Velma Mary Webber, 92, Iola, formerly of Burlington, went home to be with her Lord late Friday night, March 29, 2013, at Allen County Hospital.
Velma was born July 12, 1920, 10 miles southwest of Yates Center in Woodson County. She was the youngest daughter and child of Sidney and Mary (Knoll) Clugston.
She married John Webber on June 16, 1946. They made their home and livelihood on a farm four miles east of Burlington. John passed away Oct. 7, 1977.
Velma is survived by her four children, two daughters, Eileen Franklin and Elaine Redfern and spouse David, Iola; two sons, Dennis Webber and Steven Webber and companion Linda Peterson, Burlington; five granddaughters, Angela Redfern and friend Kelly Cook, Manhattan, Kandra McCullough, Iola, Jessica Webber, Burlington, Alicia Webber and friend Bill Kirksey, Topeka, and Callie Craft and husband Jeremy, Moran; five grandsons, John Nelson, Iola, Jason Franklin and wife Lhen, Iola, Jerod Franklin and friend Anna Nelson, Iola, Corey Webber and wife Michelle, Burlington, and Quinten Webber and wife Ashli, Emporia; 12 great-grandchildren, Brittney Froelich, St. Louis, Mo., Johnathon and Justin Shepard, Bolivar, Mo., Heaven Wagner, Isaac and Kandrella McCullough, Iola, Chaelynn Webber and Brayleigh Harden, Burlington, Trowt Webber, Emporia, and Sierra and Jada Cunningham and Axtin Christenson, Topeka.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, Derek Redfern, Iola.
Velma was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Elsie Peyton and Marie Young; and one brother, Martin Clugston. Age-wise she outlived her siblings.
Velma was cremated. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington. Inurnment will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery southeast of Burlington.
The family will meet with friends from noon until service time Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Velma Webber Memorial Fund which will be designated at a later date.
Ruth Hangen
Ruth Ann Hangen, 78, Iola, died Sunday, March 24, 2013, at Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Interment will be in Highland Cemetery in Iola.
Ruth was born Sept. 17, 1934, in Herington to Alec and Renata (Leitz) Weber. She married Floyd Erlan Hangen on Aug. 6, 1952. They were married 58 years before Floyd died April 3, 2010.
Ruth is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Monfort and her husband Darrell, Iola, her son Floyd Wayne Hangen, and his wife Susan of El Cajon, Calif.; six grandchildren, Roy Monfort, Herndon, Va., Nicole Linder and her husband Travis, Las Vegas, Nev., Anne-Louise Monfort and her significant other, Brian Dolny, Kansas City, Mo., Andrew Monfort of Lubbock, Texas, Erin Monfort-Nelson and her husband, Elijah Nelson, Manhattan, and Stephanie Hangen of El Cajon, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Rylan and Mason Linder; and her beloved pets Frosty and Kitty.
A homemaker in the truest sense of the word for her entire life, Ruth was an asset to her family and community, a baker of cookies and pies, the author and publisher of a family cookbook and a prolific creator of cards for family and friends. She will be greatly missed. A lover of her pets, Ruth requested donations in her memory be made to Allen County Animal Rescue Facility.
Online condolences may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
Stout vault propels Fillies
ALTAMONT — While small in numbers, Iola High’s girls came up big on the track Thursday.
The Fillies entered only a handful of events at the varsity level, but still claimed a number of medals at the Labette County Invitational.
Leading the way was Breanna Stout, who took home the gold medal in the pole vault and third place in the high jump, despite missing substantial amounts of practice this week because of illness.
Stout cleared 7 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault and 4’8” in the high jump.
The only other varsity medalist for the Fillies was Darci Collins, who claimed sixth in the shot with a throw of 31 feet.
“We have some freshmen girls who are varsity capable, but since we have had no good practice sessions, we had them in junior varsity,” FIllies coach Marv Smith said.
Case in point: Abigail Taylor.
Taylor earned three gold medals in JV distance races, winning the 800 meters in 2 minutes 36.0 seconds, the 1600 meters in 6:05.1 and the 3200 at 12:49.
Taylor’s 800 time would have been good for second at the varsity level, Smith said. She would have been fourth in varsity in the 1600 and sixth in the 3200.
In other JV competitions, Cassie Delich earned gold in the 100-meter high hurdles, finishing in 18.6 seconds. The time would have earned her a bronze medal for the varsity competitors.
Delich also claimed the silver in the 100-meter dash at 14.4 seconds.
