Denis James Weber

Denis James Weber was born at the family farm in Sheridan Lake, Colorado on September 15, 1933 to Frank and Agatha Weber. He was the eighth of eight children. After struggling with complications of COPD, he passed away at his home on Monday, March 7, 2023. 

Denis loved growing up in a large family and was always busy. He helped his dad, mom and siblings work the farm and ranch from the time he was a small boy. They raised cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens and farmed the land. He would tell the story of waking up in the morning and milking 50 cows before going to school only to return home and milk them all again. He was a very athletic student and especially loved basketball but participated in all sports. His senior year he was offered a full-ride scholarship to what is now known as Colorado State University to play football, basketball, baseball, and boxing. Dad would mention to us that he had the same arm length, as the most prominent boxer, of his day.  Denis also loved dancing, especially with his sister Mary Lou, horseshoes, bowling, shooting pool, playing cards, dominoes, and dice. 

Denis met his future bride, Theresa Gorman, at a dance in Kit Carson, Colorado. He loved telling the story of never dating another girl after his first date with her. She was the love of his life and they were married on August 24, 1954. Together they raised seven children; four boys and three girls. As individuals and as parents, Denis and Theresa were very devoted to their Catholic faith.  With the oldest child 17 and the youngest an infant, it was a carload when the family traveled to mass every Sunday.  

Denis was a hard worker and was willing to do most any honest job to maintain the farm and feed his family. He farmed mostly wheat, raised cattle, pigs and goats, worked on oil rigs in the Crow’s Nest as a derrick hand, hauled goods across the road in an 18-wheeler, drilled CRP grassland, and helped at Weber Water Service whenever and wherever he could. 

Denis and Theresa celebrated 68 years together and supported each other through many sadnesses and celebrations. None were more heart breaking than the death of their two sons, Gerald and Curtis, to cystic fibrosis at the ages of 36 and 30 and their son-in-law, Corby, to cancer at the age of 62. 

Denis is preceded in death by his wife, Theresa Gorman Weber; his parents, Frank and Agatha (Hoffmann) Weber; his siblings: Baby Weber, Leander (Maxine) Weber, Ed (Betty) Weber, Leona (Lloyd) Blackwelder, LaVerda (Bernard) Kollath, Roslyn Weber, Mary Lou (Eddie) Pless and Mildred (Don) Dickerson, his sons, Gerald and Curtis Weber; his son-in-law, Lance “Corby” Knutson, and his great-granddaughter, Zoe Thomas. 

Denis is survived by his daughters, Connie Weber, Kathy Knutson and Linda (Roger) Cochran; his sons, Jerry and Ronnie (Gloria) Weber; his granddaughters, Tara (Wayne) Watley, Alexandria Knutson, Nicole and Courtney Cochran, Jessica (Dalton) Mercure, Laura (Sean) Thomas and Emma Weber, his grandsons, Quinton Weber, Casey and Jordan Knutson, Ryan Cochran, Bryan Kunz and Zachariah Weber, his great-granddaughters Aryanna Watley, Adley and Teagan Mercure and Arabella Thomas; and his great-grandsons: Josiah Watley, Leland and Jairemiah Thomas.  

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Francis de Sales Church in Lamar.  The Holy Rosary will be prayed on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at the church.  Burial will take place in the Sheridan Lake Cemetery and everyone is invited to a reception following at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church.  Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guestbook at wwwbrownfuneraldirectors.com.  Visitation and funeral services are entrusted to the care of the Brown Funeral Home in Eads, CO.

OBITUARIES

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Darrell Piper

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Daryl Eugene Miller

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Opal M. Bare

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Paul S. “JR” Woolfolk, Jr.

