CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY OBITUARIES
FOR
SURNAMES (Kn) through (Kz)

MRS. LOUCILE KNACKSTEDT

AURORA, Mo. - Loucile Knackstedt, age 93, of Aurora, Mo., died at 11:05 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16,2004, in Aurora Nursing Center, following a bout with pneumonia.

Mrs. Knackstedt, daughter of Dr. J. E. and Olive Gallagher, was born on March 7, 1910 in West Mineral, Kan. After graduating from high school, she attended Pittsburg State University and the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., where she earned her college degree. She taught Kindergarten and primary grades for 17 years. After raising two fine sons, she became a house mother for fraternities and sororities at Kansas University, Wichita State University and Emporia State University. She retired in 1979 and moved to Chanute, Kan. to be near her twin sister, Louise Lowe.

She was a life member of Order of the Eastern Star #136, Erie, Kan. and received her 50 year pin. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a national honor society for women teachers and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Marion, Kan. and a past member of the Coterie Club in Marion.

Loucile had a love of music and was an accomplished violinist and she was an avid sports fan.

On Aug. 29, 1931, she was united in marriage to Edwin Lowe of Erie, Kan. They had two sons, Seth L. Lowe of Shell Knob, Mo. and Clark E. Lowe of Topeka, Kan. On June 16, 1961, Edwin passed away. Loucile later married Eugene Knackstedt of Marion, Kan. on May 23, 1981. He passed away on March 16, 1989. Both Sons also proceeded Loucile in death.

Survivors include two daughter-in-laws, Jeanette Lowe, Shell Knob, Mo. and Doris Lowe, Topeka, Kan., two stepsons, Larry Knackstedt, Overland Park, Kan. and Gary Knackstedt, St. Louis, Mo,, three grandsons, Russell Lowe, Scott Lowe and Todd Lowe, three granddaughters, Becky Epperson, Alice Modica and Carrie Parr, one Step grandson, Scott Knackstedt, four step granddaughters, Stacy Faber, Stephanie Strange, Mikel Smith and Nikki Sylvestri and ten great grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 at 2 p.m. in the Williamson Funeral Home in Shell Knob, Mo., with Revs. Debbie and Rick Youngblood of Aurora, Mo. conducting the service.

Memorials may be made to the Shriner Children's Hospital in St. Louis in care of the Williamson Funeral Home of Shell Knob, Mo.

Alva Rebecca Knapp was born December 8, 1906, at Miltonville in Cloud County, Kan., the youngest child born to Alvin McCullum and Elizabeth Rebecca (Fuller) Perry. Her sisters were Arhucy, born in 1888, Edith, born in l891, and Viola May, born in 1899.

When she was three years old, her family moved to Bevins, Texas, and they lived there for three years before coming back to Kansas. Her dad traded the land in Texas for some land in Elk County.

She was a member of the Lower Paw Paw Salem Baptist Church. She went to school at the Upper Paw Paw and stayed at a boardinghouse in Severy to attend high school.

On September 12, 1923, at Eureka, Kan., she married Harry Glenn Knapp and their first homestead was two miles south of Severy on Highway 99. Darrell Eugene arrived in 1926, Ruth Arlene in 1928, and Naomi May in 1931. They lived several different places in the Paw Paw community.

During the Depression, they moved to rural Haviland, Kan., then returned to Elk County a year later.

The last place they lived in the Paw Paw Community was her parents’ farm just south of Upper Paw Paw School. With Glenn’s health problems, they decided to have a farm sale and moved to Severy. They, along with their son Melvin, purchased a filling station on the west side of town. They ran this from 1947 until 1969. Glenn Knapp died on Thanksgiving Day, 1969.

For the next 23 years, she lived in Severy. Alva was active in the Elk and Greenwood County EHU and Rebekah Club and attended Severy Baptist Church.

The last 10 years she was a resident at nursing homes, first at Regency in Eureka, and then the last eight at Howard Twilight Manor. She enjoyed playing dominoes every afternoon and bingo twice a week. She liked doing crafts, especially painting pictures.