“Cassie should have been awarded first,” Smith explained. “She won the fast head. In the slow heat, there was a false start and the starter did not have another live shell in the gun and could not recall the race.”
Instead of rerunning the heat and disqualifying the offending runner, meet officials let the results stand.
Delich also took third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 56.0 seconds, which would have earned her a third-place medal if she had raced against varsity competitors.
“Delich and Taylor could have given us an additional 25 points on the varsity side,” Smith said.
As it was, the Fillies took ninth at the varsity level with 17 points. Chanute won the girls varsity with a score of 121. Coffeyville was second at 85 and Fredonia claimed third with 71.
Jessica Oakley was a two-time JV medalist, earning silver in the discus with a throw of 75’8” and third in the shot at 24’11”.
Valaree Burtnett finished second in the JV high jump, clearing 4’2”.
Also taking third was the JV 4×100-meter relay team of Klair Vogel, Burtnett, Breanne Jett and Shannon Vogel with a time of 1:01.1.
Shannon Vogel took fifth in the 800-meter run with a time of 3:05.
The JV girls took second with 86 points, three points behind first-place finisher Chanute’s 86. Fort Scott was third with 71.
{Anniversary} Wes and Bev Pinneo
Wes and Bev Pinneo will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on April 7.
Friends and family are invited to help them celebrate.
Their children will host the celebration at the Kincaid Community Center on April 7 from 2 to 4 p.m.
They request no gifts.
{Engagement} Lisa Wood and Barron Snider
Lisa Wood, Lenexa, and Barron Snider, Edmond, Okla. are engaged to be married May 4, 2013, in Overland Park.
Lisa is the daughter of Tim and Rosann Wood, Lenexa. Barron is the son of Charile and Debi Snider, Edmond, Okla.
Lisa graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in 2000 and the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy with a doctorate in pharmacy in 2006. Lisa works as a pharmacist for CVS pharmacy in Oklahoma City.
Barron graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School in 1998 and attended Oklahoma State University. Barron works in the oil and gas industry as a land man for an Oklahoma City document imaging company at Red Barron Exploration, LLC.
Big Creek’s mention tantalizing
I came away from a visit with Don Bauer this week with some lost hopes rekindled.
Bauer is as much of an outdoorsman as anyone I know. He relishes opportunities to hunt big game, is right at home on the family farm behind the wheel of a tractor or with a bale hook in hand and, when there’s nothing else to do, is just as apt to spend an afternoon wandering along a stream bed.
His recollections about meandering the nearly dried-up Big Creek last summer got my attention.
Big Creek for years was one of my favorite haunts to hunt artifacts discarded by the ancient people who lived hereabouts, especially when much of its bottom was exposed by dry weather.
Dry creek beds come as close to being the holy grail of artifact hunting as there is. That’s where you find the very best pieces, ones that have not been routed from underground and broken by a plow or chisel. They are just as they were fashioned by calloused hands centuries ago.
I have found many nice points on rock bars and eroding from cutbanks along Big Creek in years gone by, and I have hope, with my titanium hip healing nicely, of getting back in the hunt again. It was his mention of ideal conditions, before my surgery and when walking was an ordeal, that set my mind to whirling.
I’ve not found a point for several years, but I still know where and how to look and intend to again.
For years that was a consuming hobby, but I haven’t quit collecting, just turned a corner to another venue. More recently I’ve reverted to my childhood passion of collecting coins.
Then, I was more of an accumulator— still am, really. I have refined my interest to include foreign coins and also have found that currency is an interesting part of the hobby.
Coins from U.S. mints have a historical progression, while currency is much more diverse, particularly in that printed prior to the 1920s with its fascinating artwork.
Foreign coins and currency, from about World War II and back, also have engravings that can occupy me for hours on end.
Wife Beverly mentions often that we need to downsize, divest ourselves of “things” we’ve accumulated so the kids and grandkids won’t be burdened. However, I like to note a few bags of coins and several small boxes of stone tools don’t take up much room.
Bob Johnson
Funny how focus can free the mind
Twice now I’ve tried to get some “headspace,” but can’t seem to find the room.
The idea was to do 10 minutes of meditation for 10 days. Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk and now co-founder of the online meditation program, leads what is to be a daily exercise. His British accent helps make the exercise feel somewhat exotic as he instructs participants to let go in an effort to calm the mind and body.
Over two weeks’ time I completed five days of the exercises. Pretty pathetic.
But even in that short time I could see the value of trying to clear the mind of all the chatter going on in my head. An intense focus helps block out the noise.
