Category: Obituaries

Judy Schmitz

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Funeral services for Judy Kathryn Schmitz, 62, Lawrence, will be 10 a.m. Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Eudora City Cemetery.

Mrs. Schmitz died Sunday, July 11, 2021, at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas.

She was born December 8, 1958, in Lawrence, the daughter of Le Roy and Mary Frances Drinnon Campbell.  She graduated from Tonganoxie High School in 1976.

Mrs. Schmitz worked for Hallmark, as a babysitter, at Maupin Tour, and State Farm Insurance.  She worked for three agents, over the 30 plus years at State Farm.

She was an animal lover and liked rabbits, squirrels, birds, and dogs.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and family, traveling places while going to bowling tournaments, painting yard ornaments, and being outside.

She married James Schmitz on March 12, 1977, in Lawrence after meeting for the first time only two months prior.  They have been blessed with 44 years together.  He survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Jason Schmitz of Lawrence; mother, Mary Schmitz of Lawrence; siblings, Steven Campbell and wife Patty of Eudora, Pam Alt and husband Dean of Lawrence; grandchildren, Isaac, Aidan, and Lilly Schmitz all of Lawrence; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father in 1986.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of the funeral home.

 

Frances Ruth “Teddy” McGraw

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Frances (Teddy) McGraw, age 88, of Lawrence, KS died Monday, July 12th, 2021 at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community, Lawrence.

A memorial and burial service will be held this fall in Clyde, KS.

She was born December 21, 1932 in Junction City, KS, the third daughter of Theodore and Ruth Egbert Steinmetz. Teddy graduated from high school in Junction City, KS in 1950. Later years she took several college courses through Highland Community College.

She began working for Civil Service at Ft. Riley after high school. Teddy married Jeremiah Walter McGraw on July 12th, 1952 and lived in Alton, IL.

Teddy later worked for the Ramada Inn in Junction City, and Larned State Hospital in the Juvenile Ward. After moving to Sabetha, KS in 1970 with her five children, she worked at the Bauerle Nursing Home. She worked for the Area Agency on Aging in Hiawatha Ks for seventeen years. After retirement, she later worked for Northridge and  Gingerbread Daycares.

Teddy enjoyed a lifelong love for reading, the outdoors and animals, especially cats. She was a former member of Northridge Church in Sabetha and the First United Methodist Church in Lawrence, KS.

She is survived by her five children, Bernard McGraw of San Rafael, CA, Mike McGraw (Sandy) of White Cloud, KS, Patrick McGraw of Sabetha, Tom McGraw of Bern, KS and daughter Carolyn (John) Krehbiel of Lawrence, KS, eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Teddy was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jerry (July 28th, 1998), daughter-in-law Cathy Robidoux McGraw, sisters Carolyn Selwyn and Martha Molonari.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Mary Cotton Public Library, Sabetha, KS or the First United Methodist Church, Lawrence, KS sent in care of the funeral home.

Audrey Don Hahn

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Services for Audrey Don Hahn, 84, Lawrence, will be Monday, July 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence, Kansas.

Mrs. Hahn died Sunday, July 11, 2021 at her home.

She was born December 7, 1936, in Lawrence, the daughter of George Thomas Faler and Martha May Toyne. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1954.

Audrey married James Conrad Hahn in 1952, he died in 2007.    Her best friend, companion and caregiver, Lawrence Sinks survives of the home.

Audrey loved golfing, working in the yard, gathering with family, fast pitch softball, camping at the lake and happy hour with a good gin & tonic.  Everyone loved her and she was a friend to all. She was a member of Friends Church in Lawrence and Eagles Aux 309.

Survivors include her children, Jamie Roadhouse and husband Troy of Tonganoxie, Jody Hahn and wife Pam of Lawrence; grandchildren, Christina Richardson of Wakeeney, Jim Hahn and wife Antonia of Lawrence, Justin Hahn and wife Taylor of Lawrence, and Mark Anderson and wife Brittani of Lawrence; great grandchildren, Aiden, Ali, James, Rusty, Liam, Taylor, Larry, Charlie Pearl and Hadley.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Thomas Hahn, grandchildren Sarah Beisner and Thomas Beisner, siblings, George Milton Faler and Joan Standfield.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 18, from 4-6 p.m. at Rumsey Yost Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence VFW, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Brenda J. Breithaupt

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Brenda Joyce (Penny) Breithaupt, 81, passed away peacefully July 11, 2021, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook.

