Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
MERRILL FOSTER
Merrill Foster, 85, of Overland Park passed away January 7, 2005. Memorial services will be held January 11, 2005 at 11 a.m. at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. The family request memorials be sent to the American Cancer Association.
Merrill was born Jan. 29, 1919 in Raymond, IL to Alonzo and Tressa Foster. He attended Raymond High School where he was Valedictorian of his class. He served over seas in the Army Transportation Corp. during WWII. He was an executive in the trucking industry for 50 years. Merrill was also a life long Republican. He is survived by his wife Virginia; daughter S. Lee Foster-Crowder; Granddaughter Channing Lee Foster-Crowder.
MARK ALAN FORD
Mark Alan Ford, 45, Shawnee, KS passed away Friday, Dec. 31, 2004, at his home. Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, Jan 4, 2005, at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, IL.
Mr. Ford was born in Decatur, IL. He was an Automobile Mechanic. Mark was a past member of the Shawnee Kiwanis club, member of the National Rifle Association and Falls Church Presbyterian at Falls Church, VA. He is survived by his parents, Pat and Dolores Ford, of Shawnee, KS; a sister, Kimberly Traphagan of Shawnee, KS and two brothers, Scott D. Ford of Kansas City, KS and Curtis Lee Ford of LaHarpe, KS.
AUDREY HALE FOGLEMAN
Audrey Hale Fogleman, 97, died on March 22, 2005, in Olathe, KS. She was born in rural Thayer, KS on Jan 31, 1908, the daughter of Thad and Mary Nance Hale.
She graduated from Morehead High School in 1926 and earned her teacher’s certificate from Pittsburg State Teacher’s College. She taught the primary grades in Morehead, KS before marriage and continued to be an advocate for children’s education throughout her life. She married Truman Fogleman on May 21, 1927 and they made their first home in the new oil fields of Seminole, OK. In 1929, they moved to the Wichita, KS area and later to McPherson County in central KS. They moved to Thayer in 1944 and in 1965 to Neodesha, where she lived until 1989, when she moved to The Methodist Home in Topeka. At the time of her death she was living at the Good Samaritan Center in Olathe, KS.
Audrey was very active in the United Methodist Church and on Oct 2, 1940, she became a charter member of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service, which later became the United Methodist Women. She was a fifty year member of the Order of the Eastern Star and belonged to the Federated Reading Club of Thayer.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1980. She is survived by her daughters and son-in-law, Jane and Raymond Stafford of Westfield, NJ and Mary Jean Mosman of Lawndale, CA, seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM, Friday April 1st at Asbury United Methodist Church in Prairie Village and at 2:00 PM Sat. April 2 at the Neodesha United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Olathe Good Samaritan Center at 20705 West 151st St. Olathe, KS 66061 or to the Neodesha United Methodist Church.
CONSTANCE EILEEN FERN
“On the day O beautiful Mother, on this day we give you our love, fondly we hover trusting thy gentle care to prove.”
Constance Fern was escorted by loving angels to her heavenly home on Friday, March 18, 2005. The Mass of Resurrection celebrating Connie’s life will be 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 22, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 – 8 p.m., Monday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee where the Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Center, 2601 Ridge, Kansas City, KS 66102.
Connie was born in Mineral, KS on February 22, 1915, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ryan. At age five, Connie moved with her family of 11 to Kansas City, KS where her father established the Ryan Coal Company. She attended St. Rose of Lima elementary school, graduating in 1929 then attended St. Agnes Academy in Kansas City, MO, graduating in 1933. Connie married Joseph Fern on Thanksgiving Day in 1939. They moved to Wichita, KS in 1941. The couple had eight children. They moved to Shawnee, KS in 1954. Connie was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph and a son John. Connie is survived by her children: Connie Hays, Patricia Meyer, Michael Fern, Joseph Fern, James Fern, Mary Fern, and Kevin Fern. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.
