Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Eugene Robinson
Eugene Franklin Robinson, 68, Topeka, died Dec. 25, 2000, at a Topeka hospital.
Mr. Robinson had retired from Santa Fe Railway, where he worked in the shops, and from the City of Topeka Refuse Department. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War.
He was born Sept. 21, 1932, in Topeka, the son of Lutheran Samuel Robinson and Charline Ardental Grant. He graduated from Highland Park High School.
Mr. Robinson was a member of Antioch Baptist Church.
Survivors include a companion, Anna Caraway, Topeka; three sons, Kenneth Robinson, Garnett, and George Hamilton and Rahim Robinson, both of Topeka; a daughter, Juanita Robinson; a stepdaughter, Carol Jackson, Topeka; three brothers, Dorman Robinson, Oxnard, Calif., Charles Robinson, Topeka, and Wilbert Dean Robinson, Harrisonville, Mo.; two sisters, Eleanor Moore, Davenport, Iowa, and Marceline Jackson, Topeka; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Zachary Kirk
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mount Calvary Cemetery for Zachary Addison Kirk, infant son of Paul L. Kirk II and Chandra D. Creek, Topeka. He died Dec. 17, 2000, at a Topeka hospital.
He was born Dec. 16, 2000.
In addition to his parents, survivors include a brother, Caleb C. Creek, Topeka; grandparents, Ron Creek, Norma Creek, Paul Kirk and Gayla Kirk, all of Topeka, and Cora and David Haworth, Pueblo, Colo.; and great-grandparents, Barbara and Ernest Cramer, Patricia McCall and Carolyn and Lee Ralph, all of Topeka, and Helen Rodecap, Meriden.
The casket will lie in state from noon to 9 p.m. Friday at Davidson Funeral Home, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Veda Lewis
Veda Elaine Lewis, 81, Topeka, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at a Topeka nursing home.
Mrs. Lewis taught for one year in a country school in the Alta Vista area, and she worked for the Victory Life Insurance Co. from 1952 until she retired in 1985.
She was born Jan. 1, 1920, in Eskridge, the daughter of Jess Samuel Fry and Clara Linus Castle. She graduated from Alta Vista High School in 1940 and lived most her life in the Alta Vista and Topeka communities.
She married Carl William Lewis on May 29, 1941, at Fort Scott. He died July 16, 1974.
Survivors include two sisters, her twin, Vera Deever, Topeka, and Thelma Wahl, Kennewick, Wash.; and a brother, Robert S. Fry, Eskridge.
Service at Crable Funeral Home in Eskridge will be private. Burial will be in the Eskridge Cemetery in Eskridge.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Stormont-Vail Hospice Program or to the Sterling House Assisted Living Program and sent in care of the funeral home.
Velma Cannon
GOFF -- Velma Maxine Cannon, 81, Goff, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2002, at her home.
Services will be announced by Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.
Juanita Gaswint
BALDWIN CITY -- Juanita Isabel Gaswint, 87, Baldwin City, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at a Baldwin City hospital.
She was born Nov. 20, 1914, in White City, the daughter of James W. and Henrietta W. Dobbins Pickett. She moved to Clay Center in 1923 and lived with the Henry Molyneaux family. She had lived in Baldwin City from 1930 to 1965 and then in Clay Center until she moved to Wellsville in 1985.
Mrs. Gaswint was a member of Swedesburg First Lutheran Church in Clay County, the Senior Citizens groups in Clay Center and Wellsville, the Wellsville United Methodist Church and the Baldwin City Rebekah Lodge.
She married Clifford H. Gaswint on Dec. 12, 1930. He died Sept. 5, 1999. Mrs. Gaswint also was preceded in death by a granddaughter, a grandson and a great-grandson.
Survivors include three daughters, Joanne Fiehler, Wellsville, Delores Hall, Techachapi, Calif., and Donna Kasper, Temple, Texas; a son, Warren Gaswint Sr., Jarrell, Texas; a brother; 18 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Chapel in Clay Center. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Swedesburg First Lutheran Church or the Baldwin City Care Center and sent in care of the funeral home.
