Category: Obituaries

Kevin Richard Criscione

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Kevin Richard Criscione, a longtime resident of Lawrence, KS and previously St. Louis, MO, passed away peacefully at home on June 18, 2021 at the age of 63.

Kevin was a longtime employee of the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He is the son of the late James Robert Criscione, Sr. M.D. and the late Mary Janowski Criscione.

He is preceded in death by his brother, James Robert Criscione, Jr. M.D.

He is survived by his loving sister, Janet Rae Criscione, of St. Louis; Stepmother, Janelle Lamb Criscione, of St. Louis; sister-in-law, Joanne Hodgman Criscione, of St. Louis; his nephews, James “Jay” Michael Criscione (Kathleen) of St. Louis and Matthew Richard Criscione of Champaign, IL; great-nephews, James “Seamus” Robert Criscione and Finnegan Eoin Criscione, of St. Louis; and a great-niece, Maeve Maire Criscione, of St. Louis.

A visitation with the family will be 4:00pm-5:00pm Saturday, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Arrangements are being made for services in St. Louis, MO.

Beverly J. “JoAnn” Burgen

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Services for Beverly “JoAnn” Burgen, 84, Lawrence, will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10 am until the service begins.

JoAnn passed away on June 18, 2021 at home.

She was born on October, 14, 1936 in Topeka, Kansas the daughter of Oscar and Helen Peek. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1954.

She married Jerry L. Burgen on June 4, 1955, in Topeka, Kansas and recently celebrated 66 years of a blessed marriage. They have lived in Lawrence since 1965.

JoAnn was a wonderful, beautiful, loving, and precious lady. Her family was especially important to her. She was a wonderful cook; she celebrated every family gathering with a special home-cooked meal. She was a Room Mother for all her children in their grade school years. She was proud of her home and kept it immaculate, even with 6 children underfoot.

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Burgen of the home, her children Ron Burgen (Linda), Don Burgen (Wendy), Kirk Burgen, Michelle Countess (Keith), and Eric Burgen, 16 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 2 step-great grandchildren.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her daughter JoDena Cron, and grandchildren Zachary Countess and Cody Burgen, her parents Oscar and Helen Peek, her sister Judith Pickens, and her brothers Richard “Bill” Peek, Charles Robert “Bob” Peek, Harry Peek, Patrick “Pat” Peek, and Norman Peek.

Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com

Ly Pokphanh

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Traditional Buddist Service for Ly Pokphanh, 78, Lawrence, will be at 1 pm Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. Cremation will follow the ceremony.

She was born August 7, 1942, in Ban Koomthong, Province of Champasack, Laos, and passed away June 14, 2021, in Lawrence, Kansas.

Her husband Kham Pokphanh preceded her in death on January 21, 2018. Survivors include four sons, three daughters, and many grandchildren.

Shirley Grace Hodges

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Shirley Grace Hodges, 89, of Lawrence, died Wednesday, June 16, 2021. She was born February 28, 1932, in Lawrence, the daughter of Lemuel and Mary (Curtis) Rothberger.

Shirley graduated from Liberty Memorial High School and attended the University of Kansas where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority. In 1951 Shirley married Ervin E. Hodges and they were blessed with 68 years together. Shirley was a proud homemaker as she supported Erv’s 23-year military career and later civilian opportunities. She often shared memories of the 22 moves that she successfully orchestrated. Though Shirley remained flexible for Erv’s commitments, she was always active in her community. While stationed in Manassas, Virginia, she taught elementary school and was a hospital volunteer with the American Red Cross. She studied art history, successfully completed some oil paintings of her own, and was a docent at the Greenville, South Carolina Art Museum. She also volunteered as a docent at the Providence, Rhode Island Zoo and often ventured to schools with a bag of snakes or furry creatures to share.

Upon returning home to Lawrence, Shirley was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, FZ Chapter of PEO, Meadowlark Garden Club, West Side Study Club, and the Alvamar Country Club Women’s Golf Association. She was blessed with loyal friends in several bridge groups and enjoyed new friends at Brandon Woods and Bridge Haven.

Shirley is survived by son Mark Hodges, and daughter Cynthia Fritzel (Tim). Five grandchildren; Erin Kozitza (Tim), Shannon Hodges (Isaias), Patrick Fritzel (Molly), Rebecca Koester (Patrick), Kylie Powell (Jason), and 11 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Erv Hodges in 2019. Shirley’s family, friends and faith were the light in her life. She lived every day with kindness, joy, compassion and gratitude.