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David “Dave” A Mitchell

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SPORTS

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Powerlifters compete in virtual meet

Photo caption: Kaine Chavez reaches down to do his clean lift as Oscar Martinez stands ready to spot him. Photo by Ashley Grubb. The Greeley County Jackrabbit powerlifters competed in the Chanute Blue Comets Powerlifting meet on Saturday, February 14. This was a virtual meet;... [More]

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Jackrabbits defeat Oakley, Deerfield; fall to Syracuse

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Lady Jackrabbits fall to Plainsmen, Bulldogs; defeat Spartans

Photo caption: Senior Jadence Stewart looks to pass inside to Charlize Shafer during Friday night’s home game against Deerfield. The Lady Jackrabbits traveled to Oakley Monday, February 9, to take on the Lady Plainsmen on their home court. Coach Shafer described the... [More]

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Jackrabbits Kids’ Wrestling has successful season, compete in six tournaments

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Jackrabbit wrestlers continue to compete

Photo caption: Caleb Young, right, challenges a wrestler at last week’s meet in Leoti. Photo by Chricket Niehues. Greeley County High School wrestlers Jerman Lira and Caleb Young only competed a few times in January, despite a number of scheduled events. Illness and two... [More]

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Powerlifters compete in Leoti

Photo caption: Junior Rowdy Grubb squatted 235 pounds at Leoti’s Powerlifting Meet on Saturday and placed first overall in his weight class. Santiago Mora spots him on the lift. Photo by Ashley Grubb.  Five Jackrabbit powerlifters took part in the Wichita County... [More]

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Varsity Jackrabbits defeat Wichita County, face defeat in Oberlin

Photo caption: Hayden Myers prepares to shoot a free throw during Tuesday night’s varsity win over the Wichita County Indians. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger.  Monday, the Junior Varsity High School Jackrabbits made the trip to Lamar, Colo., to take on the Thunder’s... [More]

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Lady Jackrabbits fall to Wichita County, Decatur Community

Photo caption: Jeryn Stewart, #10, puts a shot up during Tuesday evening’s game against the Wichita County Indians. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger.  The Lady Jackrabbits traveled to Leoti on Tuesday, February 3, to take on the Wichita County Indians.  From the... [More]

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NEWS

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Greeley County Scholars Bowl Team places third at 1A Division I State Tournament

Photo caption: Scholars Bowl team members Annaleigh Long, Amelia Reuber, Gracelyn Graham, James Marquardt, Aidan Hill, and Samuel Warner placed third at the KSHSAA 1A Division 1 State Tournament in Lincoln on February 14, 2026. Photo by Charles Warner.  The Greeley County... [More]

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Winter Homecoming

Seniors James Marquardt and Maggie Votruba were crowned Winter Homecoming King and Queen last Friday afternoon. They are pictured here with crown bearer Pake Steele and flower girl Layla Stone. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. This year, the crowning of the royalty took place during... [More]

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Amusement Association hosts Luau and Auction with entertainment by Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations

Photo caption: Walt and Melodie Rauch made the trip up from Amarillo, Texas to enjoy the Greeley County Amusement Association’s Luau with three of their children and their spouses. The evening was a fundraiser for the Greeley County Amusement Association’s purchase... [More]

Welcome rain falls

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Congressman Roger Marshall visits Greeley County Drug, Thumper Hardware

Photo caption: Jeremi and Stewart Whitham visited with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall when he stopped by Greeley County Drug Monday, February 16. Congressman Roger Marshall made a quick stop through Tribune Monday afternoon, visiting briefly with Stewart and Jeremi Whitham of... [More]

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Scholars Bowl Team places second at regionals; advances to state tournament

Photo caption: The Greeley County Scholars Bowl team that qualified for the State Tournament included Amelia Reuber, Annaleigh Long, James Marquardt, Aidan Hill, Samuel Warner, and Gracelynn Graham. Photo by Christina Marquardt.  The Greeley County High School Scholars... [More]

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2026 Winter Homecoming Court

The 2026 Winter Homecoming Royalty and their attendants paused for a picture last Tuesday morning. Senior King Candidates, in the back row, from left to right, are Peyton Jenkins, Bishop Talbott, and James Marquardt. Senior Queen candidates, in the second row, from left to right,... [More]

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Means designs community project centered on connection

Photo caption: Hallie Means, fourth from the left, is a member of the Leadership Kansas Farm Bureau cohort. As a part of the program, she has designed a project to better learn and understand the stories of Greeley County residents.  Hallie Means, Greeley County resident... [More]

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OPINIONS

Letter to the Editor

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Right to repair

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Letter to the Editor

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Letter to the Editor

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Letter to the editor: Political uncertainty shakes Kansas farmland values, and prosperity hangs in the balance

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From the Editor’s desk: Reflecting on the Symphony in the Flint Hills

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