She was born March 21, 1940, in Lawrence, Kansas, daughter of Margaret (Spence) Penny and James (Pappy) Penny.

She was a lifelong member of Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene where she met her high school sweetheart, Glenn. They were married April 18, 1958.

She loved her church and serving wherever she was needed, whether that was VBS, teaching a Sunday School class, having families over for Sunday lunch after church to sitting in her wheelchair passing out candy when the children would come to her with bible verses they’d memorized during church. She also loved the outdoors, cooking, baking, sewing, and spending time with her family – especially Glenn.

Brenda worked at Hallmark Cards and Sears, Roebuck & Co. before suffering from a brain aneurism in 1973. She then went on to work at USD 497 Food Services where she was able to combine her love for cooking/baking with her love of children & so enjoyed the years she was able to work there. In 1996 she suffered her second aneurism which left her 100% reliant on Glenn to care for her. She was preceded in death by her husband Glenn, her parents, sister Carol Grant and sister-in-law Tina Penny.

Survivors include son Don W. Breithaupt (Janet), their kids Amy Newell (Daniel), Mackenzie Wehrman (Gunther); Jay Amyx (Tracy); Joe Amyx (Erica); daughter Kris Oehlert (Paul), their kids Samantha Wright (Zach) and Kasey Oehlert (Madison); daughter Carrie Shuck (Brad) and their kids Taylor Sansano (Julian), and Connor Shuck (Keeli); great grandchildren Rock, Xavier, Braxton, Breaker, Hayden, Vossen, Jackson, Jules and future Baby Sansano; sisters Barbara Brecheisen (JD), Baldwin City, and Kathy Rhodes (Kent), Salmon, Idaho; brother Jim Penny, Lawrence; and brother-in-law Rick Grant, Lawrence.

Funeral services will be 10 am Thursday at Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene, with the Revs. Robby Giffin and Donald Dunn officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Worden Cemetery. There will be no visitation, and the casket will remain closed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene.

 

Joyce Keck Kleinsorge

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Joyce Keck Kleinsorge, 88, of Baldwin City, Kansas passed away at home on Sunday, July 4, 2021.  Joyce was born in Colby, Kansas on September 11, 1932 to James and Vera (Bever) Keck.  She graduated from Colby High School in 1950 and married William (Bill) Kleinsorge on September 24 that same year.  Bill preceded her in death on May 30, 2006.

Joyce is survived by her daughter, Pamela Hamill, and her husband Greg of Baldwin City, and her son James Kleinsorge of Parsons, Kansas (currently living in Neodesha).  Joyce had 2 grandchildren: Mollie Qualseth, and her husband Shon of Lawrence; and her grandson Matthew Hamill, and his wife Sara of Omaha, Nebraska.  Her four great-grandchildren were the sparkle in her eye: Rylee, Avery, and Mallory Qualseth and Grant Hamill.

Joyce was a successful business owner in Colby where she and Bill owned two Standard Oil Stations, the Clothes Garden and Nook n’ Cranny.  She had the most amazing sense of style and was young at heart.  She celebrated her 29th birthday for more than 30 years until her grandchildren caught up and she jumped to age 39.  Her passion was her family.  She lived near or with her daughter for most of her life and talked to her son nearly every single day.  She spoiled her grandchildren and great grandkids whenever she had a chance.

She was a member of the Colby Junior Women’s League and was an exceptional bridge player and played in several clubs throughout her life well into her eighties.  She enjoyed spending weekends with her family and was an excellent water skier and last skied at the age of 68.

As per her wishes, Joyce will be cremated.  A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made in Joyce’s name to the Prairie Museum of Arts and History, 1905 S Franklin, Colby, Kansas 67701.

Linda Kay Powell

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Linda Kay Powell, 67, died peacefully at home in Lawrence, Kansas on Monday, July 5, 2021, after living with ALS for the past three years.

