William Henry Kekar Jr. William Henry Kekar Jr., 87, Topeka, died Tuesday, June 22, 2004, at a Topeka retirement center. He was born Oct. 25, 1916, in Topeka, the son of William Henry and Mina Stellhorn Kekar. He graduated from Highland Park High School, where he was active in all sports. He was a lifelong Topeka resident. Mr. Kekar was...

Nana Fern Blandin Nana Fern Blandin, 80, died Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. Mrs. Blandin was born Oct. 13, 1923, in Goff, to Ammi and Olive Gillaspie Chandler. She was a bookkeeper for many years and was active in IBEW Local No. 226 Ladies Auxiliary and Retirees Committee. She was preceded in death by two husbands, H....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Freda Elizabeth Seckinger Freda Elizabeth Seckinger, 64, Topeka, made the transition to eternal life to be with her Lord on Sunday, June 20, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born Aug. 10, 1939, in Herpel, Ark., to William and Neatie Beatrice Barham Thornton. Freda attended school in Mountainview, Ark., and Topeka. She owned and operated The Snippery Hair...

Erma Jean Mulligan Erma Jean Mulligan, 73, Topeka, died Thursday, June 10, 2004, at a Topeka nursing home. She was born Dec. 27, 1930, at Fairfax, Mo., the daughter of Clark T. and Hazel D. Wake Proud. Erma graduated from Topeka High School. She worked at McFarland Drug Store and Beatrice Foods. She was the co-owner and manager of Mulligan...

George Roy Ditch George Roy Ditch, 88, Topeka, died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at Topeka Presbyterian Manor. Mr. Ditch was born Nov. 3, 1915, in Whiting, the son of George R. and Lena Kobiskie Ditch. He attended church services at Topeka Presbyterian Manor. He owned and operated George Ditch Hauling for more than 60 years. Mr. Ditch married Armintha Josephine...

DeVota Elizabeth Walters CARBONDALE - DeVota Elizabeth Walters, 88, Carbondale, died Sunday, June 6, 2004, at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center in Topeka. She was born Aug. 8, 1915, in Topeka, the daughter of William and Ida Isabel Lahman Sherman. She graduated from Topeka High School. She had lived in the Carbondale area since 1971. She worked for Duckwalls for more...

J. Glen Shogren J. Glen Shogren, 81, Topeka, died Saturday, June 5, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. He was born July 5, 1922, in Lindsborg, the son of Howard and Bernice Linderholm Shogren. Mr. Shogren worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for more than 40 years. At the time of his retirement, he was an office manager in the traffic department....

Mary K. Brooks Kennedy Mary K. Brooks Kennedy, 80, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. She was born June 5, 1923, in Lynchburg, Va., to William and Mary Lerner Roberson. She married Howard Brook Sr. on Oct. 12, 1940. He preceded her in death. She also was preceded in death by a daughter and a son. She...

Harry Albert Shubkagel Harry Albert Shubkagel, 85, Topeka, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center in Topeka. He was born March 26, 1919, in Vermillion, to John A. and Lida Ewing Shubkagel. Mr. Shubkagel graduated from Hoyt High School in 1938. He served in central Europe and the Aleutian Islands in the Army during World War II....

Mary K. Brooks Kennedy Mary K. Brooks Kennedy, 80, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. She was born June 5, 1923, in Lynchburg, Va., to William and Mary Lerner Roberson. She married Howard Brook Sr. on Oct. 12, 1940. He preceded her in death. She also was preceded in death by a daughter and a son. She...

Clara Rose Ekart-Martin Clara Rose Ekart-Martin, 100, Topeka, died Monday, May 31, 2004, at Rolling Hills Health Center in Topeka. She was born March 17, 1904, in Myers Valley, to Alois and Rose Jane Dunn Umscheid. She moved to California from Silver Lake in 1942. Mrs. Ekart-Martin was manager in the blind concession stand at the Federal Court House in...

Wayne Alfred Meinert Wayne Alfred Meinert, 55, Topeka, died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. He was born March 19, 1949, in Atchison, the son of Alfred L. and Laura R. Albers Meinert. He lived most of his life in Topeka. He graduated from Seaman High School and attended Washburn University and Kaw Valley Vocational Technical School. He...

Johnie May Seibold Johnie May Seibold, 83, died Saturday, May 29, 2004, in Topeka. She is survived by three sons and their wives Jerry and Connie, Doug and Julie, and Charles and Pat Oliver; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Seibold will lie in state after 3 p.m.Tuesday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 7...

Donald Arthur Dain, 76, Silver Lake died of natural causes on Tuesday morning, may 18, 2004 at Stormont Vail Regional Health Center. He was born on October 14, 1927 to Cecil Vincent Dain and Laura Francis Adams Dain in Osawatomie, KS, where he lived and went to school. He served in the U.S. Army from January 1946 to April 1947....

Laura Ann Shaw, 38, Topeka, died Monday, May 17, 2004, at a local hospital. She was born July 19, 1965, in Topeka, the daughter of Jerry E. and Sharon Kay Brown Shaw. She lived in Topeka all of her life. She attended Seaman public schools, graduating in 1984. Laura was a production worker for Sagebrush Publications. Survivors include her parents;...

Clem Wade Ferguson Clem Wade Ferguson, 88, Topeka, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004, at Atria Hearthstone Retirement Home in Topeka. He was born Oct. 28, 1915, in Victor, the son of Oscar N. and Aline W. Tilford Ferguson. He graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1932 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1934. He was sent to Fort...

Jeannie Lee Bingham SCRANTON - Jeannie Lee Bingham, 62, Scranton, died Sunday, May 2, 2004, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. She was born Nov. 27, 1941, in Hannibal, Mo., the daughter of Simon Houston and Bertha Lee Breedlove Webb. She graduated from Topeka High School. She lived 11 years in the Carbondale area. Mrs. Bingham worked at K-Mart for more...

Francis A. Perkins Francis A. Perkins 94, formerly of Topeka, passed away at his home in Silver City, N.M., Wednesday, May 5, 2004. Mr. Perkins was born March 8, 1910, in Webster. He was the son of Melvin Allen and Musetta Dennis Perkins. He married Rosalie Fultz on June 28, 1941, in Richland. He is survived by his loving wife...

Patty Ann Niwa Ms. Patty Ann Niwa, 56, Topeka, died Thursday, May 6, 2004, at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. She was born June 14, 1947, in Topeka. She attended Manhattan Public Schools. She lived in Topeka most of her life. Ms. Niwa was a lead warehouse worker for Payless Shoe Source for 27 years. She was a member of Union...

Donald Steven Simons Donald Steven Simons, 88, Topeka, died Tuesday, May 4, 2004, at his home. He was born Dec. 14, 1915, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Thomas and Josephine Kies Simons. He attended public schools in Alexandria, S.D., and served in the Army in the 737 Tank Battalion during World War II, where he was awarded the Silver...