Category: Obituaries

Ronney Junior Williams

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Graveside Services for Ronney Junior Williams, , Eudora will be 11am,Friday, August 18, 2023, at Eudora City Cemetery.

Ronney Junior Williams died Saturday, August 12, 2023 at his home in Eudora, KS.

He was born April 15, 1959 in Lawrence, the son of Chester and Ellen Cannon Williams. He attended Eudora High School.

Ron spent the majority of his working years in the manufacturing field, primarily working for Darling Envelope Company in Overland Park, Kansas. While his children were young, he spent many years coaching his daughter’s softball teams and teaching his son basketball skills. Leading his kids in their sports endeavors was something he took a lot of pride in and brought him great joy. In doing so, he also provided other children in Eudora with great memories. Ron also enjoyed teasing his kids, giving each of them a unique nickname and a song to go along with it.

Ron married Tammy Erwin in November, 1982 in Tonganoxie, Kansas. They divorced in 1998 and Tammy passed away in 2003.

Survivors include a son, Andrew Williams, Olathe, KS, two daughters, Amanda Baldwin of Tonganoxie, KS, and Trina Goss of Baldwin City, KS, and four grandchildren, Samuel, Lilly, Emma and Sara.

Evelyn Margarete Staus

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Graveside services for Evelyn Margarete Staus, 94, of Lawrence, will be on Wednesday, August 16th, at 10:00AM at Memorial Park Cemetery, with Chaplain Paul Reed officiating. Mrs. Staus passed away on August 13th at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living.

She was born Jan. 29, 1929, in Lawrence, the daughter of Edward O. and Emma Margaret Brokman Smith. She attended schools in Lawrence. Evelyn was a homemaker, and worked at House of Fabrics for ten years. She enjoyed reading and sewing, and was a member of AARP.

Evelyn married George Albert Staus on June 23, 1945, in Sedalia, MO. He preceded her in death, as did a daughter, Dotti Seele, 3 son-in-laws, Sonny Sieber , Dale Seale, and Brad Grant, and 2 grandsons, Bobbie Owens and Connor Omara.

Survivors include two daughters, Jeannie Alley and Linda Grant, both of Lawrence; a brother, Edward Smith, Tucson Ariz.; a sister, Ella Anderson, McLouth, seven grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 5 great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to Lawrence Humane Society, in the care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Beulah Elizabeth Anderson

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Beulah Anderson, 97, peacefully passed away on August 12, 2023. Beulah was born on July 7, 1926 in Kansas, the oldest of 10 children born to Walter Grammer and Ruby (nee: Rist).  Beulah was married at the age of 16 to Glenn Eugene Anderson (“Gene”) on December 18, 1942.  In the early years, Beulah was a substitute teacher until she became a mother and homemaker at the age of 18.  Later in life, Beulah showcased many different talents by showing she had an eye for interior decorating by wallpapering and painting homes, working as a receptionist for Anderson Trucking and Excavating, and making toothbrushes for a dental manufacturing company. Upon becoming a grandmother, she helped care for and doted on her grandchildren, similar to how she helped care for her many younger siblings. After her grandchildren grew up, Beulah continued her love of caregiving and spent time taking care of others, even elderly clients older than herself.  Beulah finally retired from her caretaking at the young age of 93.  The one thing Beulah did not retire from was being the self proclaimed mayor of “Anderson Acres,” which is where she lived for more than 70+ years.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (James) Stein, and sons Gary (Marilyn) Anderson and Mark (Tiffany) Anderson; sibling Gerald (Virginia) Grammer; grandchildren Todd (Susan) Stein, Brian (Debra) Stein, Scott (Brenda) Stein, Christy (Kevin) Irland, Kent (Wendee) Anderson, Michael (Lynn) Anderson, and Mark (Brittany) Anderson; great grandchildren Katherine Stein, Michael (Elizabeth) Stein, Megan Stein, Connor Stein, Kyle Stein, Stephanie (Jeffrey) Brown, Christopher Stein, Charlie Irland, Jimmy Irland, Drew Anderson (preceded in death), Tanner Anderson, Carly Anderson, Mackenzie Anderson, Aiden Anderson, Liam Anderson and Hadley Anderson; and great, great grandchild Baker Brown. Beloved husband Gene preceded Beulah in death almost 28 years ago, in 1995.

