Category: Obituaries

John Edward Dillon

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John E. Dillon, 83, a life-long member of the Overbrook, Kansas community, left this world on January 5, 2024. He was born on December 7, 1940 in rural Douglas County, Kansas. John was a man of hard work and dedication, and his legacy extends far beyond the boundaries of Overbrook, KS. John passed away peacefully in his sleep after an extended illness.

John graduated from Overbrook Rural High School in 1958. In 1959, he married Joyce Garst, and together they built a life of farming and raising three boys, Jeffrey, Douglas, and David. All successful in their own professions, the “Dillon Boys” took the values of hard work and honesty from their father. Lt. David Dillon, of the Douglas County Sherriff’s Office passed away in 2008 from an accident. John leaves his legacy to Jeffrey and Douglas, as well as 4 grandchildren: Meghan, Austin, Molly, and Cameron. Followed by 6 great grandchildren.

John Dillon was the son of Howard and Pearl Dillon and was born and raised in the farmhouse in Douglas County where his grandparents lived. He is survived by two sisters, Jackie Flory and Yvonne Heinen, a sister in-law Marsha Kay and brother-in-law Douglas Garst and wife Julie.

In 1958, John and his father along with his sister’s family, built one of the largest family dairy operations in Northeast Kansas, Dillon-Flory Dairy. The Dillon and Flory families embraced the life of dairy farmers, where they tended to the land and livestock with unwavering commitment. In 1982, a new chapter unfolded as John, alongside his wife Joyce, ventured into the ownership and operation of the Overbrook Livestock Commission Company—a venture that thrived under their watchful care until 2004.

On Wednesday, January 10th, Mr. Dillon will be instate from 12 pm -8 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, family will receive friends from 6 pm – 7 pm at 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

A celebration of John’s life will be held on January 28, 2024, at 1:00 pm at the Willow Bend Event Center at 2241 E 141st St, Carbondale, KS. A private family graveside service will be held this week at Washington Creek Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions to the John Dillon Fund. These gifts will be used to establish a memorial to farmers and ranchers of the Overbrook area and or a scholarship for young adults entering the challenging yet rewarding world of cattle farming.

Donations can be sent to the John Dillon Fund, PO Box 81, Overbrook, KS 66524.

John E. Dillon’s legacy will live on in the fields he worked, the family he cherished, and the community he enriched. He will be remembered as a man whose hands were calloused from hard working and honest values that he gave to his family and community.

Diane Lazzarino

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Diane Larson Lazzarino died Jan. 5 while under hospice care at her home of recent years, Neuvant House of Lawrence.

 

A proud native of Laramie, Wyoming—where her forebears were among Laramie’s earliest pioneers—Diane met her future husband, Alexander Lazzarino, while both were students at the University of Wyoming. After stops in Columbia, S.C, and Casper, Wyo., they moved in 1967 to Lawrence, where they chose to raise their family and establish their careers.

 

Immediately upon completing her master’s degree at the William Allen White School of Journalism—where the Diane Lazzarino Award now honors outstanding students in strategic communications—Diane began her 37-year career as a member of KU’s journalism faculty. Her writing classes were known for projects benefiting community agencies. She advised the KU Ad Club for 20 years, administered the school’s famous typing test, and, as a career capstone, served as founding director of the Bremner Editing Center until her 2006 retirement.

 

Always a busy working mother and community volunteer, Diane for many years toted deliveries for Lawrence Meals on Wheels—which she helped launch here in 1970—in her green VW Bug and, later, a sporty silver Fiat. She was an early activist for mandatory car safety seats for children, and, with rare-at-the-time foresight for the millennium, for 12 years led classes of her KU writing students through an ongoing chronicle of the lives of Hillcrest Elementary students who one day would become the Class of 2000.

 

Diane guided writing groups for seniors, immersed herself in a book club active for decades and enjoyed listening to Big Band music with close friends at the American Legion. She dedicated time and resources to causes benefiting vulnerable pets and wildlife, and, delighting in surprising distant family with gift memberships, remained a loyal member of the KU Alumni Association, as well as a knowledgeable fan of all KU sports teams.

 

She consumed her daily newspapers with a journalism teacher’s critical eye, read and collected a range of books that reflected her boundless curiosity—including a particular fondness for foreign correspondent Mildred Aldrich’s World War I memoir, “A Hilltop on the Marne”—and lovingly tended her seasonal array of plants and flowers at the Alvamar home she and Alex designed and built themselves in 1972.

 

Alex preceded Diane in death in 2002. She is survived by her children, Evie and Chris, both of Lawrence; her brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Judy Larson, of Prairie Village; sister-in-law Ann Lazzarino Edwards, of Florida; and beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear family friends near and far.

 

Services will be announced at a later date. To the staff and residents of Neuvant House, the family extends our deepest thanks. The blessing of sincere friendship will not be forgotten.

