Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Patricia M. Novich
1951-2004
Kansas City, Kan.
"Pat" Ristow-Novich, 53, of Kansas City, Kan., died Friday Dec. 17, 2004, at her home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home with burial to follow in the Edwardsville Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Kansas City Hospice, American Cancer Society or Dream Foundation, all in care of the Alden-Harrington Funeral Home, 214 Oak St., Bonner Springs KS 66012.
Mrs. Novich was born Aug. 8, 1951, in Kansas City, Kan., where she was a lifelong resident. She and her husband, Anthony "Tony" Novich, were married on Aug. 15, 1970, in Edwardsville. She worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 33 years, retiring in 2002. She was a member of the Church Alive of Kansas City, where she was active in various church activities. She enjoyed fishing, riding her horse and crafts.
She was preceded in death by her father, Frank Ristow, and her stepfather, Charlie Shroyer. Survivors include her husband, Anthony "Tony" Novich, and her two sons, Anthony Novich III and Paul Novich, all of the home; her mother, Dorothy Shroyer, of Edwardsville; and one brother, George D. Ristow, and his wife, Jackie, of Kansas City, Kan.
Arr.: Alden Harrington Funeral Home, (913) 422-4074.
Henry A. Martens
1932-2004
Leavenworth
Henry A. Martens, owner of Martens Chevrolet-Cadillac in Leavenworth, died at his home in Leavenworth on Friday, Dec. 17, 2004. He was 72.
Mr. Martens was born Sept. 18, 1932 to Henry and Mary Martens in Shawnee. He attended Shawnee schools and then served in the U.S. Coast guard. He married Shirley L. Pfeifer on Dec. 1, 1951, in Olathe.
He started his career as a Manor Bread route salesman. His bread route included the local Chevrolet dealer who was so impressed with his selling skills that he recruited him to sell cars. After just a few years of selling, he became a partner of Beck-Dennis Chevrolet in Olathe. Four years later he accepted a sales manager position with Guy Pine Chrysler-Plymouth in Mission. He left his job a few years later and was sought out by Chrysler Corp. to open his own auto dealership.
He moved to Leavenworth in 1963 when he and his wife purchased the Chrysler-Plymouth franchise. He owned this store for more than 30 years. His hard work and love of the automobile business allowed him to expand.
At one point he owned and operated five automobile dealerships with his five sons in Leavenworth, Platte City, Mo., Lee's Summit, Mo., and Warsaw, Mo. He and his wife, Shirley, own the Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership in Leavenworth.
He was a charter member of the Olathe Lions Club and a member of the Leavenworth Elks, the American Legion and AUSA. He was also a lifetime member of the Belgian-American Club of Greater Kansas City and sponsored many of the military officers from Belgium who attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth.
His many accomplishments included growing and harvesting grapes and producing wine for all of his friends and family. He also was a pilot for many years.
Proud of his Belgian heritage, he made two trips to Belgium to visit his mother's birthplace and to visit the many friends he made through the Fort Leavenworth sponsorship program.
He had a lifelong passion for being outdoors and for working his land with his farm equipment. He enjoyed cutting firewood and even more relaxing at home in front of a fire on a chilly day. A good day for him was mowing his acreage, planting trees and shrubs and making something more beautiful than it was before he started.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Shirley; five sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Sylvia Martens, Leavenworth; Dale and Ann Martens, Lee's Summit, Mo.; Tony and Gretchen Martens, Platte City, Mo.; Hank Martens, Joplin, Mo.; and Jeff and Melanie Martens, Leavenworth; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation and a Rosary were held Tuesday at the Davis Funeral Home, 531 Shawnee, Leavenworth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Leavenworth, conducted by the Rev. David McEvoy. Burial will be in the Johnson County Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Leavenworth.
Patsy Colene Shipman
1928-2004
Schell City, Mo.
Patsy Colene Shipman, 76, Schell City, Mo., a former Basehor resident, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, at her home.
She was born January 10, 1928, in Faucett, Mo., the daughter of George and Nora (Wilkinson) Richardson. In the mid 1940s she married Max Shipman. For a time the family lived in Kansas City, Mo., before moving to a small farm in Basehor. Max worked while Patsy cared for the children and enjoyed her gardening. After the children were raised and the Shipmans were nearing retirement, they moved to Schell City to a smaller, quieter area.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Shipman, Schell City; and Leroy Shipman and his wife, LaDonna, Tonganoxie; two daughters, Judy Vaughn and her husband, John, Richland, Wash.; and Pamela Carpenter and her husband, Duane, Walker, Mo.; a sister, Jane Bowling, Eugene, Ore.; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; nine brothers and sisters; an infant daughter, Joyce; her son, Michael; and her husband, Max, who died Oct. 16, 1997.
Funeral services were held Saturday at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo. with Brother Robert Bruce officiating. Musical selections were "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Go Rest High on that Mountain." Pallbearers were Tim Vaughn, Michael Shipman, Melissa McClue, Jayme Shipman, Leroy Shipman, Gary Shipman, Cathy Shipman, and Debbie Ferguson. Interment was in the Green Lawn Cemetery west of Schell City under the direction of the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo.
James E. Langford
1916-2004
Shawnee
James E. Langford, 88, Shawnee, died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 10, at the Alden-Harrington Chapel, Bonner Springs with burial in Bonner Springs Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday, Dec. 9, at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions to Edwardsville Christian Church.
Mr. Langford was born June 2, 1916, in Oklahoma. He was a heavy machine operator at Lone Star Cement Industries in Bonner Springs, retiring in 1977 after 30 years. He was a member of the United Cement, Lime & Gypsum Workers Local #85. He wintered in South Texas.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rethal Alta Langford, in 1996. Survivors include his wife, Mary E. Langford, of the home; a son, Wayne Langford, Livingston, Texas; three daughters, Helen Fenton and husband, Ernest, Kimball, Minn.; Peggy Knight, Bonner Springs; Ruby Price and husband, John, Bonner Springs; a sister, Madge Saunders, and her husband, Howard, Bonner Springs; 26 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
