Obituaries

POTWIN - Ike was born on January 6, 1943, the son of Luther and Pauline Campbell in Warsaw, Indiana. He was adopted by Edgar and Rosalie (Meschberger) Thiessen when he was 13 years old. He graduated from Berean Academy Class of 1961 and attended Grace Bible Institute. It was at Grace that Ike met Donna McCullough, whom he married on June 6, 1964 - they were married for 31 years. Ike first worked as a farm laborer, then worked at Brainerd Feed Supply, Whitewater Mill and retired from the State of Kansas as a GMRT2. In his leisure time Ike worked hard and took training to be able to serve as a Sheriff’s reserve officer which he enjoyed immensely. Ike was also an active member of the Butler County Emergency Preparedness Division 1, where he spent hours storm spotting whenever or wherever needed - Ike was always willing to help others. Family was very important to Ike and he enjoyed spending time with them especially in the outdoors as he enjoyed nature so very much. Ike enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren in whatever activities they chose to do. Music was also a big part of Ike’s life; he enjoyed sitting and listening to“his music” and he also enjoyed watching his favorite movies. In his younger days Ike enjoyed hunting and fishing and also played a lot of softball and basketball.

NEWTON - Phyllis V. “Vel” Swarts 80, died December 2, 2021 at Paramount Health and Rehab in Newton. She was born March 29, 1941 in Florence, Kansas to Ira R. and Margaret L. (Collins) Kelsheimer. She attended Florence Schools and was retired as a cafeteria food service worker at the St. Mary School Cafeteria where she cared for many children through the years.

GOESSEL, KANSAS - Linda Friesen Deasy, of Goessel, Kansas passed away on Friday, December 3, 2021, at Bethesda Home at the age of ninety-nine. She was born on February 8, 1922, in Goessel, KS, the daughter of Daniel B. and Suzie (Goertzen) Friesen.

Steven (Steve) Ray Wilson, 75, passed away on November 28, 2021. Steve was born August 17, 1946 in Newton, Kansas. He was the first son of Woodrow Francis Wilson and Nina Mae Brill Wilson. Steve attended Newton High School and went on to study structural engineering at Kansas State University.

James Brice McClure, aged 71, went home to meet his Lord and Savior on November 19, 2021. Jim was born in 1950 to Gladys and Glen McClure in Newton, KS. He had one sister, Virginia. He was a rambunctious child that loved mischief and often tested his family’s patience, but also loved to draw, paint and sculpt. As a young man he traveled across the Midwest helping with the Wheat Harvest each year, then later became a door-to-door vacuum salesman before eventually working for John Hancock Life Insurance. He worked there for several years, traveling across the country and even overseas as one of their top salesmen. However, the most pride he took from his job wasn’t his status, but his ability to help people. He had a keen sense of money and finance, and used this talent to help several families not only prepare for the unexpected, but also went out of his way to make sure they were never shortchanged or financially burdened in their time of loss. Later, he became a financial advisor, continuing to help people prepare for the future, before finally retiring in Halstead, KS. After the sudden death of his only son, Ben, at only 20 yrs old, Jim became closer to God and would often travel to Wichita and play his harmonica for anyone who would listen. He also cared deeply for the homeless and would donate his time or money whenever he could. He had one son and three daughters whom he loved dearly. He will be most remembered for his caring and giving heart that extended beyond his family to anyone in need, and will be deeply missed by all.