Connie lived an ordinary life in an extraordinary way. She never held down a job outside the home. She was never elected to an office, nor joined an organization. Her life was devoted to the Blessed Mother of Christ in heaven and all who knew her were blessed by her. Connie had a spirit and spirituality that lit up the lives of all who knew her. Connie spent her time on earth attending daily mass, praying a daily rosary, delivering lunches to the elderly, visiting the sick in hospitals, tending to the physical and spiritual needs of her family, and generally lighting up everyone’s life with her laughter and love. Affectionately known by her grandchildren as “Mamie”, Connie especially loved children. Even though she endured many crosses in her life, Connie retained the magic, mystery, and majesty of childhood. Christ said, “It is only as a child that one will enter the kingdom of heaven.” So now Connie, a true child of God, has gone home to her heavenly father. In the end, all that is really important is how one lives their life. We thank Connie for blessing us with hers. We now know that there is laughter in heaven because Connie is there. And we now know that heaven will never be the same. We also know that Jesus is now extending his hand to Connie and saying, “My dear Connie, you did so much for all of your brethren, now walk with me in the kingdom of heaven.”
EVELYN S. CADWELL
Evelyn S. Cadwell, 82, of Merriam, KS passed away March 8, 2005. Funeral services will be held 2 pm. Friday March 11, 2005 at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the chapel. Family suggest memorial contributions be sent to Odyssey Hospice or to KCPT. Evelyn was born March 5, 1923 in Shawnee, KS to Noah and Stella Harnden. She was formerly married to and preceded in death by Ivo F. (Pete) Loftus, and later William R. Cadwell. She is survived by two daughters; Lee Dye and Lynn Sprowl, one son; Pete J. Loftus, one sister; Anna Mae Krasick, 8 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
BETTY FAYE BRIDGMAN
Betty Bridgman passed away on December 30, 2004 at her home. Private family services will be January 3, 2005 at 9 a.m., Leavenworth National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-6 p.m., Sunday, January 2nd at Amos Family Chapel, Lenexa, KS with a short prayer service at 4:30. The family requests no flowers please make donations to Cancer Action.
Betty Beckett was born November 18, 1932 in New London, MO. She married Joseph Bridgman October 15th, 1953 in Hannibal, MO and he preceded her in death in 2002. They moved to the KC area in 1960 and have resided here since. Betty spent her life devoted to her family. She will be remembered by all who knew her as a generous and caring person. She is survived by her daughters Brenda Whitener of Bonner Springs, Linda Van Nieuwenhuyse of Lenexa, her son Michael Bridgman of Shawnee, and a sister Shirley Jeter of Shawnee. She also leaves her grand daughter Jessica Bridgman and great grandson Aiden.
JOHN F. BICHELMEYER
John Floyd Bichelmeyer, 88, of Shawnee, passed away Tuesday morning December 21 peacefully in his home. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, businessman, community leader and friend to many.
Born July 18, 1916, on a farm in Eudora, Kansas, he was the fourth of 10 children of George M. and Antonia (Madl) Bichelmeyer. He graduated from Belleview School in 1930, and immediately began work in the meat industry, holding numerous jobs in markets and packing houses of Eastern Kansas.
John married Mary Helen Matson in 1937 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kansas. They lived on Strawberry Hill until 1950, when they moved to Shawnee, where their family joined St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
John founded Bichelmeyer Meat Company in Armourdale, Kansas in 1946, which grew and flourished, despite being wiped out in the 1951 flood, because of his legendary approach to customer service and the high quality of his products. When he retired in 1975, John sold the meat business to his sons, and the business continues to flourish. After retirement, John continued to pursue business interests in the meat industry and the acquisition of real estate in Wyandotte, Johnson and Douglas counties. John was influential in helping many people in eastern Kansas to purchase homes and land and to open businesses in the meat and agricultural industries. Bichelmeyer Meats was honored as the Armourdale Business of the Decade in 2000.
John and his wife were instrumental in the early development of St. Joseph Catholic Parish and the Shawnee community. They received numerous awards in recognition of their participation in church and community activities, including the Excellence in Education Award from St. Joseph School in 1986, and being named Grand Marshalls of the 15th Annual Shawnee St. Patrick's Day parade in 1996. Bichelmeyer/Pflumm Park was named in part to honor the contributions of John and Mary to the community. John and his family were also featured in an article about the modern American family in the November 1999 issue of Life Magazine.
