OBITUARY: William Lee "Billy" Barber William Lee "Billy" Barber, 56, Topeka, member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, named by his tribe "Ob-mes-seh" died Mon., Dec. 6, 2010. He was born May 14, 1954, in Sioux Falls, SD, the son of Willis L. and Julia Ann (Cook) Barber. He grew up in Holton and graduated from Holton High School. Billy...

OBITUARY: Erman L. Christensen Erman L. Christensen, 81, Topeka, died Sat., Dec. 4, 2010, at Midland Hospice House. He was born Dec. 8, 1928, at Arnold, NE, the son of Martin and Marie E. (Rookstool) Christensen. Erman had served in the Kansas National Guard. He was retired from the U.S. Postal Service. Surviving are his wife: Doris A. (Wolfe) Christensen...

OBITUARY: Jean Ann (Wyatt) Irish Jean Ann (Wyatt) Irish, 55, Topeka, went home on Wed., Dec. 1, 2010. She was born Nov. 19, 1955, in Manhattan. Jean was married to Clarence L. Irish, on Sept. 7, 1972. Surviving are her husband: Clarence; daughters Rebecca Ann (Irish) Flores and Tracey Lynn Irish-Mallon; 3 grandchildren: Alicia Irish, Araceli Flores, and Mariela Flores;...

Theodore Boelens, 78, Silver Lake, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2010.Ted was born September 20, 1932 in Patterson, NJ, the son of Theodore and Stella (Goulait) Boelens. He graduated from Coventry High School in Coventry, RI. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1971, completing a tour in Vietnam. He retired with the rank of Master...

Bruce Mervin McConnell, 90, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, November 24, 2010.He was born September 14, 1920 in Craig, CO, the son of Delbert Edward and Ida Belle (Powell) McConnell. He was a 1938 graduate of a college in Red Rock, OK and received a Bachelor's of Science Degree at Edmond Central State College in Edmond, OK in 1942. He...

Norma Jean (Dreasher) Crites, 81, passed away on Sun., Nov. 21, 2010 at Presbyterian Manor. She was born on Jan. 29, 1929 in Kinsley, Kansas to Leslie and Martha Mack. She was an active volunteer at Papan's Landing and a member of Topeka Bowl North. She loved to garden, play cards, fish, country dance and play marbles. She is survived...

Ida Marie Zimmerman, 82, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, November 23, 2010 surrounded by family who dearly loved her.She was born March 26, 1928 in Graham County, KS, the daughter of Frank and Katie (Scheck) Wittman. She was employed by Wonder Bread Company in Topeka, retiring in 1993.She was a member of St. Joseph's Church. Ida married Michael John Zimmerman,...

Vincent Gary Lambert, 24, of Topeka, died on Sat., Nov. 20, 2010 at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. He was born on Nov. 23, 1985 in Topeka, the son of Vincent Grant Lambert and Debra Jo Greeno. Vincent attended Lundgren Elementary School, Chase Middle School, and graduated from Highland Park High School. He spent his life in Topeka and Hiawatha (Brown...

Wilma J. Mayer, 74, loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grand mother, passed away November 22, 2010 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. Wilma was born December 20, 1935 at Centralia Kansas, the daughter of Levi and Annabelle (Kolb) Fritch. She married Herbert L. Mayer April 30, 1955 at Centralia. She was a member of Maple Hill Community Church, Women...

OBITUARY: Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Brown Mary Elizabeth "Beth" (Shafer) Brown, 76, Silver Lake, died Nov. 19, 2010. Services will be private with interment in Prairie Home Cemetery. Memorials to Arab Temple Shriners' Children's Hospital Travel Fund, P.O. Box 170, Wamego, KS 66547.

Gloria A. Grandstaff-Hunter, 48, of Topeka, passed away, Sunday, November 14, 2010 at her home after a fall. She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce Hunter. She is survived by her daughter, Marisa Kirtdoll; her parents, Gary and Gloria Grandstaff; her brothers, Gary D. and Gaylen Grandstaff and her sister, Gail Richardson.The family honored Gloria's wish for cremation....

OBITUARY: Francis Lawrence Barry Francis Lawrence Barry, 78, Topeka, died Mon., Nov. 15, 2010. Surviving are his wife: Dorothy; daughters: Gail Kirkwood and Karen Shutts; step-daughters: Mary Bayer, Sandra Kay Potter, Patricia Lane, Elizabeth Reed, Donna Gaa, Rose Gunn, and Emma Hancock; many grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. He was a wonderful grandfather. Francis was preceded in death by 2 daughters...

Audrey Leota Laningham, 87, of Topeka, formerly of Shawnee, KS passed away Monday, November 15, 2010 at home.She was born July 4, 1923 in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Amanda Pearl Knoor. She was a graduate of Ruskin High School, Kansas City, MO where she played women's basketball. She was employed by H.D. Lee Jean Manufacture and later served...

OBITUARY: Bernard L. Henkensiefken Bernard L. Henkensiefken, 65, Topeka, died Sun., Nov. 7, 2010, at St. Francis Hospital's ER. He was born July 7, 1945, in Topeka, the son of Elizabeth S. and Thomas G. Henkensiefken, Sr. He was employed at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for the past 33 years. Bernard was married to Etta J. Wagner on Dec....

OBITUARY: Rex Stapel Rex Stapel, 72, Meriden, died Thurs., Nov. 4, 2010, at a Topeka elevator after unloading his last load of soybeans. He was born Jan. 2, 1938, to Raymond and Lola (Dauber) Stapel. He attended school in Meriden and always lived and farmed west of Meriden. Survived by Mary Lux, they were divorced, and had 4 children: Rick...

Darryl Leroy Little, 97, of Silver Lake, passed away Thursday, October 28, 2010.He was born May 10, 1913 in Gilman City, MO, the son of Jesse and Verna C. (Neff) Little. He was a graduate of Mt. Moriah High School, Mt. Moriah, MO. He farmed in Northwest Missouri until 1954 and moved to Silver Lake, KS and farmed until retirement...

OBITUARY: MARION LANE JONES Marion Lane Jones, 81, Topeka, died Sun., Oct. 24, 2010. He was born June 22, 1929, at St. Francis, AR, the son of Harry B. and Mary (Jennings) Jones. Marion served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He moved to Emporia in 1960 and to Topeka in 1980. He was the supervisor over electronics technicians for the...

Myra M. Ryan, 92, Topeka, passed away on Friday, October 22, 2010 at St. Francis Hospital. Myra was born August 5, 1918 in Avoka, WI, the daughter of John and Wilhelmina Sailing. She married James Ryan and they were together for 58 years. Their children are, Patsy Switzky, Dale Switzky, Dennis Switzky, Suzann Whitt, Mary Rhoades, Jimmy, John and Michael...

Arlie Price, Jr., 61, of Ozawkie, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2010.He was born March 2, 1949 in Houston, Mississippi, the son of Arlie and Sadie B. (Hester) Price, Sr. He was employed by McAnany Construction Inc., Shawnee, KS. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 101.Arlie married Sandra L. Deese on October 5, 1979 in Topeka. She...

Marvin Dale Manis, 82, of Meriden, passed away Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010. Marvin was born on April 2, 1928, in Soldier, KS, the son of Everett and Lena Manis. On June 14, 1953, in Williamstown, he married Evalee Hackathorn. She survives. Marvin grew up in the Holton area before joining the Unites States Army from 1950-52, later moving to Lecompton,...