Brent Wayne Nemechek
Brent Wayne Nemechek, 74, of Garden City, passed away on September 7, 2024.
Born on July 3, 1950, in Tribune, Brent was the son of Bernard and Joyce Nemechek. He graduated from Greeley County School in Tribune in 1968 and earned his degree from Fort Hays State University in 1972. On May 22, 1971, he married Bethany Eaton, and together they enjoyed 53 years of marriage, raising two children, Amy and Nick.
Brent, a quiet jokester, loved to bring laughter to those around him. His playful nature was evident in the many ways he enjoyed teasing his family, such as his favorite prank of squealing into the garage as fast as he could, only stopping inches from the back wall—a moment that always caused many gasps, laughter from the kids, but left Beth not thinking it was that funny.
Brent was a devoted father and grandfather, and he was known for his loving and creative nicknames for his family. His children and grandchildren were affectionately known as Vern, Doug-nuts, Princess, Rye-dog, Haydo the Tomato, Harpster, and Little Stinks. These endearing names were a reflection of his deep love and the special bond he shared with each of them.
Brent spent many enjoyable hours fishing with his friend Jack, finding peace and camaraderie by the water. He also had an appreciation for a good bourbon and water, often enjoying a glass in the company of family and friends. Brent’s legacy is one of joy, laughter, and deep affection for his family. His playful spirit will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
He is survived by his wife, Bethany Nemechek; his children, Amy (Pete) Michalczyk of Parker, Colorado, and Nick (Jenifer) Nemechek of Garden City; his grandchildren, Addison, Rylee, Hayden, Harper, and Hadley; his sister, Trudy (John) Thornburn of Buffalo, Wyoming; his brother, Blake (Carmelle) Nemechek of Colorado Springs; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Joyce Nemechek.
A celebration of life will be held at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City at 11:00 AM CST on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Memorials contributions are suggested to St. Catherine Hospice of Garden City in Brent’s honor.
OBITUARIES
Pauline (Finkenbinder) Fecht
Pauline (Finkenbinder) Fecht passed away at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the age of 94. She was born in Garden City on July 19, 1931, to Paul Harden Finkenbinder and Amy Clyde (Kellum) Finkenbinder, who were long-time residents of Syracuse.... [More]
Ivan Earl Parks
Longtime Goodland resident Ivan Earl Parks, 95, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at the Greeley Long Term Care Facility in Tribune. Ivan was born on February 22, 1931, in Stockton to Earl and Pearl (South) Parks. He attended school in Stockton through the 8th grade.... [More]
Carl Levi Evans
Carl Levi Evans, age 42, passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. He was born on August 5, 1983, to Carl Albert and Synthia Lynne Evans in Tribune. He was a dedicated husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and... [More]
David Northrup
David Northrup passed away on April 9, 2026. Born on October 18, 1950, Northrup was 75 when he passed away. David graduated from Greeley County High School in 1968. He was a member of the basketball team that won a state title that year. Services were held on... [More]
Lloyd E. Surprise
Lloyd E. Surprise, age 92, passed away on April 10, 2026 at Scott County Hospital in Scott City. He was born on September 3, 1933, in Greeley County, Kansas, the son of Mark and Effie Surprise. Lloyd went to grade school in Weskan. His family moved to Greeley County, where... [More]
Celebration of Life for Daryl Miller
The family of Daryl Miller warmly invites all Daryl’s friends to join them on Saturday, April 18, at 3 p.m. at the Greeley County 4-H Building for his “Going Away” party. Family and friends will gather to honor and celebrate Daryl’s life. All are invited... [More]
Derek Justin Smith
Son, even though you didn’t make it to the end of our story, we will always have the corner folded down on your page because it was one of our favorites. - Dad and Mom With heavy hearts and the world becoming quieter and dimmer, we mourn the traumatic and heartbreaking... [More]
Venita Fankhauser
Venita Fankhauser (née Stewart), aged 89, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2026, in Meridian, Idaho. Born on September 3, 1936, in Littlefield, Texas, Venita lived a life filled with love, dedication, and community. Venita met the love of her life, Paul Fankhauser,... [More]
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- Catherine Ann Wilson
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- Celebration of Life scheduled for Derek Smith
- Darrell Piper