An informal gathering for Shirley’s family and friends will be Monday, June 21, 9:30 – 10:30 am at The Eldridge, Crystal Room. Private family graveside service to follow.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church, sent in care of Rumsey Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Bridge Haven for the outstanding compassionate care and comfort provided for Shirley and her family.

Ronald Edward Thomas

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A celebration of life for Ronald Edward Thomas, 69, Lawrence, will be held on July 10, 2021, at 2pm at The Billiards Studio, 745 New Hampshire in Lawrence.

Mr. Thomas passed away Monday, June 14, 2021, at his home.

Ron was a man of many talents, had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and was like no other!  When he decided to try something new, he immersed himself in it.  He was an excellent player of chess, bridge, spades and dominos, and played on bowling and volleyball teams when he was younger.  He was always a fabulous pool player, and most recently he joined The Billiards Studio where he won their first annual Billiard’s Tournament.  He was an avid reader, fluent in Spanish; loved Science, but also science fiction.  He was a longtime comic book collector, but X-men were his favorite; he collected decorative masks; and he loved plants.   He also had an artistic side throwing pottery, and even delved into making jewelry.  Ron loved to cook and bake.

He worked in the aircraft industry for 10 years before he decided to get his degree.  He graduated from WSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.  His major emphasis of study was Spanish with minors in Economics, Communications, and History.  He also was an Emory Lindquist Honors Program Graduate and Class Representative.  He got his MBA from Baker University.  He loved working with people and providing every opportunity for them to better themselves.  This led him to an education career with Goodwill, Manufactures Technical Institutes and Pinnacle Career Institute.  Even after retirement, he became a substitute teacher in Lawrence, Olathe, and Eudora. Ron loved people, never met a stranger, and he had kind words for everyone he met.   He is best described as a “fun loving, non-conforming intellectual”.  He could discuss and debate many topics.  But, most of all he placed great value on his freedom to live his life the way he chose. Ron had an infectious smile and “oh, those dimples”!   He loved his daughter, Valerie, more than anything else in life.  Life threw many obstacles at him over the years, but he overcame them all, always with a positive, optimistic attitude.   His life was unexpectedly cut short, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his daughter, Valerie Thomas, his mother, Mary Thomas, 4 brothers, 6 sisters, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

 

Linda F. McKay

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Linda Fulton McKay died Friday, June 11, 2021, at home in Lawrence, Kansas.

Born in 1940 and raised in Pennsylvania, she attended Swarthmore College. In 1966 she married Douglas McKay, a fellow Pennsylvanian. During 1970, they settled in Lawrence where they raised their two sons. Along the way, she earned a Master’s Degree in biochemistry from KU, worked and participated fully in the activities of a town she loved.

Linda is survived by her husband, Douglas McKay, her children, Laird D. McKay and Benjamin T. McKay, two sisters, Donna Boyles and Sharon Beach, and seven grandchildren. Her death has left a hole in the lives of her loving family and numerous friends.

She will be cremated followed, in time, by a simple private gathering to share heartfelt stories of Linda.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests that a memorial contribution in Linda’s name be made to Just Food and/or the ACLU

Glenn C. Woodmancy

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Glenn Covert Woodmancy (Woody) 98, died Thursday, June 10 at Colonial Village in Overland Park, Kansas. Glenn was born on November 14, 1922, in a farmhouse near Randolph, New York.

He was the first child born to dairy farmers Albert Ray Woodmancy and Mary Almira (Covert) Woodmancy. His five siblings, Dorothy Ennis, Ann Mason, Jane France, Richard Woodmancy and Robert Woodmancy, preceded him in death.

Glenn graduated from Randolph Central School in 1940. He spent a year at Cornell before enlisting in the Army Air Force aviation cadet program. He became a pilot for the 2nd Photo Mapping Squadron stationed in the South Pacific. After the war he married Amy Louise (Oswalt), who he met at a dance, while in cadet training in Oklahoma City. They were happily married for 70 years, and he lovingly cared for her before her death in 2015.