Beulah loved watching all sports, and especially was an avid fan of both the University of Kansas Jayhawks and the Kansas City Royals.  She took great pride in keeping her house neat and tidy and doing her own yard work. She loved watching game shows and making candy. Beulah was known for being a kind and generous person, with a persuasive nature, who enjoyed life, people, and having fun.  She was happiest being around her family and friends, and brought joy and love to everyone she knew. Her bright blue eyes, contagious smile and flirtatious laugh will be truly missed.

Friends may visit Tuesday, August 15, 2023 from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home at 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, Kansas. 66046.  The funeral service will also be held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 16,  at 10:00 am, burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations In memory of Beulah Anderson, may be made to VFW Post 6654, 33725 West 84th Street, De Soto, Kansas 66018 or Ascend Hospice, 5020 Billings Parkway, Suite D1, Lawrence, Kansas 66049.

Martha Jane Parker

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Services for Martha Jane Parker, 94, Lawrence,  will be held on Friday, August 18. The burial service will be at the Clinton Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. and Celebration of Life at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home at 5:00 p.m.

Martha Parker died Wednesday, August 9, 2023, surrounded by family at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born March 3, 1929, the daughter of Florence and Leslie Demeritt. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1945. She then received her teaching certificate from Kansas State University and taught as an elementary school teacher for 5 years. She married Roy Robert “Bob” Parker on February 16, 1951. Bob passed away September 12, 2008. They lived in Lawrence, KS., moved to Lee’s Summit, MO., then returned to Lawrence, KS before settling down in the Clinton area.

Martha was a founding member of Douglas County Amateur Baseball Association and Douglas County Landowners Association. Martha was a founding member and first chairwoman of the  Bloomington-Clinton Historical Committee (now Clinton Lake Historical Society). She was the co-founder and Executive Director of the Wakarusa River Valley Museum in Clinton, KS. In 2000, she was inducted into the Hall of Honor at Lawrence High School for her work as an author and historian. Martha was the co-owner of Parker-Laird Enterprises and owner of Freedom Publishing Company. Martha co-authored the book, “Soil of Our Souls”, and wrote “Angels of Freedom”, in 1999. She authored the Historic Map of Clinton Lake in 1976, as well as a Contour Fishing Map of Clinton Lake. She was awarded a grant from the Kansas Committee for Humanities for “Plowshares to Waterskis” Clinton: Uprooted Kansas Community. Martha created or helped create nearly twenty permanent/traveling exhibits about the Clinton Lake area. Martha and the Historical Society commissioned a sculpture representing the Clinton-Bloomington communities and later arranged a ballet to perform in the setting depicting escaping slaves and their benefactors.

Under Martha’s leadership, the Wakarusa Valley Heritage Museum became a founding partner of  Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area  established by Congress in 2006, representing 41 counties, and over 230 partners, along the border of Kansas and Missouri.

For forty years before, Martha had been preserving the stories of the Abolitionists who settled in the Wakarusa Valley who fought for the Freedom of slaves through the Underground Railroad. Martha’s landmark book, “Angels of Freedom” details the lives of the men and women who homesteaded the Wakarusa Valley to fight against slavery,  some sacrificing their lives in their crusade.

Martha preserved other  colorful stories in her first book, “Soil of Our Souls”.  Today, the Wakarusa Museum’s “Underground Railroad” exhibit  showcases Martha’s passion and pride in sharing these inspiring stories of the enduring struggle for freedom.

