Melbourne Eugene Wodke, 90, of Council Grove, Kansas, died July 3, 2019, at Morris County Hospital. His Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, July 10th, at 11:00AM at the Wilsey Christian Church.

Mel was born July 21, 1928, in Council Grove to William and Mildred Wodke.  After graduating from Council Grove High School, Mel joined the US Navy in 1946.  During his service, Mel was stationed on the USS Wilkes-Barre and was awarded the Victory World War II Medal.  After discharge in 1948, he resided in Lawrence, KS and carried mail for the US Postal Service.  He graduated with a degree in Business from Emporia State University and returned home to Council Grove, where he began work for the local IGA grocery store.  Mel would ultimately earn part ownership in the store before retirement.  Mel enjoyed spending time with family, meeting his friends for coffee and fishing.  He also loved gardening, working in his yard and woodworking.  Mel will be remembered for his caring nature and being a jokester.

During his life, Mel was married to Ada May Nosker and later to Lois King, and was preceded in death by both.

Mel is survived by his wife Donnavie Wodke, sister Linda Hacker (Darrell), St. Joseph, MO; 4 sons: Mickey Wodke (Karen), Salina, Douglas Wodke (Penny), Manhattan, Alan Wodke (Cindy), High Point, NC, and  David Wodke (Anne), Council Grove. Also surviving are step-son, William King (Terri), Topkea; 3 step-daughters: Scherene Gage (Mark), Bedford, TN, Katherine Marks, Ft Worth, TX, Patricia Chavis (Keith ), Lillian, AL; 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Mel can be made to Wilsey Christian Church, sent in care of Yazel- Megli-Zeiner Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.

Wednesday
July 10, 2019
11:00 AM
Wilsey Christian Church
215 North 3rd Street
Wilsey, KS 66873

SFC (Ret) Robert Joseph McPheron, 84, of Junction City, KS, passed away June 23, 2019. Johnson Funeral Home of Junction City is assisting the family with memorial cremation arrangements.

A graveside service with full Military Honors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday July 12, 2019, at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan, Kansas.

Robert was born on March 23, 1935, in Lima, Ohio to Ellis D. and Helen E. (Wilson) McPheron. He grew up in Lima. As a young man, he joined the United States Army on March 31, 1953. During his time in the military, he married Clara Luna on April 2, 1956 in Raton, New Mexico. They traveled to many duty stations in the United States. Robert also served time abroad. He was stationed in Germany for seven years and served one year in Vietnam. Robert proudly served over 20 years to retire on May 1, 1973 as a Sergeant First Class (SFC) at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he and his family have since called home. His military decorations include but are not limited to: the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with One Bronze Service Star, Army Good Conduct Medal with Silver Clasps (6 Loops), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Device, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, and Two Overseas Service Bars.

Following his military service, Robert worked as Supervisor of the Junction City – Geary County Ambulance Service for 19 years. He then worked for Wells Fargo Security as a Security Officer before truly entering retirement. He spent his retirement enjoying time spent with his family.

Robert is survived by his loving family: two granddaughters, Starla Joy McPheron-Hall and husband Darryl of Shawnee Mission, KS, and Crystal Dawn McPheron of Junction City, KS; five great-grandchildren Arianna Belle McPheron,Lexi Emory, Damian Emory, Rainie Hall and Ryder Hall; one brother Pete McPheron and his wife Donna; one sister-in-law Delores Herrera of Pueblo, CO; one brother-in-law Manuel Ortega and wife Alice of Stockton, CA; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years Clara McPheron; his parents Helen and Ellis McPheron; his son Jerome “Jerry” McPheron; his five sisters Maxine Thomas, Alice C. Brown, Helen E. Miller, Betty Louise McPheron, and Rose Mary Brink; and his three brothers Donald E., Darrel R., and Carl R. McPheron.

Fredrick R. Sheldon, 78 passed from his earthly life on July 1, 2019 in his home in Abilene, KS. He was born March 22, 1941 in Lincoln, KS to Walter and Mable (Chapman) Sheldon. He attended school in Lincoln County and graduated from Vesper High School. In 1978 he married Benji (Roth).
Fred spent several years farming in Lincoln area where he later joined the Lincoln County Sherriff Department as a deputy. His law enforcement career carried him to the Police Departments of Minneapolis and Herrington, KS and Sheriffs Departments in the Kansas counties of Ottawa, Morris and Dickinson. He finished out his employment years as a supervisor for El Dorado Bus Mfg. in Salina, KS. He also served on the Lincoln School Board and enjoyed a few years coaching girls’ softball.
Fred is survived by his wife Benji of the home, daughters Sharon Collins of Russell, KS, Shelia Smither of Great Bend, KS, Betty Manolakis of Bennet, CO and stepson Tracy Roth of Herington, KS. Also surviving are brothers Paul and Ben of Washington state and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John, sister Bess Sorenson and stepson Rex Roth.
There will be a celebration of life luncheon at the Hitchin Post Restaurant in Abilene, KS from 11am-2pm, Saturday, July 6, 2019.
Memorials contributions may be made to the Elsie Brooks Memorial Cancer Fund and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd St, Abilene, KS 67410.

