Wichita -- Earnest R. Stramel, 82, died Friday, December 22, 2006. He was born April 4, 1924 at Nonchalanta, the son of John L. and Lena Stegman Stramel. A Wichita resident since 1984, moving from Dodge City.

On March 10, 1948 he married Eva Eiring at Clayton, N.M. He later married Bonnie Howlett on June 10, 1988 at Las Vegas, Nev. She survives.

He served his country in the United States Navy during WWII as Seaman First Class, and he was self-employed throughout his life. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Wichita, and a lifetime member of Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714, Dodge City.

Other survivors include two sons, Phillip Stramel and wife Karen, Hays, and Jeffery Stramel, Pinconning, Mich.; four daughters, Carol Ryan and husband, Thomas, Brownell, Ruth Barnard, Payson, Ariz., Nancy Brown, Garfield, and Laura Niederee and husband Michael, Winfield; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Steven L. Stramel and Ronald D. Stramel, six brothers and six sisters.

Vigil Service will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Jetmore, with Rev. Dwaine Lampe presiding. Funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the church with Rev. Ted Stoecklein presiding. Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore with military rites by Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714. Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Wichita, St. Francis Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Wichita, and St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Jetmore, in care of Burkhart-Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, KS 67801.

Dodge City Daily Globe, 12/26/2006

Note: Nonchalanta is a ghost town in Ness County, Kansas. It is located approximately 16 miles southwest of Ness City.