Obituaries

Harold Travelute

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Harold Travelute, of Hanover, died March 2, 2024, in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was born Dec. 31, 1928, in Marysville to Lawrence and Carlene Travelute. He went to Deer Creek grade school and graduated from Marysville High School with the Class of 1947.

Hershell Eaton

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Hershell Edward Eaton (December 27, 1951 February 26, 2024) passed away at his home in Barnes, KS, comfortably and at peace. Hershell was born in LaFayette, Georgia, to Billie and Pauline (neé Bowman) Eaton and was raised in Houston, Texas, with his siblings, JD, Sheila, Deborah, Tony, and Randy. In adulthood, Hershell resided in Ider, Alabama, Chickamauga, Georgia, San Jose, California, and Reno, Nevada, before retiring to the State of Kansas, and settling in Barnes.

Betty Kastl

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Betty Arlene (Lalman) Kastl died March 4, 2024, at Washington County Hospital. Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 8, 2024 at Ward Funeral Home in Washington.

Julie Goeckel

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Julie F. Goeckel, 62, of Hanover, died March 2, 2024, at the Hanover Long Term Care.

Kenneth Stettnisch

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Kenneth Gene Stettnisch, 91, Barnes, died Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Mo., of BRCA-type cancer.

Michelle Hynek

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Michelle Lee Hynek, 49, a woman of unwavering strength and grace, passed away on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, surrounded by an enormous amount of love and her family by her side. Michelle courageously battled cancer, defying all odds for over four years with a resilience and determination that inspired everyone fortunate enough to witness her journey. She was born on March 13, 1974, to Janis (Hogue) O’Bryan and Larry Hynek in Manhattan. She spent early years across Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Jersey and Illinois. She graduated from Lincoln Way High School in Frankfort, Ill. in 1992, later attending the University of Illinois before going to California in 1994. She remained in Southern California for the rest of her life, except for the one year she spent in Italy in 1997, where she worked as a fit model. She was one of LA’s top shoot producers in the entertainment industry. For more than 20 years she worked for Zach Crawford of Crawford & Co. He quickly became her mentor and her family as they worked together until the very end. In 2010 she met her husband, Will Nitch sharing so many of the same interests and passions. Together they had two beautiful children, Billy, age 9, and Stevie, age 6. She is survived by her husband, William Nitch; children, Billy and Stevie Nitch, Woodland Hills, CA. Her mother, Janis (Mark) O’Bryan, Carrolton, TX; step-mother Cindy (Jones) Hynek, Barnes; mother and father in law, Bill and Missy Nitch, Greenville, PA; sister, Kara (Jared) Sedlacek, Hanover, brothers, Brent (Jenny) Hynek, Barnes, Ryker (Sandra) Exum, Carrolton, TX, and Marc Hynek, Kansas City, MO, step brother, Mark O’Bryan Jr., Plano, TX, step sister, Alyson O’Bryan, Frisco, TX; brother-in law, Nathan (Jeanette) Nitch, Austintown, OH, and her grandparents, Pansy and Walt Rudolph, Blue Rapids, and Vic and Jan Jones, Waterville.

Benjamin Berger

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Benjamin Berger, age 43, of Barnes, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.

Leonard Bartels

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On Feb. 12, 2024, Leonard Dean Bartels went to be with the Lord. Leonard was 83 years and 2 days old. His body just wore out and God said, “Come home.” Leonard was born on Feb. 10, 1941, in Herkimer, Kan., to William and Viola Bartels.