Author: RumseyYost

Dr. Robert “Bob” Cobb

Posted on by RumseyYost

Dr. Robert “Bob” Cobb died June 7th, 2017, at KU Medical Center. He was born August 22, 1925, in Ashdown, Arkansas, son of Ruth Cowling Cobb and Grover Cobb. He graduated from Baylor University and earned both his Masters and Ph. D. from the University of Michigan. He was a WWII Navy veteran.

Dr. Cobb came to the University of Kansas in 1957 an assistant professor of English and rose through the ranks, from full professor to Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, eventually becoming Executive Vice Chancellor of the University. He helped establish the Nunemaker Program for gifted students. He helped establish a cooperative exchange program with the University of Benin in Lagos, Nigeria. He was instrumental in establishing the African Studies department at the University. He always retained his love of teaching and learning. He also helped establish the Lawrence chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Those wishing to make a contribution in Dr. Cobb’s honor are encouraged to donate to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences through the KU Endowment Association, Plymouth Congregational Church or Habitat for Humanity.

Dr. Cobb married Janice Rogers on August 27, 1949. She survives him, as do their two children and three grandchildren. Dr. Cobb’s only sibling predeceased him by 40 years, and he became the extended family’s patriarch, a role he relished. He will be missed.

Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at Plymouth Congregational Church.

A family-only inurnment in KU’s Pioneer Cemetery at a later date will permit family from afar to attend.

Charles E. Wintermantel

Posted on by RumseyYost

Charles Elmer Wintermantel died on June 7th after a prolonged and frustrating battle with COPD. Born on March 26, 1939 in Lawrence, KS, the son of Elmer J. and Dorothy Marie Breithaupt Wintermantel. He was a near lifelong resident of Douglas County. His job with the DuPont Company transferred him to Louisiana for a few years until his early retirement in 1985. When he returned to Kansas he resumed his favorite occupation of farming, enjoying a partnership with his youngest son Michael. He could proudly throw hay bales while simultaneously sipping his cup of coffee.

Charles was a great friend of the community. He served on the USD #348 school board, various church committees, the Douglas County Extension Council and the Willow Springs Township Trustees. He had an obvious love for young people and was infamous for supporting their endeavors with his “highdollar handshakes.” In his retirement he delivered machinery for Heritage Tractor. He also added his nonprofit tractor service; mowing what needed to mowed, scooping what needed scooped and blading snow out of driveways so family and neighbors could get to work. He got extra excited if you were stuck in a ditch and needed to be pulled out. In the snowy months he became a skilled woodworker, building toy farm implements, construction equipment, and rolling pins.

He is survived by his incredible wife and caregiver of 57 years Louise (Anderson), and four children: Steven (Gina), Loretto, MN; Amy, Baldwin; Michael, (Kelly) Baldwin; and Ellen Peterson (Steve), South Asia. The above average grandchildren include: Clayton, Carter, Caden, Hazel, Abraham, Josiah and Cyrus Wintermantel and Anjali and Jaiya Peterson. He had one lovely sister, Marilyn Good of Baldwin, scores of cousins worth writing home about, better than average inlaws and a host of nieces and nephews who all helped out in our time of need.

Funeral service will be 10 am Monday, June 12, at Worden United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Worden Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday from 5 to 7:30 pm at the church. Friends may call Saturday 3 pm to 8 pm and Sunday 9 am to 3 pm at RumseyYost Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in his name to Worden United Methodist Church in care of RumseyYost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence KS 66044. Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com.

Beverly Mae Bennett

Posted on by RumseyYost

A celebration of life for Beverly Mae Bennett, 78, Lawrence, will be 1:00 pm. Saturday, June 10th at 1013 E 1256 Rd.

She was born 19 December 1938 to Roy Gerald and Wanda Roselee (Dayton) Bennett in Gooding, Idaho.  She spent most of her child hood in Four Lakes, Washington and graduated from Cheney High School in Cheney Washington.

Beverly’s first car was a 1957 Chevy Convertible which she was extremely proud of. She was fiercely independent, driving across the country to visit siblings many times as a young woman in this car. She followed her brother Floyd to the Lexington and Higginsville Missouri  area to live and then later in life moving to Nevada Missouri.  She worked two jobs, but her main job was in intuitions with the Mentally Challenged and retired from the Nevada State Hospital after 30 years. She was an extreme Elvis fan and sports fan, cheering in Kansas and Kansas State athletics, Royals, Chiefs, as well as watching local dirt track (cheering on car XJr) and NASCAR races especially Jeff Gordon.

