Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Jack Maddux
Jack Morray Maddux, 83, Lenexa, KS died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Village Presbyterian Church; burial in the Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to either the Village Presbyterian Church or the American Lung Assoc.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; two daughters, Becky Shalkoski and Cheri Sextro; son, John Maddux; two sisters, Donna Sandmeyer and Marylin Pease; seven grandchildren and five great grandsons. Jack was preceded in death by his brother, Russell Maddux.
Helen T. Ridgway
Helen T. Ridgway, 89 of Lenexa, Kansas passed away January 11, 2008 at Home. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday January 15, 2008 at Antioch Church of the Nazarene, 7600 Antioch, Overland Park, KS. 66204; Burial will be in the Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Monday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Antioch Church of the Nazarene.
She was a graduate of Shawnee Mission Rural High School in 1937. She attended the Antioch Church of the Nazarene. Began her career with Nazarene Publishing House for 5 years and retired after 25 years with the Kansas Gas Service Company. She was a lifelong resident of Johnson County. Early in life she enjoyed playing the piano and singing with the Sweet Adeline’s and during retirement she and Woody wintered in the sun at their condo in Arizona where she learned to swim at age 75.
She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Thelma Turner, two brothers and one grandson.
She is survived by her loving husband of 63years Woody, her three sons and daughter in-laws; Glenn & Rose Mary Ridgway, Dean & Debbie Ridgway and Paul Scott & Cindy Ridgway; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren, three brothers and one sister. Her real joy has been family gatherings, which has created traditions for years to come.
Helen Koch
Helen Koch, 88, Lenexa, KS passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 at the Johnson County Nursing Center, Olathe, KS. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, 10901 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 66203; burial will be at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. Friends may call from 1-2:00 p.m. Saturday at the chapel. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Down’s Syndrome Guild of Kansas City, 10200 W. 75th ST., Suite 281, Shawnee Mission, KS 66204.
Helen was born July 29, 1919 in Arma, KS to Renna and Juanita (Rauhut) Francq. On Dec. 26, 1941 Helen married Sam Koch in Junction City, KS. She was a very devoted caregiver throughout her life. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of Ararat Temple, Kansas City, MO. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years Sam Koch in 2000, her daughter Carol Jeanne Koch in 2001, two sisters, Ruth White and Elizabeth Lombard and brother, Renna Francq. Survivors include her two daughters, Sharon Stephens and husband, Leo, Osage Beach, MO and Judy Batchelor and husband, Wesley, Rocky Mount, NC; sister, Vera Weaver, Osawatomie, KS; brother, Harold Fouts, Osawatomie, KS; three grandchildren, Steve Stephens, Independence, MO, Chris Stephens and wife, Kim, DeSoto, KS and Erica Kettelson, Norfolk, VA; and five great grandchildren, Collin, Cora, Cameron and Carter Stephens and Baylee Kettelson.
Gilbert Lowry
Gilbert M. Lowry, 85, Shawnee, KS passed away Saturday, December 15, 2007 at the Select Specialty Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church; intermenty in the Resurrection Cemetery Mausoleum. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, where a rosary recitation will be at 5:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5901 Flint, Shawnee, KS 66203.
Mr. Lowry was born September 19, 1922 in Leeton, MO to Clarence and Edith (Maupin) Lowry. He was a veteran of the US Coast Guard during WWII. Gilbert was employed with Associated Wholesale Grocers, retiring in 1989. Gilbert was a member of the VFW, Lenexa, KS and the St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Lowry in 2005 , parents and son, Dennis Lowry. Survivors include his daughter, Clareen Jones and husband, Tim, Shawnee, KS; two sons, Gilbert Lowy and wife, Sheryl, Shawnee, KS and Gary Lowry and wife, Lyn, Independence, MO; daughter-in-law, Dana Simmons, Independence, MO; brother, Dale Lowry and wife, Paula, Modesto, CA; two sisters-in-law, Shirley Lowry, Leeton, MO and Anna Morreale, Independence, MO; 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Gertrude Gaunce
Gertrude A. Gaunce, 95, Shawnee, Kansas passed away Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Shawnee Gardens Care Center services will be private.
George Albert Lilleston
George Albert Lilleston, 73, Lenexa, KS passed away Sunday, January 6, 2008 at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. Memorial services will be 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12 at Lenexa Church of Christ, 7845 Cottonwood, Lenexa, KS 66216. The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice Foundation, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114
George was born July 6, 1934 in Kansas City, MO. He retired as a controller at Swift and Co. He is survived by his wife, Janis Lilleston of the home; daughter, Becky Aistrup, St. Paul, MN; two granddaughters, Elizabeth Aistrup, St. Paul, MN and Shannon Bartkoski, Shawnee, KS; three grandsons, Anthony Aistrup, St. Paul, MN, Dustin Kerby, Shawnee, KS and Daniel Rollins, Rosenberg, TX and two step-daughters, Bobbie Bartkoski, Shawnee, KS and Geneve Rollins, Overland Park, KS.
Gene Laughlin
Gene Laughlin, 84, Prairie Village, KS passed away, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at his home. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Old Mission United Methodist Church. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Americus Cemetery, Americus, KS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to either Old Mission United Methodist Church, 5519 State Park Rd., Fairway, KS 66205 or the American Stroke Foundation, 5960 Dearborn St., Shawnee Mission, KS 66202.
Gene was born on a farm near Americus, KS to Chester and Katie (Staley) Laughlin. He graduated from Americus High School and earned a degree in accounting from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, KS. He was a veteran of the US Army during WWII serving in the European Theatre. On Feb. 1, 1948, he married Phyllis Harris in Emporia, KS. Gene worked in management for the international Harvester Credit Corporation. After 30 years of service, he retired in October 1978. He was a member of Old Mission United Methodist Church and the American Legion Dwight Cowles Post. Gene was preceded in death by two infant children, Steven Eugene and Jeanne Marie and sister, Dorothy Best. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Phyllis Laughlin; daughter, Marjorie Laughlin both of the home; brother, Wayne Laughlin and his wife, Willa Mae, Eagle, ID; brother-in-law, Kenneth Bennett, San Jose, CA; niece, Pamela Laughlin; and four nephews, Dan Bennett, Allan Bennett, William Evans, and Richard Evans, (Emporia, KS).
