Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
William J. Wilhm
1920- 2004
Bonner Springs
William J. Wilhm, of Lake of the Forest, Bonner Springs, a well known local jazz musician and community member, died Tuesday, March 16, 2004, at Providence Medical Center. He was 83 years old.
Bill Wilhm was best known for playing the tenor saxophone. He played with the likes of jazz artists Tony DiPardo and Bob Brookmeyer, and during his time in the Army, played in a band called the Swing Patrol.
In 1987, he originated the Bonner Springs Kicks Band, and he was inducted as an Elder Statesman of Kansas City Jazz in November 1999.
Harry Tennant, Wilhm's friend and neighbor for 40 years, said he was a big supporter of his fellow musicians.
"Before he died, he gave the people he had played with $10,000 each," Tennant said.
Ross Woolf helped Wilhm start the Kicks Band, and said Wilhm was an amazing man in every aspect.
"He was the most charismatic person I've ever met," Woolf said. "He was a great spokesman; he knew no strangers."
Wilhm was also a songwriter, and wrote a song for the Kicks Band called "The Bonner Springs Blues" when he was on his way to Chicago and missed his home. Wilhm had to stop playing the saxophone about two years ago after a stroke.
Mr. Wilhm was born in Kansas City, Kan. on October 10, 1920, and attended Argentine High School. He served in the U.S. Army in New Guinea during World Ward II and then received a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Kansas, later adding a master's degree in counseling.
In 1948, Mr. Wilhm married Martha (Timmerman) Wilhm, and the couple had three sons. Martha Wilhm died from a hereditary kidney disease in 1975, and Mr. Wilhm remarried Huguette (Hoffman) Wilhm in 1979.
He worked as a pharmaceuticals representative at Smith-Kline Pharmaceuticals for 20 years, moving to Florida in 1968 and back to Kansas City in 1971. He then began working as a counselor in the Kansas City, Kan., Area Vocational Technical school, and then at Lansing State Penitentiary until he retired at age 65.
"Dad was an inspiration to almost everyone he came in contact with," said his son, David Wilhm. " He inspired prisoners at Lansing to be better, he inspired people at AVT to live better lives, and he inspired his children to get good jobs and become good citizens."
Mr. Wilhm was an active member in the community, serving as a City Council member from 1979-1983. He was also a 25-year member of the Edwardsville Kiwanis Club and served on the Lake of the Forest neighborhood board.
"He really loved Lake Forest," Huguette Wilhm said. "He loved walking in the woods; it was his relaxation I think, walking in the woods and just enjoying nature."
Mr. Wilhm is survived by his wife, Huguette, of the home; sons David Wilhm, of Overland Park, and Matt Wilhm, of Madison, Wis.; stepson Eric Hoffman of Sacramento, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Jennifer Hoffman, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Shirley Profazi, of Albuquerque, N.M.; nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at the Lake of the Forest clubhouse March 20. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed in his name to: Elder Statesman of Kansas City Jazz, 5621 Agnes Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. 64130.
Altha M. Martin
Edwardsville
Memorial services for Altha Mae Martin, 79, Edwardsville, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4 at the Edwardsville Manor in Edwardsville.
Mrs. Martin died Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Charles (Ed) Hunter
1914-2003
Tonganoxie
Funeral services for Charles (Ed) Hunter, 89, Tonganoxie were Nov. 20 at Tonganoxie Christian Church. Burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery, Tonganoxie.
Mr. Hunter died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence.
Charles was born March 15, 1914, in Williamstown, Kan., the son of John and Sarah (Carney) Hunter. He was a World War II Army veteran. He was a member of the Christian Church, VFW Post, and Past Master of Henri Masonic Lodge #190 AF & AM, all of Tonganoxie. Ed retired in 1991 as the owner of Hunter Lumber Co., Tonganoxie. On June 19, 1943, in Jackson, MS, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Cunningham.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; four daughters, Sandra Benedict, Marsha Albert, Gail Heintzelman and Pam Field, all of Tonganoxie; 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
John J. Gilroy
1923-2003
Eudora
Mass of Christian Burial for John Joseph Gilroy, 80, Eudora, was Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Eudora. Burial was at Holy Family Catholic Cemetery.
Mr. Gilroy died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He had lived in Eudora since 1954.
He was born March 23, 1923, in Tiffin, Iowa, the son of Daniel and Kathryn (Lynch) Gilroy.
Mr. Gilroy was a veteran of World War II and served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Essex in the South Pacific. He was a carpenter and had worked for Hercules for more than 16 years. He retired March 1, 1988.
He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora and the Carpenter's Local Union No. 2279.
He married Pauline Griffin on Oct. 19, 1944, in Pensacola, Fla. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include five daughters, Colette Foster , Kansas City, Mo., Carolyn Crews, Basehor, Cathy Johnson, Eudora, and Connie Gilroy and Cyrilla Loria, both of Lawrence; two sons, John C. "J.C." Gilroy, Lawrence, and James O. Gilroy, Eudora; a brother, Maurice Daniel Gilroy, Redmond, Wash.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to Holy Family Catholic Cemetery, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, Eudora Chapel, 1003 John Williams Drive, Eudora, KS 66025.
