Genevieve G. Matthews

Lifelong Kanorado resident, Genevieve Matthews, age 100, passed away Friday, January 13, 2017 at her home in Kanorado.

She was born October 5, 1916 to Carrie I. and Henry J. Zink at Glade, Kansas.  At 9 months Carrie brought Genevieve to Kanorado, Kansas to be raised by her grandparents Minnie and Clayton Briggs to live at their home on Main in Kanorado, at that time Clayton had just built the repair shop next door.  The Briggs were told at Genevieve's pre-school physical that she should not participate in recess because she had a bad heart and so she would do her lessons and walk home.  She attended school in Kanorado until her senior year when on December 25, 1933 she married Joseph Korbelik in Dodge City, Kansas who she met at Kanorado dances.

Genevieve lived most of her life in Kanorado and the surrounding community.  Early in her work career she helped put the Kaper Newspaper together and waitressed.  Sometime before 1941, Joe and Genevieve moved to the house at 104 Walnut in Kanorado, which is the house also built by Clayton Briggs and lived there all her life.  Dennis Deane was born October 31, 1941 and Linda Lurlee, October 30, 1946.  Genevieve and Joseph divorced in the late 60’s and later she married Marvin Matthews.

Over the years, Genevieve enjoyed sewing, many of her childrens’ clothing, maintained flower and vegetable gardens, sold Avon personal care products and befriended many children in her childrens   grades.  In her mid and later life she traveled extensively in the United States and also visited Belgium, France, England, Africa and Mexico.  She took up painting and was involved with the Kanorado Senior Center, she especially enjoyed organizing card parties.  In 1976, Genevieve donated 5 acres of land along Highway 24, across from the Frontier Ag elevator, to be used as Briggs Park in honor of the grandparents who raised and adopted her.

Preceding her in death were her grandparents Minnie and Clayton Briggs, her biological parents Henry and Carrie Zink, her husbands Joseph Korbelik and Marvin Matthews, her step-sister, and her daughter Linda.

Survivors include her son Dennis (Dagmar) Korbelik of Kanorado, Kansas; her granddaughter Deneyce (David) Ackerman of the Netherlands and their children Emma, Cooper and Meagan; and Linda’s daughters Monique and Amber of Eastern Kansas and Arkansas.

A memorial service will be held for Genevieve on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. M.T. at Bateman Funeral Home at 211 East 11th Street in Goodland a luncheon will follow at the Kanorado Senior Center with a display of Genevieve’s paintings.  Inurnment of the ashes will be held for immediate family at the Kanorado Cemetery when her gravestone is placed.  Memorials will be designated for Rejuvenation of Briggs Park and may be sent to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, Kansas 67735.  Online condolences may be left at www.batemanfuneral.com