Obituaries

Keith Dwayne Maddox, 60, passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 in Kansas City, Kan. He was born Aug. 1, 1960 in Lincoln, Kan. to Ernest Maddox, Jr. and Judith (Bunch) Maddox.

Howard  R. “Rocky” Vacek, 73, passed away Oct. 28, 2020 in Topeka, Kan. He was born Nov. 12, 1946 in Ellsworth to Howard and Arlene Vacek.   Rocky was baptized and confirmed at Excelsior Lutheran Church. He graduated from Ellsworth High School and attended several years at Kansas State University.

Lou (Haase) Bloomgren, age 80, former Salina, Kan. resident died Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. She had been battling Alzheimer’s for many years. Lou was living in Chandler, Ariz. for the past three years near her daughter. She is preceded in death by her husband, Loren.

Audrey Chidester Hankins, 88, of Ellsworth, KS, passed away Dec. 12, 2020 after a short battle with COVID. Audrey was born Dec. 2, 1932 to Robert and Bonnie Chidester in Blue Island, Ill.

Will Enoch Dickinson, Jr., 65, passed away Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 in Hays, Kan. He was born Aug. 1, 1955 to Will E. and Betty A. (Parry) Dickinson in Wichita, Kan. Will was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He graduated from Geneseo High School, Geneseo, Kan.

Neal K. Nowlin, 75, passed away December 9, 2020 in Marquette, KS. He was born September 30, 1945 in Pitcher, OK to Neal and Georgia (Norwood) Nowlin. Neal was raised in Kanopolis, Kan. where he graduated from Kanopolis High School.

Joyce J. Vanek, 86, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Ellsworth Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born Aug. 12, 1934 to Joseph and Elma (Heinze) Adamek in Ellsworth.

Denise A. Waymaster, 80, died Dec. 7, 2020 in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born to Harold and Elda Meitler Chegwidden Jan. 25, 1940 in Lincoln County Kansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Betty and son Norman. Survivors include sons, Alan (Roberta), Ellsworth, Kan.

Mary M. Barta, 82, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 in Ellsworth. She was born March 9, 1938 in Gypsum, Kan. to Robert J. and Mayola (Beaty) Haley. Mary was a longtime resident of Holyrood, Kan. where she was a homemaker, waitress at the L&L and a house cleaner.

Dale George Grothusen, 101, originally of Ellsworth, died Dec. 7, 2020 in Salina. He was born Dec. 17, 1918 on a farm in Ellsworth County to William and Christine (Strella) Grothusen. He was a farmer and stockman, retiring in 2003.