Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Grace L. (Burson) Shoemaker
Grace L. (Burson) Shoemaker, 93, of Manhattan, died August 9, 2003, at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan.
She was born March 26, 1910, in Russell, Kansas the daughter of Frank and Caroline Burson. She graduated from Oakley High School. With the help of a Union Pacific scholarship she was able to attend Kansas State University in 1932 where she was house manager and President of Clovia and the first President of Clovia National. Always active in 4-H, she was Secretary of Collegiate 4-H. She belonged to the Purple Pepsters, Prix, the Junior Honor Society, Senior Women’s Panhellenic; and was Secretary of the College section of American Country Life Association.
In 1937 she graduated from KSU and married Karl G. Shoemaker on February 13th in Ottawa, Kansas. While married she lived in Hays and Manhattan, KS; Madison, Wis.; Annandale, VA; London England; Minneapolis, MN; Sun City, AZ; and returned to Manhattan in 1999.
Grace was an excellent cook and loved to entertain; and while living in Annandale put on many church dinners and was manager of the local elementary school cafeteria. In mid-life she took up painting and loved to paint in the out-of-doors. Her work has been displayed in a variety of banks and hospitals and she won numerous ribbons in local art shows. Her home was always full of items she made such as weaving, dream catchers, ceramics, brass rubbings, and pieces of decoupage.
All of her accomplishments and abilities were displayed with modesty and grace, as befits her name. While at just five feet tall she was small in stature, her affection for her family knew no bounds. She loved to travel with her husband Karl, and had visited all 50 states, most of Western Europe, and as far east as Syria and Lebanon. She possessed an intense, quiet, curiosity about people and places. She most liked to visit her three children, daughters Karlyn Chafee and her husband George, Virginia Beach, VA; Shirley Hobrock and her husband Brice, Manhattan, KS; and son Kent Yrchik-Shoemaker and his wife Debra, Wakefield, RI. Her grandchildren are Michelle Flanary, Blacksburg, VA; Melissa Wilcox and Michael Chafee, Virginia Beach, VA; Bob Gordon, Wuerzburg, Germany; Gretchen Hobrock, Brookline, MA; and Peter Yrchik-Shoemaker, Wakefield, RI. The youngest of her three great grandchildren, Taylor Grace Flanary, shares her name and first met her great grandmother at Karl and Grace’s 65th Wedding Anniversary, which was celebrated at Meadowlark Hills. Grace has been a resident of the Lyle House at Meadowlark Hills since October 2002 where she was known for her gentle spirit and affectionately addressed at times as “little one”.
Memorial services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday at Meadowlark Hills – Lyle House.
The family of Mrs. Shoemaker will receive friends from 5:30 until 7:00 P.M. Tuesday in the living room at Meadowlark Hills.
Memorial contributions may be made to Clovia House at KSU or Meadowlark Hills Foundation – Lyle House. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
John Lyle Anderson
John Lyle Anderson, age 77, of St. George, KS, died September 29, 2004, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
He was born August 24, 1927, in Forest City, Missouri, the son of Roy Alfred and Ethel Marie (Waggoner) Anderson.
Mr. Anderson graduated from high school in Mound City, MO, and attended college at Cornell University in New York, the University of Minnesota and the University of Missouri.
John served in the United States Navy during World War II and was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
He had worked construction with Peter Keiwitt Construction and with Porter Dewitt Construction on the Tuttle Creek Dam prior to owning and operating Anderson-Superior, Inc., in Recreational Vehicle sales.
Mr. Anderson was a member of the St. George American Legion, and several travel clubs. He was very devoted to his family, and enjoyed traveling, reading and his work.
On June 4, 1950, in Oregon, Missouri, he was married to Marianne Sipes. Mrs. Anderson survives of the home. Additional survivors include two children: Christi Hester and her husband John of Larned, KS, and Scott Anderson and his wife Deirdre of Navesink, NJ; one sister, Eileen Derr of Forest City, MO; and six grandchildren: Sharla Testorff and her husband Dave, Heidi and Jeffrey Hester, Elizabeth, Chloe and Sophie Anderson.
Private graveside services will be held on Saturday at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Oregon, MO, with Reverend John E. Hester officiating.
Family and friends may call anytime on Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Thomas Leroy Dungey
Thomas Leroy Dungey, age 70, of Manhattan, died October 2, 2004, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
He was born March 10, 1934, in Abilene, Kansas, and was the son of Lester and Mabel (Belle) Stoffer. He grew up in Abilene and has been a Manhattan resident since 1965.
Mr. Dungey served in the United States Army and Navy.
