Death Notices and Obituaries
Leon Richert
Leon Eugene Richert, 74, died Aug. 12, 2004, at Cedars Health Care Center, McPherson.
Born Oct. 14, 1929, at McPherson, he was the son of Emil and Effie (Jantz) Richert.
He attended Marion County schools and graduated from Lehigh High School.
On Oct. 24, 1951, he married Violet May Becker at Wichita.
He worked as a farmer, a truck driver for Paul Bandy, and in the oil field. He was a welder for Donahue Corporation in Durham, and had been a maintenance worker for the John Deere company in McPherson.
He served in the U.S. Army as a private first class. He also served in the Army National Guard as a corporal.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Delores Richert.
Survivors include his wife, Violet of McPherson; two daughters, Virginia Schmidt of McPherson and Carolyn Funk of Inman; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, McPherson, with the Rev. Tom Robson officiating.
Burial was in McPherson Cemetery with full military honors by members of VFW Post 2715 and American Legion Post 24.
Memorials have been established with First Presbyterian Church or Hospice Care of Kansas.
Earl Madsen
Earl Madsen, 72, died Aug. 12, 2004, at Newton Medical Center.
Born Dec. 26, 1931, near Peabody, he was the son of Niels and Mary Ethel (Wilber) Madsen.
On July 31, 1955, he married Mary Ann Swinhart at Peabody. She died in 2003.
He was a farmer and carpenter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four brothers, and a sister.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Melanie Madsen of Lynchburg, Va.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Beth and Dean Hein of rural Hillsboro and Michele and Randy O'Neal of Peabody; two brothers, Willard Madsen of Lakeland, Fla., and Arthur Madsen of Abilene; two sisters, Vernie Hess and Eddie Hiebert, both of Abilene; six grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Monday at Peabody Christian Church with Pastor Jim Pohlman officiating.
Burial was in Prairie Lawn Cemetery.
A memorial fund was established with Peabody Park.
John Ewert
John L. Ewert, 84, died Aug. 16, 2004, at Hillsboro Community Medical Center, Hillsboro.
Born Jan. 9, 1920, at Main Center, Saskatchewan, he was the son of Jacob and Anna (Wiebe) Ewert.
On Oct. 22, 1943, he married Amanda Deckert at Marion, S.D.
Ewert was a Tabor College registrar and member of Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church.
Survivors include his wife, Amanda of Hillsboro; a son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Ruth Ewert of Wichita; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rachel and Steven Behrends of Overland Park and Eldora and Richard Penner of McPherson; a brother, Albert Ewert of Dinuba, Calif.; two sisters, Leona Ewert of Mountain Lake, Minn., and Elsie Groening of Hillsboro; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Mennonite Church, Hillsboro, with Pastor Dave Plett officiating.
Burial was in Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Cemetery.
Memorial funds have been established with Tabor College, World Impact, and Celebrate Hope.
