Ernest Alvin “Sonny” Stoppel, 75, of Russell, Kansas, died peacefully on Thursday, December 1, 2022, at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, after a long battle with cancer.
Earnest was known as Sonny by his family and was born on March 10, 1947, in Wilson, Kansas, the son of Carl Alvin and Pearl Mae (Bushell) Stoppel. His family lived in several small towns around western Kansas, including Wilson, Lucas, Gorham and then moved to Russell. He graduated from Russell High School and attended vo-tech studies in the electrician field.
He married Alice Kilian in 1971, but later was divorced. He worked many different jobs in his lifetime, working in the oilfield industry and the Chevrolet garage in Russell. He also worked as a custodian at Dorrance High School, Larned State Hospital and Hays Hospital and as a senior companion at DSNWK. During his life he enjoyed fishing, camping, fixing gadgets and enjoyed tinkering with taking things apart and putting them back together. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family.
Sonny is survived by his sister Patricia M. Demel and husband Ray of Great Bend, Kansas and his brother LeRoy Stoppel of Russell, Kansas and his niece Melissa Demel of Gladstone, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Cremation has been selected by the family. A memorial service to celebrate Sonny’s life will be held at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the memorial service arrangements.