Abe Trillin
1920-1999
ST. LOUIS -- Abe Trillin, 78, St. Louis, formerly of St. Joseph, died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at a hospital in St. Louis.
Mr. Trillin was a salesman for several companies, the longest being with Industrial Chemicals. During World War II, he served in the Army.
Born in St. Joseph on Sept. 5, 1920, he was a resident of St. Louis for over 35 years. He was a graduate of Lafayette High School in St. Joseph and a member of Temple Israel in St. Louis.
Mr. Trillin was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Rose Trilinsky.
Surviving: his wife, the former Hermine Levikow of the home; two daughters, Kathy Trillin, St. Louis, and Andrea Bell, Mattoon, Ill.; and a sister, Esther Silverglat, St. Joseph.
Graveside service and burial: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, Chesterfield, Mo. Arrangements: Rindskopf-Roth Funeral Chapel, St. Louis.
Robert L. Vestal
1931-1999
Robert Lewis Vestal, 68, St. Joseph, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mr. Vestal was employed by the Degginger Foundry in St. Joseph
Born in Platte City, Mo., on Jan. 30, 1931, he spent most of his life in St. Joseph. He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in St. Joseph.
Mr. Vestal was preceded in death by his parents, Robert O. and Marie; and a brother, Alvin.
Surviving: two brothers, Guy, Seattle, and Everett, Denver; and two sisters, Laura Skinner, Tucson, Ariz., and Sue Dalton, El Dorado, Kan.
Graveside service and burial: 2:30 p.m. Monday, Dearborn, Mo., Cemetery. Visitation: after 10 a.m. Sunday at the Rupp Funeral Home, St. Joseph.
James S. Booher
1932-1999
RIDGEWAY, Mo. -- James S. Booher, 66, Ridgeway, died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at his home.
Mr. Booher was a self-employed truck driver.
Born May 19, 1932, in Martinsville, Mo., he had resided in the Ridgeway area most of his life.
In August, 1954, he married Luella F. Wood in Atchison, Kan. She survives of the home.
He was preceded in death by a son, Rex; his parents, James and Edna; three sisters, Helen Rulla and Betty and Nellie Booher.
Surviving: four daughters: Betty R. Alley, Leon, Iowa, Becky Jennings, Ridgeway, and Donna Booher and Connie Marsh, both of Albany, Mo.; five sons, James C., Danny and Randy, all of Albany, and Ronnie and Darrell, both of Ridgeway; a brother, John, Coffey, Mo.; two sisters, Novella Vandivert, St. Joseph, and Ruth A. Priest, Ridgeway; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Monday, Bethany Memorial Chapel, Bethany, Mo. Burial: Oakland Cemetery, Bethany. Visitation: after noon today at the funeral home, where family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight.
Tinsley H. Cox
1924-1999
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. --- Tinsley Harold Cox, 74, Leavenworth, formerly of Hamilton and New York, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at a Leavenworth health-care center.
Mr. Cox farmed south of Kidder, Mo., from 1951 until moving to Leavenworth. He also served in the Army from 1943 to 1945.
Born March 7, 1924, Mr. Cox was a graduate of New York (Mo.) High School.
Mr. Cox was a member of the Kidder Baptist Church, where he worked as a Sunday school teacher for many years.
On Nov. 1, 1945, he married Nadine Leedom. The first two years of their marriage, they ran the New York Country Store. His wife, Nadine, survives.
Mr. Cox was preceded in death by a stillborn son, Charles A.; his parents, Burton and Mary; and a brother, Buell L.
Additional survivors: a brother, Leonard B., Hamilton; three sons, Gary R., Dawn and Greg L., all of Cameron, Mo.; a daughter, Dena J. Fletcher, Kidder.; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Hamilton Baptist Church. Burial: Highland Cemetery, Hamilton. Visitation: one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be sent to Kidder Baptist Church. Arrangements: Bram Funeral Home, Hamilton.
Billie S. Gerstner
1940-1999
SAVANNAH, Mo. -- Billie Sue (Kempa) Gerstner, 58, Savannah, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 1999, at her home.
Mrs. Gerstner, a homemaker, also worked as a secretary for both Trans World Airlines and Ford Manufacturing Plant, both of Kansas City.