Leroy had sold motorcycles in Junction City, worked as a car salesman for Brewer’s Motors and Key Pontiac, worked for Manhattan Wrecker, and was an apartment manager.
He was an associate member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the Eagles. He enjoyed all sports, dancing, boating, bowling, racing, and raced motorcycles when he was young.
On February 14, 1990, in Manhattan, he was married to Evelyn Marie Lowry. Mrs. Dungey survives of the home. Additional survivors include two children: Tammie Marion of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Michael Dungey of Manhattan; one step son, Joe Barker of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three grandchildren: Stephanie, Jason and Jillian; and two step grandchildren.
Cremation is planned with memorial services to be held at 2:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home with Chaplain Eldon Epp officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Barbara Meyer
Barbara Meyer, 20, of Manhattan, died Sunday October 10, 2004, as the result of an auto accident.
Barbara was born October 7, 1984, in Brookings, South Dakota. She attended Manhattan High School and graduated with honors in 2002. She was a senior this year at Kansas State University.
Barbara was the Opinion Editor at the K-State Collegian and President of the KSU Young Democrats. She was an active CASA volunteer and preschool Sunday School teacher at Westview Community Church. She was a member of the National society of Collegiate Scholars, the Multicultural Student Honor Society, and the Black Student Union. Barbara was also an active member of the Riley County Democratic Party. She also volunteered her time for campaign work. Barbara was prepared to graduate with honors in May 2005 and planned to attend law school in Washington, DC.
Barbara is survived by her fiance Scott Minneman; her mother, Diana Meyer, and three siblings: LeAnne Russell, Steven Meyer and Benjamin Meyer, niece Victoria Russell, and her father and stepmother, Jeremy and Cindy Meyer, all of Manhattan. She is also survived by her grandparents, Barbara and Louis Hubner of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Ruth Meyer of Lake Benton, Minnesota.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Benjamin Robert “Bob” Meyer and an aunt, Tamara Meyer.
Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday at Westview Community Church with Pastor Barbara Bennett officiating. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.
The family of Barbara will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 P.M. Thursday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Kansas State University Foundation for a scholarship in Barbara’s name in Political Science. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Donna Lee (Lundin) Lacefield
Donna Lee (Lundin) Lacefield, 68, of El Reno, OK, passed away Monday, October 11, 2004 following an extended illness.
She was born on February 17, 1936 in Malta, MT, the daughter of Clinton and Mabel Seely, both deceased, of Beech, ND. She was a former resident of Manhattan, KS from 1970 through 1981.
Donna married Art Lundin of Beech, ND on March 23, 1956, together having five children. They divorced in 1979.
She had many accomplishments throughout her lifetime. She attended the Vocational Technical School of Manhattan, earning her diploma on April 25, 1979 in the field of Nursing. She then attended the University of Kansas Medical Center becoming a Nursing Home Aide. On December 31, 1981 Donna received a degree from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for the Kansas Emergency Services to become an EMT for the State of Kansas.
Donna then relocated to El Reno, OK, where she began work at Parkview Hospital. She continued her education in the medical field and on December 17, 1982 she earned her license as an EMT from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for the State of Oklahoma. She met Tim Lacefield of El Reno and they married on June 1, 1984. On November 20, 1990, Donna became an Associate Nursing Assistant taking a position inside the hospital. She received the Parkview Hospital Award of Appreciation for her services from June 4, 1982 through June 8, 1996 at which time she retired from the medical field.
Throughout her last two years of nursing she began her studies for an Environmental Water Treatment Plant License. In June of 1994 she received a Certificate from the California State University of Sacramento School of Engineering Education to become a Water Treatment Plant Operator and on August 8, 1994, she received her Certificate from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Control for the Water Department becoming the first woman in the State of Oklahoma to become a Water Treatment Plant Operator. Donna ran and cared for the Water Treatment Plant on the Indian Reservation outside of El Reno. She retired from the Water Treatment Plant approximately five years ago.
She began her battle with cancer in late 2002. After a year long struggle through chemotherapy and radiation treatments she returned to Kansas on August 28, 2004 to be with and cared for by her children until her death.
She is survived by her husband Tim Lacefield of El Reno, OK; two sisters, Louis Smith and her husband Darrel of Fort Gibson, OK and Pat Smith and her husband Willie of Hulbert, OK; three brothers, Neil Seely of Milton-Freewater, WA, Dr. Howard Seely and his wife Sylvia of College Park, WA and Byron Seely and his wife Marjorie of Soda Springs, ID; two daughters, Debra Anderson and her husband Marty of Junction City, KS and Roxanna Carley and her husband Chris of Olathe, KS; three sons, Randy Lundin and his wife Denise of Manhattan, KS, Nicholas (Eddie) Lundin of Junction City, KS and Craig Lundin and his wife Karen of Manhattan, KS; thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, October 11, 2004 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Pastor Dan Houghton officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunrise Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. until the service time Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
A memorial has been established for Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Vivian E. Huxman Schneiders
Vivian E. Huxman Schneiders, age 82, of Manhattan, died Sunday, October 17, 2004, at the Stoneybrook Health Care Center in Manhattan.