 

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the student award fund in her name, administered by the KU Endowment Association, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Raymond Patrick Kenny

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Memorial Services for Raymond Patrick Kenny, 67, Overland Park, will be held at 10 am, Saturday, January 13, 2024, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

He died January 4, 2024.

Survivors include his wife Tiffiany, children; Kristen (John), Patrick (Lauren), Amanda (Bill) and Casey; grandchildren Declan, Rowan, Ian, Aidan, Regan, Louise, Arthur, Clementine; siblings, Kathleen (Kevin), Nancy (Bill), Tim (Martina), Sharon (Drew), Jayne (Mike) and Robert; sister in law, Carolyn; many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Kevin.

Daniel Milton (Dan) Chappell

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Daniel (Dan) Milton Chappell, 55, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on January 4, 2024.

Born and raised in Coffeyville, Kansas by his mother, Sharon Brown Chappell, and grandparents, Doris and Milton Brown, his early years shaped a life characterized by connection and a deep respect for his roots. A graduate of Field Kindley High School, Class of 1986, Dan carried the spirit of his hometown with him as he ventured to Lawrence to attend the University of Kansas. His journey in Lawrence was marked by over three decades of dedicated service at the Hallmark Lawrence Production Center.

Dan’s passion for preserving and sharing family stories was evident in his love for collecting and revitalizing antiques and photos. Imparting the stories of family and ancestors was a role and activity Dan cherished.
While Dan’s life was a tapestry of complexities, he fiercely loved his children, Matthew and Abigail. Dan was predeceased by his loving grandparents, his mother Sharon, and his father, James Lee Chappell. He will be missed by Matthew and Abigail, as well as uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

Plans for a celebration of Dan’s life are underway in Lawrence, with a subsequent burial to follow in his beloved Coffeyville. Details of these services will be provided in due course.

 

Janet Lue DeMaranville

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Janet Lue (Fischer) DeMaranville, 88, died peacefully in the early morning hours of January 4, 2024 at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, which she has called home for the last eight and a half years.

She was born in Kansas City, Kansas on February 6, 1935, the second of two daughters to Cleo and Charles Fischer. She grew up in the Quindaro neighborhood of KCK and fully enjoyed the perks that the Kansas City Metro area offered. She was raised in a family that loved music and for many years in her youth she would take the trolley car over to KCMO for weekly piano lessons. Her vocal skills were honed at Wyandotte High School where she was a member of an a cappella choir and glee club. She performed in many variety programs.

She met the love of her life, Al DeMaranville, on the steps of Kansas City Kansas Junior College. They enjoyed dancing to the tunes of the big bands at the Pla-Mor Ballroom in midtown Kansas City. Drawn to Al’s good looks, strong work ethic, and generous spirit this city girl married her country boy on August 21, 1955.  This began a marriage that lasted 63 years.

After the birth of their two daughters, Joy and Susan, in 1956 and 1957, they took to dancing in the living room to the tunes of Lawrence Welk, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett.  Their family was completed by the birth of their son, Al, in 1965. All three of Janet’s children learned piano and played various other instruments. It was a creative household with “Big Al” overseeing a multitude of projects in the “maker space” of the basement and Janet encouraging her children in arts and crafts, sewing, and cooking. Every summer their family would vacation in the west mostly exploring the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming or visiting Janet’s sister, Barbara and her family in Missoula, MT.

Later, her creative and musical talents were channeled into teaching private voice and piano lessons and she eventually taught pre-school in the KC area for over 25 years.

Janet and Al fully embraced their role as grandparents and enjoyed having their Kansas grandchildren over for many a weekend. Janet would get down on the floor, just as she did teaching pre-school, and spend hours playing blocks, reading books, and doing puzzles. As the kids got older, she taught them how to make her “famous” pecan brittle and chocolate fudge. She and Al also would travel to Seattle to visit grandsons, Kaiser and Coen, and take in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

In 2015, Janet and Al moved from their KCK home of 53 years to Lawrence Presbyterian Manor to be close to their family. Al passed away in 2018. Over the last five years, Janet has continued her creative pursuits by singing and playing piano for the other residents on her floor as well as  using her drawing skills to design ballgowns and other women’s apparel. Her loving spirit has made her many friends at the Manor.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Albia Arron DeMaranville, Jr.; parents, Charles and Cleo Fischer; grandson, Aaron Calovich; and son-in-law, Gary Frager.

She is survived by her sister, Barbara White (Bob) of Missoula, MT, and her three children, Joy DeMaranville (Frank Norman); Susan Frager and Al DeMaranville III of Lawrence, KS. Janet was an especially loving grandmother and is survived by five grandchildren: Paul Calovich, Chesha Frager, Thomas Frager, Kaiser DeMaranville, and Coen DeMaranville and two great-grandchildren: Zada Calovich and Mazzy Calovich.