She is survived by her son, Darrell Knapp of Augusta; her daughters, Arlene McCollum of Fall River and Naomi Lacy of Wichita; 13 grandchildren, Charles and Mary Knapp, children of Darrell; Randy, Ronnie, Jill, Frank, Donnie, and Karen McCollum, children of Ruth Arlene; Cathy, Glenda, Stephen, Debra, and Rebecca Lacy, children of Naomi May; 14 great grandchildren, Michael and Joshua Knapp, sons of Charles; Amanda McCollum, son of Ronnie; Allie and Theresia McCollum, daughters of Jill; Kodie, Aadrian, Brenda McCollum, daughters of Donnie; Karrie VanWinkle, daughter of Karen; Robin Sullivan, daughter of Glenda; Shannon, Heather, Amanda, and Jerrad Brown, children of Debbie. She also had two great-great-grandchildren: Tyler Smith, son of Shannon, and Lacy Dunn, daughter of Heather. A son, Melvin, died in 1990.

Casket bearers were Chuck Knapp, Donnie McCollurn, Frank McCollum, Randy McCollum, Ronnie McCollum and Bob VanWinkle.

MR. ERNEST L. KNIGHT

HAMILTON, Kan. Ernest Leroy Knight passed away on Friday, Jan. 14, 2005, at his home in Hamilton, Kan. He was 73 years of age.

Ernie was born on Sept. 12, 1931 on a farm in the Salt Springs Township of Greenwood County, near Fall River, Kan., to Frank VanBeaurn and Lillie Mae (Wormington) Knight.

He attended school near Severy and graduated from Howard High School in 1951. Ernie was employed at the Howard Ice Plant and the Hebb and Dean Auto Supply in Howard, before entering the United States Army in 1952.

On March 22, 1957, he married Naomi Lucille Hebb at the First Baptist Church in Howard, Kan. and to this union was born two daughters, Bethy and Karla. Ernie and Lucille made their home at Moline for a few years where he was emloyed at Ames Chevrolet. He later owned and operated the Knight Services Station in Howard before moving to Madison, Kan. in 1966. The family moved to Sedan, Kan. in 1968, where Ernie worked for the Blake Limestone Company before moving to Hamilton in 1969. He was employed for several years by the City of Hamilton as City Marshall and director of the utilities department. In 1979, Ernie became responsible for the operation of the Alf Landon oil lease, east of Hamilton, where he continued to work until becoming disabled in 1990. Ernie has been receiving kidney dialysis treatments for almost eleven years.

He enjoyed coyote hunting, coon hunting, fishing and trapping. Ernie was a member of the Hamilton Community Fellowship Church.

He is survived by his wife, Lucille; his daughters, Bethy Creed and her, Kan.;(sic) a brother, Winford Knight, Howard, Kan.; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Bernice Fiscus and two brothers, Floyd and Cleveland Knight.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, at the Hamilton Community Fellowship Church with Rev. Alan Hunter and Rev. Dean Fox officiating. Interment will be held at 3:15 p.m. at the Grace Lawn Cemetery in Howard, Kan.

A memorial has been established with the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas. Contributions may be left with the funeral home. The funeral arrangements were made with the Zimmerman Funeral Home of Howard, Kan.

MRS. LORENE KNOWLES

Lorene (Burris) Knowles, age 87, of Sedan passed away Saturday, May 5, 2007 at the Pleasant Valley Manor Nursing Home in Sedan.

She was born Jan. 8, 1920 in Sedan to Alva H. and Maude (Bray) Burris. She attended and graduated from Sedan High School. She married Gene A. Knowles on Sept. 1, 1938 in Baxter Springs. He preceded her in death on March 24, 1988. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sedan.

She is survived by two Sons, W.D. “Dan” Knowles of Corpus Christi, Texas and M.B “Mike” Knowles of Sedan; one twin sister, Erlene Black of Sedan; four grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gene, one brother, Russell, and one sister, Iva.

A Graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 9 at the Greenwood Cemetery in Sedan with the Reverend Barbara K. Bloxsom of the Epiphany Episcopal Church officiating.

The family has suggested memorial contributions to the American Lung Association and these remembrances maybe left in care of the funeral home.

To view the entire obituary online, visit www.davidwbarnesfuneralliome.com. David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Sedan is in charge of arrangements.

ALBERT LEON KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Little Albert Leon son of Mrs. and Mrs. Albert Kocher died Monday morning and was laid away Tuesday afternoon in Monett cemetery. The relatives have the sympathy of the community in the loss of their dear boy.

MR. ALBERT M KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Dutch Kocher Dies Sunday
Albert M. “Dutch” Kocher died at 10:15 p.m. Mar. 14 at the Sedan City hospital at the age of 68. He was a lifetime resident of Chautauqua county.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Mar 17, at the Graves-Baird chapel with Rev. Jack Matthews officiating. Military graveside services were held at the Monett cemetery.

He was born Mar. 14, 1908 in Monett to Frank and Olive (Haines) Kocher. He married Eleanor McCalla in Independence on April 1, 1928. He was an oilfield worker, a member of the first Christian church and VFW of Sedan and World War II veteran.

Survivors include his wife, one daughter, Mrs. James (Dorothy) Raymon of Enid, Okla., five sons. Cleo H and Richard D. of Garland, Tex., Dr. Earl D of Kansas City. Mo., Gary E of Edmond, Okla., and Jerry L of Plano, Tex.; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Mr. A. E. (Mary) Stephenson of Sedan; three half sisters, Mrs. Vada Smith of Newton, Mrs. Ella Lou Uhls of Wichita, and Mrs. Lola Taylor of Atlanta, Tex.; two half brothers, Oliver Kocher of Bartlesville, Okla. and David Kocher of Germany; his stepmother, Goldie Kocher.

Two sons preceded him in death. The family has suggested a memorial be made to the heart fund and Sedan City hospital in his name.

(Note: the two sons that preceded Albert in death were. Albert Leon 1929 and Clyde Franklin, 1936, both buried at Riley Cemetery in Monett, KS.)

MRS. ELEANOR KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Eleanor Kocher Dies At Enid
Eleanor Kocher, 78, died Monday, May 4, at Enid, Okla. She was born May 21, 1908 in Howard, to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde McCable. On Apr. 2, 1928, she was married to Albert “Dutch” Kocher in Independence. He preceded her in death Mar. 4, 1976.

Survivors include five sons, Cleo of Garland, Tex., Gary of Edmond, Okla., Jerry, of Plano, Tex., Dr. Earl D., Big Stone Gap, Virginia and Richard of Garland, Tex.; one daughter, Dorothy Raymond of Enid, Okla., one brother, Howard McCable, Independence, two sisters, Ila Davis, Springfield, Mo., and Colleen Hettman, Naple, Fla. Her step-mother, Goldie Kocher, Sedan. Graves-Baird is in charge of the arrangements, Funeral services will be in the Graves-Baird Chapel, May 7, at 2:00 p.m. with interment at Monett Cemetery northeast of Sedan.

MR. FRANK KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Frank Kocher Dies Monday
Frank Kocher, lifetime resident of Chautauqua county, died Monday morning at Sedan city hospital. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Graves-Baird chapel with Rev. Robert B. Craig of the first Methodist church officiating. Interment was in the Monett cemetery.

Kocher was born April 16, 1884, at Monett and had spent all of his life in that community where he was a farmer. He married Ollie B. Haines, and she died on Aug. 2, 1917. He was later married to Goldie Garlett, on July 27, 1928.