Linda was born on April 14, 1954 in Wichita, Ks, the daughter of Helen R. and James F. Powell. She graduated from Wichita Heights High School in 1972 and then went on to attend the University of Kansas graduating with a BA degree in 1976.

After graduating from KU, Linda returned to Wichita and was manager of the Looking Glass Restaurant.  Within a few years, along with other business partners, Linda had opened the Marple Theater, which featured foreign and classic films, live entertainment, and food & drink. Unfortunately, it was an idea too far ahead of the revitalization of the Old Town district in Wichita. In the early 80s Linda moved to Kansas City where she was Director of Broadcast for the Talent Plus talent agency. She was later the general manager for the American Heartland Theater in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1994 Linda met the love of her life and moved to Lawrence, Kansas once again. The last years of her working life were spent as an Associate Analyst for the Federal Student Aid Information Center employed by Vangent and General Dynamics IT.

Linda is survived by her partner/spouse of 27 years, Margaret Holdeman, and her Emotional Support Miniature Schnauzer, Cooper. She is also survived by her brother Rick Powell (Genelle), niece Erin Petersen (Jake), niece Lara Sayler (Andrew), great nephews and nieces Eli, Grace, Caroline, James, and Isaac, all of whom she loved dearly.  In addition, she is survived by her Best Friend for over 40 years, Kevin Mitchael (Christian Cesari) and her surrogate family Anne Hyde and children Iris, Auggie, and Greta.

Linda was cherished by a wide circle of friends; she was loved by all for her warm heart, wit, creativity, positive outlook, intelligent conversation, curiosity, playfulness, compassion and life insights.

There will be a Celebration of Life yet to be scheduled in late August or September.

Memorials may be made to the ALS Association Mid-America Chapter in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.

Linda Y. Condra

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A Celebration of Life for Linda Y. Condra, 69, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with Steve Steinbach officiating. A private inurnment will be held at a later date in Oak Hill Cemetery. Linda passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at her home.

She was born January 8, 1952, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Mack and Betty Ungerman Karnes. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1970. She provided child care in her home and later worked for J.C. Penney, Pinckney Elementary School as the kitchen manager, and Tuesday Morning. She participated in the women’s bowling league at Royal Crest Lanes and attended Connect Church.

Linda married JR Condra on June 24, 1978 in Topeka. He survives of the home. Other survivors include a grandson, Storm Palmer. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Michelle (Evans) Palmer in 2009, and a sister, Debbie Rush.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 pm Sunday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to Cottonwood, Inc., in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Jeanine Gale Johnson Moore

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Jeanine Moore died on July 6, 2021, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar in Lawrence KS. She was born on December 12, 1942, in St. Joseph MO the daughter of Maxine and Earl Johnson. A celebration of her life will be held at the Smith Center in Brandon Woods at Alvamar on Saturday, July 31, from 1 to 3 PM.

She graduated from Central High School in St. Joseph in 1961. She met her soon to be husband, Dward Moore, Jr. at the summer music camp at the University of Missouri in the summer of 1960. She attended St. Joseph Junior College and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. She graduated with a degree in music education in 1966. Dward also attended TCU and they were married September 5, 1965.

Jeanine and Dward joined the Peace Corps in 1966 and served in Uganda teaching at a boys’ boarding secondary school for two years.

Upon returning to the US, Jeanine and Dward started their graduate studies in Syracuse University. Jeanine received her Masters Degree in Information Studies at SU and over the years worked at libraries in Syracuse NY, Jamestown NY, and Brandon FL.

From 1985 to 2015, Jeanine and Dward lived in Brunswick MD. Jeanine taught violin and viola privately, played in the Frederick Maryland Symphony Orchestra and in several string quartets. She also taught music in several middle schools in Frederick County, MD before retiring in 2004.

Jeanine and Dward were ardent supporters of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, volunteering for many years in support of their beloved park as members of the C&O Canal Association.

In 2015, Jeanine and Dward moved to Lawrence KS to be closer to their sisters and their families who live in the greater Kansas City area.

Jeanine is survived by her husband Dward, her sister, Quinta Schwarzenberger of Olathe KS and numerous nieces and nephews.

O. Newton King

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Orville Newton King (Newt) passed away peacefully at his home on July 7, 2021, with his children, Kim King and Chris King, at his side.

