oct. 16, 1940, at Dodge City to Michael and Nellie O’Keefe Downey. He graduated from Windthorst High School in 1958. He became a postulant at Holy Cross Abbey, Canon City, Colo., in 1959, and began the novitiate in 1962. He made monastic profession on July 11, 1963, and final perpetual vows on July 11, 1966.

He served Holy Cross Abbey in a variety of ministries: as director of the farm, as prefect in the dorms of the Holy Cross Abbey School and director of the horse program for the school and the summer camp, as manager of the student dining room for the school, and at various times as Novice Master, Director of Postulants, Subprior and business manager. When the Abbey School closed in 1985, Brother David continued to serve as alumni coordinator. He then became active in prison ministry in both the federal prisons in Florence and at some of the Colorado State prisons in Cañon City.

When Holy Cross Abbey closed Brother David transferred to St. Gregory’s Abbey in 2006. He put his training and long experience with horses to work at the stables at St. Gregory’s, assisting with the therapeutic horseback riding program.

Brother David is survived by the members of the monastic community of St. Gregory’s Abbey and the former members of Holy Cross Abbey; his sisters, Norma Jean Weeks, Kathleen Konda and Doris Downey; his brothers, Timothy and Jerry Downey; and sister-in-laws, Leola Downey and Elaine Downey; brother-in-law, Dwight Thompson; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Michael Downey, Jr., Father Patrick Downey and Tom Downey; and sisters, Helen Orth, LoraAnn Thompson and Edith Downey.

Paul Urban, former Grand Knight, dies

GREAT BEND - Paul J. Urban, 88, died Jan. 1, 2008, at Rush County Nursing Home, La Crosse.

He was born Nov. 2, 1919, in Ellis County, the son of John and Margaret Stecklein Urban. He was a resident of Great Bend since 1953, having moved from Hays, where he taught at St. Joseph’s Military Academy for a number of years. He was a teacher at Great Bend High School for 20 years. He later went into real estate in 1973, where he was elected Realtor Associate of the Year in 1978, and he also taught a real estate course at Barton County Community College for a number of years and retired in 1988.

He belonged to Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose. He was past president of the parish council, diocesan pastoral council, diocesan school board and Catholic Social Services, and a past member and grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, and fourth-degree member of Coronado Assembly. He served during World War II and was in the active Army and Reserve for 33 years and retired as a colonel.

Survivors include: many nieces and nephews.

Father Wesley Schawe presided at the funeral Mass. Burial was in Great Bend Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard.

Memorials may be sent to the Holy Family School Endowment in care of the funeral home.