All Obituaries

Ellinwood, KS Tate James Martin, 17, died tragically of wounds suffered in a vehicle accident on Dec. 7th. at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. Born on June 26th, 2005 in Hutchinson, KS to parents Casey and Michele (Booze) Martin, he was a lifetime Ellinwood resident and current Junior at Ellinwood High. Additionally Tate worked along side his father and enjoyed farm work. Tate loved to hunt, fish and spent any free time with friends and family. He was greatly loved by all...

Ellinwood, KS  Hong Thi Nguyen, 63, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood, Kansas on Dec. 5th, 2022. Services are pending with Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood, KS.   

Ellinwood, KS Doyle L. Merriman, 78, passed away in Wichita, KS on Nov. 10th, 2022. Born Nov. 11th, 1943 in Whittier, CA he was the son of Rollin & Hattie (Manke) Merriman.  Doyle was a resident of Ellinwood, KS for 30 years where he worked as a laborer. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Doyle was preceded in death by his parents and leaves behind numerous first and second cousins. Graveside service will be 2:00 PM, Thurs., Nov. 17th at Lakin Comanche Cemetery in...

Maxine Joyce Peter, 89, of Ellinwood passed away on November 4, 2022, at Bethany Home in Lindsborg, Kansas. Mom was born in Ellinwood, Kansas on March 28, 1933, to Arden and Darlene Crossley.  She attended Ellinwood Grade School and Ellinwood High School graduating in 1951.  She met her future husband (our father), Duane Peter, in high school.  It wasn’t until after high school that they began to date, and he became the love of her life.  She graduated with a...

Great Bend, KS  Gordon Eugene Bitter, 63, passed away in Great Bend, KS on Nov. 3rd, 2022. Born in Lacrosse, KS on May 22, 1959 he was the son of Charles L. & Mary K. (Younger) Bitter. Gordon grew up in Bison, KS later graduating from Great Bend High School. He loved music and spent countless hours and batteries listening to his cassette player and stereo. His favorite saying was “don’t worry be happy.” Gordon enjoyed his time in the Special Olympics. A special...

Ellinwood, KS   Mary Jo Hirsch Cunningham, 77, passed away Jan. 30, 2022, in Ellinwood, KS. She was born on Jan. 1st, 1945, in Manhattan, KS to Charles & Stella Dyche Hirsch. She attended St. Joseph School and graduated from EHS in 1963 and from Kansas State with a degree in Technical Journalism in 1967 and has advanced hours in Museology from Bowling Green State University. She married Ronald Gene Cunningham on Sept.16 1967. Mary Jo is survived by husband Ron Cunningham,...

Ellinwood, KS George Allan Sudbeck, 69, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital on Oct. 6th, 2022. Born on June 4th, 1953 in Yankton, SD to parents Hugo & Leona (Kast) Sudbeck he graduated from Bertha-Hewitt High School in Bertha, Minnesota later moving to Colorado for a number of years and then to Ellinwood, KS. He married Constance Ringwald on May 6th, 2006 in Ellinwood she survives of the home. George served in the US Army and loved hunting and fishing. He worked a number of...

Ellinwood, KS Robert M. Zimmerman, 84, passed away on Oct. 2nd, 2022 at Azria Health in Great Bend, KS. Born on March 14th, 1938 in Holyrood, KS he graduated Ellinwood High School and later served in the US Army from 1959-1962. Bob married Beverly A. Blehm in Sept. of 1956 in Ellinwood, KS she passed away on January 30, 2022. Bob worked in the oilfield at various jobs. Memberships include American Legion #320 and VFW. Survivors include, sons, Scott (Penny) Zimmerman, Ellinwood, KS, Kevin...

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Josefina Vasquez de Castillo, 78, passed away at Lutheran Hospice Collier in Wheatridge, Colo. on Sept. 18th, 2022. Born on Aug. 10, 1944 in Mexico she was the daughter of Flavio and Rosa (Lujan) Vasquez. She moved to Yuma, Colo. in 1969 later moving to Ellinwood, Kan. in August 1986 and always considered Kansas her home. She was a homemaker a loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed. Josefina lost her husband of 56 years on Aug. 23,...

Don Lee Knop, 81, passed away surrounded by his wife and children at his home in Ellinwood on September 17th.  Born on April 25, 1941, in Great Bend, KS he was the son of Alvin C. and Mary Gretchen (Isern) Knop.  On September 15, 1962, he married the love of his life at St. Joseph Church in Ellinwood. They just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary right before his passing. Don was owner and operator of Knop...