Newt was born March 10, 1940, in Los Angles, California, to Margaret Lo Ree Loomis King and Ivan L. King when Ivan was stationed there while in the service. When he was seven, he moved with his parents and sister, Kay, to the Joseph H. King homestead in the Amherst community in Russell County, Kansas. The family homestead, established in 1878, became home throughout the years for three generations of Kings.

He graduated from Luray High School in 1958 and was awarded a football scholarship to attend the University of Kansas where he was a member of the Blue Bonnet Bowl football team. He also was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy.

After graduation, he married his college sweetheart, Mary Ann Howard, and they moved to Beloit, Kansas, where he worked for Bunch Drugs. In 1965, he and Mary Ann moved to Lawrence when he was offered a job with the Medical Arts Pharmacy. In 1976, he bought his first pharmacy at 944 Kentucky Street in Lawrence and moved King Pharmacy to the Lawrence Medical Building in 1980. He received the Small Businessperson of the Month award from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce in September 2001 and maintained King Pharmacy until he retired in 2007.

While he spent much of his life in Lawrence, he never lost his love for Russell County. His favorite book was Prairy Erth, and he gained an appreciation and renewed interest in native plants and their medicinal uses having studied them in pharmacy school. During his years of practice, he formulated several preparations using Echinacea, and opened the first compounding-only pharmacy in Topeka in 1987 with colleague Jim Schwartz. This brought to the community of pharmacy the ability to compound time-release medication, something that had not been done by a pharmacist, and for which Newt was honored as the Compounding Pharmacist of the Year by the Professional Compounding Center in 1988.

Post-retirement, Newt remained active in causes honoring the Kansas prairie. He re-enacted The Last Cattle Drive by author Robert Day in Russell County in 2007. In 2015, he received the Wildlife Habitat Conservation Award from the Kansas Bankers Association and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann King, in 2010. He is survived by his sister, Kay King Dette and her husband, Bernard; his daughter Kim King and her sons, Grant and Brenner Gollier; his son, Chris King and his wife, Megan Campbell King, and their sons Harrison, Ben and Josh King.

A born storyteller, Newt could often be found over the years surrounded by family and friends at his cabin at Lone Star Lake, fishing and telling stories over his homemade, hand-churned vanilla ice cream.

A celebration of life is scheduled from 1 – 4 p.m. on July 25 at Arterra Event Gallery in Lawrence. Donations in Newt’s honor can be made through Rumsey-Yost to the Kansas chapter of the Sierra Club or the Nature Conservancy. His family wishes to thank the KU Medical Center vascular surgery team, LMH Health, Dr. Stephen Myrick, Dr. Scott Solcher, Ben Sanders and the Davita Care Center and the Visiting Nurses Association hospice for their kind care of Newt in his final days.

 

Annie Merriam

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Mrs. Annie Laura Merriam, age 94, of Lawrence, KS, passed away July 5, 2021, at LMH Memorial Hospital from natural causes.

She was born March 2, 1927, in Pine Creek, Floyd County, Virginia, the daughter of David Maston and Laura Ovella Elizabeth Yeattes Young. She graduated from Norristown High School in 1944, and in later years  attended classes at Syracuse University and Kansas University.

She was married to Daniel Francis Merriam on February 12, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and they were together for 71 years until he passed in 2017.

Mrs. Merriam was a lifelong genealogist and historian, a member of Beta Sigma Phi and member of the DAR. She was an avid crafter and amateur painter.  She was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Lawrence.

She is survived by her five children; Beth Ann Wissman of Olathe, Kansas; John F. Merriam of Syracuse, New York; Anita P. Merriam of California; James D. Merriam of Derby, Kansas; Judith D. Merriam of Syracuse, New York; a sister, Ovella Elizabeth Young of Roanoke, Virginia; eleven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her son, Daniel F Merriam II; her parents, her husband, three brothers, one sister, and two grandchildren.

Friends may call from 9:00am to 8:00pm Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive them from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

Graveside services for Annie Laura Merriam, will be 10:00am Saturday at Oak Hill Cemetery.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the D-Day Memorial in Bedford Virginia sent in care of the funeral home.