DEATHS

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
Marlin Bartel, 85

Marlin H. Bartel, 85, retired production worker for Excel Industries of Hesston, died April 30 in Lehigh.

A memorial service was held Tuesday afternoon at Olson’s Mortuary Chapel in Canton, with pastor Lyndon Decker presiding. Burial was at Lehigh Township Cemetery.

He was born Jan. 9, 1920, to Herman Bartel and Mary Ewert Bartel in Hillsboro. In 1949, he was married to Hilma E. Base, who survives.

He is also survived by one son, Jerry Bartel of Arvada, Colo.; one daughter, Cheryl A. Burington of Springfield, Mo.; one step-daughter, Charlotte Rittenhouse of Leavenworth; one sister, Melba Schroeder of Benton; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established with First Southern Baptist Church Missions of Hillsboro.
Everett Burkhead, 90

George “Everett” Burkhead, 90, died April 28 in Marion.

The funeral service was Tuesday morning at Zeiner Funeral Home in Marion. Pastor Rick Branson officiated. Burial followed at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody.

He was born Nov. 13, 1914, to George and Vera (Schwartz) Burkhead in Newton. He graduated in 1933 from the Kansas State School of the Blind in Kansas City and lived at the Marion County Farm from 1933 to 1950. He had a popcorn stand, sold candy, answered the phone for a TV repairman and sold blind-made products from Wichita.

He is survived by one brother, Kenneth of San Diego, Calif.; and two nieces, Patti Marsh of Las Vegas, Nev., and Kathy Baba of San Diego.

Ruth Colburn, 102

Ruth G. Colburn, 102, retired teacher and homemaker, died April 30 at The Cedars Health Care Center in McPherson.

The funeral service was Tuesday afternoon at First Baptist Church in McPherson with Les Cantrell officiating. Interment was at McPherson Cemetery.

She was born May 8, 1902, to David W. and Carrie (Scott) Green in Pontiac, Ill. In 1931, she was married to Albert Norton Colburn, who predeceased her in 1994.

She is survived by one son, Robert and Betty Colburn of Canton; one daughter, Ann and Marvin Swanson of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with First Baptist Church, The Cedars Health Care Center and Hospice of Kansas, all of McPherson, in care of Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home.

Ben Ewert, 90

Ben Ewert, 90, retired truck driver, died April 28 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro.

The service was Monday morning at Trinity Mennonite Church in Hillsboro. Pastor Tim Kliewer officiated. Burial was at Johannestal Cemetery in rural Hillsboro.

He was born Aug. 2, 1914, to Jacob and Minnie Goertz Ewert in Hillsboro. In 1940, he was married to Clara Plett, who predeceased him in 2002.

He is survived by two daughters, Carol and Leland Bartel of Lenexa and Delores and Darrell Spencer of Marion; one sister, Arpa Ewert of Hillsboro; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established with Trinity Mennonite Church.

Shirley Johnson, 60

Shirley A. Johnson, 60, dietary supervisor worker, died April 30 at Bethesda Home in Goessel.

The service is at 3 p.m. today, May 4, at Grace Bible Church in McPherson with pastor Rich Duerksen officiating. Burial will precede the service at 2 p.m. at Durham Park Cemetery.

She was born Nov. 18, 1944, to Verner and Adeline Rupert Peterson in Salina. In 1963, she was married to J. Dean Johnson, who predeceased her in 1999.

She is survived by two sons, Ronald J. and Diane Johnson of Lehigh and John N. Johnson of Hillsboro; one daughter, Pauline M. and Larry Dossett of Galva; five brothers, Lennice, George, Harvey, Harold and Ray Peterson; three sisters, Nettie Vann, Nancy Dugan and Mary Reed; and three grandchildren.

Memorials have been established with American Diabetes Association and American Cancer Society.

Goldie Koehn, 79

Goldie Koehn, 79, homemaker, died April 26 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro.

Services were Friday morning at United Center Church of God in Christ, Mennonite in rural Galva. Ministers Cyrus Wedel and Lavern Koehn officiated. Burial was at United Center Church Cemetery.

She was born Sept. 13, 1925, to Jacob B. and Minnie (Nightingale) Unruh in McPherson County. In 1947 she was married to Aaron J. Koehn, who survives in Galva.

She is also survived by one son, Eldon R. Koehn of Galva; two daughters, Jennifer J. Henry of Hillsboro and Ramona I. Martens of Inman; three brothers, Harry Unruh of Moundridge, Wilmer Unruh of Galva and Jay Unruh of Valley Center; and two sisters, Virginia Mastre of Galva and Mary Ann Unruh of Scott City.

A memorial has been established with Parkside Homes.

Vic Strotkamp, 66

Victor I. “Vic” Strotkamp, co-owner of Stros Grows Landscaping Company, died April 26 at Newton Medical Center.

The service was Saturday afternoon at Peabody Christian Church. Pastor Jim Pohlman officiated. Burial was at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Peabody.

He was born March 10, 1939, to Albert and Eleanor (Weber) Strotkamp in Peabody. In 1962 he was married to Mary Kay Schiffner, who survives in Peabody.

He is also survived by one son, Kevin and Renee Strotkamp of Wichita; one daughter, Kristine and Chad Dameron of Peabody; two brothers, Vernon Strotkamp and Glen Strotkamp, both of Burns; one sister, Shirley Strotkamp of Peabody; and one grandson.

A memorial has been established with Peabody Avenue of Flags in care of Peterson Funeral Home in Newton.

Marie Voth, 94

Marie Voth, 94, retired certified nurse aid and physical therapy assistant, died April 29 at Newton Medical Center.

A memorial service was held Tuesday morning at Tabor Mennonite Church in rural Goessel. Pastor Corey Miller officiated. Burial was at Tabor Mennonite Cemetery.

She was born Dec. 21, 1910, to Jacob J. and Elizabeth Enns Schmidt in rural Canton. In 1931, she was married in Goessel to Bernhard F. Voth, who predeceased her.

She is survived by a son, Lester Voth, and a daughter, Mary Lou Unrau, both of rural Newton; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established with Bethesda Home in Goessel.

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