Survivors include his widow of the home in Peru; four daughters, Mrs. Mary Stephenson of Sedan, Mrs. Vada Smith of Arkansas city. Mrs. Lola Taylor of Matador, Tex., and Mrs. Ella Lou Uhls of Hewins; three sons, Albert of Sedan, Oliver of Bartlesville, Okla., and David with the U. S. air force; one sister, Mrs. John Haines of Sedan; 19 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

FRANKLIN KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Monett Morsels - Franklin Kocher
This community was shocked by the sudden death of seven year old Franklin Kocher, who drowned Sunday afternoon in the North Caney river in Mt. Vernon district. He was an attractive child and loved by all who knew him. Sympathy is extended to all the relatives in their breavement.

MRS. GOLDIE WAVE KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Goldie Wave Kocher, 88, of Sedan, died at her home Monday, May 11. She was born April 12,1899, in Skidmore, Mo. to Olleny and Mary Etta (White) Yarlett.

She was a homemaker. On July 27, 1928, she and Frank Kocher were united in marriage at Independence. He preceded her in death on Jan 8, 1962.

Survivors include two sons, Oliver Kocher of Bartlesville, Okla., and David Kocher of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., three daughters, Vada Smith of Newton, Ella Lou Uhls of Wichita, and Lola Taylor of McCloud, Tex.; one sister, Gladys Fellows of Independence; 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Friday, May 15, at 2:00 p.m. in the Graves-Baird chapel, Sedan. Interment was in Riley Cemetery, Monett. Rev. Dois Nix officiated. Graves-Baird Funeral Home, Sedan, was in charge of arrangements.

MR. JAMES D. KOCHER

James Dale “Jim” Kocher, 45, of Whitewater, Kan., died in his home on Sunday, May 11, 2003, surrounded by his family who loved him dearly.

Jim fought a brief, but courageous, fight with a brain tumor. With his determined spirit, he never gave up, but in the end, his body succumbed to the cancer.

He was born Nov. 20, 1957 in Onaga, Kan. to Harlin and Leta Grace (Holt) Kocher. He attended school and graduated from Onaga High School with the class of 1975. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wichita State University. His worked in Physical Rehabilitation, both inpatient and outpatient, at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, Kan. and also for Beverly Home and Health.

He was a member of the Furley United Methodist Church and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospital.

He married Sheila K. Church on May 1, 1977 in Howard, Kan.

Survivors include his wife, Sheila, of the home, sons, James Carl “J.C.” Kocher, Manhattan, Kan. and Joshua Paul Forrest Kocher, Stillwater, Okla., daughter, Jena Lee Kocher, of the home, brother, Bruce Kocher, Onaga, Kan., sister, Janet Davidson, Minneapolis, Kan., parents, Harlin and Leta Kocher, Onaga, Kan., father and mother in law, Tom and Sue Church, Sedan, Kan. and two grandchildren, Gavin and Gabriel Kocher.

Services will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2003, at 10 a.m. at the Palmyra Baptist Church in Benton, Kan., with Pastor Howard Martin and Chaplain Larry Anderson officiating, and graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. at the Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Coffeyville, Kan.

Memorials have been established with the Furley United Methodist Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospital.

Bob Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater, Kan. is in charge of the arrangements.

MR. LEE KOCHER - Submitted by Freida Wells

Former Resident Dies Tuesday
Lee Kocher, 46, former resident of Sedan passed away Tuesday at 4:30 p. m. in his home in Winfield. He had been bedfast about three months.

Mr. Kocher and his wife Nadine own and operate the 160 Drive In Cafe in Winfield. he was born and raised around Sedan.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 2:00 p. m. by the Graves Funeral Home in Caney. Survivors include his wife of the home, four sons, Earl Charles and Jeffery Lynn of the home. Eddie Lee of Wichita; one daughter Mrs. Herb Joslin of Independence, his father Frank of Sedan; one brother, Albert Kocher of Sedan; one sister Mrs. Eugene Stephenson of Sedan; and three granddaughters.

MRS. NANCY A. KODLICK

Nancy Ann Kodlick, 63, of Glendale, Ariz. died Nov. 5, 2006, after a long and couràgeous battle with ovarian cancer. She was born in Tulsa, Okla., and raised in Cedar Vale.