The family would like to thank Visiting Nurses Hospice and especially the staff of Presbyterian Manor for the excellent care and kindness they have shown Janet over the last eight and a half years.

Janet’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 13 at 2 pm at the chapel in Presbyterian Manor, 1429 Kasold Drive, with a reception immediately following.

Memories and condolences for the family may be left at rumsey-yost.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Lawrence Children’s Choir by mail to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Marie Karlene Robinson

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Memorial Services for Marie K. Robinson, 86, Eudora, will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

She passed away Monday, January 1, 2024, at Hillside Village in DeSoto, Kansas.

Marie was born February 15, 1937, in Eustis, Nebraska, the daughter of Warren and Helen (Hart) Wilkins.  She grew up in Eustis, NE and moved to Eudora in 1974.

She married Dearld S. Robinson on November 24, 1965, who passed away in February 2004.   Marie is survived by four children, Rendia Clark, Kansas City, Missouri; Karla Schulte, Shawnee, Kansas; Ward Johnston and Scott Robinson, Eudora, Kansas.  She also has 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Marie is also preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister and one nephew.

The family suggests memorials to Consolidated Fire District #1, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, Kansas 66044.

Dale Allison Young

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Dale Allison Young, 73, of Lawrence, KS, passed away on January 1, 2024. She was born on June 12, 1950, in Omaha, Nebraska. Dale was a kind and funny woman who was known for being a wonderful sister, mother, and grandmother. She was a good friend to many and a caring and committed teacher.

Dale had a passion for gardening and enjoyed reading a wide range of books from mysteries to histories in her spare time. She also cherished keeping in touch with her family and friends. Crosswords, puzzles, and trivia were among her favorite hobbies, and she always found joy in engaging conversations with loved ones over a cup of coffee.

Dale is survived by her brothers, Wayne and Ric; her sister, Laurie; her son, Braden, and daughter-in-law, Spencer; as well as her grandchildren, Callahan and Soren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly and Spencer.

Dale received her higher education at KU and Washburn. She put her education to good use as a dedicated grade school teacher, positively impacting the lives of countless students throughout her career.

A private service will be held at a later date to honor Dale’s life. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the ACLU or the Parkinson’s Foundation in her memory.

Please join us in remembering Dale Allison Young and celebrating the profound impact she made on the lives of those around her. May her kind and loving spirit live on in our hearts forever.

Doreta Yvonne Boyd

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Services for Doreta Boyd will be held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 2pm. Visitation will be from 1pm till service time on Tuesday, also at the funeral home.
Burial will follow the services at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Doreta passed on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, in Topeka, KS. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Brenda Dunbar Swartz.

Doreta was born Tuesday, March 22, 1938, in Lawrence, KS the daughter of George Patterson and Bessie Puderbaugh Patterson. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1956 and was a part of the a cappella singing group. Doreta owned her own art store, Doreta’s Decorative Arts, in Lawrence, KS. Where she specialized in painting classes for 18 years. Her & Monty later became traveling sales reps. They enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends along the way. She also enjoyed spending her pastimes watching the Jayhawks play basketball, never missing a KU game. The grandchildren were always her pride and joy. Doreta had an infectious smile and a kind soul. She was loved by many and will be missed by many.

Doreta had two children, Brenda, and Beth. Doreta married Monty Boyd June 12, 1980. They brought their families together and she is survived by her husband, Monty Boyd, Lawrence, KS; Brother, Forrest Patterson; Sister, Sheryl Stafford, Florida; Daughter, Beth Crist, Lawrence, KS; Stepson, Marty Boyd, Eudora, KS; Stepson, Mike Boyd, Lewisville, TX; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s association or charity of their choice. alz.org

Martin Fan Cheng

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Martin Fan Cheng, 92, Lawrence, Kansas, died December 15, 2023 at LMH Health. He was born May 4, 1931 in Anhui province China. His family then fled to Chongqing, Sichuan province during the Sino-Japanese War. In 1949 he moved to Taiwan, where he received a degree in Civil Engineering from National Taiwan University. In 1958 he came to the US, where he earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and Mathematics from The University of Minnesota, followed by a Ph.D. degree in Mathematics from The University of Kansas. In 1980 he completed a BFA degree from the same university and then an MFA degree from The University of Washington.

For most of his life he was a watercolor artist in Lawrence, KS and was widely known for his meticulous, detailed and realistic-looking watercolor paintings. His artistic work was influenced by fishing, one of his beloved hobbies, through which he became intrigued by the glistening presence of fish and he persisted in his quest to “to paint the real world as we see it.” Along with his interest in fish, his work incorporates the significance of food as a Chinese cultural obsession and focuses on fish and other Chinese food in a life-size or larger format paintings. Survivors include his daughter Christine Cheng of Millcreek, UT, son Ian Cheng of Albuquerque, NM, and three grandchildren.

No services are planned at this time.