Paul Friskel

Paul Anthony Friskel, 83, of Iola, Kansas, died Friday, December 26, 2014, at his home. Paul was born July 19, 1931, at Frontenac, Kansas, the son of John C. and Marie (Schultz) Friskel. He grew up in Frontenac attending Sacred Heart grade school then high school at St. Joseph Military Academy at Hays, Kansas. After high school he attended Iola Junior College and Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg, now Pittsburg State University. On February 27, 1954, Paul married Patricia R. McCabe at Frontenac. Paul served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 He graduated from Kansas City College of Mortuary Science in Kansas City, Kansas, and worked for his father, John C. Friskel at Frontenac. He later worked at the Draper Funeral Home in Newton, Kansas. On June 19, 1967, Paul and his wife Patricia bought the Porter-Kinser Mortuary in Iola, later naming it Friskel Memorial Chapel. In 1982, the Friskels' and David Yokum merged the two Iola funeral homes and named them Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapels. In 1987, the Iola funeral homes bought the Gibson-Koch Chapel in Chanute. Paul and Patricia moved to Chanute to manage the Gibson-Koch-Friskel Chapel until the death of Patricia on October 8, 2000. At that time, Paul moved back to Iola to make his home. On November 2, 2001, Paul married Betty (Lero) Stahl and they have made their home in Iola since. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, both 3rd and 4th Degree, and Iola Lion's Club. SURVIVORS: Wife: Betty Friskel of the home 1 Son: Mark Friskel of Gilbert, Arizona 3 Daughters: Mary Ann Regehr of Iola, Paula R. Kimberlin of Buffalo, KS and Elaine Howey of Wichita, KS 15 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren & 9 great grandchildren 4 Step-Sons: Marty Stahl of Pittsburg, Curt and Carl Stahl both of Iola, and Ken Stahl of Colorado Springs, CO 2 Step-Daughters: Mary Erbert and Cathy Stahl both of Iola 10 step-grandchildren & several step-great grandchildren 2 Brothers: Robert (Bob) Friskel of Kansas City, KS and David Friskel of Frontenac 1 Sister: Mary Winifred (Tip) Hutsey of Pittsburg, KS He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, two daughters Kathleen Hastings and Lisa Maxwell, five grandchildren Cara, Eric & Reuben Hastings and Joel & Avery Maxwell, and three brothers Dr. Arthur Friskel, M.D., Bro. Joseph M. Friskel OSB, and Joseph W. Friskel. PARISH ROSARY: 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, at St. John Catholic Church in Iola. VISITATION: 7:30-9:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014 at St. John Parish Center following the Rosary. FUNERAL MASS: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, at St. John Catholic Church in Iola. BURIAL: Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kansas MEMORIAL: St. Patrick School, Chanute, Kansas Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com .