Obituaries

Adan William Mejia, 27 days old, died Aug. 21, 2007. Survivors include his parents, Oscar and Frances Segovia Mejia; two brothers, Elias and Andrew Mejia; three sisters, Madicella Segovia, and Samantha and Vanessa Mejia; and grandparents Ramiro and Mary Castaneda, Isabel Rodriguez, and Vicente Mejia. Father Trong Tran presided.

Lawrence A. “Al” Thomas Jr., 79, of Holy Rosary Parish, Medicine Lodge, died Aug. 22, 2007. He was a well tender for City Service Gas Co., and had served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by his wife, Mary Knox; a son, Lawrence A., III; a daughter, Sandra Roberts; a brother, Mike; two sisters, Patricia Moore and Betty Richards; three granddaughters; and a great-grandson.

Helen Bieker, 90, of St. Mary Parish, Garden City, died Aug. 22, 2007. She was the head cook at St. Mary Church for 21 years. Survivors include a son, Stan Bieker; two daughters, Diane Florer and Janelle Becker; 12 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. Father Trong Tran presided.

Rudolph J. “Rudy” Reiser, 77, of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend, died Aug. 26, 2007. He was a veteran of the Korean War serving with the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn M. Huschka; two sons, David Reiser and Richard Reiser; two daughters, Debbie Converse and Cheryl Schaub; a sister, Jennie Ueckert; two brothers, Elmer Reiser and Larry Reiser; and nine grandchildren.

Mary Schmalzried, 88, of St. John the Apostle Parish, Kiowa, died Aug. 28, 2007. She attended and graduated from Southwestern College, Wetherford, Okla., with a degree in business. Survivors include a sister, Grace Baldwin; nephews and nieces; and numerous great nephews and nieces. Father John Strasser presided.

Jeannene Marie Peitz, 48, of St. Mary Parish, Garden City, died Aug. 29, 2007. She was a social worker in foster care for the past 11 years. She is survived by her husband, Gary L. Peitz; one son, Austin; one daughter, Sarah; one brother, Jeff Koehn; one sister, Jenny McClure; and seven grandchildren. Father Trong Tran presided.

Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Wood, 41, of Sacred Heart Parish, Pratt, died July 29, 2007. She was an attorney with Stull and Wood, LLC, in Pratt, and was a member of the Kansas Bar Association. She had recently married Steve Holmes. He survives. Other survivors include her mother, Betty Wood; two sons, Jacob Michael Wood and Zachary Thomas Wood; one daughter, McKenzie Elizabeth Wood; three brothers, Darrell N. Wood, Kenneth B. Wood, and Glen C. Wood; a sister, Karen L. Vosburgh; and many nephews and nieces. Fathers Gregory Le Blanc and Bernard Felix presided.

John E. Knopp, 70, of St. Raphael Parish, Syracuse, died Aug. 31, 2007. Survivors include his wife, Winnona Kathleen “Kathy” Acre; five sons, Ron, Jim, Jay Atwood, Joe, and Tony; a stepson, Terrill Litz; a stepdaughter, Leslie Henry; a brother, Marvin,; a sister, Leona McCoy; eight grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and many other family members.

James C. Anderson, 67, of Garden City, died Sept. 2, 2007. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran. Survivors include longtime friend and companion, Jo Harness; a brother and a sister; and many friends from around the country.

Samuel Crespin, 85, of St. Anthony Parish, Liberal, died Sept. 5, 2007. He retired from National Beef Packing Plant after 15 years, and was also a farmer. He is survived by his wife, Cruzita “Chris” Montoya; five daughters, Rose Sias, Sadie Herrera, Tina Aragon, Helen Jacks, and Mary Ann Coe; a brother Jake Crespin; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Father Tony Judge presided.

Francis “Wella” Gusman, 77, of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dodge City, died Sept. 5, 2007. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a son, Richard; two brothers, Felix and Antonio Farias; three sisters, Catarina Salazar, Manuela Guzman, and Herminia Rodriguez; six grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Father Ted A. Skalsky presided.

Bobby Anderson, 62, of St. Helen Parish, Hugoton, died Sept. 8, 2007. He was a farmer. He is survived by his wife, Mague Soto; five sons, Tim, Valentin Castillo, Rodrigo Castillo, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Little Anderson, and Robert James “BJ” Anderson; two daughters, Denise Peterson and Margarita Leonhart; his mother, Hope Anderson; two brothers, Ike and Thane; and 13 grandchildren. Father Francis Khoi Nguyen presided.

Augustine V. Trevino, 76, of Mary Queen of Peace Parish, Ulysses, died Sept. 8, 2007. Survivors include his wife, Amelia Garza; two sons, Augustine Jr. and Arturo G.; five daughters, Adelina Green, Amalia Hyde, Anita Trevino, Angie Caldwell, and Amy Trevino; four brothers, Mingo, Pedro, Chon, and Enrique; four sisters, Carmen Robles, Paula Ybarra, Olivia Cruz, and Silvia Trevino, ; 14 grandchildren; and a great grandchild. Father James P. Dieker presided.