Douglas County Commissioners made a proclamation honoring Martha for her 45 years of research and historic preservation of Douglas County and declared April 22, 2017 Martha Parker Day. The Sertoma Club recognized Martha with the Service to Mankind Award. She participated in the re-enactment of the Sarah Gardner story. Martha was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and helped select scholarship recipients.

Martha’s political activities included Township Committeewoman Founder, past President of the Town & Country Republican Women, Douglas County Chairwoman for Phil Meinhardt for Congress and Ron Thornburg, Secretary of State candidate. Martha ran for State Representative of the 45th District. She attended, was in the choir and board member of the Clinton Presbyterian Church in Clinton, KS.

Other survivors include sons, Robert and Mark Parker, Lawrence; a daughter, Linda Parker, Houston, Texas. Her beloved grandchildren, Clint Jennings, Sally Jennings, Courtney Parker, Taylor Parker, Daren Parker, Haley (Parker) Morgan, Justice Mack and Tara (Mack) Malone. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren.

Husband, Bob Parker, daughter, Nancy Parker Taul, brother Leslie Demeritt, and sister, Mary Gordon preceded her in death.

The family will receive friends at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Thursday, August 17, from 6:00-7:00 p.m.

The family suggests memorials to the (WRVHM) Wakarusa River Valley Heritage Museum, sent in care of the funeral home.

 

Albert Lee Grayson, Sr

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Albert Lee Grayson, Sr. arrived on this side of heaven on April 18, 1930, to his loving parents Willie James and Dorris Ellis Grayson, in Kansas City, Kansas. When he was born, Albert was also welcomed by siblings Dorothy Mae, Betty Jane and James Edward. Two years after Albert was born, Willie and Dorris welcomed their last child, and Albert’s youngest sister, Bobbie Jean.

Having been born in the 1930’s, Albert experienced the many challenges of growing up in a segregated world, but he always met every challenge with his gentle spirit. Growing up, he had several friends, but his closest and best friend was Charles Kelly. They were quite the pair, had fun wherever they went, and were known to pull pranks in the neighborhood or be found sledding down the hilly street, somehow avoiding oncoming cars as they skidded around corners! He’d tell stories of the trains going by and the “coal man” throwing coal down off the train to the people so they could have free coal to heat their homes.

Albert’s educational achievements include his graduation from Sumner High School, Kansas City, Kansas in 1948 where he received numerous accolades from his teachers. This was followed by his attendance at the University of Kansas where he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. While at KU, he became a very proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He was a lifelong Jayhawks fan and would always make sure the family visited campus every time we were in Lawrence.

While at KU, Albert met the woman who became the love of his life – his Anna Marie. They dated and then shortly after his graduation, Albert entered active service with the United States Army and was then stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It was there that he successfully completed Leadership Training in March 1952, and subsequently became one of the first black candidates at The Engineer Officers Candidate School from May to October 1952.

Immediately following his graduation from Officers Candidate School, he proposed marriage to Anna Marie, and the two were married on November 23, 1952, in Lawrence, Kansas. They lived in Lawrence together where they welcomed their first of five children, Bettina, in 1954. Albert was hired as an Engineer by Westinghouse Corporation, along with his best friend Charles, which is how the move to California began. Albert and Anna Marie bought their first California home in Sunnyvale, and subsequently welcomed 3 additional children, Albert, Jr., Melinda, and William. In 1961 Albert moved his family to Cupertino, where they welcomed their final child, Andrea. In 1976 they moved to San Jose where they stayed until moving to Stockton in 2001.

At Westinghouse Albert oversaw the team responsible for designing the Trident nuclear missile casings for submarines. He retired after over 30 years with the company, after which Albert stayed busy and involved in the community tutoring high school math students, being the Editor for the Reserve Officers Association Newsletter, Chapter 63, and always kept busy in his most favorite job – that of being a Grandpa and traveling the world with his Anna Marie, capturing every moment on his camera.

