Paul Friskel

Paul Anthony Friskel, 83, Iola, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2014, at his home.
Paul was born July 19, 1931, at Frontenac, 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. After high school he attended Iola Junior College and Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg, now Pittsburg State University.
On Feb. 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, Kan., and worked for his father, John C. Friskel at Frontenac. He later worked at the Draper Funeral Home in Newton. 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 Oct. 8, 2000. At that time, Paul moved back to Iola to make his home.
On Nov. 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.
He is survived by his wife Betty Friskel; a son Mark Friskel, Gilbert, Ariz., three daughters, Mary Ann Regehr, Iola, Paula R. Kimberlin, Buffalo, and Elaine Howey, Wichita; 15 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; four step-sons, Marty Stahl, Pittsburg, Curt and Carl Stahl both of Iola, and Ken Stahl, Colorado Springs, Colo.; two step-daughters, Mary Erbert and Cathy Stahl, Iola; 10 step-grandchildren and several step great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert (Bob) Friskel, Kansas City, Kan., and David Friskel, Frontenac; one sister, Mary Winifred (Tip) Hutsey, Pittsburg.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, two daughters, Kathleen Hastings and Lisa Maxwell, five grandchildren, Cara, Eric and Reuben Hastings and Joel and Avery Maxwell, and three brothers, Arthur Friskel, M.D., Bro. Joseph M. Friskel OSB, and Joseph W. Friskel.
Parish rosary will be at 7 p.m., Tuesday, at St. John Catholic Church in Iola. Visitation will be from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, at St. John Parish Center following the Rosary.
Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, at St. John Catholic Church in Iola. Burial is at Highland Cemetery, Iola.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick School, Chanute, and may be left with 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.