Obituaries

William “Bill” Burton Handlin, Jr., 94, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, in Ellsworth. He was born May 6, 1928, on the family farm in Thomas Township in Ellsworth County, to William B. Handlin, Sr. and Ruth (Becker) Handlin.Bill married Orvetta Ruth Brown in Ellsworth on Nov. 18, 1950.

Nina M. Doubrava, 94, passed away Sunday, Oct. 17, 2022, in Ellsworth. She was born March 4, 1928, in Graniteville, Mo., to Frank and Daisy (LeGrand) Anderson. When she was three months old, the family moved to Kanopolis where Nina attended school and graduated from Kanopolis High School in 1946.

Michelle D. Barta, 72, Lawrence, Kan., died on Oct. 8, 2022, in Lawrence, Kan.Michelle is survived by her husband, Donald L. Barta and son DeJay Barta, of the home; step-children Jon Barta (Tammy), Myk Barta (Kelly) and Lea Barta Morris (Steve Martin); all of Lawrence, Kan.

Gerald W. Pauley, 88, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, at his home in Holyrood, Kan. He was born April 1, 1934, in a home outside of Newtown in Putnam County, Mo. to Wade and Cora (Johnson) Pauley.He married Nadine Nowlin in Grundy County, Mo. on July 19, 1953.

Charles “Charlie” Joseph Hoch passed away Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Topeka, Kan., at the age of 63. He was born Jan. 20, 1959, in Wilson, Kan., to Rudy and Violette (Lank) Hoch. Charlie married Melanie Ann McComb on Aug. 1, 1981, in Stockton, Kan.

Scott Dustin Princ, formerly of Wilson, Kan., passed away on Sept. 30, 2022, at his home in Salina, Kan. at the age of 52. He was born on Aug. 31, 1970, in Ellsworth, Kan., to John and Barbara (Hlaus) Princ. He married Lynn (Valcorza) Princ in 2009 and they later divorced.

Una Joyce Podlena, 97, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Home in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born to Theodore Buehler and Francis (Tobin) Buehler on Oct. 31, 1924, in Wilson, Kan. Joyce spent her early years in Wilson going to school and working for Sam Klema at the IGA store.

Ernest “Ernie” E. Habiger, 54, passed away Sept. 28, 2022, at his home in rural Ellsworth County. He was born Aug. 24, 1968, in Lyons, Kan., to F. Joe and Norma (Vanek) Habiger. Ernie was a longtime shop foreman at Moly Manufacturing, Inc. in Lorraine, Kan.

Helen Julia Nesje, 89, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the Salem Home in Hillsboro, Kan. She was born Dec. 27, 1932, in Crosby, N.D. to John and Helga (Sanvik) Thorson. Helen was the mother of the late Douglas Bach, Dianna (Bach) Vanek and the late Daniel Bach.

James “Jim” Robert Warta, 80, passed away, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, at his home in Ellsworth. He was born Nov. 25, 1941, to Frank and Mabel (Donley) Warta in Ellsworth. Jim married Laura Adamek in Ellsworth on Jan. 4, 1962.