Leroy Virgil Hovorka, born to Joseph & Alice (Lebeda) Hovorka on August 14, 1933, died on February 10, 2026 in Wellington, Kansas at the age of 92. Leroy married Wilma D. Jelinek on October 12, 1960 at her folk’s home. They had two children, Jennifer Renee and Wesley Alan. Leroy lived with his parents East of Caldwell and went to the Alton School. They then moved West of Caldwell in 1943 and he attended the Belleview School. Leroy graduated from Caldwell High School with t

Leon Francis Fortmeyer, 85 of Medford, Oklahoma, passed away on January 1, 2026, in his lifelong home of pancreatic cancer. Born on March 7, 1940, in Caldwell, KS to Albert and Mary Magdalen Fortmeyer, Leon graduated from Caldwell High School in 1958 and was honorably discharged after serving 6 years in the United States Army Reserves.  Leon worked and lived on the family farm his entire life. He especially enjoyed raising cattle and adored his Siberian husky Rin. In 1977 he

Dennis Joseph Fortmeyer, 80, of Medford, Oklahoma, passed away on January 1, 2026, in his home of cardiac arrhythmia and congestive heart failure.  Born on March 31, 1945, in Enid, Oklahoma to Albert and Mary Magdalen Fortmeyer. Denny completed three years of high school at St. Francis de Sales seminary, his senior year at Caldwell Public HS, graduating in 1963. That was followed with a BS in Elementary Education from St. Mary’s of the Plains in Dodge City, KS  and a master’

Jeannette “Sue” Schlottog, 70, of Caldwell, Kansas passed away on January 29, 2026 in Wichita, Kansas. Sue was born on March 6, 1955 in Enid, Oklahoma to Eugene and Viola (Bartley) Schlottog. Sue was welcomed to the family by her sister, Barbara and brothers, Garry and Charles.   Sue grew up on the family farm outside Corbin. She attended her early years at the school in Corbin and upon its closing, she transferred to the Caldwell school system. Sue graduated from Caldwell

Jordyn Denae Swift, 31, passed away January 27, 2026, in Wichita, KS. Jordyn was born November 8, 1994, in Liberal, KS. As a young girl she enjoyed travelling with her Papa, Dennis Thompson, and Lesta. They were regular visitors to Branson, MO, taking in the shows. She was on stage many times as a volunteer, sometimes by herself and other times with other families. Besides Branson, her travels with her Papa took her and her Momma to places such as the Grand Canyon and Las V

Merry Murdock passed away January 27, 2026, in Conway Springs, KS at the Spring View Manor Nursing Home at the age of 92. She was born on September 18, 1933, in Blackwell, OK. She grew up in South Haven, KS where her parents owned the local grocery store. She lived for the last 57 years of her life in Caldwell, KS, married to Clifford Murdock. She had worked many jobs over the years. She was a great cook, putting that talent into working as the Dietary Supervisor at the Cal

Hazel Lorene Sandell, lovingly known as “Tuffy,” passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the age of 96, at Beaver City Manor in Beaver City, Nebraska. Hazel was born April 9, 1929, in Harper County, Kansas, to Conrad and Opal (Sevier) Kollmorgen. She grew up on a farm west of Caldwell, Kansas and learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and devotion to family. Hazel attended country school and later attended Caldwell High School, completing her sophomore