Obituaries - January 27, 2026
Diana "Dee" Wassenberg
Diana "Dee" Wassenberg, 80, of Salina, KS, passed away Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Born July 11, 1945, in Clay Center, Kansas, Dee was known for her compassion, strong work ethic, and deep love of animals.
Dee moved to Abilene, KS, in sixth grade and graduated with honors from Abilene High School. She was a dedicated business owner who helped operate R & D Printing in Abilene with her first husband, Ron Hertig, before later moving to Salina.
She found great joy caring for others and worked for many years as a nanny and caregiver for children and the elderly. A lifelong animal lover, Dee adored her dogs and her miniature horses.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Wassenberg.
She is survived by her children: Tamera Stone of Liberty, MO; Matt Hertig of Lawrence, KS; and Tara Hertig of Bennington, KS; and by her beloved grandchildren: Ashley Andrews, Jacob Stone, Allyson Schraad, Abigale Saenger, Emma Miller, Max Houghton, and Ava Houghton.
At this time, no service is planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hope in the Valley Equine Rescue or Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue.
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Deniece Fern Roth
Deniece Fern (Kohls) Roth, 91, passed away on Saturday, January 24th. She was the 4th child born to Reinhardt and Selma (Schultz) Kohls on July 23, 1934 on the Kohls family farm, just inside Lincoln County, Kansas.
On August 26, 1934, Deniece was baptized in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church on May 8, 1948 at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ellsworth, Kansas.
Deniece attended Liberty Bell School, then Limestone Ridge. She attended grade school, Jr. High, and High school, graduating from high school in 1952.
She then attended Stormont-Vail School of Nursing from 1952-1955.
On Sept 2, 1956, she married William Edward Roth of Lorraine, Kansas.
In May of 1982, Deniece graduated from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Deniece worked at hospitals in Manhattan, Ellsworth, Dodge City, Kinsley, Larned, West Virginia, Salina, and Virginia.
Bill Roth retired from NRCS in 1997 and they moved to Lindsborg, Kansas. As tasks got harder, they moved to Eaglecrest Retirement Community in Salina, Kansas. Following Bill's death from a brain tumor, Deniece moved to Clay Center, Kansas to be closer to her son, Tom Roth and wife Terri.
Deniece volunteered at the Lighthouse for Christ and was a member of the Clay Center Piotique Quilter's Guild and the Clay Center United Methodist Church. She enjoyed going to Patterson's Health Mart for Call Hall ice cream, coffee, and conversations.
She is survived by her children, Amy Swann (Larry), Tom Roth (Terri), and Sara Rowe (Merle); grandchildren, Will and Meagan Swann, Macey and Larry Morgan, Travis and Dena Ray, Tiana and Landon Cook, Nathaniel and Lindsey Rowe, Emilie and Zac Burt; great grandchildren, Pierce and Hattie, Garrett and Kailyn, Ryan and Tyler, Tailynn, Donnie Juliane, Zoe, Kendal, and Baby Boy Burt.
She is preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, 5 sisters, and husband, William "Bill" Edward Roth.
Visitation will be on Friday, January, 30th from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at the Clay Center United Methodist Church, with the funeral service beginning at 11:00 am. Deniece's wishes were to be cremated following the service.
Donations may be made to Kohls Scholarship at the Stormont Vail Foundation, sent in care of Carlson-Geisendorf Funeral Home, 500 S. Ohio St., Salina, Kansas 67401.
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