Author: RumseyYost

Bonnie Bell Bruner

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Funeral services for Bonnie Bell Bruner, 81, Lawrence, will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at St. Cornelius Episcopal Church, Dodge City. Burial will follow at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery at Ft. Dodge. Visitation is Sunday, December 10, 2017 from 3:00 to 5:00 at Rumsey-Yost funeral home in Lawrence.

She died Thursday, December 7, 2017, at Presbyterian Manor, Lawrence.

Bonnie was born January, 7, 1936, in Collyer, Kansas, the daughter of Virgil Theodore and Naomi Helen Brown Chapman. She graduated from Scott County High School, attended Southwestern College and graduated from Charles Denver Beauty School.

What she loved most was taking care of her loved ones. She showed this in so many forms…preparing holiday celebrations, providing haircuts and perms, singing and playing piano together, and sharing her love of Life and music.

She married Bernard “Buck” Baxter Bruner on October 30, 1969 at Ft Dodge. He preceded her in death on February 18, 1989.

Survivors include son Rick Bruner and wife Mary Jo of Duluth, MN; daughter Mary Koehn and husband Leroy of Lawrence; step-daughter Jeniene Benedict and husband Mark of Apple Valley, MN; and step-daughter Julie Chenoweth and husband Rich of Steamboat Springs, CO; one sister Connie Kessler and husband Hilary of Scott City; one grandson Jon Benedict and wife Megan of St Paul, MN; a great-grandson, Louis and a great-granddaughter, Edie.

Bonnie is preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to Band of Angels, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, Lawrence or Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City.

Janet F. Myers

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Janet Myers, 73, of 550 Stoneridge Drive, Lawrence, Ks 66049, died in her home.

She was born July 6, 1944 in Stoutsville, Mo, to Thomas and Norene (Houghs) Abell. Janet had one son, Logan Myers.

Janet retired as a Lieutenant from Lansing Correctional Facility and currently worked security at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was passionate about her spirituality, loved socializing and going to the gym. She would frequently drive around Clinton Lake and liked to travel. She was so full of life and loved to help others. She always knew the right thing to say at just the right time.

Janet is survived by Logan, Annie, Robbie and Joey Myers. She was proceeded in death by her parents.

A Visitation will be on Monday December 11th at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home from 6-8 pm at 601 Indiana, Lawrence Ks.

Memorial Donations can be made to Haskell Indian Nation, any battered woman’s shelter or human society.

Robert James Friauf

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Robert “Bob” James Friauf was born to Helen Cox and James Friauf in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His family, including his younger brother Walter, moved to Milwaukee Wisconsin when he was 4 years old, and to Arlington Virginia when he was 14. Bob attended Washington-Lee High School and graduated in 1944 as valedictorian of his class. Written by his photo in his senior yearbook, “Shhh. Genius at work.” He went immediately into the Navy V-12 Program which was a very coveted and competitive Officers Training Program to get into. The program sponsored his college education at Duke University on an accelerated track. He graduated in 1947 and stayed in the Navy Reserve for 4 more years. After Duke he moved to Chicago for graduate studies. He studied with some of the giants of 20th century physics including Enrico Fermi and Edward Teller, and had many entertaining stories to tell about them.

In the Summer of 1948, Bob and his brother went on an amazing cross country bicycle trip of 3300 miles from Arlington, VA to Seaside, OR. The trip included many difficult challenges and exhilarating experiences that the brothers shared.

In Chicago he met his future wife Betty Schroer. They were married on September 10, 1949. He completed his PhD in Physics, Summa Cum Laude (highest honors) from the University of Chicago in 1953. His first daughter was born that year and they moved to Lawrence, Kansas a month later. There he began his long career with the University of Kansas as a professor of Physics, Astronomy and Western Civilization. His graduate thesis and subsequent research was on Ionic Conductivity in Silver Bromide (the photographic process), and he developed this into a lecture that he gave over 30 times in the US and Europe. He gave this signature lecture for his retirement in 1994 as his swan song to the physics dept, and felt, “I was going out in a burst of glory”.

Bob was very active with many interests throughout his life. From his childhood years spent in Milwaukee, he was an avid lifelong Green Bay Packers fan. Once in Lawrence he became an enthusiastic fan of Jayhawk Basketball. He also loved camping, backpacking, photography and rode his bike every day to work. Later in life he took up snow skiing, sailing, and square dancing with the Happy Time Squares. He had a lifelong love of playing the clarinet. He started playing in 4th grade, played in the Cadet Corp in highschool and continued through graduate school. He joined the Lawrence City Band in 1975 and was a founding member of the New Horizons Band in 1996. Soon after this band began, Bob started the Clarinet Quartet, which rehearsed before every band practice and performed at every band concert. He delighted in playing regularly in the bands right up to his death.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife Betty and his friend Lila Wrigley. He is survived by his brother Walter (wife Ida), daughters Ann (wife Kari), Barbara, and Nancy (husband Sean), grandchildren Chelsea (husband Juan), Adrian, Sophia and Dara, great granddaughter Sofia, niece Linda (husband Paul) and nephew Ken (wife Anjanette),

grand nieces and nephews Grace, Anthony, Christopher and Helen. Bob was devoted to his family and loved each person in it tremendously. He spoke often about how much he enjoyed the wonderful family weekend gathering to celebrate his 90th birthday.