Born March 31, 1940, in St. Joseph, she was a graduate of Savannah High School. She also received a secretarial degree from Platt College, St. Joseph.
Mrs. Gerstner was raised in Amazonia, Mo., prior to living in Kansas City. She moved to St. Joseph before settling in Savannah in 1985.
She was a member of the Methodist faith.
On May 16, 1964, she married John C. Gerstner in St. Joseph. He died in 1985.
Mrs. Gerstner also was preceded in death by her father, William L. Kempa.
Surviving: two sons, Brian, of the home, and Bradley, Lee's Summit, Mo.; two daughters, Tanya Clements, Skidmore, Mo., and Leah Hale, Springfield, Mo.; her mother, Mildred Kempa, Savannah; two brothers, James Kempa, Amazonia, and Ronald Kempa, Savannah; two sisters, Joan Shaw, Savannah, and Mary E. Weipert, Easton, Mo.; and three grandchildren.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, St. Joseph. Burial: Agency (Mo.) Cemetery. Visitation after noon today at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight and Monday. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Cancer Society.
Paul H. Harnish
1914-1999
WINCHESTER, Kan. -- Paul Harold Harnish, 84, Winchester, died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at a Winchester hospital.
Mr. Harnish worked as a school bus driver for Winchester schools for more than 25 years before retiring in 1974. He also read water meters, farmed and worked in Ed Myer's Gas Station, all of Winston.
Born Aug. 5, 1914, in Winchester, Mr. Harnish was a member of the Christian Church, Winchester.
On June 6, 1937, he married Dorothy Thomas in Atchison, Kan. She survives of the home.
Mr. Harnish was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Maude; and a brother, George.
Additional survivors: a son, John, San Diego; two daughters, Elizabeth Noll, Winchester, and Edith Zunker, Sioux City, Iowa; a brother, Edgar Brammel, Leavenworth, Kan.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Service: 10 a.m. Monday, O'Trimble Funeral Home, Nortonville, Kan. Burial: Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Winchester. Family visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Lung Association.
James W. Hill
1926-1999
FALLS CITY, Neb. -- James W. Hill, 73, Falls City, died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at a Falls City hospital.
Mr. Hill was the owner-operator of Jim Hill's Paint, Glass and Wallpaper in Falls City.
Born Feb. 10, 1926, in Elmwood, Neb., he was a graduate of Lincoln School of Commerce and attended the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, for one year.
Mr. Hill entered the Army May 17, 1944, as an instructor at United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. He was Director of the Signal Center, directing communication between the Academy and the War Department.
Mr. Hill was a member of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Falls City, Knights of Columbus, BPO Elks No. 963, was a past president of both the Jaycees and Lions Club and was National Director for US Jaycees. He was a city councilman for Falls City for eight years and was a member of the Sacred Heart School Board and was a past president of the Falls City Chamber of Commerce. He coached many baseball and basketball teams and was one of the six original sponsors of Falls City Summer Recreation.
On Feb. 19, 1949, he married Charlotte G. Spohn in Friend, Neb. They moved to Falls City on Dec. 31, 1953. She survives of the home.
Mr. Hill was preceded in death by his parents Lowell V. and Clara M.; and a brother, Albert.
Additional Survivors: five sons, William, Omaha, Neb., Thomas, Chicago, Ronald and Daniel, both of Falls City, Gerald, Kansas City; a daughter, Dorothy A. Hill, Olathe, Kan.; two sisters, Dorothy M. Teague, and Mary Norton, both of Phoenix, Ariz.; a brother, Robert, Condord, Calif.; and 13 grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Monday, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Falls City. Burial: Falls City Catholic Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by the Falls City Ceremonial Honor Guard. Rosary: 7 p.m. Sunday at the catholic church. Arrangements: Clark Funeral Home, Falls City.
George C. Houston
1915-1999
WATHENA, Kan. -- George C. "Uncle Bill" Houston, 83, Wathena, formerly of St. Joseph, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at a Wathena health-care center.
Mr. Houston was employed as an auto mechanic for a number of companies before his retirement. He also served in the Army during World War II.
Born Oct. 27, 1915, in White Oak, Mo., he later moved to St. Joseph, where he lived until moving to Wathena.
Mr. Houston was a member of the Christian faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Bertha Kitchen; two sisters, Annie M. Kitchen and Oleta Waylan.
