Minnis Chapel Inc

01/03/2026

Raymond Gene Kinsey, 83, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital on Jan. 2, 2026. Cremation will take place and services will be scheduled at a later time. Full obituary to come.

The loss of a loved one can leave you with a lot of unanswered questions, feelings of stress and anxiety and grief that makes events difficult to handle. The experienced funeral directors at Minnis Chapel Inc. will guide you through the aspects of the funeral service with compassion, dignity and res...

12/24/2025

Ellinwood, KS

Elaine Frances Wendel, 65, passed away at Ellinwood District Hospital on Dec. 23, 2025. Born in Great Bend, KS on Nov. 4, 1960 to parents Frank A. Jr. and Margaret Cecelia (Bahr) Wendel. A graduate of Ellinwood High School in 1979, Barton Co. Community College in 1981, and last Kansas State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Admin. After college she worked as a Medical Tech at Hutchinson Hospital. Later she worked as an accountant for H & B Petroleum, Turner & Boisseau Law Firm, Turner Farms, and ASCS in St. John, KS. Memberships include St. Joseph Catholic Church and Altar society, Ellinwood Historical Society, and Ellinwood Heritage Club. Elaine also was a longtime blood donor.

Survivors include many Cousins on both sides; Nephews John and Daniel Csencsits, Phoenix, AZ; Niece, Denise Csencsits, Phoenix, AZ; Sister, Dorothy (Ron) Ochnser, Oregon. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents and Sister, Lois Csencsits and Brother-in-law, John Csencsits.

Memorial Mass will take place 10:30 AM, Tues., Dec. 30th at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ellinwood, KS with Father Aneesh Parappanattu and Father Pascal Klein officiating. Inurnment will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood, KS. Visitation will take place 3-7 PM, Mon., Dec. 29th with Altar Society Rosary at 3 PM at Minnis Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Heritage Club Senior Center or American Cancer Society in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

12/23/2025

Ellinwood, KS

Elaine Frances Wendel, 65, passed away on Dec. 23, 2025 at Ellinwood Hospital. Services are pending.

12/14/2025

Ellinwood, KS
Lucky Malone Baker, 26, passed away on Dec. 13, 2025 in Ellinwood, KS. Born in Great Bend, KS on Apr. 15, 1999 he was the son of Greggory and Susan Baker. A lifetime Ellinwood resident Lucky attended Ellinwood HS graduating in 2017 where he went on to work as a mechanic.

Survivors include parents, Greggory and Susan (Ramsey) Baker; siblings, Bob Baker, Michael Baker, Chance Baker, Destin Baker, Heratio Baker, and Layla Baker. Additional survivors include 6 nieces and 3 nephews. Lucky was preceded in death by grandparents, William and Irene Baker; Uncles, Howard Baker and Dewayne Mick; and Aunt, Verna Collins.

Memorial service will take place 10:30 AM, Thurs., Dec. 18th at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood, KS with Rev. Kenton Abbott officiating. There will be no visitation or inurnment. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to funeral expenses in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. Condolences may be left at www.minnischapel.org

12/06/2025

Ellinwood, KS
Sherry Ann Littrel, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Dec. 5th, 2025. Born on May 23, 1940 in Marshall, MO she was the daughter of Frances (Summers) and George VanSteenburg. She worked as a Dispatcher for Transport Express in Dodge City, KS and former member of Nazarene Church in Dodge City, KS. Sherry married Billy Littrel at St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood on Sept. 13, 1957. They were married for over 60 years before he passed away Aug. 8th, 2018. She was also preceded in death by son, Dudley Eugene Littrel Jan. 22,2020; and brother in law, Robert Littrel.

Survivors include son, Shawn Edward Littrel, Newton, KS; daughter, Tina Marie Branscom, Turon, KS; 19 grandchildren & 27 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson.

Funeral service will take place at Cavalry Baptist Church in Ellinwood, KS 10:00 AM on Thurs., Dec. 11th with Pastor Tom Walters officiating. Interment will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood, KS. Visitation will take place Wed., Dec. 10th from 1-7 PM with family present from 5-7PM. Memorials are suggested to Cavalry Baptist Church, Ellinwood in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526.

12/05/2025

Ellinwood, KS

Sherry Ann Littrel passed away on December 5th, 2025 surrounded by loved ones. Services will be scheduled soon with full obituary to come.

11/05/2025

Ellinwood, KS
Catherine JoAnn Wyatt, 94, passed away at home in rural Ellinwood, KS on Nov. 4, 2025. Born on June 20, 1931 in Kansas City, KS she was the daughter of Edward Chester and Violet Edna (Pate) Hoffman. She married Clifford E. Gray in 1951 and later Roger L. Wyatt in 1974. Catherine worked as a monitor at Easton Bus Service in Leavenworth County, Kansas. A resident of Ellinwood since 2020 she was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Ellinwood, KS.

