Obituaries

H.E. “Gene” Brownback, 91, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Ellsworth, Kan. He was born Nov. 22, 1928 in Centerville, Kan. to Jesse Lawrence and Sylvia (Johnson) Brownback. Gene was a longtime resident of Osawatomie, Kan. He married Mary “Ellen” Adams in Hume, Mo. July 22, 1951.

Katherine Rose (Warta) Hummel,  106, passed into her Heavenly Slumber, on the evening of May 29, 2020. At her bedside were her daughter and granddaughter to wish her Bon Voyage. She was born in 1913 to W.B. (Jim) Warta and Mary (Dolezal) Warta.

Rosalie May (Springer) Wood,  83, of Ellsworth, Kan. and formerly of Russell, Kan., passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at the Ellsworth County Medical Center. Rosalie was born Feb. 13, 1937 in Pleasanton, Kan., the daughter of Leslie Adam and Nettie May (Graham) Springer.

Frederick Dean Kempke, 83, of Claflin, Kan., died Saturday, June 27, 2020, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kan. He was born October 18, 1936, at Ellsworth, Kan., the son of George Oakland and Rose Pauline (Schneider) Kempke.   Dean graduated from Holyrood High School in 1955.

Sandra “Gayle” Schultz, 82, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in Ellsworth. She was born Sept. 18, 1937 in Ellsworth to Clinton and Bernice (Seymour) Paull. Gayle was a longtime resident of California where she was a secretary in the ABC School District. She married Lloyd Dale Schultz Sept.

Robert Edward Laubengayer, formerly of Ellsworth, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2020, after taking a fall and a short stay in the hospital. Bob, as he was known by his family and friends, was born Feb. 9, 1941 in Great Bend, Kan., the second son of Carl and Ruth Laubengayer.

Max G. Fleming, 68, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2020, in Hutchinson. He was born June 2, 1952 in Ellsworth to David L. and Thelma M. (Keehner) Fleming. Max was a longtime resident of Ellsworth County. He was a hoist operator at Independent Salt for 41 years. He married Pam Bisterfeldt Wilson Nov.

Walter Duane Donley, 90, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2020, at his home in Lincoln. He was born May 31, 1930 on the family farm in Lincoln County to Samuel Henry and Florence Leora (Mays) Donley. Walter was a longtime resident of Lincoln County where he was a farmer and stockman.

Jim F. Lamia, 68, passed away Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Salina. He was born Jan. 12, 1952 in Ellsworth to Jasper and Mary Ann (Simanella) Lamia.

Phyllis Joann Sauvain, 88, passed away Friday, June 5, 2020, in Ellsworth. She was born Feb. 2, 1932 in Garfield Center, Kan. to Joseph “Joe” and Annetta “Nettie” Linquist. Phyllis married Merrill Sauvain in Clay Center July 11, 1955. Phyllis worked at the Ellsworth hospital for several years.