In honor of Bob’s strong commitment to respect for the human rights of all people and appreciation for the beauty and wonder of nature, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Planned Parenthood, and the National Park Conservation Association, organizations that Bob was a member of.

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate the life of Robert Friauf will be held on February 3rd at 11:00am at the First Presbyterian Church in Lawrence, Kansas. A luncheon reception will follow at the church.

Mary Elizabeth Meyer

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Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth Meyer, 66, Lawrence, will be at 10 am Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mary died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

She was born Sept. 29, 1951, in Lawrence, the daughter of Marvin and Gladys Elston Guthrie. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1970. She had worked at Sunset Hill Elementary, Davol, Regis Inventory Co., Subway, and Dillon’s. She was a member of the Pentecostal church, where she taught Sunday School. Mary was a Girl Scout and Brownie troop leader at Kennedy School. In her spare time, she enjoyed bingo, country music, singing, and watching KU basketball.

She married Gary D. Meyer on July 3, 1971, in Lawrence. He survives of the home. Other survivors include a daughter, Jennifer Meyer, Lawrence; four siblings, Sharon Barrand, Springfield, Mo., Margie Ray and husband Don, Lawrence, Ron Guthrie and wife Ann, Lawrence, and Joe Guthrie, Kansas City; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Guthrie, Carbondale, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marvin and Gladys Guthrie, and a brother, David Guthrie.

The family will receive friends Saturday from 9 am until service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to Midland Care Day Care Center, or A Helping Hand of Lawrence, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044

John Steven Duval

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Graveside services for John Steven Duval, 53, Lawrence, will be 2, pm, Thursday, December 7, 2017, at Clinton Cemetery.

He died Sunday, December 3, 2017, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City, MO.

John was born February 2, 1964, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of Steven and Edith Steinhubel Duval.

He worked as a lineman and worked with Fiber optics for AT&T for many years. In his free time he loved to fish, target practice and watch TV Westerns.  John enjoyed the holidays. His favorite holidays were Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving and any holiday he could blow stuff up, like 4th of July, birthdays and New Year’s Eve, ect.

John tolerated Linda’s cats, but through the years he always had a dog. They were true friends to him and when they would pass he would mourn. Linda has his border collie Sadie, she will truly miss him.

He lived in Arlington TX, from the age of two until he was thirty. John moved to Lawrence, KS in 1994, fell in love with Kansas, and made it his forever home. Linda has found comfort in the fact that John will rest in peace in the grave spaces he picked out and bought at Clinton Cemetery sixteen years ago.

Hot Rod, Bam-Bam, Gary, family and friends will all mourn John’s passing.

John Married Linda Duval on June 26, 1991, she survives of the home.

Other survivors include his children Jarrod Munoz, Frisco, TX, Lindsey Munoz, Topeka, KS; brother in law Doug Stone, TX; nephew Steven Stone and niece Julie Renfro, both of TX; grandchildren Brendan Caughron, Jacob Munoz, Isabelle Munoz, Claire Munoz, and Cherish Harvey.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Shirley Stone and Kathy Duval.

Friends may pay their respects from noon-8pm Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

John Edward Leipzig

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Memorial services for John Edward “Jack” Leipzig, 81, of Lawrence, Kansas, will be 10:30 am, Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive.  Mr. Leipzig donated his body to the University of Kansas Hospital.

He died Sunday, December 3, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Jack was born April 15, 1936, in Kenosha Wisconsin, the son of Sylvester and Bernice Campbell Leipzig.

He graduated from Waukesha High School in 1955. Immediately following high school, Jack joined the Air Force Reserves and served with the Civil Air Patrol.  Jack married Nancy Ann Abrahamson in 1960 in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  While living in Wisconsin, he worked for Aqua Chem, starting his career as a painter, and eventually becoming Plant Superintendent. In 1975, he and Nancy moved to Mount Vernon, Missouri where they owned and operated the Bel-Air Motor Inn until 1985.  Jack served as President of the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, and the town later honored him by naming him Citizen of the Year.  In 1986, they moved to Lawrence where they owned and operated the Ramada Inn until 1988.  After his hospitality career, Mr. Leipzig was a job coach at Cottonwood in Lawrence until his retirement.  Both Jack and Nancy were long time members of the First Baptist Church, Lawrence.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Nancy.

