Larned- Joan E. Molleker, 72, passed away September 4, 2020 at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, Wichita.
She was born May 5, 1948 in St. Francis, KS. the daughter of Amil Earnest and Jessie Marguerite Morlan Stunkel.
An area resident since May of 1980, she was a legal secretary for Smith, Burnett and Larson. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned Music Club, PVCH Auxiliary and a volunteer at the Budget Shop. She was an active church member where she played the organ and piano. She was also an avid reader and very well informed on a multiple array of subjects including religion and she loved her grandchildren and her newest great granddaughter very much.
On Feb 28, 1986 she married Jacques Molleker in Larned; He survives.
Other survivors include: three sons, Scott (Sherry) Upson, Larned, KS, Blake (Jonna) Upson, Syracuse, KS, Eric (Tanya) Molleker, Valley Center, KS; two daughters, Jackie (Steve) Ehrlich, Woodbridge, VA, Tiffany (Jeff) Burris, Larned, KS; two brothers, Larry Stunkel, Hutchinson, KS and Royce Stunkel, Broken Arrow, OK; thirteen grandchildren, Corrie Upson, Connor Upson, Cadee Upson, Cammy Upson, Harleigh Ehrlich, Reaghan Burris, Mason Burris, Gabriel Upson, Garrett Upson, Gunnar Upson, Baileigh Upson, Kaidin Upson, Lennox Molleker and one great granddaughter, Chandler Burris.
She was preceded in death by a son, Wesley Paul Molleker.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned and live streamed via facebook live, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Vigil and Rosary service will be 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 8, 2020 with visitation from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery, Larned.
Memorials may be given to the Religious Education Endowment at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, KS. 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com
DATELINE: JOHNSON, KS David Randolph Taylor Junior was a big, strong man with a tender heart. He was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1955 on February 17th. David died on March 9, 2025, after a fierce battle with Anaplastic thyroid cancer. David was born to David... [More]
Susan Lynn Barker, 67, died Monday, March 3, 2025, at The Ranch House in Garden City, Kansas. She was born July 9, 1957, in Iola, Kansas the daughter to George Ernest Mapes & Doris Louise Cuppy. Susan was born in Iola and relocated to Colorado during her childhood, where... [More]
With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Larry Lee Hirsch Sr., who left us on February 24, 2025, at the age of 81. He passed at his son’s home, with family members present. He was in the care of Hand in Hand Hospice of Emporia, Kansas. ... [More]
Daryle Wayne Lewis was born on January 5, 1945, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to George Woodrow Lewis and Juanita (Evins) Lewis. He was raised on the family farm northwest of Syracuse that was homesteaded by his Grandfather. He lived in a sod house until the age of ten, with... [More]
Orin Grant Florence, Sr. passed away February 13, 2025, at the Greeley County Long Term Care in Tribune, Kansas. He was the son of Ernest Miles Florence and Cecil Dale (Hill) Florence. He was born July 7, 1942 in Hugoton, Kansas. Orin began his life in Hugoton and grew... [More]
A celebration of life for longtime Lamar, Colorado resident, Sharlleen R. Swisher will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church. Interment will follow at the Sheridan Lake Cemetery. Sharlleen Ruth Jensen Swisher... [More]
Wade Henry Dewey, 58, passed away on January 25, 2025 in Wichita, Ks. He was born on November 15, 1966 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He enjoyed working with his hands, he was a skilled mechanic and enjoyed wood working. He was also a champion dirt track racer. Wade lived the nomad... [More]
James “JD” Rice A graveside celebration of life for lifelong Holly resident James Dale Rice, affectionately known to his family and friends as JD will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Garber Cemetery... [More]
The Hi-Plains League has announced recipients of all-league basketball honors. The selection process begins when individual coaches submit names. The players are then voted on by the other HPL coaches. However, coaches may not vote on their own players. Syracuse High School... [More]
Small but Mighty! That is the name high school Head Cheerleading Coach, Marcos Valadez put on the 2024-2025 squad last summer, “We may not have the numbers, but our team has overcome adversity and is always stepping up to the challenge.” Proving this, the Syracuse... [More]
The Syracuse Bulldogs Ladies Varsity Golf Team took first at their season opener in Stanton County on Tuesday afternoon. They shot a team score of 207 at the Prairie Pines Golf Course in Johnson. The varsity team is Lanee Owens, Bronwyn Lewis, Sammy Schwieterman, Maddy... [More]
