IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

Leslie Starkel

Leslie Howard Starkel died Jan. 6, 2017, in El Dorado.

He was born July 31, 1924, in Lehigh, Kansas, the son of Constantine and Lena (Buehler) Starkel. He graduated from Florence High School. During World War II, Les was stationed at San Clemente Island Naval Base in California. He spent nearly 35 years working as an installer and repairman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Butler County. Les was married to Patricia Van Buren for 67 years.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of El Dorado; children Ron, Bob, Bill, Patti, and Steve; daughters-in-law Lee, Maria, Patti, and Deb; son-in-law Brian Schmidtberger; brother Homer and sister-in-law Virginia; sister Mildred George; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Fred and Caroline Van Buren; grandchildren and great grandchildren Mandy, Jared, Amanda, Ryan, Patrick, Adam, Cole, Rylee, Raydyn, Reanna, Ramsey, Sydney, Brody, Wyatt, and Allie, along with two grandsons-in-law named Andy, and granddaughter-in-law Amber.

Les was preceded in death by brothers Homer and Gene; sister-in-law June Starkel, brother-in-law John George, sisters-in-law Frankie Van Buren, Marguerite Blatchford, Betty Varner, and Virginia Wagner; and brothers-in-law Glenn Blatchford, Jim Varner, and Francis Wagner.

His family will gather from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, at Carlson Funeral Home Chapel, El Dorado, where his service will be held at 11 a.m. led by Pastor Stan Seymour. He will be laid to rest in Sunset Lawns Cemetery following the service with military honors. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home is serving the family.

Memorial contributions in Les’s name may be directed to American Legion Post No. 81, El Dorado. Please sign his online guestbook and leave a memory of Les at www.carlsonkirbymorris.com.