She was born on August 9, 1922, in Urbana, Ohio to Arthur A. and Ruth Steinburger Huxman. After the death of her father she lived at the I.O.O.F. Home west of Manhattan, Kansas until graduating from Manhattan High School in 1940. In 1941, Vivian graduated from the Sacred Heart Business Academy.
During World War II, Vivian worked as a secretary at the U.S.O. where she met her husband, Fran. After the war she and her husband owned and operated a dance studio in Aggieville for 25 years. She retired from Kansas Farm Bureau in 1988 after working there for twenty years.
Vivian was a member of the First United Methodist Church and pianist for the Harmony Rebekah Lodge # 689.
She is survived by three children: Dick Schneiders and his wife Twila of Salina, Kansas, Nancy Yates of Manhattan and Tony Schneiders and his wife Cindi of Argos, Indiana, six granddaughters and 12 great grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers: Norman Huxman and his wife Sue of Sebring, Florida; Joe Huxman and his wife Natalie of Henderson, Nevada; Don Huxman and his wife Ramona of Sugerland, Texas; and a sister Ann Wingfield of Lawton, Oklahoma and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan with Reverend Jim Reed officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunrise Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. Wednesday until service time at the church.
Memorials may be made to the National Organization for Rare Disorders for Shy-Drager Syndrome. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Margaret H. Stricklen
Margaret H. Stricklen, age 88, of Manhattan, died Tuesday, October 19, 2004, at her residence.
She was born on November 8, 1915, in Topeka, Kansas, and graduated from Topeka High School in 1937. She moved to Manhattan from Topeka 51 years ago.
Mrs. Stricklen was a homemaker and had worked as a sales clerk for Crosby Brothers for 8 years. She was active with Girl Scouts and enjoyed cross stitching, cards, and especially spending time with family.
She was married to Emmett E. Stricklen on September 26, 1942 in Topeka. He preceded her in death on March 16, 1973. She was also preceded in death by one sister: Ernestine “Tennie” Willett.
She is survived by two daughters: Betty Escher and her husband Daniel of Topeka, and Linda Byrd and her husband Wayde, Jr. of Manhattan. Three grandchildren: Brock Paradis, Jeffrey Byrd and Jenna Riggin and two great grandchildren: Kyle Riggin and Maxwell Paradis. Also surviving is one sister: Betty Noller of Topeka.
Private family graveside services will be held in the Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.
A memorial has been established for the Riley County Humane Society. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Earl Eugene Dockins
Earl Eugene Dockins was born September 26, 1924 on a farm in rural Riley County, the son of Wes Dockins and Dora Christenson Dockins. He passed away Tuesday September 7, 2004 at the Mercy Regional Health Center at the age of 79 years 11 months and 7 days.
Mr. Dockins grew up on the Dewey Ranch and attended Ashland Community Grade School. He continued his education in Manhattan and graduated from Manhattan High School in 1942.
During World War II Earl joined the United States Army Air Corp and served from October 1943 to October 1945. He graduated from training as a Technical Sergeant Flight Engineer for the B-29 Superfortress.
Returning from the Army Air Corp Earl was united in marriage to Dolores Marie Heidel November 14, 1945.
Mr. Dockins first worked as a mechanic for Tri-County Motors. Earl’s family moved to Reno Nevada in 1949 for a time and then returned to Manhattan in 1952 where he worked as the Service Manager at Tri-County Motors. In 1976 Earl took a job with the Federal Civil Service at Fort Riley As DIO (Directorate of Industrial Operations) Maintenance Coordinator of Quality Assurance at building 8100.
Earl was a member of the First Methodist Church, the American Legion Post #17, B P O Elks and Good Sports.
Earl loved working the farm, playing cards and bowling for many years.
Earl was preceded in death by is brother Walter Dockins and his sister Dorothy Breese.