Beverly was able to love unconditionally, caring for nieces, nephews, unofficially adopting her daughter’s friends as well as others. She enjoyed playing cards, games and drinking her favorite drink Pepsi.  Affectionately known to her grandchildren as Nana, she followed her family into Kansas when her grandchildren were small, and passed away on 5 June 2017 in Baldwin City, Kansas after a short illness.

Beverly is survived by her daughter Teresa Butell and husband Brad. Four grandchildren, Lucas Charles Straub, Nathaniel Dean Straub, Alexandria Grace Straub, and Michael Solomon Shawn Straub. One sister Billie Jo Barner and husband Keith, Bozeman, Montana, and one brother Michael Bennett and wife Carolyn, Las Vegas, Nevada.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Shawn Taylor Rakes, Sisters: Betty Davis and Shirlee Hampton, Brothers: Bobby Bennett and Floyd “Ben” Bennett.

Reba Ray Baker

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside services for Reba Ray Baker, 88, Lawrence, will be 11 am Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at Oak Hill Cemetery.

She died Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Reba was born February 21, 1929, in Lamar, Arkansas, the daughter of Silahs and Ruby Overby Rowbotham.

She married Coye Norris Baker in 1946, in Lamar, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on September 5, 2014.

Survivors include a daughter Sherry and Grant McCoy, Lawrence, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Reba was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a son, Doughlas Coye Baker, who died May 4, 2012.

Friends may call Monday from noon to 8 pm at the funeral home.

Emil William Heck Jr

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for Emil William Heck, Jr., 96, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. Heck died Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.

He was born July 9, 1920, on the family farm just north of Lawrence, the son of Emil W. and Wilhelmina Muiller Heck. He attended White Elementary School in North Lawrence and graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1938. He also attended Lawrence Business College.

Emil was a longtime farmer and stockman, widely known and respected, who started work on the family farm at an early age. Following high school, where he excelled as a member of the Future Farmers of America, he joined his father in a farming partnership. They raised, at various times on their Kaw Valley farmland, potatoes, corn, wheat, soybeans, sorghum, alfalfa, and brome. They also raised beef cattle on their pastureland in Jefferson County, site today of the Rim Rock Farm cross country course. Emil retired from farming in 1978.

Mr. Heck was baptized in St. Paul German Lutheran Church in 1921. Shortly thereafter, the family transferred to First English Lutheran Church, later to become Trinity Lutheran. Emil remained a member of Trinity Lutheran the rest of his life, serving the church in a variety of capacities including vice president of the Church Council, Head Greeter, Youth Ministry sponsor, and assisting in preparation of communion services. At the time of his death, he was believed to be the oldest active member of the congregation.

Mr. Heck was also an active participant in the civic activities of his community. He was a member of the school board for Burnett Elementary School and instrumental in organizing the consolidation of several rural schools in Grant Township to form Grant School District No. 100. He was elected and served a four-year term on the Lawrence Unified School District No. 497 Board of Education. He served multiple terms on the Board of Directors of the Douglas County Kaw Drainage District, was past president of the Sertoma Club, served on the board of the Douglas County Historical Society and was a member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, to name but a few of his contributions.

Emil married Elizabeth (Bette) Rosanna Quigley on October 21, 1950, in Gower, Missouri. She survives of the home. Other survivors include daughters Linda (Darrell) Bennett of Leawood, Susan (Robert) Holcomb of Lenexa, sons Michael (Elizabeth) Heck of Lawrence, Mark Heck of Leawood, 10 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Possessed of a quick wit, Emil will be remembered by family and friends for his keen sense of humor. He was kind, honest, generous, patient, dependable, slow to anger and quick to forgive. He taught by example that any task worth doing was worth doing well.

The family will receive visitors at the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The family suggests memorials to Trinity Lutheran Church, sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com.

Freddie Banks Nelson

Posted on by RumseyYost

A memorial service for Freddie Banks Nelson, 89, Lawrence, will be 10 am, Friday, June 2, 2017, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

She died Friday, May 26, 2017, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

Freddie was born May 26, 1928, in Smithville, Tenn, the daughter of Clyde and Clara S. Cantrell Banks.

Because her hometown had no high school, Freddie walked several miles to a nearby town where she found a job as a live-in babysitter and then worked her way through high school.  After graduating, she moved to Nashville where she worked first as a secretary and then as a statistician for the Tennessee State Department of Education. After marriage, she became a fan of Julia Child and specialized in cooking French cuisine as well as her native Southern dishes.  She also studied oil painting.

She married Horace Lynnville Nelson on February 11, 1955, in Nashville, Tenn. As a couple, they enjoyed swing dance, travel, and bridge.  He preceded her in death in 2004.

