Obituaries

Joan Kisner, 74, of St. Patrick Parish, Plains, died June 7, 2007. She was a farmer. Survivors include her children: Karen J. Harkness, Col. Linda C. Kisner, Daniel J., Stephen L., Andy, Mary K. Stebens, and Stacey M. Fisher; a brother; three sisters; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Father Angel Dy presided.

Magdalen V. Fiest, 81, of Great Bend, and a member of Holy Name Parish, Bushton, died June 9, 2007. She belonged to the Altar Society. Survivors include a son, Michael; a daughter, Patricia Doll; a brother, Ambrose Wendel; two sisters, Helen Sappington and Irene Harper; a grandchild; and a great-grandchild. Father Steven Scheier presided

Josephine Ann “JoAnn” Lickteig, 75, of St. Joseph Parish, Scott City, died June 11, 2007. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella. Survivors include her husband, Melvin E. Lickteig; two sons, Christopher and Paul Lickteig; a daughter, Karen Gamble; a sister, Patricia Dykes; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Father Warren Stecklein presided.

Darin Lee Hickel, 35, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick’s in Great Bend, died June 11, 2007. He had been a resident of McCook, Neb. for six months, where he was a manager for U.S. Air, McCook, and was a pilot and flight instructor. Survivors include his parents, Kenneth and Carol Hickel; his paternal grandmother, Agnes Hickey; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Fathers Warren Stecklein and Pascal Klein presided.

Helen K. Jira, 84, of St. Michael’s Parish, La Crosse, died June 12, 2007. She taught school for 45 years in the Rush and Barton County areas. She is survived by her husband, Frank J. Jira; a daughter, Fran Kovach; one sister, Theresa Schaffer; a grandchild; and two great grandchildren. Father Rene Labrador presided.

Larry “Bones” Steinbacher, 61, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima in Great Bend, died June 14, 2007. He was an inspector for Evans, Byerly, Hutchinson and Associates PA., and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his wife, Anne Keenan; his mother, Eulalia M. Steinbacher; a son, Doug; three brothers, Charlie, Pete, and Jim; four sisters, Laura Ann Schenkel, Mary Lou Steinbacher, Jolene Romme, and Jeanne Hollembeak; and two grandchildren. Father Wesley Schawe presided.

Said Ramos, 6 months, of St. Mary Parish, Garden City, died June 12, 2007. He was born Dec. 10, 2006, the son of Jesus M. and Marie DeJesus Ramos. Survivors include his parents; a brother, Jesus; grandparents Juan and Maria Ramos, and Maria Marquez; two great-grandfathers, Manuel Salamanca and Jose Marquez; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Father Tony Judge presided.

Mark Duane Dierks, 55, of Leoti, died June 13, 2007. He had been employed with Mosaic of Garden City. He competed in Special Olympics. Survivors include his mother, Mae Tatman Dierks; a brother, Harold; two sisters, Jana Simon and Ruth Ritter; two nieces; four nephews; a great-niece; and two great-nephews.

Dale R. Crockett, 45, of St. Nicholas Parish, Kinsley, died June 13, 2007. He was a farmer and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his mother, Evelyn Proberts Crockett; his wife, Lisa A. Stanton; a son, Zachary; and three daughters, Jenna, Whitney, and Heather; a brother, David; and a sister, Debbie Nuss. Father Nicanor Ferngco pesided.

Denys E. Meza Baeza, 23, of St. Raphael Parish, Syracuse, died June 12, 2007, in Syracuse. She worked at Hamilton County Hospital as a housekeeper. She is survived by her parents, Jose and Ana Palomares Meza; her husband, Miguel Baeza; a daughter, Brenda Alexuis Baeza; a brother, Jose Meza; and two sisters, Cindy and Dianna Meza.

Jovita (Jobie) Rodriguez, 74, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dodge City. She was born in the Mexican village in Dodge City. She enjoyed gardening and was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Mike B. (Joker) Rodriguez; a son, Demetrius (Dino) Rodriguez; two daughters, Florina Rodriguez-Kappel and Amanda Rodriguez-Stroud; two brothers, Louis and Guadalupe (Lupe) Briseno; four sisters, Phyliss, Pilar, and Dorothy Brieseno, and Julia Briseno-Pate; and three grandchildren. Father Ted Skalsky presided.

Agnes O. Beck, 95, of Sacred Heart Parish, Ness City, died June 20, 2007. She was a grade school teacher, a seamstress and a homemaker. She was a member of the Altar Society, and was a former member of the Sacred Heart Choir. Survivors include a son, Paul; three daughters, Marjorie Langer, Arlene Stecklein, and Carol Meis; two brothers, Bernard and Stanley Hoss; 13 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. Father Henry Hildebrandt presided.

Ernest A. “Ernie” Gottsponer, 81, of St. Anthony Parish, Lakin, died June 20, 2007. He was the owner and operator of B&E Family Store, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus No. 7318. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 41st Infantry Division. Survivors include two sons, Morgan and Rockie; a daughter, Vicky Pomarico; a brother, Albert; a sister, Mary Lou Lee; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Father Mike Helms presided.

Anna L. Hopper, 97, of Sacred Heart Parish, Ness City, died June 24, 2007. She belonged to the Altar Society. Survivors include a son, Darrell; two brothers, C.E. Leikam and Frank Leikam; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Father Henry Hildebrandt presided.

Muriel Lee Rome, 78, of St. Mary’s Parish, Garden City, died June 25, 2007. She is survived by her husband, Anton Tony Rome; two sons, Jim, and Brian Rachael; five daughters, Susan Brandon, Judy Strasser, Ellen, and Kathy, and Karen Lortie; a brother, Bernard Haflich; a sister, Barbara Oliver; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Father Tony Judge presided.

William J. Downey, 78, of St. John the Baptist Parish, Spearville, died June 26, 2007. He was a farmer and stockman. He was a 3rd Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council No. 2462, Windthorst. Her is survived by his wife, Theresa J. Walker; his son, Mark; three daughters, Mary Jane Goebel, JoAnne Nash, and Jerelyn Schneweis; his brother, Tom L. Downey; two sisters, Maxine Brake and Delphine Tasset; and 10 grandchildren. Father Ted Stoecklein and Deacon Dwaine Lampe presided.

Paula Z. Guerrero, 74, of St. Anthony Parish, Lakin, died June 28, 2007. She was a choir member of the Gudalupanas in Lakin. She is survived by her husband, Jose Guerrero; six sons, Joe Jr., George, Juan, Victor, Robert, and Ralph; five daughters, Celia Garcia, Lucy Ambriz, Mary Baca, Dora Martinez, and Esther Zundt; four brothers, Anastascio, Pablo, Senaido, and Refugio Zapata; two sisters, Maria Elena Rosales and Patsy Gutierrez; 58 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Father Mike Helms presided.