Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
ERICH SARAPUU, PH.D
Erich Sarapuu, 87, Kansas City, MO passed away Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2004, at his home.
Mr. Sarapuu was born in Tallinn Estonia. He was the retired President of Bio-Electrics. He received his PHD from the University of Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, MO.
He was preceded in death by a son, Peeter Sarapuu. Survivors include his wife, Erna Sarapuu of the home; two daughters, Ingrid Sarapuu and her husband, Michael Anderson of Bellevue, WA and Krista Sloan and her husband, Tom Sloan of Kansas City, MO; five grandchildren, Erich Anderson, Stacy Anderson, Stephen Conley, Steven Sloan, and Andy Sloan. The family request no flowers and contributions to Wayside Waifs.
LAURITA I. SANDERS
Laurita I. Sanders, 81, Overland Park, KS passed away Wed. March 8, 2005, at St. Luke’s Hospital. Mass of Resurrection will be 10:00 AM, Friday Mar 11, 2005, at the Queen of the Holy Rosary with burial at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee with a Rosary at 7:30PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation, Gyn/Oncology Fund, 800 West 47th St. Suite 204, Kansas City, MO 64112.
Mrs. Sanders was born in Hays, KS. She was a member of the Queen of the Holy Rosary, and St. Mary’s Circle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer J. Sanders. Survivors include a son, David L. and his wife Gloria Sanders of Marietta, GA; a daughter, Linda S. and her husband John M. McMillen of Bellevue, WA; a sister, Lucille Ruder of Overland Park, KS and three grandchildren, John P. Mc Millen, Jennifer C. McMillen and Kristen R. Sanders.
MICHAEL WILLIAM TOMASICH
Michael William Tomasich, age 57, a resident of Shawnee, KS died on Thursday, April 26, 2007.
He was born on November 4, 1949, the only son of Michael J. and Harriet G. Tomasich. He was employed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for the past 9 years. Mr. Tomasich was employed by Deluxe Check Printers, retiring with 27 ½ years of loyal service.
Michael was a 1971 graduate of Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, KS. He married his college sweetheart, Jane, August 4, 1972. Together they raised two fine young men, Nick and Andrew.
Michael was a devoted husband and father. He was a Cubmaster for Pack 3249, little league baseball coach, Boy Scout leader for Troop 246, and proud father of two Eagle Scouts.
Michael leaves behind his best friend and wife, Jane; sons, Nick of Merriam and Andrew of Lawrence. He also leaves behind his mother and step-father Harriet and John Eriks, sisters, Karen McLemore, Teresa Norton, Eileen Marshall, Annette Tomasich, Deanne Stephens and step-sister, Darlene Burress and many, many other friends and relatives. Michael was preceded in death by his father, Michael Tomasich.
Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 30, 2007, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with private inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, Heart of America Council, 10210 Holmes, Kansas City, MO 64131.
JANICE SITZMAN
Jan Sitzman, 50, Prairie Village, KS passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at her home. A visitation will be held on Monday, March 13 from 2-4:00 PM at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. The family suggests contributions be made to the Kansas City Zoo.
Jan was born March 22, 1955 in Lawrence, KS to John and Eunice Cantrell Roberts. She received her Master’s Degree in Gerontology at the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1985. She was a homemaker and worked as a docent at the Kansas City Zoo for 15 years. She was widely involved with PTA and girl scouts and enjoyed gardening. Jan is survived by her husband, Dr. Everette Sitzman, of the home; daughter, Ann, of the home; son, Steve, Overland Park, KS; mother, Eunice Roberts, Springfield, MO; two sisters, Karen Roberts, Overland Park, KS and Joanie Elsey, Chicago, IL; and brother, John D. Roberts, Miami, FL. She was preceded in death by her father, John P. Roberts. Jan was a loving mother, wife, sister, and friend and will be missed by all who knew her.
CARL PETERSON
Carl Peterson, 90, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away into his eternal rest, Monday, November 7, 2005. Beloved husband of the late Carolyn Peterson, dear father of Richard (Gloria) Peterson, the late David (Susan) Peterson, and Gary (Vickie) Peterson; beloved brother of Roberta Peters and Irene Sheele; beloved granddad of Wally (Sally) Peterson, Graig (Marina) Peterson, Rick (Lori) Peterson, Aaron Peterson, Meg (Doug) Williams, Laura (Dan) Berra, Kim Peterson, the late Lindsey Peterson, and Curtis Peterson; beloved great-granddad of Nyle Peterson, Marley Peterson and Timothy Peterson.