Virginia Holland
HIGHLAND -- Virginia Louise Parker Holland, 74, formerly of Highland, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001, in Aurora, Colo.
She was born Sept. 2, 1927, in Highland, the daughter of Eugene and Florence Street Parker. She was raised in Highland and graduated from high school in Highland in 1945. She also attended Highland Junior College. She and her husband lived in many cities across the United States before settling in Colorado.
Mrs. Holland was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She married Donald Holland on Sept. 3, 1948, in Highland. He survives.
Other survivors include a son, John Holland, Evergreen, Colo.; two daughters, Debra Holland, Denver, and Gina Britton, Lakewood, Colo.; a sister, Helen Gilmore, Highland; and a brother, Charles Parker, Highland.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Highland. Burial will be at the Highland Cemetery. Mrs. Holland will lie in state at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Thursday, where visitation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Contributions may be made to the Virginia Holland Memorial Fund to be designated later and sent in care of the funeral home.
Don Long
Services are pending in Topeka for Don Howard Long, 55, Topeka. He died Dec. 17, 2001, in a Hutchinson hospital.
He was born Sept. 2, 1946, in Topeka, the son of Walter Long and Cornelia Beard. He was raised in Topeka and attended Topeka schools.
Mr. Long was cremated in Wichita under the direction of Kensington Garden Cemetery and Crematory. Burial will be at Topeka Cemetery.
Herbert A. Poort
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Davidson Funeral Home for Herbert Al Poort, 82, Topeka, formerly of Hoyt, who died of complications due to cancer Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000, at a Topeka hospice house.
He had owned several used car dealerships and later Herb's Bait Shop, all in North Topeka, and was an earth excavator and carpenter.
Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery. Mr. Poort will lie in state until 9 p.m. today at the funeral home where visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice Care, 200 Frazier Circle, 66606.
George A. Bates
OSKALOOSA -- George Alfred Bates, 82, Oskaloosa, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at an Oskaloosa care center.
Barnett Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is in charge of arrangements.
G. Alfred Bates
OSKALOOSA -- G. Alfred Bates, 82, Oskaloosa, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at an Oskaloosa care center.
Mr. Bates retired after 31 years at the Goodyear Tire Co. in Topeka. He was also a farmer and stockman in Oskaloosa since 1952.
He was born Feb. 10, 1918, in Tecumseh, the son of Jim Bryan and Caroline Bahnmaier Bates. He had lived in Oskaloosa since 1952, moving there from Topeka. He graduated from Highland Park High School in Topeka. He was an Army veteran of World War II and was a member of the Larner-Segraves American Legion Post No. 36 of Oskaloosa.
Mr. Bates was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa.
He married Arlene Marie Reist on May 10, 1947 in Topeka. She survives of the home in Oskaloosa.
Other survivors include three sons, Gene Bates, Oskaloosa, Gary Bates, Woodward, Okla., and Ronnie Bates, Oskaloosa; two brothers, Ira Bates, Los Angeles, and Wayne Bates, San Pedro, Calif.; a sister, Ula Armstrong, Muscotah; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa. Burial will be at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Oskaloosa.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa.
Barnett Funeral Home in Oskaloosa is in charge of arrangements.
Florence Bryan
EMPORIA -- Florence Smith Bryan, 57, Emporia, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at an Emporia hospital.
Mrs. Bryan worked in food service at Maynard School and at Presbyterian Manor in Emporia.
She was born Dec. 2, 1943, in Wilmington, Del., the daughter of William W. Donovan and Margaret Brooks. She lived most her life in Emporia.
Mrs. Bryan was a member of the West Side Baptist Church in Emporia.
She married Harold E. Smith on Aug. 29, 1965, in Emporia. He died Aug. 18, 1997. She married David L. Bryan on Nov. 9, 2000, in Emporia. He survives.
