Community News
Sara E. Grosdidier 1931-2009
Sara E. Grosdidier, 77, rural St. Paul, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health. She was born July 31, 1931, in Parsons to Charles Henry and Sara Ellen Brown Steinbacher. She grew up and attended schools in the South Mound and St. Paul areas, and was a 1949 graduate of St. Francis High School in St. Paul. Prior to marriage, she worked at Montgomery Ward in Parsons. She and Francis E. Grosdidier were married Ap...
full story
Mary D. Tunnell 1934 – 2009
Mary Darlene Tunnell, 74, Chanute, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 at her home. Mary was born in rural Chanute on May 3, 1934, the daughter of Harry and Hattie Johnson Larson. She graduated from Chanute High School in 1951. She attended Chanute Junior College graduating in 1953. Mary continued her education at Pittsburg State University earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1966 and her Master’s Degree in 1979. She was united in marriage to Clyde Tunne...
full story
William Dean Boman 1933-2009
William Dean Boman, 75, Miami, Okla., died Thursday, February 19, 2009, at his home after a long battle with cancer. He was born Aug. 26, 1933, in Elsmore to Dean L. and Ruth Deer Boman. He was a graduate of Elsmore High School. He worked in the trucking industry for more than 30 years, retiring from Indiana Western Express as a safety instructor. He was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Miami. On Aug. 23, 1952, he married Alice Ma...
full story
Lavon M. Elrod 1915-2009
Lavon M. Elrod, 93, Moran, died Sunday, February 22, 2009, at Heritage Health Center, Chanute. She was born April 12, 1915, in Winslow, Ariz., to Arthur B. and Gertrude Kimmel McClimans. She graduated from Marfa (Texas) High School in 1932. She married Jesse Lee Elrod Sr. on Dec. 30, 1932, in Marfa, Texas, and they made their home in Texas for a number of years before moving to Kansas in 1944 while Mr. Elrod served in the military during Worl...
full story
Looking back
25 years ago (1984) The feature in the Tribune’s weekend magazine focuses on three brothers, Ed, Tom and Gary Wheatley, all members of the Chanute High School wrestling team. The boys are the sons of Pat and Billie Wheatley. 50 years ago (1959) The industry which was formerly known as East Side Machine Works, at 175 S. Ashby, will occupy the new building going up on the northwest corner of Lafayette and Cherry. With the change in location...
full story
Death notice
Mary Tunnell, 74, Chanute, died Monday, Feb. 23 at her home. Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Colfax Baptist Church. The family will receive friends 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel, which will release full obituary information.
full story
Roy Lee Evans
Roy Lee Evans, 83, Clinton, Mo., died Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City. He was born in Chanute to Thomas and Edith Crowell Evans. He moved his family to Madison in 1962 and helped construct the Madison Elementary School. He married Marie Norris McIlvain. They were divorced. He married Doris Dalton. She survives. He retired from West Central as an inspector. His passions in life were hunting, fishing, camping...
full story
Death notice
Sara E. Grosdidier, 77, rural St. Paul, died Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health. She is survived by her husband, Francis E. Grosdidier, of the home. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. The Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church, where the family will receive friends immediately following the Rosary. Frie...
full story
John Sain Helmick 1918-2009
John Sain Helmick was born on the original Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918, in Chanute, the son of Jane Sain and Milton Parks Helmick. His father was a prominent business man in the area and also served several terms in the State Legislature and was also the publisher of The Chanute Tribune. His mother was a teacher before her marriage. John attended Chanute Junior College before he went to Northwestern to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in psycholo...
full story
Looking back
25 years ago (1984) Crowned as Homecoming King and Queen at Neosho County Community College were Brian Sage and Deanna Kee. Runnersup for the title were James Baldwin Jr. and Teresa Spieker, and Dennis Goodeyon and Michelle Luellen. 50 years ago (1959) A Tribune photo shows winners of the doubles portion of the women’s bowling tournament. Pictured are Mrs. K. Cook, Mrs. Charles Baughn, Shirley Kober and Mrs. E.B. Green Jr. 75 years ago (...
full story
Orpha Marie Sandberg 1918-2009
Orpha Marie Sandberg, 90, died Friday, February 20, 2009, at John Randolph Hospital, Hopewell, Va. She was born Sept. 13, 1918, in Cherryvale to the Rev. Vernon Franklin and Mattie Olive Pilkington Cloninger. She married Rudolph Roy Sandberg on Aug. 27, 1939, in Bartlesville, Okla. He died on May 1, 1977. She lived most of her adult life in Chanute and in 2000 moved to Spring Grove, Va. She was a longtime member of Grant Avenue Baptist Churc...