Survivors include Jay Leipzig (Sheryl), Kansas City, Missouri, Tatiana (Tyler) Smith, McLouth, Kansas, Maria Leipzig, Kansas City, Missouri, and Michael Leipzig, Lawrence, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Kansas Hospital Kidney Transplant Department or Cottonwood Inc.,  sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Edgar Herman Yeakly

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Funeral services for Edgar Herman Yeakly, 78, Lawrence, will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Mr. Yeakly died Saturday, December 2, 2017, at Bridge Haven in Lawrence.

He was born January 27, 1939, in Strong City, Kansas, the son of Kenneth Elijah and Mary Elizabeth Hartig Yeakly.   He graduated from high school in Americus, Kansas.

Mr. Yeakly started his career in the United States Army in November 1961.  He served in Vietnam with the 1011th Supply & Service Company out of Independence and Emporia, Kansas from September 1968 to August 1969.  He rejoined the U.S. Army Reserves in February 1974 and retired in December of 1996, having attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major.  He worked at the University of Kansas Student Housing Maintenance as a carpenter supervisor, retiring in 2002.

He enjoyed golfing including participating in a senior league, attending a morning coffee group, and going to Kansas State University football and basketball games.

He married Esther Marie Larsen May 29, 1960 in Americus, Kansas.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include son, Steven Yeakly of Lawrence; daughter, Kathy Reeves and husband Matt of Dallas, Georgia; sisters, Rose Marsh of Lawrence, Pauline Barnes and husband Ted of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and grandson, Milo Reeves of Dallas, Georgia.

A daughter, Laurie Ann Yeakly, preceded him in death.

Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Wednesday.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association, sent in care of the funeral home.

Maxine Wright

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Funeral services for Maxine Wright, 83, Lawrence, will be at 11 am Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with Fr. Mick Mulvany officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Maxine died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community, where she was affectionately referred to as ‘The Queen.’

She was born Dec. 19, 1933, in Aurora, Kan., the daughter of John H. and Laura Chaput Shellman. She grew up in Junction City, and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1952. She moved to Lawrence in 1956, and worked at Lawrence Memorial Hospital from 1974 to 1980. Maxine then worked for Drs. Branson, Gilles, Loveland, and Riordan, retiring in 1992. She was a member of Corpus Christi Altar Society, and enjoyed reading and quilting.

Maxine married Richard ‘Dick’ Wright on Oct. 3, 1953, in Junction City. He preceded her in death in 1999. Survivors include six children, Kevin Wright, Shawn Wright, Brian Wright, Colleen Ice, Kathleen Gillihan, and Eileen Cooper; 9 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Dick Wright Scholarship Fund at KU Endowment, or Corpus Christi Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com

Theresa Ann Boyd

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Funeral service for Theresa Ann Boyd, 61, Lawrence, will be 11 am, Saturday, December 2, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. She died Tuesday, November 28, at her home. She was born September 1, 1956 in Kingsport, Tennessee the daughter of William R. and Elsie Simpson Conant.

Theresa was a Air Forces veteran serving over 21 years. She was with the 1st Tactical Air Command in Langley, VA and the 190th Air Refueling Wing during Desert Shield. She worked for King Radio which later became Honeywell for 34 years until she became ill.

She was a founding member of the National Women’s VFW and she was the chaplain in Topeka for several years.

She married William A. Boyd on Feb. 20, 1977 in, Gate City, Virginia. He survives of the home. Other survivors include sons, Frank (Becky Shepard) Boyd, Jeremie (Amanda) Boyd, Melissa (David Jr) Jones, Brothers Mark and Kenneth Conant, and 13 grandchildren.

The family will receive friends before the funeral from 10 am, until service time Saturday at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Julie Lynn Brown

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Julie Lynn (Blanchat) Brown passed away peacefully Wed., Nov. 29, 2017, at her home, surrounded by family and friends.

She was born Mar. 9, 1965, in St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of John and Pat (McKnight) Blanchat. She graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School, and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. Julie met her future husband Rod at Kansas State University. Julie and Rod were married on July 25, 1987. Julie then supported Rod during his education pursuits while living in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and West Virginia before settling in Lawrence, KS. She worked as a manager of a technical support department at Gentiva Health Care in Kansas City until her daughter Brenna was born in 2001. After her daughter was born, Julie cherished being a full time mother and wife. She also worked for Rod’s endodontic practice. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling with her family, books, music, attending the Persian Pickle book club, volunteering with Toys for Tots, and spending family time at Table Rock Lake.

Her husband Rod and daughter Brenna survive of the home. Other survivors include her parents, John and Pat Blanchat; four siblings, Jenny Tinnes and husband Mike, Jeff Blanchat, Joanne Raines and husband Doug, and Jim Blanchat and wife Lori; a sister-in-law, Tricia Freeman and husband Dan; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family would like to express their deep and sincere gratitude to Amy Rasmussen who provided compassionate and loving care for Julie during her last several months.

A memorial visitation for Julie will be held from 5 to 7 pm Sunday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Head for the Cure, or Toys for Tots Lawrence, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com