Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
PHYLLIS M. BROWN
Phyllis M. Brown, 80, Shawnee, KS passed away Sunday, March 20, 2005 at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Merriam, KS. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Thursday, March 24 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee; burial in the Highland Park Cemetery, Kansas City, KS. Visitation will be 6-8 PM, Wednesday, at the chapel. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Shawnee United Methodist Church 10700 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS 66203.
Phyllis was born April 14, 1924 in Linwood, KS and moved to Shawnee in 1950. She was a member of Shawnee United Methodist Church since 1951.Phyllis was a very active member of her church and United Methodist Women. She held many offices and was a Past President of the Kansas East Conference of the UMW. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents, sister and son. Survivors include her husband, George Brown of the home; daughter, Mary McCoy; granddaughter, Christine McCoy both of Shawnee, KS; brother and sister-in-law, Clinton and Shirley Atterbery, Jacksonville, FL; sister-in-law, Mary Louise Smith, Portland, OR; two nephews, Ed Steinhurst and family, Merriam, KS and Gary Steinhurst and family, Grandview, MO and five nieces. Phyllis was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
HELENA M. VERHEAGHE
Helena M. Verheaghe, 79, Overland Park, KS passed away Monday, March 21, 2005, at her home. Private inurnment services will be held at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas.
Visitation 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Contributions may be made to Scleroderma Foundation, Missouri Chapter.
Helena was born in Kansas City, MO. She was past president and secretary of Westbrooke Homes Assn and V.F.W. Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband, Sidney C. Verheaghe of the home; two sons, Gene and his wife Marsha Verheaghe of Lenexa, KS and Jerry and his wife Jo Ann Verheaghe; a daughter, Jeannette and her husband Jim Osborn of California; ten grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren.
LARRY JON HATZ
Larry Jon Hatz, 61, of Overland Park Kansas passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at KU Medical Center. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Sat at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Friends may call from 5-7PM Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers family suggest memorial contributions be sent to The National Kidney Foundation.
Mr. Hatz was born August 20, 1943 to Lawrence and Peggy Hatz in Sabetha, Kansas. He is survived by his wife Carolyn of the home, one daughter; Meredith Hill and her husband Michael, two grandchildren; Madison and McKenzie Baker. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister; Kaye Jean Hartsook.
ARTHUR E. MARTENS
Arthur Martens, 84, of Prairie Village, KS passed away March 23rd, 2005 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 26th, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at the Southminster Presbyterian Church with a visitation following the service. In lieu of flowers the family Suggests donations to Southminster Presbyterian 6306 Roe Ave, Prairie Village, KS 66208.
Arthur was born March 23rd, 1921 in Harvey County, KS. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Architectural Engineering. He worked 38 years as the architectural director for Russell Stover Candies. He was a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon and an Elder and was a member of the choir for 48 years. He married Marilyn Utermohlen September 17th, 1944 and she survives him. He also leaves his daughters Barbara Bush and her husband Jack of Denver, CO; Elaine Bell and her husband Don of Eudora, KS and his son Kent Martens and his wife Cindy of Overland Park, KS; as well as his grandchildren Andrew Bell, Eric Martens, Brooke Bell, and Alan Martens.
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.
RAY B. JOHNSON
Ray B. Johnson, 79, Overland Park, KS Passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at Garden Terrace of Overland Park.
Memorial Services will be 3:00 PM, Saturday March 26, 2005, at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, 9300 Nall, Overland Park, KS. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church 9300 Nall, Overland Park, KS 66207 Or to Garden Terrace of Overland Park, 7541 Switzer Rd Overland Park, KS 66214.
Mr. Johnson was born May 1, 1925, in Taney County, MO, son of Ross and Nellie Johnson. Ray was an Army Air Corp Veteran of WWII and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rollo. He was a civil engineer. Mr. Johnson worked for the Coastal Geographic Survey, the State of Missouri Highway Department and retired from Black & Veatch after 25 years.
Ray is survived by his wife, Patricia A. Johnson of 49 years, Barbara and Steve Wiener of West Windsor, NJ, Laurie Johnson of Lenexa, KS, Beverly and Tom Kolins of Lenexa, KS and Frank and Leslie Johnson of Richmond, VT, and nine grandchildren Ray has one surviving brother, Donald and Luene Johnson of Bradleyville, MO and many nieces and nephews. Three sisters preceded him in death.