John was briefly survived by his oldest daughter, Joan Bichelmeyer Grimm, who passed away just fourteen hours after her father. John is also survived by eight children, Judith K. Sumpter and her husband Richard of Lenexa, James N. Bichelmeyer of Shawnee, Joseph M. Bichelmeyer and his wife Martha of Shawnee, Jerome L. Bichelmeyer and his wife Cindy of Shawnee, Jean M. Jenkins and her husband Russ of Emporia, Jane C. Wetzel and her husband Louis of Westwood, Mary B. Lucas and her husband Scott of Mission Hills, and Barbara A. Bichelmeyer of Bloomington, Indiana; 31 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Frances Smith of Slater, Missouri and Rose McKemy of Los Angeles, California.
John was preceded in death by his wife, Mary H. (Matson) Bichelmeyer, his son, John G. Bichelmeyer and son-in-law C. Louis Grimm; his grandsons Ricky Sumpter and Justin Bichelmeyer, his parents and his siblings, Barbara Bichelmeyer of Slater, Missouri; Matt Bichelmeyer, of Eudora, Kansas; Anne Lewis of Los Angeles, California; Mary Parish of Petaluma, California; George Bichelmeyer of Bonner Springs, Kansas; Agnes Cram of Los Angeles, California; and Leo Bichelmeyer of DeSoto, Kansas.
A double funeral mass will be held for John and his daughter Joan at 10 a.m. Monday, December 27, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Shawnee. Burial will follow the funeral mass at St. Joseph's Cemetery.
Friends may call from 1 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, December 26, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the John F. and Mary H. Bichelmeyer Foundation, care of Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas, 66203.
RUSSELL “TED” BEEBE
Ted Beebe, 66, of Gardner, KS passed away January 3rd, 2005. Memorial services will be held January 7th, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. The family requests no flowers, in lieu of flowers please make donations to Wayside Waifs.
Ted was born November 9th, 1938 in Kansas City, MO to Russell and Garnett (Keith) Beebe. He attended Shawnee Mission North High School. Ted married Norma Jean Phipps June 6th, 1959 and they made their home in Overland Park. He owned and operated Beebe’s Best Service Company a plumbing contracting firm that eventually led to his son’s company Beebe Heating and Air-conditioning which is still operating today. Ted retired in 2003. Ted enjoyed and was an avid auto racer. In the early sixties he raced at the Olympic Speedway, Holmes Road Speedway, and Riverside Speedway. In the early 70’s Ted helped his son begin his racing career. He enjoyed motorcycles and custom cars and especially loved his pets and all animals. Ted is survived by his wife; his son Rick and his wife Lori of Olathe, and his grandson Austin. He was preceded in death by his parents.
CORA MAE ASHFORD
Cora Mae Ashford, 89, Overland Park, KS passed away Saturday, March 26, 2005, at her home. Graveside Services will be 2:00 PM, Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at Ozark Memorial Cemetery, Joplin, MO. Visitation 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
Mrs. Ashford was born in Granby, MO. She retired with 35 years service at Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator.
Survivors include a daughter, Corina and her husband Everett Vaughn of Shawnee, KS; two grandchildren Michelle and Susanne, two great grandchildren, Jamie and Jeremy and three great-great grandchildren Zachary, Danielle and Taylor.
KATHRYN ROSE FRIEND ANDERSON
Kathryn Anderson, 81, Overland Park, KS passed away December 23, 2004 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Services will be at 10 AM, Tuesday, December 28 at St. Pius X Catholic Church; graveside services will be at 10 AM, Wednesday at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Lawrence, NE. Friends may call from 6 -8 PM, Monday at St. Pius X. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Pius X.
Mrs. Anderson was born October 14, 1923 to Glen and Clara (Goerig) Friend in Lawrence, NE. She married Paul H. Anderson August 7, 1948. She was a personnel specialist for NASA. Both her husband’s and her names were taken and left on the moon by Neil Armstrong.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother Robert Friend. She is survived by her sister, Jeanne Gentert of Lincoln, NE and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous friends.