Surviving: a niece, Sue Ewing, St. Joseph; and a nephew, Samuel Maupin, St. Joseph.
Graveside service and burial: 12:30 p.m. Monday, Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kan. Visitation: after 1 p.m. Sunday, Bullock Family Funeral Chapel, St. Joseph.
Vernelle R. McTaggart
1936-1999
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Vernelle R. McTaggart, 62, Kansas City, formerly of Oregon, Mo., died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999.
She was born Dec. 5, 1936, in Oregon, Mo.
Mrs. McTaggart was a member of Northwest Bible Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Maxine Markt; and a sister, Maurine Bledsoe.
Surviving: Her husband of 42 years, Dennis McTaggart of the home; four daughters, Cathy Wilson, Jane Gardner, Jennifer Lauchlan, and Sally Hutzell; two brothers, Richard and James Markt; and 10 grandchildren.
Service: 10 a.m. Monday, McGilley Antioch Chapel, Kansas City. Burial: Mount Moriah Terrace Park, Kansas City. Visitation: 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Mission Fund c/o Northwest Bible Church, 6520 NW 64th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Elwyn M. Rogers
1912-1999
Elwyn M. Rogers, 86, St. Joseph, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 1999, at a St. Joseph hospital.
Mr. Rogers was a retired accountant and co-owner of Keith's Auto Garage, St. Joseph.
Born Oct. 9, 1912, in Dearborn, Mo., he lived most of his life in St. Joseph.
Mr. Rogers was a member of St. James Catholic Church, St. Joseph.
On July 7, 1941, he married Mary Flach in St. Joseph. She survives of the home.
Mr. Rogers was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Mayme; a brother, Bill; and a sister, Marguerite Bookless.
Additional survivors: two stepsons, Donald Flach Jr., Minneapolis, and Theodore Flach, St. Joseph; two stepdaughters, Dorothy McAuliffe, Kansas City, and Joan Nelson, St. Joseph; two nieces whom he adopted, Pam Foegan and Lori Kostner, both of Wisconsin; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, St. James Catholic Church, St. Joseph. Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation: after 10 a.m. today, Rupp Funeral Home, St. Joseph. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be sent to St. James Church.
Carolyn J. Speer
1944-1999
HORTON, Kan. -- Carolyn J. (Jones) Speer, 54, rural Horton, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 1999, at her home.
Mrs. Speer, a homemaker, also worked as the deli manager at Pat's Thriftway, Horton. She also was employed as a Tupperware dealer.
Born Sept. 3, 1944, in St. Joseph, Mrs. Speer was a graduate of Atchison County (Mo.) Community High School.
She was a member of the Muscotah (Kan.) United Church.
On Sept. 8, 1962, she married William F. Speer in Everest, Kan. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Speer was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas and Gladys Jones; and two brothers, Tommy Swan and Bob Jones.
Additional survivors: two daughters, Lisa Merz, Muscotah, and Angela Kreider, Horton; two sons, Frank, Troy, Kan., and Doug, Horton; a brother, Roger Jones, Holton, Kan.; two sisters, Pat Korioth, Garland, Texas, and June McFadin, St. Joseph; and nine grandchildren.
Service: 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary, Horton. Burial: Muscotah Cemetery, Muscotah. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the mortuary. Memorial contributions may be sent to Atchison Hospice, in care of the mortuary, 909 Central Ave., Horton, KS, 66439.
Johny L. Stone
1936-1999
COWGILL, Mo. -- Johnny L. Stone, 63, Cowgill, died Friday, Feb. 19, 1999, at his home.
Mr. Stone was employed as a Truck Driver for Mid-American Dairy.
Born Jan. 28, 1936, in Cowgill, he was a member of the Church of Christ, Hamilton, Mo.
Mr. Stone was preceded in death by his father, Ed.
Surviving: three sons, Harlon E., Hamilton, and Ronald and Billy, both of Platte City, Mo.; his mother, Dorothy, Hamilton; and a sister, Mary Pelton, Hamilton.
Service: 1 p.m. Monday, Bram Funeral Home, Hamilton. Burial: Cowgill Cemetery, Cowgill. Family visitation: 7 to 8:30 tonight at the funeral home.
