ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
Violet Byrd, 74
Violet M. Byrd, 74, homemaker, died Oct. 3.
Funeral services were Oct. 6 at Countryside Christian Church in Wichita.
She is survived by a son, Bill and wife Annette Cook of Wichita; eight daughters, Julie Current and Marsha and husband Tom Brooks, all of Wichita, Theresa and husband Richard Riddle of Elizabethton, Tenn., Angy and husband Kevin Jost of Hillsboro, Karen and husband Keith Goossen of Goessel, Sandy and husband LaVerne Stucky of Rose Hill, Sherry and husband Randy Youngs of Thomasville, Mo., and Loretta Fulghum of Newton; two brothers, Clarence Kennedy Jr. of Wichita and Walter Kennedy of Bend, Ore.; a sister, Goldie Boyle of Estacada, Ore.; 23 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.
Susan Colle, 52
Susan Marie Colle, 52, computer languages professor at Vatterot College of Wichita, died Oct. 5 at Via Christi St. Francis.
The service was Oct. 7 at Zeiner Funeral Home with pastor Phil Smith officiating. Burial was at Marion Cemetery.
She was born Sept. 8, 1953, to Fred and Helen (Hoffman) Haddad in Quincy, Mass. In 1973 she was married to Timothy Colle, who survives in Wichita.
She is also survived by a daughter, Samantha Colle of Wichita; her mother, Helen Haddad of Columbia, S.C.; her mother-in-law, Eula Colle of Marion; three brothers, Tom Haddad and Jimmy Haddad, both of Columbia, and Steve Haddad of Charlotte, N.C.; and two sisters, Linda Greer of Italy and Anne Haddad of Columbia.
A memorial has been established with American Red Cross.
Elsie Gerlach, 93
Elsie Gerlach, 93, homemaker, died Oct. 1.
Funeral services were Oct. 7 at Sharon Baptist Church in Wichita. Graveside services were at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
She is predeceased by her husband, Jake Gerlach.
She is survived by a daughter, Delores Gerlach of Wichita, a son, Ronald Penner of Wichita; two sisters, Dorothy Helmer and Doris Ligget, both of Newton; a brother, Reuben of McPherson; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Leona Hamilton, 75
Leona Hazelton Hamilton, 75, retired branch office manager in banking, died Oct. 8 in Hillsboro.
The service is at 2 p.m. today, Oct. 12, at Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro with pastor Roy Keller officiating. Burial is on Saturday at Syracuse Cemetery.
She was born Aug. 29, 1930, to James Doty Dotts and Alice Blanche Hunter Dotts in Ingalls. In 1948 she was married to Thayne Lee Hazelton, who predeceased her in 1980. In 1993 she was married to Marion Hamilton, who survives.
She is also survived by two sons, Timothy and wife Sharon Hazelton and James and wife Rachelle Hazelton, all of Topeka; a daughter, Kim and husband Mike Bennett of Lawrence; a stepson, David Hamilton of Old Hickory, Tenn.; two stepdaughters, Lois and husband Bob Scheyer of Lincoln, Neb., and Nancy and husband Ed Hornbaker of Holcomb; a sister, Louella Ebert; five grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church and the Gideons.
Cora Meljo, 98
Cora Meljo, 98, retired social worker, died Oct. 8 in Hillsboro.
The service was Oct. 11 at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro with pastor Randy Smith officiating. Burial was at Haven of Rest Cemetery in rural Hillsboro.
She was born Jan. 9, 1907, to Arthur Sell and Gertie Ulrey Sell in Conway. In 1938 she was married to Walter Meljo, who survives.
She is also survived by a daughter, Karen Ruperd of Kansas City; and one grandchild.
Memorials have been established with First Mennonite Church and Parkside Homes.
Roy Selzer, 92
Roy Martin Selzer, 92, farmer, died Oct. 4 at Protection Valley Manor in Protection.
The burial was Oct. 7 at the Protection Mennonite Cemetery. A service followed at Protection Mennonite Church with pastor Del Regier officiating.
He was born April 23, 1913, to Alvin and Nora (Loucks) Selzer near Protection. In 1937 he was married to Esther Marie Willems, who predeceased him in 2002. He is survived by three sons, Robert and wife Judy Selzer of Protection, and Gerald and wife Jean Selzer and Marvin and wife Connie Selzer, all of Hesston; a daughter, Carol and husband Steve Hoff of Laramie, Wyo.; three sisters, Berta Miller of Hesston, and Nellie Schultz and Mary Ann Miller, both of Twin Falls, Idaho; 11 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the Roy and Esther Selzer Scholarship at Hesston College and Protection Mennonite Church.
Mason Wedel, 18
Mason Ray Wedel, 18, died Oct. 8 in Hillsboro.
Graveside services are at 9:30 a.m. today, Oct. 12, at Buhler East Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church with pastors Chuck Taylor and Brent Warkentin presiding.
He was born Jan. 30, 1987, to Dwight and Dixie Wedel in Buhler. He was a 2005 graduate of Buhler High School and a freshman at Tabor College in Hillsboro, where he played on the men’s soccer team.
He is survived by his parents; two brothers, Taylor and Parker, both of Buhler; a sister, Elise of Buhler; grandparents Florene Wedel of Moundridge and Richard Yoder of Hutchinson; and many uncles, aunts and cousins.
A memorial has been established with Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church for youth soccer and youth ministry.
