Erika Tighe, 95, passed away on April 23, 2019, at Geary Community Hospital surrounded by her family. She was born in Frankfurt, Germany on January 22, 1924, the daughter of Karl and Lucie (Methlow) Wilde.

Erika was born during one of Germany’s darkest times, and at the age of 19 was called out to leave her home to aid her country during time of war and stress. She became one of the young ladies that worked for the families and cared for the children of officers sent off to war. This was the beginning of the strong work ethics, courage and love that she carried with her throughout her entire life.

It was during this time she met the love of her life, a young American soldier, Joseph J. Tighe, who was serving his country. On May 16, 1950 Joseph and Erika were united in marriage at St. Ursula Kirche in Heidelberg, Germany. Then she began her life as a military wife. Her first trip to the United States landed her in Virginia Beach, Virginia and later in Colorado and Kansas. She and Joe loved Germany and signed up for numerous assignments to Aschaffenburg, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, and Ulm where all three of her children were born.

Erika had various jobs throughout her long life, but she was also a homemaker and dedicated her life to her family. She was known as “Grandma Erika and GiGi to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday or holiday, rarely missed a school event and always encouraged them be kind and do their best. Her generosity and joyfulness were never ending.

She was proud to live independently in her home and took great joy in sitting on her deck, tending her flowers, waving and watching the children walk to and from school each day. For years she could often be seen at the YMCA swimming, at South Park walking her dog or throughout the community with her family. She lived each day as she chose, and lived life to the fullest and never complained.

Erika delighted in travels with her children and grandchildren and attended all of their special events. Their annual ski trips, cruises and adventure parks trips were some of her favorite memories. In 2007 she traveled back to Germany and to her home town with her daughters and granddaughters. She para-sailed at 75 and rode a roller coaster down Peak 8 in Breckenridge at 90. She loved her many pets: parakeets, rescue dogs and cats and enjoyed supporting the local animal shelter and its programs. She was a KState Wildcat Football fan and enjoyed tailgating and attending the games for many years with her “Football Family”.

She is survived by her three children, Angie Greenwood (Steven Roesler) and Sylvia Wolf (Kelly), both of Junction City, Kansas, and Thomas Tighe (Danelle) of Midland, Michigan; five grandchildren, Shannon Greenwood (Jacob Zeka) and Nicole Greenwood of Manhattan, KS., Ryan Wolf (Kena) of Kansas City, MO., Petra Crosby (Marc) of Manhattan, KS. and Joshua Tighe of Midland, MI.; and eight great grandchildren; Grayson, Wesley, Beckham and Lennon Zeka, Kale and Kaden Wolf and Ayla and Kord Crosby and Carson and Reece Kraus and Livia Roesler who also proudly called her “Grandma Erika”.

Erika was preceded in death by her parents Karl and Lucy Wilde and her husband Joseph.

She is deeply loved by her family and made a huge impact on everyone of their lives. Her favorite saying was “Stay Happy and Healthy”. We were so blessed by having in our lives and she will be dearly missed.

Visitation will be held at Johnson Funeral Home, 203 N. Washington Street from 10:00 till 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 29, 2019. A Memorial Celebration will begin at 11:30. Family Inurnment will take place at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions have been designated to Friends of the Animals, P.O. Box 580 in Junction City KS.66441 and “Quality Play for All” (the remodeling of 5th Street Playground Park Phase II) P.O. Box 411 Junction City, Ks. 66441.

 

 

 

On a beautiful Easter afternoon, Sunday, April 21, 2019, the heavenly gates opened and welcomed Iris Rosemarie Williams 62, of Manhattan, KS, into the loving arms of her Savior.

Iris was born in Würzburg, Germany, on July 12, 1956, the beloved daughter of Angela Geb (Imhof) and Josef Karl Pasternak, both of whom preceded her in death. She graduated from Schönbornerhof High School and went on to Friedrich Dessauer College, both in Aschaffenburg, Germany, to study jewelry design.

On May 6, 1985, two hearts became one when she married the love of her life, John Richard Williams, in Oklahoma City, OK. Iris and John moved to Manhattan, KS, in 1990 where Iris worked at Kansas State University as a research assistant and later for The Eye Doctors for many years. She proudly became a United States citizen on March 28, 2014.

Iris and John enjoyed over 33 years of loving marriage and friendship along with their precious dog and light of Iris’ life, Sophie.

Iris had a special place in her heart for animals (especially dogs) and children; and they loved her in return. She was fondly referred to as The Dog Lady because she knew every dog in the neighborhood by name. She was known to buy rocks from neighborhood children who picked them from Iris’ own yard and wrapped them for her. Those may have been the best dollars ever spent.

She loved the outdoors, often taking pictures of the most ordinary things because she saw beauty everywhere. She had an amazing green thumb and could breathe life into even the most stubborn plant.

She attended various churches over her lifetime, but her heart resided with Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Iris is survived by her adoring husband, John; her two daughters, Korina and Nina Myers of Saint Helens, OR; dear brothers André and Boris Pasternak of Germany; stepson, Kenneth Williams of Davenport, FL; four grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; and a host of extended family and friends around the world.

Family will receive friends on Monday, April 29, 2019, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, 1317 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS.

