Deaths

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN

Monsignor Arthur Tonne, 98

Monsignor Arthur Tonne, 98, author and retired Catholic priest, died May 20 at Heritage Park Care Center in Carbondale, Colo.

The funeral was May 27 at Holy Family Parish, St. John Nepomucene Church in Pilsen with Bishop Thomas Olmsted officiating. Burial was at Pilsen Cemetery.

He was born July 4, 1904, to Phillip and Rose (Hess) Tonne in Escanaba, Mich.

He is survived by a nephew, John Tonne of Minocqua, Wis.

A memorial has been established with the Father Emil Kapaun Memorial Scholarship fund.

Claude Unruh, 93

Claude Unruh, 93, farmer and minister, died May 20 at Bethel Home Inc. in Montezuma.

The funeral was May 24 at Morning Star Congregation of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite in Tampa with pastors Bruce Dirks, Merlin Wiebe and Donald Koehn officiating. Burial was at Logan Cemetery in Tampa.

He was born Dec. 1, 1909, to Fred P. and Lena (Voth) Unruh in Marion County. On June 14, 1931, he was married to Della Esther Becker, who predeceased him in 1965. On Jan. 28, 1966, he was married to Leah Nichols, who survives.

He is also survived by two sons, Gary Unruh and wife Lila of Durham, and Willard Unruh and wife Barbara of Hesston; three daughters, Alice Unruh of Moundridge, Lillian Wiebe and husband Ransom of Durham, and Anita Schmidt and husband Kenneth of Montezuma; and one daughter-in-law, Geneva Nightengale of Brooksville, Miss.

Survivors also include four step-sons, Kenneth Nightengale and wife Ladean of Copeland, Bob Nightengale and wife Jul of Center, Colo., Willis Nightengale and wife Peggy of Texas, Devern Nightengale and wife Jeanette of Copeland; one step-daughter, Letha Loewen and husband Gene of Corning, Calif; 30 grandchildren and 65 great-grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with Bethel Home Inc. and Cottonwood Grove Christian School of Tampa in care of Montezuma Funeral Home, Box 421, Montezuma, KS 67867.

Francis Hajek, 56

Francis Albert Hajek, 56, farmer, died May 21 in Lost Springs.

The funeral was May 24 at St. John Nepomucene Church, Holy Family Parish in Pilsen with Father Stephen Gronert officiating. Burial was at Pilsen Cemetery.

He was born March 15, 1947, to Albert and Mildred (Bina) Hajek in Marion.

He is survived by his mother of Lost Springs; four brothers, Paul, Ron and Gary Hajek, all of Lost Springs, and Jerome Hajek of Marion; one sister, Irene Waylan of Miami, Okla.; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials have been established with the Lost Springs Volunteer Fire Department and the St. John Nepomucene Church Elevator Fund.

Gladys Thiessen, 79

Gladys D. Thiessen, 79, elementary school teacher, died May 22 at Parkside Homes Inc. in Hillsboro.

The funeral was May 26 at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church with pastor Dave Plett officiating. Burial was at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church Cemetery.

She was born Dec. 22, 1923, to Clarence and Mamie (Histand) Derstine in Souderton, Pa. On Aug. 20, 1944, she was married to Emil A. Thiessen, who survives.

She is also survived by step-mother Esther (Myers) Derstine of Doylestown, Pa.; one son, Lonnie Thiessen and wife Barbara of Wichita; one daughter, Janelle Barkyoumb and husband Steve of Madison, Wis.; two brothers, Norman Derstine of Harrisonburg, Va., and Kermit Derstine of Denver; one sister, Beulah Fulmer of Lititz, Pa.; one step-brother, Gerald Myers of Florida; two step-sisters, Lois and Fridea Myers, both of Doylestown; and five grandchildren.

A memorial was established with the Emil A. and Gladys Thiessen Scholarship fund at Tabor College in Hillsboro.

Condolences may be sent to the family at hillsboromemchapel@hotmail.com.

Thelma Harris, 94

Thelma Viola Harris, 94, homemaker, died May 21 in Newton.

The funeral was May 23 at Peabody Christian Church with pastor Jim Pohlman officiating. Burial was at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody.

She was born Dec. 10, 1908, to James L. and Lula May (Taylor) Mellott in Peabody. On June 6, 1934, she was married to Kermit M. Harris, who predeceased her in 1991.

She is survived by one son, Myron Harris of Peabody; one brother, John Mellott of Peabody; one sister, Doris Hansen of Newton; seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial was established with Peabody Christian Church.

Clifford Leffler, 89

Clifford A. Leffler, 89, retired farmer, died May 25 at Memorial Hospital Inc. in McPherson.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, at Olson’s Mortuary in Canton. Burial will be at Canton Township Cemetery.

He was born June 29, 1913, to William A. and Carrol (Middleswart) Leffler in rural Canton. On May 15, 1938, he was married to Della C. Barb, who predeceased him in 1989.

He is survived by three sons, Donald Leffler and Darryl Leffler, both of Canton, and Michael Leffler of McPherson; one daughter, Jeannene Leffler of Oklahoma City, Okla.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established with Alterra Sterling House of McPherson.

John C. Fox, 85

John C. Fox, 85, retired mechanic, carpenter and sheet-metal fabricator, died May 15 at Legacy Park in Peabody.

The funeral was May 20 at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion with pastor Bill Sherfy officiating. Burial was at Marion Cemetery with military rites provided by Fort Riley Color Guard.

He was born Jan. 10, 1918, to Bert and Viola (Honn) Fox in Marion.

He is survived by one son, John L. Fox of Montgomery, Texas; two sisters, Betty Duerksen and Leona Everett, both of Hillsboro; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Mary Ann Madsen, 69

Mary Ann Madsen, 69, homemaker and artist, died May 22 in Peabody.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, at Peabody Christian Church with pastor Larry Timm officiating. Burial will be at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in rural Peabody.

She was born May 26, 1933, to De and Elsie (Franzen) Swinhart in Marion. On July 31, 1955, she was married to Earl Madsen, who survives.

She is also survived by one son, Eddie Madsen and wife Melanie of Lynchburg, Va.; two daughters, Beth Hein and husband Dean of rural Hillsboro and Michele O’Neal and husband Randy of Peabody; six grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with Central Homecare and Hospice of Newton, and the Cedar Point Community Church elevator fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family at hillsboromemchapel
@hotmail.com.

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