Glenn graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1949 with a degree in physics and math. He worked as an engineer for Boeing for 31 years. That career took the family to Wichita, Kansas, Huntsville, Alabama and Bellevue, Washington. In 1970 he returned to his hometown to work as an engineer for the Borden company. In 1978 he returned to Boeing in Wichita and in Huntsville, to finish out his career. Glenn retired in 1990 and moved to Lawrence, Kansas to be near his daughters and their families. Glenn had an abundance of curiosity and interests including, aviation, science, politics, World War II, engineering, history, and many other things that kept him active and happy until the end of his life.

He was a much-loved Father and Father-in-Law to daughters Mary-Nell Gleeson (Mark) and Sarah Van Horn (Mike), grandfather to Ben Gleeson (Kate), Sam Gleeson (Megan), Nate Van Horn (Liz), Elizabeth Van Horn (Ryan Lord), and great-grandfather to Louise Nell Gleeson.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 am July 2, 2021, at Rumsey-Yost funeral home in Lawrence, Kansas. A family service will be held next May, to scatter the ashes of Amy and Woody in the Wichita mountains near Lawton, Oklahoma.

Donations in his name may be made to Randolph Free Library, 26 Jamestown Street, Randolph, New York 14772, or Community Christian Church at 4601 Main Street Kansas City MO.

Online condolences can be posted at rumsey-yost.com

Annita M. Watts

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Graveside services for Annita M. Watts, 82, Camdenton, Missouri, will be held at 1 pm Saturday, June 12, at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Lawrence Kansas.

Annita died Thursday, June 3, surrounded by family, in Eudora Kansas.

She was born December 31, 1938 in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of Alexander and Minna Phannenstiel. She attended high school in Denver, Colorado and earned her degree from Loretta Heights, also in Denver.

A current resident of the Camdenton, Missouri area, Mrs. Watts previously lived in St Louis and worked as the Assistant Director of Personnel at St Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood, Mo. Annita was active in her parish, St Anthony’s of Camdenton, Mo and was a talented quilter. An avid entertainer, she also enjoyed spending long hours in her sewing room, and creating handsewn items for her family and friends.

She married John Watts on May 28, 1983. They resided in the Kirkwood, Missouri area until their move to Camdenton, Mo in 1993. John survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Denise Snodgrass, of Lawrence, Kansas, a step son, John Watts of Wentzville, Mo and a step daughter, Cindy Watts of St Louis. She had 6 grandchildren.

 

Donna L. Landreth

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Funeral services for Donna L. Landreth, 90, Lawrence, will be 10 am, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at First United Methodist Church Downtown Location.

Donna passed away Saturday June 5 at LMH.

She was born May 23,1931 in Lovewell, Kansas.

The daughter of William and Mary Van Meter. They moved to the Lawrence area when she was a teenager and she graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1949. After Graduation, Donna worked for Lawrence paper Company in Lawrence, Kansas from August 19, 1952, until June 30, 1995. Retiring after 43 years as the Accounting Manager.

She Married Floyd Landreth on October 18, 1953 in Lawrence, Kansas at the First United Methodist Church. Floyd preceded her in death on January 1, 2004. Donna’s parents and siblings all precede her in death.

Survivors include a daughter, Donita Bouton (Marc) of Lawrence. 2 granddaughters: Heather Bouton Hubbell (Levi) of Olathe and Haven Bouton Al Otaibi (Nabil) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 8 Great Grandchildren. Nephew Robert Hegeman (Evelyn)of Fort Worth, Texas. Nieces – Janice Landreth Harmon and Judy Landreth Hathaway of Shawnee, Kansas. 4 Great nephews and nieces and their families in the area.

A short visitation will take place before the Memorial service.

The family suggests memorials to the United Methodist Church Mission fund or the Alzheimer’s fund, sent in care of the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044.

Live stream of the service will be at

https://www.facebook.com/RumseyYostFuneralHomeandCrematory/

David Allen Tuckel

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Graveside services for David Allen Tuckel, 61, Lawrence, will be 10am Wednesday at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1517 E. 15th St.  Lawrence, KS 66044.

Mr. Tuckel died June 2, 2021, at LMH Health.

He was born June 20, 1959, in Lawrence, to Ernest Arthur and Opal May Dietz Tuckel.

David loved to travel & go out.  He also liked to draw and color.

Survivors include a brother, Terry Tuckel of Lawrence; and sister, Virginia Hare of Prairie Village, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Larry Tuckel.

The family suggests memorial contributions to C.L.O. sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.