Carolyn L Jolly Larson passed away Friday June 28, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society-Valley Vista, Wamego, KS at the age of 93. She was the daughter of Russell Everett Smith and Etta Pearl Scott Smith.  Carolyn was born on November 21, 1925 in Gallatin, MO.

At the age of six her family moved by train to Darlington, Mo as her father was section foreman for the Railroad and that is where she grew up. Carolyn was the next to the youngest of seven children.  She outlived all of her brothers and sisters and lived to be the oldest of any of her family; including her parents.  Carolyn graduated from Darlington High School with the class of 1943.

November 25, 1944 Carolyn married Harold Gene Jolly in Ft. Smith, AR, where he was stationed with the Army.  Three children were born to this union.  After Harold passed away on March 5, 1963, during that summer she met and fell in love with Darrell Franklyn Larson and they were married on November 9, 1963 in Wamego.  They celebrated 55 years of marriage in 2018.  She always said how lucky she was to find two good men to marry!

Carolyn loved to work crossword puzzles and to make latch hook rugs. During her youth she had a good singing voice and sang “His Eye is on the Sparrow” at several funerals in her hometown. Carolyn was a 60 plus year member of the Louisville United Methodist church and was the oldest member of the church.  She also belonged to the Heritage Club at Kaw Valley Bank and was a former member of the Wamego Senior Center.

Carolyn worked with her sister in Kansas City as a waitress for a few years.  When Harold became ill, she went to work at the Wamego Locker Plant for several years wrapping meat, briefly at Dyers IGA and Dick’s Thriftway wrapping meat. She retired after working as a cook for Wamego USD 320.

Survivors include her husband Darrell of the home, daughter Linda Jolly of Wamego, son Don and his wife Terry of Glendale, AZ and one Sister-in-law Marilyn Smith of Chillicothe, Mo., plus several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Denver and wife Mildred Smith, Wendell and wife Frances Smith, Doyle and wife Maxine Smith and Jule Smith, and her sisters Freda and husband Ernest Maas and Inalee Miller and husband Bill Miller.

Visitation will be Tuesday, July 2^nd from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego.  Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 3^rd at 10:30 a.m. at Stewart Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Wamego City Cemetery.  In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the City of Wamego Christmas Light Fund or Valley Vista nursing home in Wamego and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.

Harold Facklam, 89, formerly of Junction City and at the time of his death Topeka, KS, passed away on May 23, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. Harold was born March 3, 1930 at the family home in the Alida community in Geary County. His is survived by his devoted wife of 68 ½ years, Venice Bellman Facklam whom he married on October 8, 1950.

Harold was a school teacher, farmer, and cattleman. After graduating from DCCHS in Chapman in 1947 he attended summer school at Kansas State and that fall, at age 17, started teaching school in a one-room school in rural Geary County. He returned to K-State the next year and then taught in one and two roomed schools in Geary and Dickinson Counties until 1959 when Harold accepted a teaching position in Junction City. He taught 21 years at Morris Hill Elementary on Fort Riley and later taught at Franklin Elementary where all four of his grandchildren attended. In 1984 Harold retired from teaching to focus on his cattle business.  From 1990 to 2007, Harold was a livestock market reporter for the USDA and responsible for the weekly livestock sales in Junction City and Salina and occasionally in Pratt.

Harold earned a Master’s degree in Education from Kansas State University in 1981.  He was President of the Junction City Education Association in 1966-67 and awarded Geary County Master Teacher in 1969. Harold served on the Alida-Pearl Co-Op Board, Geary County Extension Council, ASCS Board, Alida School Board and 4-H Leader. As a member of the Zion United Church of Christ, he served in leadership roles.

Harold was a dedicated blood donor and gave 32 gallons over 64 years. In March, 2017 this accomplishment was recognized by being honored with the Kansas Assisted Living Outstanding Citizenship Award.

Harold and Venice enjoyed traveling and were able to visit all 50 states and five countries. In the early years they camped with their daughters in the homemade camper on the back of the pick-up. Later they traveled with family and neighbors and made many friends on their bus and cruise travels.

In 2016, Harold and Venice moved to McCrite Plaza in Topeka. While living there he enjoyed making friends and entertaining residents and staff with his puzzles, contests and skits.

In addition to his wife, Venice, Harold is survived by daughters, Linda (Glen) Smith of Hoyt and Karen (John) Jameson of Junction City. Four grandchildren Shelley (Jeff) Grutsch Maple Hill, Todd (Michelle) Ross Ridgefield, WA, Christine (Matthew) Russell Hoyt, and Brandon (Amy) Jameson Newton, 12 great grandchildren; sister, Wanda Sowell, Aiea, Hawaii, two nephews and four nieces.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Facklam, Sr., and Christine Roediger Facklam, siblings, Albert Facklam and Marjorie Facklam.

A celebration of life memorial service will be 10:30 on July 5 at Zion United Church of Christ, 1811 McFarland Rd Junction City. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Zion UCC or McCrite Plaza, Topeka.