A celebration of a life well lived will be held Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 831 Yuma Street, Manhattan, KS, with Pastor Anthony Williams officiating. Interment will immediately follow at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, 5181 Wildcat Creek Road, Manhattan, KS. Mourners may return to Pilgrim Baptist Church after the graveside service to share a delicious meal and fond memories of Iris.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Johnson Cancer Research Center, Kansas State University, 1 Chalmers Hall, 1711 Claflin Road, Manhattan, KS 66506-3901, and left in care of the funeral home.

Mary Ann (Montgomery) McCoy, 96, passed away April 20, 2019. She was born in Salina, KS on September 5, 1922, the daughter of William H. and Gertrude (Geis) Montgomery. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School there.

In 1944 she graduated with a degree in journalism from Kansas State College where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. During the remainder of World War II, she served as news editor of the Belleville (KS) Telescope, and then was a temporary instructor of journalism at Kansas State. She was married to John H. McCoy in Salina on April 24, 1950, and lived in Manhattan where her husband was a member of the Agricultural Economics faculty at K-State.

She was an active member of Seven Dolors parish and its Altar Society until 1981 and the beginning of St. Thomas More parish, where she and her late husband were among the founders. She was a member of the first school board of what is now Manhattan Catholic Schools, and active in the former St. Mary Hospital auxiliary, once serving as its president.

The McCoys moved to Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in 2002. Dr. McCoy passed away in 2008. Mary Ann was also preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Theresa (Tess).

Mrs. McCoy is survived by her four children – Mary Catherine Siegle (Frank) of Manhattan, Barbara Jordan of Medina, Ohio, John McCoy (Jennifer) of Wichita, KS, and Patrick McCoy (Jenice) of Manhattan. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and 2 step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation for Mrs. McCoy will take place at Carlon’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation on Friday April 26, from 6-8 pm with Rosary at 7pm. Funeral Service will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan, KS Saturday April 27 at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Elbo, KS.

Memorials are suggested to St. Thomas More Church, or Meadowlark Foundation for the Good Samaritan Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Carlson’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation.

Ingrid Ane Nelson, 72, passed away on April 17th, 2019 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House, surrounded by her family. Ingrid was born on October 15, 1946 in Omaha, Nebraska to John Holland Townsdin and Henrietta Amelia (Stevens) Townsdin. She grew up in the Townsdin family home in Jamestown, Kansas and graduated from Jamestown High School. She earned her B.A. from Marymount College and her M.A. in Education from Kansas State University. Ingrid began her teaching career in Salina, Kansas. She retired from Concordia Elementary School in 2005 after teaching elementary school for 27 years.

Ingrid was united in marriage to Larry M. Nelson on August 8, 1970 at the Church of the Epiphany in Concordia, Kansas. She married into the Elwin and Gladys Nelson family of 19 siblings and loved the adventure and joy of gaining 9 Nelson brother-in-laws and 9 sister-in-laws.

Ingrid was a loving wife and mother, a dedicated elementary school teacher, a creative soul, and a beloved Oma to her five grandchildren. She spent her retirement years sharing her love of learning with her grandchildren and encouraging their passions. She also enjoyed traveling, gardening, and creating family history books. Ingrid was a nurturer and a navigator – and her presence in her family members’ daily lives will be missed tremendously.

Ingrid was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Stevens J Townsdin.

Ingrid is survived by her husband of 48 years, Larry M. Nelson of Manhattan, KS; her daughter, Erika Knopp and her husband Ryan of Manhattan, KS; her son, Chris Nelson and his wife Michelle of Overland Park, KS; her five beloved grandchildren, Amelia, Landon, and Allison Knopp, and Connor and Rachel Nelson; and many Townsdin and Nelson nieces and nephews.

Ingrid was a faithful member of the Church of the Epiphany in Concordia, Kansas for 46 years and an active member and volunteer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, KS.

A memorial service celebrating Ingrid’s life will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at 10:00 A.M. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan, Kansas, with the Very Reverend A. Patrick Funston officiating. The family will receive friends at a luncheon following the service. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Children’s Fund or The Good Shepherd Hospice House. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.

Daniel Joseph Bailey, 69, of Manhattan, KS, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Daniel was born in Manhattan, KS on November 16, 1949, a son of the late Edith (Jennings) and Max Bailey.

On May 4, 1991, he married Barbara Dennis.

Daniel was a truck driver for 52 years, 6 of those years were at Roadmaster.

He played in several country and rock and roll bands over the years, a few were the Kopi Katz, The Dawns and Standing Room Only. He played lead guitar and bass guitar.

Daniel is survived by his wife Barbara, two daughters, Konii Thomas, and Shirley Dennis, three sons Seth Bailey, Shandon Bailey, and Sean Bailey, a sister, Danise McMillen, three brothers, Daryl Bailey, Dawayne Bailey, and Dave Bailey; 15 Grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren

He is preceded in death by his parents Edith and Max Bailey, his sister Dana Bailer, and his brother Darian Bailey. He also leaves behind cousins and many, many friends.

A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the Green Valley Community Center. 3770 Green Valley Rd. Manhattan, KS.

The family requests any donations be directed to Good Shepherd Home Care and Hospice 3801 Vanesta Dr. Manhattan, Kansas 66503 or St Jude’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Carlson’s Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home and Cremation.