Nancy is survived by her husband, John of Glendale; her mother, Lavina Blenden of Cedar Vale; her children, Robin Schadt, Les and Carol Kodlick, and Joe and Andrea Bianchi; sisters, Jane Schmidt, Naomi Blenden, Evelyn Shepherd; and four grandchildren, Austin and Aaron Schadt, and Joseph and Victoria Bianchi.

Nancy was a loving pillar of strength for her family. She lived a beautiful and full life caring for her family and friends, visiting and caring for her patients in Sun City, in addition to working as a volunteer with the American Red Cross and at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in support of juvenile diabetes research. A military spouse, she was strong-willed, determined, and deeply committed to her family and country.

A memorial service will be held Thursday in Phoenix. Friends and family may make donations to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

REV HOWARD R. KUNKLE - Submitted by Lori DeWinkler

Kunkle, Rev. Howard R., 95, of Elkins, AR, pastor of over 20 churches for over 50 years in 6 countries, died April 11, 2005. Memorial services at a later date.

Survivors: daughter, Elizabeth Guyer and partner, Nancy Baril; son, Christopher and wife, Lady; 4 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; dog, Pixie. Beard's Funeral Chapel, Fayetteville, AR.

MR. SCOTT E. KURTIS

Scott Erik Kurtis, age 38, son of Bill Kurtis and the late Helen Scott Kurtis, passed away in his sleep Monday July 20, 2009 at his residence in Sedan.

Scott was born Oct. 2, 1970 in Santa Monica, Calif., to Bill and Helen (Scott) Curtis[sic]. He grew up in Chicago, Ill., and graduated from high school in 1989. He joined the United States Navy and was stationed at Groat Lakes Naval Station in Evanston, Ill.

He attended college in Menlo College in Menlo Park, Calif. In lieu of graduating, Scott drove his motorcycle along the California coast from San Diego into Alaska. Luckily, it was summertime.

He moved to Sedan in 1998. He enjoyed truck driving, playing the guitar and driving around the countryside.

He is survived by his father Bill Kurtis of Chicago, Ill.; his sister, Marv Kristin Kurtis of Sedan; his step-mother Donna LaPietra of Chicago, Ill.: his aunt, State Senator Jean Schodurf of Wichita; cousin, Jack Horton of Sedan; his aunt Shirley Amend of Council Bluffs, Iowa; great-aunts Bernice Hecht and Doris Horton of Topeka, Kan., Lillian Dickens of Wichita, and numerous cousin.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Scott Kurtis, his grandparents, Leo and Francis Scott and paternal grandparents, Bill and Wilma Kurtis.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date.

A memorial service will be held at Butcher Falls on Wednesday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.

The family has suggested memorial contributions to the Little House on the Prairie and these remembrances may be left in care of David W. Barnes Funeral HOme, 209 N. Douglas, Sedan, Kansas 67361.

MRS. BEATRICE KUYENDALL

VISTA, Calif. - Beatrice Glenn Kuykendall of Vista, Calif. died just 11 days before her 95th birthday, after a short illness.

A native and long time resident of Sedan, Kan., she and her family moved to Oceanside, Calif. in 1947. She worked in various retail establishments and owned and operated a beauty shop in Solana Beach.

She was a member of the Methodist Church and a past president of Opti-Mrs. Club of Oceanside.

Her husband, Ralph Glenn, preceded her in death in 1982.

She is survived by her present husband, William Kuykendall, Vista, Calif., brothers, Wesley Burch, Caney, Kan. and Carrol Burch, Sedan, Kan., two daughters, Carol Ann Ganoe, Auburn, Calif. and Glenda Glenn Rosenblatt, Pacific Beach, Calif., six grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

The family held a celebration of her life on Mother’s Day at her son’s home. Her ashes will be scattered near Sedan at the farm homesteaded by her grandfather in 1868.