Earl is survived by his wife, Dolores; three children: Pam Gudjohnsen of Manhattan, Steve Dockins of Grandview, MO, and Russel Dockins with his wife Sheree of Manhattan; a brother, Everett Dockins of Reno, Nevada; a sister, Gladys Glessner of Manhattan; three grandchildren: Eric Gudjohnsen and his wife Karen, Briana Dockins and Brooke Dockins; and two great grandchildren: Haley and Ericsen Gudjohnsen.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday Sept 11, 2004 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverends Jim Reed and Moon-Hee Chung officiating. Interment will follow at Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan with Military honors
The Family of Mr. Dockins will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 pm Friday the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
A memorial fund has been established to the Ronald McDonald House or the Make a Wish Foundation. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Autumn Faith Dodds
Autumn Faith Dodds, 11 week old baby of Quinton and Daria Dodds passed away September 3rd, 2004, at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
Autumn Faith was born on June 19th, 2004, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kansas.
Although Autumn Faith was only here for a short time she brought great joy to everyone she touched. Autumn Faith loved the water. She loved taking her baths and showers. We know that she is up in Heaven playing in her water. She was a great baby and will be missed deeply by her parents and those that loved her.
Autumn Faith is survived by her parents; grandparents: Norbert and Marilynn Ohlde of Linn, KS, and Calvin C. and Teresa Dodds of Washington, KS; and her great grandmother Margaret DeRemus of Hutchinson. Autumn Faith has many aunts, uncles, and cousins that will miss her.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Manhattan with Reverend Dr. Joseph A. Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.
The family of Autumn Faith will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 P.M. Tuesday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Autumn Faith Dodds Memorial Fund, intended to be used to build a neighborhood playground. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Deborah A. “Debbie” Haffener
Deborah A. “Debbie” Haffener, age 43, of Manhattan, died Saturday, October 23, 2004, at the Mercy Regional Health Center from complications of A.L.S. (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
She was born on September 25, 1961, in Manhattan, the daughter of Donald and Judy (Clark) Loberg.
Debbie was a lifetime Manhattan resident where she attended school, graduating from Manhattan High School in 1979.
She was employed at Wal-Mart for many years prior to going to work as a teller for Commerce Bank. She then went to work for Kansas Farm Bureau and most recently was employed by the City of Manhattan Water Department in customer service.
Debbie was a member of the First United Methodist Church. She loved spending time with family and friends and especially enjoyed dancing.
On July 18, 1981, in Manhattan, Kansas, she was united in marriage to Robert L. “Robbie” Haffener. He survives of their home. Debbie is also survived by three daughters: Bridgette, Heather, and Chelsea Haffener all of the home and by her parents: Don and Judy Loberg of Manhattan. Two brothers: Mark A. and Alan F. Loberg and one sister: Kim R. Stielow all of Manhattan and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 27, 2004, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend R. Cam McConnell officiating. Interment will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Manhattan.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
On-line condolences may be left for the family at this website by clicking on "Send Condolences".
Memorials may be made to the “Deborah A. Haffener Memorial Fund”. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Amy Jo Kreiman
Amy Jo Kreiman, age 35, of Manhattan, died October 24, 2004, as the result of an auto accident east of Abilene, KS.
She was born June 10, 1969, in Wichita, Kansas. At the age of 1 month she was adopted by Harry W. and Lovena (Hoss) Warren, and was a very loving and caring daughter.
Amy lived in Lyons, KS, for a few years and then grew up in Dubuque, IA, and graduated from Hempstead High School in Dubuque with the class of 1987. Following graduation she had lived in California, Hawaii and Colorado prior to moving to Manhattan in 2002.
Amy had a pet sitting company in Colorado and then attended nurses training at the Community College of Aurora and earned her Nursing Degree in 2001. She had worked as a Registered Nurse at nursing homes, hospitals and doctor’s offices.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan. She loved animals, babies and fishing.
On May 16, 1987, in Dubuque, she was married to Robert “Bob” Kreiman. They later divorced.
Survivors include her parents of Gold Canyon, Arizona; four children: Kristyn (16) and Ryan (13) Kreiman both of Manhattan, and Terayn (11) and Katlyn “Katie” (10) Kreiman both of Aurora, CO; and one sister, Nancy Dedrick and her husband Kyle of Madison, Wisconsin.
Amy was very close to and loved spending time with her grandparents that preceded her in death, J.M. “Mike” and Nellie Hoss and LTCR. B. H. “Red” and Maddy Warren.
Cremation is planned with memorial services to be held at 3:00 P.M. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, 612 Poyntz Ave, Manhattan, with Reverend Jan Todd officiating. The family will receive friends following the services in Fellowship Hall at the church until 4:30 P.M. Friday. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the Lyons Cemetery in Lyons, KS, with Reverend Nancy Watson officiating. The Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons is handling the graveside services.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Amy Kreiman Memorial Fund, to be used for her children. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
