Obituaries

David M. Koralek, Sr., 83, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at his home in Ellsworth, Kan. He was born Nov. 17, 1942, in Ellsworth to Ben and Lillian (Choitz) Koralek.

Douglas Joseph Kepka, 78, of Emporia, Kan., passed away peacefully March 31, 2026, at Newman Regional Health. He was born to Leo Joseph and Betty Jean (Andreasen) Kepka. Doug graduated from Ellsworth High School (1966) and Fort Hays State University (1970).

Ronald “Ron” James Hubka, 66, of Wilson, Kan., passed away on March 31, 2026, at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kansas.Ron was born on Sept. 7, 1959, at Ellsworth County Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, Kan., to Winslow F. and Frances A. (Kacirek) Hubka.

C. Byrne Wood, 91, of Ellsworth, Kan., and former Russell, Kan., resident, died on Saturday, March 14, 2026, with family by his side at the Lindsborg Community Hospital in Lindsborg, Kan.Byrne was born on Nov. 26, 1934, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Clarence William and Lena Mae (Query) Wood.

Shirley Ann McWhirt Yakesch, 88, passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born April 30, 1937, on the family farm in rural Russell County, Kan., to Edward and Emma (Galliart) Brack. Shirley married Gayle McWhirt on Sept. 15, 1962.

Edward “Ed” Douglas Cheshire, 85, passed away March 6, 2026, with his family by his side, at his home in Great Bend, Kan. He was born May 30, 1940, in Evansville, Ind., to Griffin “Jake” and Edra (Larkin) Cheshire.

Charles Raymond Dolezal passed away on March 16, 2026. He was 87 years old (32,043 days). He was born on June 23, 1938, son of Charles and Tillie Dolezal. He married Virginia Lee Grubb on April 23, 1960.

Stephen J. Long, 62, of Salina, KS passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, March 2, 2026. He was born March 9, 1963, in Ellsworth, Kan., the son of Donald and Margaret Long and Joan Bunch.Steve grew up in Ellsworth and attended Ellsworth High School, where he excelled in athletics.

Beckham Reece Binford, 2, passed away Friday, March 6, 2026, at Ellsworth County Medical Center.

Mildred Carol (Borecky) Hynes, formerly of rural Sylvan Grove, Kan., passed away on Feb. 17, 2026, at the Holiday Resort in Salina. Mildred “Millie” was born on Dec. 31, 1938, in a limestone house west of Black Wolf, Kan., to second-generation Czech parents John and Marie (Janda) Borecky.