MRS. ANDREW (TEXIE) KUZILIK - Submitted by Freida Wells

Texie Kuzilik Dies Friday

Mrs. Andrew (Texie) Kuzilik, 96, died Friday, Aug. 27, at the Sedan hospital. Services were held at Graves-Baird Chapel Tuesday, Aug 31 and burial was in the DeBusk cemetery at Elgin. Ed Joice of the Church of Christ officiated.

Mrs. Kuxilik was born July 1, 1875 in Monroe Co., Tenn., to Elizabeth (Debisk) and James M. Cardin and came to Kansas at the age of seven. She lived in this area all of her life and married Andrew Kuzilik March 13, 1954 at Hewins. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Surviving are her husband; five daughters, Mrs. J. E. Sweeney of Elgin, Mrs. C. C.

of Des Moines, Iowa, Mrs. C. E. Erdwien of ElDorado, and Mrs. E. C. Dodge of Vinita, Okla., four sons Meredith Loftin, Clifford Loftin, Roy Loftin of Houston, Tex., and Howard Loftin of Denair, Calif.; one brother Oscar Cardin of Boise, Idaho; one sister, Mrs. Delia Vandruff of Cedar Vale; three half sisters, Mrs. Ruby Reusch, Mrs. Esther Rogers and Mrs. Loretta Mueller, address unknown; 28 grandchildren; 54 great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren.

(My note: Texie was first married to Noel Calvern Loftin 30 May 1893 in Chautauqua Co., KS. , and to this union nine children were born. Noel died in 1943 and is buried in the DeBusk Cemetery in Chautauqua Co., KS.)

MRS. UNDENE KYGAR

HEWINS - Services for Undene Kygar, 83, Hewins, Kan., will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2003, at the Cedar Vale Church of Christ. Burial will be at Ozro Cemetery near Hewins. A hospitality fellowship will follow at the church.

Mrs. Kygar died Friday, July 4, 2003, at the Continous Care Center at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Okla. Recently she had lived at Green Country Village Assisted Living Center in Bartlesville.

She was born Nov. 11, 1919 near Cedar Vale, Kan., the daughter of Edgar Jasper and Mary Brady (Lyon) Littrell She attended Cedar Vale schools, graduating as valedictorian from high school in 1937. Following graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper for several years at the Cedar Vale National Bank.

She married Vaughn Kygar on May 3, 1942 in Lawrence and he preceded her in death on July 16, 1985. Following their marriage, they lived in Atchison, where she worked in banking and her husband was an industrial chemist and shift supervisor for Midwest Solvents. In late 1944, they returned to Chautauqua County to the family farming operation.

Mrs. Kygar was a homemaker. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and a Sunday School teacher for congregations in Hewins, Cedar Vale and Sedan, all in Kansas. While in high school, she traveled throughout the country with a mixed vocal gospel quartet sponsored by the Cedar Vale church.

She and her husband were founding community leaders of the Hewins Happy Hustlers 4-H Club. With her husband, she participated in activities related to Chautauqua County Farm Bureau, Society for Range Management, County Fair board and agricultural extension council, among other civic and volunteer involvements. For about 50 years, she was a Republican member of the Harrison Township Election Board in Chautauqua County. She was a longtime member of the Hewins Extension Homemaker Unit begun in Oct. 1935 and one of the longest continuously chartered units in Kansas.

Survivors include a son, Clyde, Tulsa, Okla., a daughter, Jean Kygar Eblen, Lawrence, Kan., two sisters, Ruth Storer, Sedan, Kan. and Lucille Hopper, Phoenix, Ariz., a grandson, Matt Eblen, Overland Park, Kan., two granddaughters, Roslyn Kygar, Austin, Texas and Courtney Eblen McCain, The Woodlands, Texas and a great granddaughter, Megan Elizabeth McCain, The Woodlands, Texas.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Hewins Church of Christ or the Sedan Area Foundation sent in care of the funeral home.

David W. Barnes Funeral Home of Sedan is in charge of the arrangements.