Which helps me realize why I like to participate in my church’s hand bell choir so much. Participation doesn’t require anything more than being able to count, and with measures containing at the most six beats, I’m up to that. But if the mind wanders, you’re toast — the rest of the choir has kept on playing. That may sound like pressure, but you’d be surprised how often up and down the line people will say, “where are we?” We all know it takes a while to get in the zone.
Practices are scheduled for an hour on purpose. It takes us 20 minutes or so to visit and let the chronic stragglers show up. It takes another 10 minutes for us all to leave the day behind and direct our focus on the music, leaving us a good 30 minutes to be productive.
At practice’s end I feel positively relaxed and rejuvenated. If I had worries going in, they’ve been buried in a Cynthia Dobrinski rendition.
Of course, the camaraderie of the group should not be dismissed for its abilities to put one in a good mood. There’s nothing like friends, plus the fact we consider ourselves a team. If one bell falls short, the others are there to carry on almost seamlessly.
IT WASN’T until I attempted the meditation exercises that I connected the dots as to why bell practice, yoga, and writing are a few of my favorite activities. It’s during those times my mind quiets. I’m at one with the world.
Next step, breathing.
Susan Lynn
Eva Marie Brecheisen
Eva Marie Brecheisen, 80, Welda, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at Richmond Healthcare Center in Richmond.
She was born on Nov. 17, 1932, in Springer, N.M., the daughter of Charles Pierson Carmean and Dorothy May (Meier) Carmean. Eva’s family lived on a ranch near Des Moines, N.M. She came to Kansas in 1942, living with her family on the Perkins farm near Bronson. Eva attended schools near Xenia.
On May 13, 1949, she married Daniel James Womelsdorf Sr. in Fort Scott. This union was blessed with five children.
They later divorced. Eva was a homemaker. She also worked as a cook at the Rocky Roost Cafe and the Hilltop Steakhouse in Welda.
Eva was united in marriage to William “Bill” Brecheisen on March 30, 1975, in Welda. They made their home near Welda where she enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking and cake decorating.
During their 37 years of marriage they enjoyed raising rabbits and dogs, traveling and spoiling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were foster parents for many years to several children and adopted one infant, Brandi.
Eva was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Marjorie Schultz; two half-sisters, Ola Mae Carmean and Goldie East; one half-brother, Frank Carmean; two grandsons, Leland Miles Hicks and J.W. Cobb; and one great-grandson, James Rogers.
She is survived by her husband, William R. “Bill” Brecheisen; a son, Daniel J. Womelsdorf and wife Rene, Welda; five daughters, Gloria Martin, Welda, Linda Womelsdorf, Iola, Shirley Cantrell and husband Robert, Kansas City, Kan., Debra Womelsdorf, Mound City, and Brandi Brecheisen, Texas; four stepchildren, W.R. Brecheisen and wife Pauline, Chanute, Raymond Brecheisen, Pittsburg, Royanne Hutson and husband Robert, Muskogee, Okla., and Rosalyn Kellstadt and husband Kenny, Welda; a sister, Grace Hyatt, Gas; 29 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett. Burial will follow in the Welda Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Welda United Methodist Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
Braylen McKinney
Braylen Nicole McKinney, infant daughter of Nathan McKinney and Lacy Sigg, Iola, was stillborn Thursday, March 28, 2013, at the Allen County Hospital.
Survivors include her parents, Nathan McKinney and Lacy Sigg, and her grandmothers, Mary McKinney, Kincaid, and Sharon Sigg, Iola.
Braylen was preceded in death by her grandfathers, LeRoy Dean McKinney and Donald E. Sigg.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel, Iola.
Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at LaHarpe Cemetery in LaHarpe.
Memorials are suggested to the family and may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.iolafuneral.com.
Red Devil golfers tee off
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Allen Community College’s golf team teed off on its 2013 season in fine fashion.
The Red Devils claimed second place at the KCK Blue Devil Spring Invitational March 14.
The tournament was delayed two days because of bad weather.
When the weather cleared, Allen’s Clinton Moore was ready to take charge.
His score of 75 was the best of the day. Allen’s Seth Walden was three strokes behind. His score of 78 placed him in a tie for fourth.
The Red Devils’ team score of 323 placed them second, six strikes behind host Kansas City, Kan. Southwest Nebraska took third at 334.
In a team best-ball competition, the Red Devils won a tie-breaker to defeat KCK, with both schools shooting a 66. Southwest finished three strokes behind.
Other individual scores for the Red Devils were Chad Schmidt and Cory LaFever, both shooting 85s, and Bryce Schippers, who carded a 104.