Qualifying members of the high school track team traveled to Hill City Thursday, May 16 to compete in the 2-A regional meet against 15 teams, Ellinwood, Ellis, Hill City, Hoxie, Lincoln, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Stanton County, Sublette, Thomas... [More]
The Syracuse High School boys golf team battled breezy conditions on Monday May 13 competing in the 2-A Regional meet on their own Tamarisk Golf Course. Adjusting to windy conditions and competing at home paid off for the Bulldogs Monday, placing second, qualifying... [More]
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]
The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]
Syracuse Bulldogs power lifting successful season is ending with nine athletes qualifying for the state meet Saturday, March 29 in Conway Springs at 9:00 AM CT, 8:00 AM MT. Qualifying are Natalia Figueroa, Stella Simon, Deena Rochat, Angel Peralta, Angel Ramirez, Will Roberts,... [More]
Scams. Hackers. They are everywhere. They call your phone, text a simple hi, email you from what looks like a reasonable business. They are out for your money or your identity. We often think they get other people, not us. Local resident Ronna Simon is exasperated.... [More]
On Friday night, the stands were filled with students, parents, and spectators out to enjoy homecoming against the Sublette Larks. The pep rally started off the afternoon with contests and games to get the students excited. The JH Pep Band played, the cheerleaders performed,... [More]
If you think you have seen a little spaceship on the streets around town, you are not alone. Many of us have wondered what this new contraption is and how it works. According to City Administrator, Brian Bloyd, it is the new Ravo R5 street sweeper. “This replaces... [More]
In the last year and a half, Dairy Specialists has grown from working with three dairies to 15, and they have quickly outgrown their space. They found a larger facility in Ulysses with 12 acres that is centrally located to the dairies they service. No employees have to... [More]
Scot Schwieterman has been involved in farming his entire life. “I learned how to farm while working for my family. Growing up, I developed a passion for it.” In 2018, YO Farms was established with hay, forage, and row crop farming. Scot’s eagerness... [More]
Looking for a way to serve the community? Looking to expand your knowledge base? Maybe you want to be on the front lines helping others? Maybe becoming a first responder is in your future. Hamilton County EMS Director Alan Hanson is putting on an Emergency Medical Responder... [More]
Many may remember as a kid playing with Hot Wheels, building a town, using items from around the house for buildings, or perhaps building a town outside in the dirt. But it is the kid with farming roots that added fences made from sticks, pulled grass and put in the fence for... [More]
Happy Spring! Happy warm temperatures. Happy sunshine without extreme wind days! It is supposed to be 88 degrees today and tomorrow. Doesn’t that sun feel good? And how wild that a week ago there was still snow on the ground. It may sound crazy but I appreciate the... [More]
Does anyone remember the short story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry? It is one of my favorites. If I recall correctly, the couple sells their most treasured possessions to secretly buy each other Christmas gifts. Again it has been many years since I read the story, but... [More]
It’s a snowy February day here in western Kansas as I write my column before it heads to print. We had a couple of inches of beautiful snow to blanket our area with white. However the farmers are disappointed that there wasn’t any moisture in it. As always,... [More]
It is an icy, foggy winter morning, a far cry from the 82 degree sunny day we had just a couple of days ago. While the weather in western Kansas can be baffling, I enjoy the variances. It makes every day exciting. What will happen next? I feel like that is the climate... [More]
It’s the end of January 2025. I spent a couple nights trading shifts with my husband watching one of our ewes waiting for a lamb. She gave birth on Tuesday afternoon on a beautiful, sunny, 50 degree day. She had a long, hard labor but was blessed with... [More]
Happy mid-January! I am not excited for the below zero temperatures coming as we are waiting on a lamb to deliver her baby. We thought she was close the other night. My husband and I traded off checking every couple of hours. It was a long night with little sleep. It was... [More]
It is Tuesday morning and I am scrambling to get things finished for this week’s paper to go out. With the National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, post offices are closed on Thursday. We were able to move printing to Tuesday morning to publish Wednesday.... [More]
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2025! Well it’s New Years Eve as I write this lol. It is the 140th year of The Syracuse Journal and my fifth year as editor. For someone who was always on the road, the only roots as a vagabond, I think it’s cool that I landed... [More]
©2025 The Syracuse Journal. Powered by Pluto Sites.