full story
Stephen Homewood 1956-2009
Stephen Michael Homewood, 52, Humboldt, died Friday, February 20, 2009, in Benton County, Ark. He was born March 2, 1956, in Emporia to Donald D. and Lillian Doreen Hays Homewood. He was a 1974 graduate of Humboldt High School. On July 15, 2006, he married Twyla Gillham in Eureka Springs, Ark. She survives. He was a general superintendent for BRB Contractors of Topeka. Other survivors include his parents; a son, Jacob, of the home; stepchild...
full story
Engagement — Jones/Hall
Bryan L. Hall and Laurel A. Jones announce their engagement. Jones is employed with Chanute Health Care and Neosho County Health Department. Hall is employed with Chanute Fire Department and Cherry Street Youth Center. The wedding will be 2 p.m. April 18, 2009, at First Baptist Church, Chanute.
full story
Engagement — Owens/Steele
Tim and Virginia Wools of Iola, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kayla Nicole Owens, to Kenneth Richard Steele, son of Lauren Steele, Yates Center, and Vicky North, Chanute. Owens is a 2006 graduate of Humboldt High School and a graduate of Allen Community College. She is employed at Iola Pharmacy. Steele is a 1999 graduate of Yates Center High School. He is employed at the Piqua Farmers COOP. A wedding is planned for 5 p.m. April ...
full story
Victoria LaVera ‘Vickie’ Springer Trembly 1951-2009
Victoria LaVera “Vickie” Springer Trembly, 57, Thayer, Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born Aug. 17, 1951, in Erie to Eldon Ray and Alice Marie Falkerson Springer. She graduated from Thayer High School in 1969. She married Patrick R. Trembly. He survives. She was employed as a Laboratory Technician at Ash Grove Cement Company for 30 years until her retirement in 2007. Other survivors include two sons...
full story
Engagement — Vallier/Oehlert
Russ and Karen Vallier and Doug and Janis Oehlert, all of Chanute, announce the engagement of their children, Lauren Vallier and Jeremy Oehlert, both of Chanute. Vallier is pursuing a degree in occupational therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Oehlert will graduate from Pittsburg State University in May with a degree in plastics engineering technology. The wedding will be held June 14, 2009, in Eureka Springs, Ark.
full story
Rachel R. Sterling 1920-2009
Rachel R. Sterling, 89, Yates Center, died Thursday, February 19, 2009, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. She was born Feb. 19, 1920, in Yates Center to Warren Arthur and Myrtle Rhodes Millison. She graduated from Yates Center High School in 1938. She was employed in local nursing homes. She married Rex Sterling on Nov. 26, 1941, in Yates Center. He survives. Other survivors include two sons, Robert “Butch” and Jerry “Pete” Sterling...
full story
Looking back
25 years ago (1984) Jimmy Williams, 15, rural Thayer, has a burning ambition, to run a one-mile leg in the cross-county Olympic Torch Relay this summer. Williams is doing all in his power to be one of the approximately 13,000 people to participate in the run. 50 years ago (1959) Washington - America’s newest satellite is expected to report cloud conditions around the world, which will greatly increase the accuracy of weather forecasts. ...
full story
Ty William Ingels 2008-2009
Ty William Ingels, 4 months, Chanute, died Tuesday, February 17, 2009, as the result of a traffic accident. He was born Oct. 15, 2008, in Chanute to Kyle Ingels and Jennifer Martin. They survive. Other survivors include a sister, Addison Ingels, of the home; grandparents Mike and Karen Martin, David Ingels and Tracy Richards, all of Chanute; great-grandparents Spencer and Donna Brandon, Afton, Okla., Ruth Martin, Winfield, and John and Jan In...
full story
Gerald Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Riggs 1990-2009
Gerald Ignacio “Nacho” Riggs, 18, Gatesville, died Sunday, February 15, 2009. He was born July 2, 1990, in Fort Stewart, Ga., to Bradley and Karen Ornelas Riggs. He attended school in Gatesville, graduating in 2008. He was employed at Fort Hood by Techwise. He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Heather Owen and Jennifer Finuf; and his grandmother, Carmen Ornelas. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gerald and Barbara Riggs an...
full story