Survivor includes son, Carl E. Gray Ellinwood, KS. Catherine was preceded in death by husbands, Clifford E. Gray and later Roger L. Wyatt; son, Clifford E. Gray; and daughter, Cathy M. Rieken.

Private graveside services will take place at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Association or American Heart Association in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. Condolences may be left at www.minnischapel.org

11/01/2025

Curtis Norman Schmidt, 85, passed away in Ellinwood, KS on October 31, 2025. Born January 28, 1940 in Great Bend, KS to parents Edward C. and Shirley E. (Sutton) Schmidt. Curtis attended Rural Banner then graduated from Chase High School in 1958 soon after he joined the United States Marines where he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego for 5 years. Curtis worked construction in CA and TX. Later he worked abroad in Saudi Arabia for a year and Haiti for two years also in construction. Curtis later spent 5 years working for Dowell. In Kansas he worked 30 years at feedlots in Ellinwood, St. John, and Pratt. A resident of Pratt for 10 years he moved to Ellinwood in 2018 where he always had a friendly wave and enjoyed spending time at the American Legion and Senior Center with close friends.

Curtis loved riding/roping and working with horses. He was a horseman through and through and was an expert at cutting cattle on horseback. Memberships include American Legion member since 1964 in Great Bend, Pratt, and Ellinwood and Odin Saddle Club.

Survivors include Siblings, Margaret Snyder, Choctaw, OK, Debby (Larry) Steffan, Chase, KS, Doug (Michelle) Schmidt, Garden City, KS, Denice (James) Sledd, Chase, KS and numerous Nieces and Nephews. He was preceded in death by his Parents; Son, Curtis Schimidt Jr (2019); Sister, Martha Kassin; and Brother in law, Byron Snyder.

Graveside service with military honors will take place 11 AM, Saturday, November 8th at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood, KS with Pastor Samuel Ryan officiating. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Ellinwood Food Bank or American Legion Post #320 in care of Minnis Chapel, Po Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. Condolences may be left at www.minnischapel.org

10/21/2025

Call for an appointment or stop by to grab your complimentary planner or to check out our selection of granite monuments and headstones.

09/20/2025

Ellinwood, KS
Jerry Lee Oberle, 61, died tragically on Sept. 18, 2025 in Ellinwood, KS. Born in Great Bend, KS on June 29, 1964 he was the son of Lawrence Eugene and Sharon Kay (Juby) Oberle. A lifetime Ellinwood resident Jerry graduated from Ellinwood High School in 1982 and worked in the oil field, for TNT Transport, and for Jeff's Body Shop in Ellinwood. Jerry played softball and enjoyed hunting specifically Archery. He competed in Archery Shoots and was a past member of Ellinwood Archery Club.
Survivors include siblings Larry Oberle, Geneseo, KS, Cindy Fothergill, Ellinwood, KS, Toni (Jeff) Hicks, Ellsworth, KS, Vickie Hoffman, Ellinwood, KS. Jerry also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and Grandparents George & Edna Oberle and sister in law Tamra Oberle.
Memorial service will be Sat., Oct. 4th 10:00 AM at Minnis Chapel in Ellinwood. Inurnment will follow at Lakin-Comanche Cemetery in Ellinwood, KS. Memorials are suggested towards Funeral Expenses, Minnis Chapel, PO Box 246, Ellinwood, KS 67526. Condolences may be left at

09/05/2025

Melvin Urban - Homily

09/03/2025

Cheryl Marie (Meier) Isern, age 62, of Ellinwood, KS, unexpectedly passed away on her family’s farmland on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025.

She was born on October 4th, 1962 in Claflin, to Lowell “Red” Meier and Carolin Sue (Redding) Meier, where she grew up and attended high school. After school, Cheryl went to work for Garvey Elevator (later Gavilon Grain) where she would meet her husband Carl and continue to work off and on for 30+ years. Cheryl is survived by Carl, her husband, her “rock” of nearly 40 years; whose love kept her going all these years, their children Christopher (Morgan) Isern, CayLee Isern, Cody (Anna) Isern, and her beloved grandchildren Warren and Isla. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Byron and Rick, and her dear cat Clyde.

Despite her battle with depression, Cheryl was the best at making others feel loved. She was always the first to send a heartfelt, handwritten card or pick out a thoughtful keepsake and she truly found her calling as a mother and as “Grandma Cherlos.” No one was a stranger to Cheryl, as she welcomed everyone with a place to stay, a home cooked meal, and her genuine friendship. She loved hosting for her family and friends, especially during tailgates for the K-State Wildcats. She and Carl loved to travel and adventure together, whether it be near or far, with family or friends, to a concert or a football game.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, September 6th at 10:30 AM at St. John Lutheran Church. Following, friends and family are invited to celebrate Cheryl’s life at the Ellinwood American Legion. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Humane Society, and St. John Child Development Center.