Survivors include a daughter Resa Nelson, Mass., brother Charles Banks, Tenn., and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sisters Clydie Mangum and Ann Austin.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St. Lawrence, KS 66044.

Donna K. Fowler

Posted on by RumseyYost

Donna Kay Fowler, 69, of Lawrence, died Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born July 18, 1947, in Spearville, KS, the daughter of William and Verda Strohwitz.

Donna graduated from Offerle High School in Offerle, Kansas with the class of 1965 and graduated from University of Kansas with a Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy with the class of 1970.  After finishing school, Donna stayed in Lawrence where she met David Allen Fowler.  Donna married David on July 27, 1973 and raised two children. Donna and David divorced several years later but remained close friends until David’s death. 

 Donna worked at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka and finished her career at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, playing on her computer, fostering cats with leukemia and spending time with her friends and family.

She is survived by her two daughters; Melissa Fowler of Lawrence, Mary Fowler (Curtis Meyers) of Lawrence; Her parents in law; Allen and Rosie Fowler, grandchild David Meyers and her cat Chloe. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Verda Strohwitz and her ex-husband David Fowler.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday, June 4, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at the Smith Center of Brandon Woods at 4730 Brandon Woods Terrace, Lawrence, KS 66047 with Molly Fraser officiating.  

Please consider a donation for funeral expenses in lieu of flowers.

Donations can be sent to:  Melissa Fowler 1311 Randall Rd., Lawrence, KS 66049.

Eleanor Lorraine Brown

Posted on by RumseyYost

Eleanor Lorraine Brown, 83, of Lawrence, Kansas passed away April 17, 2017 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The daughter of Phillip and Beatrice Chateauneuf, she was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts in February, 1934. She was the youngest of six siblings, two brothers and three sisters, who have all passed before her. She moved to Dallas, Texas in her twenties where she met her husband Edward Reese “Sam” Brown, Jr. and they married in 1961. She and Sam relocated to Kansas in 1965 with two small children.  Eleanor spent her life in Kansas raising a family, working for the local elementary school and traveling with Sam. In 1996, Sam and Eleanor retired and they returned to Sam’s hometown of Panama City, Florida to spend their years traveling and spending time with their family and friends. In April, 2014, Eleanor moved to Lawrence, Kansas to be closer to her children after Sam passed away. Eleanor was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her son, Edward Phillip “Chip” Brown and his wife Carolyn Pouncey Brown, her daughter Michelle Lorrain Brown, and her spouse Kail Marie, grandchildren Reese Phillip Brown, Shayne Austin Brown, Christine Marie Brown Brashear and three great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held privately in Panama City, Florida.

Jean Elizabeth Lukehart

Posted on by RumseyYost

Jean Elizabeth (Stone) Lukehart, 88, died peacefully at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor on May 23, 2017. Jean was born July 16, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, to Clarence and Nellie Gann Stone. Jean married the love of her life, Billy Joe Lukehart, May 16, 1948 in Ludlow, MO.

Bill and Jean moved to Oklahoma City, OK to start their family, where Bill was employed at OG&E and Jean worked at the phone company. They were members of Putnam City Baptist Church. In 1968 they moved with their children to Livermore, CA, where they were members of Granada Baptist Church.

Jean was a loving wife, mother and homemaker who enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing and reading. She always made the holidays a special time with her joy, creativity and good cooking. She and Bill were married 57 years. They loved bowling, entertaining and travel. They collaborated on crafts – Bill did the woodworking and Jean did the painting. At age 56, Jean earned her Associates Degree from Las Positas Junior College, Livermore.

In 2006, following Bill’s death, Jean moved to Lawrence, KS, to be near her daughter, Janet. Jean found church family at First Baptist Church.  Jean loved Lawrence and eagerly learned of its history.  She quickly became an avid Jayhawk fan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Lois, and brother, Bob; her sons Billy Joe Lukehart, Jr. and David Lynn Lukehart, and husband, Bill. Jean is survived by son Gerald Lukehart, El Sobrante, CA, and daughter, Janet Lukehart (April Dixon), Lawrence. Jean was an affectionate friend to Toni Dixon and Theodora Dixon, and beloved aunt of Karen McGeehen Wiley, Mary Beth Lusk (Bob), David Stone (Jean), Larry Stone, Taylor Stone, and Virginia Smith (Sandra Postel). Jean was a second-mom to Becky Dohrn.

A memorial gathering will be held June 21, 2:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Manor, Lawrence. A graveside service will be held in July at Sunny Lane Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK. Memorial contributions may be made to Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence, Kansas, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.