- Daryl Eugene Miller
SPORTS
Golfers bring home JV, Varsity medals
Photo caption: Charlize Shafer shot a 70 at Leoti’s JV tournament on Monday. Photo by Trista Shafer. The GCHS Golf Team had another busy week this past week, especially the junior varsity. The JV attended three tournaments throughout the week, while the varsity... [More]
High School Jackrabbits compete in Leoti, Quinter meets
Compiled with results submitted by High School Track Coach Haylee Hennick Photo caption: Jeryn Stewart, left, and Bailey Moritz, center, competed in the 800-meter run at the meet in Leoti on Monday. Stewart placed second and Moritz placed seventh in the event. Photo by Trista... [More]
High School Jackrabbits compete in track meets at Scott City, Montezuma
Photo caption: Samuel Warner threw the shot put at the Scott City Relays on Tuesday, April 21. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. Compiled with information submitted by High School Track Coach Haylee Hennick Greeley County High School Track and Field traveled to Scott City on Tuesday,... [More]
Golf team competes in varsity tournament in Grinnell
Photo caption: Maggie Votruba, a senior golfer, has competed with both the varsity and junior varsity squads this year. This photo was taken at a JV meet earlier in the year. Photo by Drew Zerr. The Greeley County Golf team had a slow week this past week with only one varsity... [More]
Junior High Jackrabbits compete in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. meet
Photo caption: Jackrabbit runners Ruben Coello, Deacon Gooch, and Paul Marcelino chase a runner from Burlington during last Thursday’s meet in Cheyenne Wells. Photo by Trista Shafer. Compiled with information submitted by Junior High Track Coach Keli Myers The... [More]
Jackrabbits compete in track meet in Elkhart last Thursday
Photo caption: Taven Schmidt, wearing bib number 12, and Marco Coello, next right, challenged a couple of Hugoton runners at last Thursday’s high school track meet in Elkhart. Schmidt placed first in the 800-meter run; Coello placed fourth. Photo by Trista Shafer. ... [More]
Golf team competes at Goodland, Grinnell, and Atwood
Photo caption: Braxon Mangan, Maggie Votruba, James Marquardt, and Knox Mangan claimed second place as a team at the Saturday, April 18, varsity meet in Atwood. They are pictured here with Head Coach Keith Slattery. Photo by Brecken Mangan. The Greeley County High School... [More]
JH Tracksters break records at two meets
Photo caption: Brielle Harkness, Tenley Stewart, Kendrix Mangan, and Baileigh Schmidt claimed first place in the 4x200-meter relay, breaking a school record and setting a new team record. Photo by Brecken Mangan. On Tuesday, April 14, the Junior High Track team traveled... [More]
More Sports
- Golfers tee off season with three first-week meets
- Jackrabbits place fourth, fifth as teams at home opener
- Junior High Jackrabbits break four school records at first meet
- Mangan breaks one free throw record, ties second
- Four Jackrabbits named to Northwest Kansas All-League Teams
- Lady Jackrabbits defeated by Longhorns to end season
- Grubb places second, Reynolds places fourth at WaKeeney Powerlifting Meet
- Basketball Memories
NEWS
Loyalty Day Show Results
Photo caption: Brecken Nelson was the champion senior sheep showman at Saturday’s Loyalty Day show. Fifty-six 4-H and FFA members from 11 different counties in Kansas and Colorado participated in the 43rd Annual Loyalty Day Spring Livestock Show held in Tribune this past... [More]
Kleymann, Osborn Bring Home Medals from State Speech and Drama Festival
Photo caption: Quinn Kleymann, left, and Angel Osborn competed in the Kansas State High School Activities Association Speech and Drama Festival held in Salina on Saturday, May 2. Both competed in oral interpretation of poetry and received I ratings on their performances. Photo... [More]
Hopkins competes in State Youth Entrepreneurial Challenge, recognized in top 10
Photo caption: Layton Hopkins, junior, competed at the State Entrepreneurship Challenge in Manhattan on Tuesday, April 28, and Wednesday, April 29. His conceptual business, Hopkins Custom Swathing and Baling, was recognized as exemplary, in the top 10 business concepts presented,... [More]
Robert Bangerter
Robert Bangerter, age 83, passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at the Greeley County Long Term Care. Robert was born to Leonard and Mabel Kisling Bangerter on September 10, 1942, in Blackwell, Okla. On November 2, 1963, Robert married Kathy White in Leoti, Kansas. She survives.... [More]
Board of Supervisors special meeting notes
Thursday, April 30, 2026, 10 a.m. Supervisors present: Chairman Steve Mangan, Monty Moritz, Alan Waggoner, and Stan Shafer Others present: Deputy Clerk Kaylie Carney, Unified Administrator Jeff Crockett, Utility Administrator Stephanie Elliott, and Christy Hopkins... [More]