Services will be 1:30 p.m., Friday at the Amos Family Chapel of Lenexa with burial in Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., Friday, at the chapel. Memorials may be made to Westy Community Care Home, Incorporated, 105 N. Highway 99, Westmoreland, Kansas 66549.
JAMES E. PETERSEN
James E. (Pete) Petersen, 79, of Roeland Park, Kansas, was born on April 8, 1927, and passed away on November 8, 2006. Services will be at Hillcrest Covenant Church, at 87th and Nall in Overland Park, on Sunday, November 12th at 4:00 p.m., with a visitation following.
Jim Petersen was the son of Leon and Bertha Petersen. He attended grade school at Westwood View Elementary in Fairway, Kansas and Roesland Elementary in Roeland Park. He attended high school at Shawnee Mission Rural (now Shawnee Mission North). He entered the U.S. Navy in March, 1945 and served on the USS Minneapolis in the Pacific theater of war until his honorable discharge on July 27, 1946.
Jim married Nancy L. Fredlund in July, 1948, and this past summer celebrated their 58th anniversary together. They have two children, James W. (Bill) Petersen and of Grain Valley, Missouri and Pamela K. Petersen Lucas of Prairie Village.
Jim was a brilliant engineer and inventor who loved to tell stories. He worked as a machinist throughout his high school years. His first job after World War II was as an equipment installer with Western Electric. In 1949, he went to work as a machinist for Bendix Corporation. During his ten years there, he completed Bendix’s rigorous 4-year tool & die apprenticeship program before becoming first a senior tool designer and then a senior process engineer.
In 1959, along with Al Cooper and Frank Elliott, Jim founded Epic Manufacturing Corporation, which specialized in medical devices and aerospace components. In 1969 he became sole owner and president. He stayed on with the company as a technical consultant after it was sold in 1986, and in 1988 bought the medical device portion of the business back in order to found Dadson Manufacturing Corporation. He served as president and director of product development with Dadson until February, 2006. He is a past president of the National Tool & Manufacturing Association, a senior member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and a “For Life” Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE)
Jim and Nancy served as foster parents beginning in 1971, caring for over 400 foster children over three decades. He was a co-founder of the Johnson County Foster Parent Support Group, past president of Foster Children of Johnson County, a vice president of the National Foster Parent Association, and a director for the Kansas State Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents. Jim was also the vice president of Mid America Children’s Services. In 1994, he and Nancy were named the National Foster Family of the Year and the Kansas State Foster Family of the Year.
In addition to his wife Nancy, Jim leaves behind his son Bill, his daughter Pam, son-in-law James Lucas, and Pam and James’ four children: Laura Christine Lucas, of Boston; Peter Barrett Lucas, of Olathe; David Christopher Lucas, of Colorado Springs; and Bethany Gayle Lucas, of Prairie Village. Jim also leaves his sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Dr. John Withrow, of North Kansas City and their children Blake Withrow and Jane Patera.
“Pete” was a member of Hillcrest Covenant Church, and earlier of the Overland Park Bible Chapel and Troost Gospel Hall.
Pete waged a courageous battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for 3 ½ years. He died peacefully and sure of his destination while surrounded by his wife and children.
The family suggests contributions to the Sisters Servants of Mary, Northcare Hospice, or to the ALS-Keith Worthington Chapter.
EVERLY JOYCE KOZIOL
Beverly Joyce Koziol, 68, Shawnee Mission, KS passed away peacefully on January 14, 2006, at 10:30 am.
Beverly was born in St. Joseph, MO on Nov. 25, 1937. She married John J. Koziol, Sr. in August 1955. John and Beverly were blessed with 5 wonderful children who all survive their parents. Debra K. and her husband Paul Bliss, John and his wife Mandy Koziol, Jr., Steven R. and his wife Shelly Koziol, Peggy S Koziol-Oswald and Kimela G. and her husband Danny Murphy.
They were also blessed with 13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Beverly and John were very active members of the Lenexa Baptist Church. Beverly is survived by 1 brother and 5 sisters.
This wonderful woman of faith is greatly loved, and will be missed by all who knew her.
Beverly was known to her family and friends as a “Woman of Prayer” She never failed daily to lift prayer up for her family and her country.
Our one comfort is knowing she is in the arms of Jesus and walking the streets of gold with her beloved husband, John.
Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM, Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at the Lenexa Baptist Church, 15320 West 87th St., Lenexa, KS with a 12:30 PM graveside Service at the National Cemetery in Leavenworth, KS. Visitation 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday at the Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lenexa Baptist Church.