WILMA ARLENE GRIEBLING
Wilma Arlene Griebling of Kansas City, and formerly of Mason City, Iowa, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at St. Joseph’s Health Center, Kansas City, MO, following a brief illness. Her family was at her side.
Wilma was born in Mason City, Iowa, on July 29, 1913. She was the youngest of eight children born to Norwegian immigrants Sophia Louise Sjobakken Mellang and Cornelius Lindor Mellang. She grew up in Mason City, graduated from Mason City High School in 1932, and then attended Mason City Junior College.
On July 2, 1938, Wilma married James William (Jim) Griebling. They built their home in Mason City and initially owned and operated a local ice cream store until her husband went to work for the United States Postal Service. The couple had three children, James Tomas Griebling, Jana Louise Griebling Root, and Tomas Lindor Griebling. Her family was always the greatest joy in her life.
She was the executive assistant to Dean Beam in the administrative offices of the Mason City Junior College (now NIACC). She also worked as the office manager with several Mason City businesses including the chuck Busch Insurance Agency, United Home Bank, and FibraCo.
Wilma spent most of her professional career as a legal secretary working with Judges Mason and Stone in Mason City until her retirement from the bench. She then worked for many years as a private legal secretary with Mr. Fred Ontjes, a prominent Mason City attorney, who practiced law until his death at the age of 91.
For more than 10 years, she served as the director and curator of the Kinney Pioneer Museum in Mason City, a museum dedicated to preserving the history of North Central Iowa. During her tenure, the museum significantly increased its collections and exhibition space, and saw dramatic increases in attendance at special events including antique auto shows, ice cream socials, and historical reenactments.
Wilma was dedicated to community service, and served in a number of leadership positions including President of the Friends of the Mason City Library, membership chair of the Mason City Woman’s Club, and volunteer with the Mason City Red Cross. She was active in the League of Women Voters, and she was a state delegate of the Iowa Republican Party. She served as a notary public, and frequently assisted with absentee voting efforts. She served in all of the Board of Director positions, including Chairwoman, of the North Iowa regional chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers Auxiliary, and was the chapter delegate to several of their national conventions. She also served on the Board of Directors for Public Health Nursing in Cerro Gordo County (IA).
In July of 2003, Wilma and Jim moved to the Kansas City metropolitan area to be closer to their youngest son, Dr. Tomas Lindor Griebling, Assistant Professor and Vice-Chair of Urology and Faculty Associate in the Center on Aging at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
She enjoyed keeping in touch with her numerous long-time friends in Mason City, and getting to know many new friends and neighbors in the Kansas City area.
She loved music and the fine arts, and encouraged her children to pursue their artistic talents. When she was growing up, Wilma played bass saxophone in an all-girl, all-saxophone dance banc that performed throughout the North Iowa area. As a young woman, she was involved in the early development of Mason City Little Theatre (now Mason City Community Theatre). She was a very strong parent-student advocate and often volunteered in activities with the Mason City schools.
An avid gardener, she took great pride in the flower gardens surrounding her homes in both Mason City and Kansas City. Her other favorite pastimes included reading biographies, traveling with her family, and attending theater and music events. She was extremely proud of her Norwegian heritage, and incorporated Scandinavian traditions in family holiday gatherings and her daily life.
Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, four brothers, three sisters, and her cousin Martha Steensland of Lawler, IA.
She is survived by her husband, James William Griebling of Kansas City, MO; her son James Tomas Griebling and his wife Phyllis of Pequot Lakes, MN and La Feria, TX; her daughter Jana Louise Griebling Root and her husband Dennis of Mason City, IA; her son Tomas Lindor Griebling, MD, of Shawnee, KS; five grandchildren: Christopher Griebling of Hastings, MN; William (Bill) Griebling of Red Wing, MN; Sarah Guilgot of Hastings, MN; Matthew Root of Huntington Beach, CA; and Dagne Root of Edwards, CO; six great-grandchildren; a nephew, Claire Mellang and his wife Helen of Bloomington, MN; a cousin, Anna Webster and her husband Bob of Lawler, IA, and several other cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2005 at 3:00 pm at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th Street, Kansas City, MO. Plans for a subsequent memorial service in Mason City, IA are currently pending. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Wilma’s honor to the Kansas City Good Samaritan Project, 3030 Walnut, Kansas City, MO, 64108, or the Muse Norris Hospice of North Iowa, 232 Second Street SE, Mason City, IA, 50401. The Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS is in charge of arrangements (913) 631-5566.