Greeley County Health Services, Inc. Board of Directors meeting minutes
Administrative Conference Room March 25, 2026 Call to order: Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chris Dixon, Board Chair. Attending: Chris Dixon, Beth Aeschliman, Ben Fisher, Mike Thon, David Schneider Administration/Staff:... [More]
Wheatland Electric Membership Elects New Trustees & Passes Bylaw Changes Following 2026 Annual Meeting
GREAT BEND–Members of Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WEC) have elected four incumbents to its 10-member board and passed bylaw revisions. Results were announced at this year’s 2026 Annual Meeting, held April 22, in Great Bend, Kan., and at seven remote... [More]
Welcome rain falls on April 30
Photo caption: Thursday’s rain brought a welcome puddle of standing water in the orchard. After receiving no moisture for the rest of the month, the nearly half an inch of rainfall that fell on the final day of April was a welcome sight for farmers and residents... [More]
More News
- First Farm Bank honors Alan Peter
- This Weekend: The 43rd Annual Loyalty Day Spring Livestock Show
- A rural nonprofit grocery store is closing in Kansas, showing how hard it is to fight food deserts
- Despite forecasted moisture, conditions remain dry
- Board of Supervisors meeting notes
- Managing stress key to protecting health and building resilience
- Jackrabbits bring home state powerlifting titles
- Greeley County Fair Theme for 2026
OPINIONS
From the editor's desk
Change isn’t my favorite. Though I like to think I’m open-minded and forward-looking, I can become rooted in patterns, comfortable in the way things are done. If I can navigate the mental maze of getting from point A to point Z several times, then just follow... [More]
Letter to the Community: We need lifeguards
How lucky are we to have a small-town swimming pool? Honestly–very. It’s more than just a place to cool off. It’s where summers happen. Kids learn to swim, teens hang out, families relax, and the whole community comes together in one spot. In a small... [More]
In Pursuit: Lesson #1 – From George Washington
Editor’s Note: The Kansas Press Association and Kansas Humanities have partnered to provide access to a series of essays honoring the 250th Anniversary of our nation. There is so much we can learn from the lessons of our past. In Pursuit is a new initiative from... [More]
FFA isn’t all sows, plows, and cows
Photo caption: Anna Marquardt, left, attended the ACC Conference in Lakin last week. Courtesy photo. FFA is growing tomorrow’s leaders, instilling confidence in members, and preparing members for career success and the ACC Conference did just that. ACC stands for authentic,... [More]
Letter to the Editor: Passing the Rotor Act is Plane Common Sense
Failure to pass it means another day, week, month that we put at risk the safety of all passengers who fly our skies. By U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) March 6, 2026 Crafted as a response to the deadly midair collision that occurred over the Potomac River in January... [More]
Letter to the Editor
Many of your readers may be interested to learn an artist of national reputation has painted a landscape entitled, Greeley County Summer. It may be viewed on the artist’s website: catherinefreshleyart.com. Click on prints, select paper or canvas and scroll until you find... [More]
Letter to the Editor: Trump promises handouts to farmers. Politicians promise development benefits. We pay for it all.
As has been widely speculated, Monday brought news that the Trump administration will provide several billion dollars in bailouts to farmers, with an emphasis on corn and soybean growers. Only a small portion may go to Kansas wheat farmers. Predictably, political dances followed... [More]
Letter to the Editor
After watching about three hours of the Supreme Court debate over tariffs, I learned something significant. As of Wednesday, November 5, tariffs amount to an 18% tax on all of us. On top of all the other taxes, that 18% shocked me. That number was shared in the Supreme Court... [More]
More Opinions
- Right to repair
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the Editor
- Letter to the editor: Political uncertainty shakes Kansas farmland values, and prosperity hangs in the balance
- From the Editor’s desk: Reflecting on the Symphony in the Flint Hills
- Letter to the Editor: With Trump and Musk driving U.S. policy, Kansas farmers have been played for suckers
- Letter to the Editor: Donald Trump is not our king
- Open letter to Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall
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