Other survivors include a son, Ricky Smith, at home; a daughter, Tammy Davisson, Emporia; her mother, Margaret Donovan , Emporia; and a grandson.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Cottonwood Cemetery west of Emporia. Mrs. Bryan will lie in state from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Carlson Funeral Home in Emporia.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Florence Smith Bryan Grandchild Educational Fund and sent in care of the funeral home.
Justin Brooks
COUNCIL GROVE -- Justin Dane Brooks, 21, Council Grove, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at a Wichita hospital.
He was born March 11, 1979, in Emporia, the son of Tadley E. Brooks and Margie Smith. He suffered from muscular dystrophy his entire life. He graduated from Council Grove High School in 1998.
Mr. Brooks was an organ donor.
Survivors include his mother, Margie Smith, Council Grove; a sister, Bethany Ann Gappa, Council Grove; two brothers, Tad Nelson Brooks and Ernie Michael Brooks, both of Herington; his stepmother, April Brooks, Herington; a grandfather and stepgrandmother, James M. Sutton and Gloria Sutton, Madison, Ala.; and a grandmother, Mildred P. Brooks, Council Grove.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Kendall Funeral Chapel in Council Grove. Burial will be in Four Mile Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to service time Wednesday at the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Justin Brooks Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Anthony Hedke
PAXICO -- Anthony Wayne Hedke, 21, Paxico, was killed in an automobile accident near mile marker 164 on K-99 highway Dec. 21, 2000.
Services were Dec. 23 at R.J. Evans Mortuary in Wamego. Burial was in Fancy Creek Cemetery in Randolph. His parents, Lonnie Wayne and Diana Brenschaal Hedke, express their sincere gratitude for the love and support received during this difficult time.
Contributions may be made to the Anthony Hedke Memorial Fund and sent in care of St. Marys State Bank, P.O. Box 188, St. Marys, 66536.
Leland Kirby
MANHATTAN -- Leland H. Kirby, 87, Manhattan, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at a Manhattan hospital.
Mr. Kirby had been a weigh master with the Kansas Department of Transportation. He also had been an automobile salesman for Brewer Motor Co. in Manhattan, and he owned and operated a grocery store in Colorado Springs, Colo. He served in the Merchant Marine in World War II.
He was born May 15, 1913, in Stockdale, the son of John and Grace Gravenstein Kirby.
Mr. Kirby was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, Lafayette Lodge No. 16 AF&AM, Isis Shrine of Salina, Manhattan Chapter No. 209 of the Order of Eastern Star and the Manhattan Elks Lodge.
He married Lillian Schmidt on Aug. 19, 1947, in Newton. She survives.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Holmes-Pfeifley Funeral Home in Riley. Burial will be in Grandview-Mill Creek Cemetery northeast of Riley. Mr. Kirby will lie in state at the funeral home today and until service time Monday.
May Chamberlin
LAWRENCE -- May K. Chamberlin, 95, Lawrence, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at a Lawrence hospital.
She was born July 14, 1905, in Maryville, Mo.
Services will be announced by Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Bertha Bundy
AUBURN -- Bertha M. Bundy, 102, Auburn, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.
Mrs. Bundy supervised the Auburn telephone office for 10 years, and she worked in a box factory at the supply depot during World War II.
She was born in Willard, the daughter of Albert and Magnolia Sherretts. She was a lifelong resident of the Auburn and Dover communities.
Mrs. Bundy was a member of the Auburn United Methodist Church, the Ladies Aid Group at the church and the Farm Bureau ladies group.
She married Wilson G. Bundy on Dec. 31, 1919, in Topeka. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include a brother, Richard Sherretts, San Saba, Texas; two sisters, Violet Sebring, Twin Falls, Idaho, and Katherine Woodruff, Maryville, Mo.; a daughter, Pauline Morris, Auburn; a son, Garland Bundy, Auburn; 10 grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel in Topeka. Graveside services will be at the Auburn Cemetery. Mrs. Bundy will lie in state at the funeral chapel after noon today.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Auburn United Methodist Church, 240 E. 8th St., Auburn, 66402.
