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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Thelma I. Carlson

Thelma Isabel Carlson of Longmont, Colorado passed away on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at the age of 97. Thelma arrived at the Ferne and Oscar Carlson home in Tribune on December 16, 1928. She joined two-year-old Selma and one-year-old Velma. In the following two years both John... [More]

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Arla Peter

Arla Peter, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. She was born on September 17, 1954, in Tribune to Lawrence and Marjorie Woelk Peter. She was a lifelong member of the Tribune community. Surviving family includes her brother... [More]

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Judson P. Price, Sr.

Judson P. Price, Sr., age 96, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Sunrise of Sandy Senior Living Center in Sandy, Utah.  He was born on April 21, 1930, in Sabetha, the son of Lyle Phillips and Ruth Mildred Hall Price.  He was the past owner and operator of... [More]

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Becky Lynn Keller

Becky Keller, 74, of Olathe, passed peacefully into God’s arms on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Becky was born on July 14, 1951, to her loving and devoted parents, Israel “Harry” and Thelma Trigg in Ottawa. Her childhood was spent in rural southwestern Kansas, where... [More]

Celebration of Life for Derek Justin Smith

A Celebration of Life for Derek Justin Smith will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Tribune.  Memorials can be given to the Derek Smith Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 433, Tribune, KS 67879. 

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Shawn Harney

Shawn Harney, age 61, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026, surrounded by the love of his friends and family. Born on January 14, 1965, in Norfolk, Shawn grew up with a strong work ethic, a love for family, and a passion for the simple things in life. He graduated from Clarkson... [More]

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Don E. Moore

Don Eugene Moore was born on March 3, 1962, in Tribune. He was the son of Emmit C. Moore and RoseElla (Kuder) Moore-Graham.  He attended Greeley County High School and graduated in 1980. In 1982, he married Cindy Tillis and they had two children Amanda (Bobby) Ward of... [More]

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John Warren “Skip” Conard, Jr.

John Warren “Skip” Conard, Jr., born September 1, 1943, in Syracuse, passed away on April 4, 2026, at the age of 82, surrounded by his loving family.  He grew up in Coolidge with his brother, Edward Dale Conard, and his sister, Barbara (Conard) Latty; his sister... [More]

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SPORTS

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Braxon Mangan named to First Team All-State

Tribune golfer Braxon Mangan was named to First Team All-State Honors by the Kansas Golf Coach’s Association.  According to Keith Slattery, Head Coach of the Greeley County High School team, Braxon had a scoring average of 77.8 this season, the lowest in at least... [More]

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Trap Team shoots at state competition in Sedgwick over the weekend

Photo caption: Trap Team members taking part in last weekend’s state Trap Shooting tournament in Wichita were front row, from left to right, Mia Reynolds, Klayton Davignon, Tristen Evans, and Jackson Phillips. In the middle row, from left to right, are Cyril Kleymann, Scotty... [More]

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Girls' Softball

Ryleigh Gooch pitches the ball during last Monday night’s home softball game. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger.

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High School and Junior High Football Camp held last week

Among the high school boys at last week’s football camp were, left to right, Jeff Heine, Drayke DaSilva, Hayden Myers, Rowdy Grubb, and Luke Grubb. Coach Austin Coffman led Tuesday night’s practice with help from John Niehues. 

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Summer Basketball

High School girls taking part in last weekend’s basketball tournament in Greensburg were front row, left to right, Addy Kennedy, Scarlett Shafer, Shaydan Howell, Kamri Myers, and Charlize Shafer. In the back row are Coach Kyle Shafer, Mia Reynolds, Tylee Cavenee, Briana... [More]

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Tennis Camp held

Students and their high school tennis camp coaches huddle around Coach Jacque Myers at the end of Monday’s tennis camp. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger.

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Greeley County Recreation youth soccer teams play in Leoti league

Photo caption: Members of the fourth through sixth grade teams were, front row, left to right, Antonio Rascon, Kasen Myers, Maverick Moritz, Brantley Cavenee, Rosendo Figueroa, and Kale Harkness. In the back row, from left to right, are Coach Bret Harkness, Rhett Reynolds, Macyn... [More]

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GCHS plays at 1A State Golf Meet at Turkey Creek in McPherson

Photo caption: Braxon Mangan shot a 39-40-79 on Day One and a 39-43-82 on Day Two at the 1A State Golf Tournament at Turkey Creek in McPherson. He tied for 12th place in 1A. Photo by Brecken Mangan.  The GCHS Golf Team competed at the 1A State Championship Golf tournament... [More]

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NEWS

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Harvest underway, stalled by Sunday rain

Harvest is well underway for some farms and has already wrapped up, ahead of schedule, for others. Sunday night storms brought a halt to most harvest activity, but there is wheat that remains to be cut in the county.  Reports have mostly indicated low yields and shorter-than-normal... [More]

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Payton Walk began role as Community Development director for Greeley County on Monday, June 1

Payton Walk, a 2022 graduate of Greeley County High School, officially began her new role as the Greeley County Community Development director on Monday, June 1.  Walk, who graduated from K-State University in May with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, said... [More]

Lt. Governor Candidate Joe Newland visits Tribune

Photo caption: Lt. Governor Candidate Joe Newland, left, and Representative Jim Minnix visit with Linda and John Peterson after Thursday’s Town Hall meeting at the Senior Center. Approximately 15 area residents attended a Town Hall meeting held at the Senior Center on... [More]

Dan, Dan the Magic Man today

The Greeley County Library will once again be hosting Dan, Dan the Magic Man for our summer library program. The magic show will be held on Wednesday, June 24, at 1:30 p.m. Dan and his Magic Man family will be presenting “Jurassic Magic” for the enjoyment of kids... [More]

Country Fresh Market kicks off today

The first Country Fresh Market of the season is scheduled for today, Wednesday, June 24. The market will take place from 4:30 – 6 p.m. in front of and on the lot south of the Greeley County Library, just north of the Greeley County Republican newspaper office. Vendors... [More]

Summer Library Program wraps up Friday

The summer library program is coming to an end. After our performance from Dan, Dan the Magic Man on Wednesday, June 24, at 1:30, we will have one more session on Friday, June 26, at 1:00.  We will be awarding prizes to those who have attended summer library events. Each... [More]

NEK-CAP, Inc. announces Community Services Block Grant Expansion

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Greeley County firefighters receive over $14,000 from Kansas Department of Insurance

Topeka, Kan. – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, today, announced, that the Kansas Department of Insurance has made its annual distribution to local Firefighter Relief Associations (FRAs).  Pursuant to the Kansas Firefighters Relief Act, $14,801.00 has... [More]

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OPINIONS

From the Editor’s iPhone, at the corner of Kiowa County’s Road J and 76

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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]

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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]

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