Obituaries

Mar 18, 2021

Larry Albert Horak, 85, of Mesa, AZ passed away March 18, 2021.  He was born February 22, 1936, in Wyndmere, ND to John J. and Mary Agnes [Motl] Horak.

On September 3, 1956, Larry was married to the love of his life, Frances Elizabeth Braun in Breckinridge, MN, and the two started their life together and raised...

Mar 16, 2021

St. Marys—Becky Anne McKenzie, 85, passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at St. Marys Manor.

She was born June 11, 1935, at Tillamook, OR., the daughter of Ernest and Lavern Dobson Toedtli.  She lived in Oregon until she was 12 years old when she moved to Vancouver, WA.  She lived in Vancouver until moving to St. Marys...

Mar 16, 2021

Rossville---William "Bill" Leon Harris, 82, passed away at his rural Rossville home on March 16, 2021.

Bill was born on February 2, 1939, in Girard, Kansas, to Bud Leon and Florence Ellen (Westhoff) Harris and lived most of his childhood in Hepler, Kansas, except for a few years when his family moved to Weiser, Idaho. He returned...

Mar 11, 2021

Shawnee—Robert B. Hoferer, Jr. died Thursday, March 11, 2021 at his home in Shawnee.

He was born August 27, 1943 the son of Robert B. Hoferer, SR. and Margaret M. Graf Hoferer.  He lived in the Sandy Hook community most of his life.  Bob was a truck driver and farmer.  He married Irina Morozova on November 20,...

Mar 9, 2021

Topeka—Robert Dean Steck, 83, passed away Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

Robert was born December 4, 1937, in McFarland, the son of the late William Joseph and Margaret Marie (Zeller) Steck. Also, his beloved brother, William Eugene Steck, perished in 1963.

He served in the United States Navy on the...

Mar 6, 2021

Bryna Marie McFarland, 36, a tutor in the grammar school of St. Mary’s Academy, died the night of March 5-6 at her parents’ home in St. Marys.

Miss McFarland’s death was the result of an episode of epilepsy, from which she suffered since childhood. In recent years she had participated in a program at the Medical School...

Mar 1, 2021

Audrey Marie Riat, 84, of St. Marys, passed away Monday, March 1, 2021 at Bridge Haven Memory Care in Lawrence.

Audrey was born on September 14, 1936 in Junction City, the daughter of LaVern Roland and Ethel “Marie” (Norman) Langvardt.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Howard L. Langvardt.

Audrey...

Feb 28, 2021

Long Beach California—Donald Patrick “Pat” Ellis,71, passed away Sunday, February 28, 2021 in California.

Pat was born November 12, 1949, at Wamego, the son of Lyman M. and Arlene Philomena (Bernritter) Ellis.  Pat grew up in the Maple Hill and St. Marys communities.  He graduated from St. Marys High School in 1967.  He was a member of...

Feb 26, 2021

Arnold Dale Lietz, 91, of Eskridge, died on February 26. Arnie was born in Paxico on July 26, 1929 to George and Inez Miller Lietz. Arnie moved with his family to Eskridge when he was in high school and he graduated from Eskridge High School in 1949. Two weeks after his graduation, he enlisted in the Navy. Arnie served...

Feb 24, 2021

Arthur Alexander Adams, Jr., 77, Maple Hill, died Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, KS.

He was born January 23, 1944, at Christ’s Hospital in Topeka, the son of Arthur A. Adams, Sr., and Wanda Harpster Adams.

He lived his entire life in the Maple Hill community.  Art, as he was...

Feb 24, 2021

Topeka—Sharon Isabel Kaufman, 75, passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at her rural Topeka home.

She was born the daughter of Walter and Ruth Jones on May 27, 1945, at Leipsic, OH.  Sharon was raised in Ohio and Indiana.

Sharon was an LPN and worked in the medical field for 27 years.  For many years,...

Feb 23, 2021

Manhattan—Vern A. Gannon, 66, well-known auctioneer and real estate broker, passed away suddenly late Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan with family by his side.

He was born July 19, 1954, in Topeka, the son of Leo and Rowena M. Hollenbeck Gannon.  Vern was raised in the Rossville community and graduated from Rossville...

Feb 22, 2021

Rossville-Raymond R. Minnis, 71, died Monday, February 22, 2021, at his home in Rossville.

He was born the son of Russell and Henrietta Ferguson Minnis on September 25, 1949, at Odesa, MO.  Raymond grew up in Missouri and Nebraska; he served in the United States Air Force.

Raymond had worked in Food Services For USD...

Feb 20, 2021

Barbara Alice Karnowski passed on to her eternal home early Saturday morning February 20th, 2021 at the age of 68. She was surrounded by family at the time of her passing.

She was born in Baudour, Belgium to Lucianne Jean and Yvon Passelecq on February 10, 1953. Her childhood was spent in Frameries, Belgium, and she attended a boarding school at...

Feb 14, 2021

Rossville—Phyllis I. Marney, 91, passed away Sunday, February 14, 2021, at the Rossville Healthcare and Rehab Center.

She was born June 17, 1929, in Kansas City, MO., the daughter of Samuel and Ethel Smith.

She was married to Bob Marney on January 31, 1950; they divorced.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her...

Feb 8, 2021

St. Marys—Thomas E. “Tom” Turner, 72, passed away Monday, February 8, 2021, at the Onaga Community Hospital.

On June 11, 1948, he was born in Topeka to Millburn Ernest and Ruby E. (Rosedahl) Turner.  Tom grew up in the Oakland community and graduated from Topeka High.  He attended Kansas State College of Pittsburg and Kaw Area VoTech...

Feb 6, 2021

Ronald E. Fetters, 82, passed away Saturday, February 6, 2021 at the Rossville Health and Rehab Center.

Ronald was born in Des Moines, IA. on December 24, 1938, the son of Ervel and Marie Veach Fetters.  He grew up in Des Moines but spent his adult life in Florida.  He was a realtor/loan broker.  Ronald had lived...

Feb 6, 2021

St. Marys—Freda V. Zemek, 73, passed away Saturday, February 6, 2021, at a Kansas City Hospital.

Freda was born to Fred and June Burton McCollough at Topeka on November 8, 1947.  She grew up in the Rossville community, graduated from Rossville High School in 1965, and attended Clark's School of Business in Topeka.

In her...

Feb 5, 2021

Randy Mark Brown was born October 12, 1950 in Clay Center, Kansas to Carl Eugene and Imateen Knox Brown and entered his eternal rest at home on February 5, 2021 surrounded by family. He attended St. Ann’s Catholic School in Clyde, Kansas through the 8 th grade. He graduated from Clyde High School in 1969 and then attended Beloit...

Jan 28, 2021

SFC George B Mergenmeier, Ret., 84, Topeka, KS, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at his home with his spouse by his side.

George was born on July 23, 1936, south of Seneca in Nemaha county, KS to George W. and Stella (Lierz) Mergenmeier.

He graduated from St. Peter and Paul Grade School...