The Lord blessed Albert to live 93 years on this side of heaven. He is now at rest and was greeted by his wife Anna Marie, who preceded him in death in 2012, as well as his parents, Willie and Dorris Grayson, his sisters Betty Jean Turner and Dorothy Mae Brown, as well as his brother James Edward Grayson, and Baby Grayson. Left to carry on his legacy are his sister, Bobbie Jean Saulet; his children, Bettina Jones, Albert Grayson, Jr. (Catherine), Melinda Griffith (Gary), William, and Andrea; grandchildren Rashaan Yarber, Lydell Yarber, Marquis Yarber, Adrianna Griffith, Erin Grayson, Shanell Grayson; great-grandchildren Jared Yarber, Nathaniel Yarber, Andrew (Yarber) Noland, Elijah Yarber, Kaliah Yarber, Kimani Yarber, and Tenaji Yarber, and Ja’Colby Grayson. The larger extended family left to remember his love and legacy include numerous beloved nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Funeral Services for Albert Lee Grayson Sr., 93, Stockton, CA, will be 11 am, Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial with Military Honors will take place at 11 am, Monday, August 21, 2023, at Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Dennis Joseph Supancic, Sr.

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It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Dennis Joseph Supancic, Sr., 73, on April 24th, 2023. After a long struggle with several health issues Dennis passed away at home, as he desired.

Dennis was born on December 30th, 1949, to Tony and Lilly Supancic in Columbus, KS. He grew up in Scammon, KS, followed by Lawrence, KS, where he attended Lawrence High School. He graduated with a High School Diploma in 1967. He was united in marriage to Sheila (Nightingale) on February 11, 1974. Together they were blessed with two children: Daughter Tammy and son Dennis.

After graduating high school Dennis volunteered to join the National Guard and was enlisted from 1970-1974. During this time he trained as a jet mechanic, developing his unique aptitude for troubleshooting large machines and equipment – as well as dismantling, transporting, and reassembling them. Later he established his own brokering business, D&S Graphics and Associates, where he would match buyer and seller for printing and binding equipment and then proceed to break down the equipment for relocation and piece it back together on his own. He approached his work and career with a distinctive tenacity, resourcefulness, and industrial vigor that separated him from his peers.

 

Dennis will always be remembered by those who knew him as a fully devoted father and husband. His family was his passion and purpose in life, and with single-minded determination he supported each member individually with everything at his disposal. His delight was caring for those he loved by addressing their needs. He never stopped looking for ways to provide and communicate his love through ensuring these needs were being met – and that most wants were met as well. He would often accumulate small useful items discovered over the course of his travels to give to his loved ones later, serving as evidence that they were always on his mind.

Dennis will be missed by his wife, children, and loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A private viewing for his immediate family was held on 5/3/23 at Rumsey-Yost, followed by burial at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS.

Dad, you will be dearly and sorely missed. We love you.

Anthony Leo Redwood

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A Lifetime Jayhawk, Anthony “Tony” Redwood died peacefully surrounded by family on April 28th in Alamo, California.

Born January 4, 1935, in Brisbane Australia to Kevin Leo Redwood and Winifred Doreen Johnson, he completed high school at St. Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace and started his adventures as a Patrol Officer in Papua New Guinea (serving in the Eastern Highlands, Central, Sepik and Bougainville Districts). This was an incredible experience for a young man, and he saw his mates on every subsequent visit to Australia; men who shared a kindred spirit.

He met Mary “Mollie” Redwood on a cruise to Hong Kong when she was traveling around the world as a registered nurse. They were married three months later and started their new life together in Buin, Papua New Guinea.
He continued his education receiving a Diploma of Public Administration (1964), a Bachelor in Economics (1965), and a Bachelor of Commerce (1968) from the University of Queensland. He then transitioned to a career in economics in the Papua New Guinea Department of Labour.

After having three girls – Karen, Michelle and Fiona – Mollie and Tony moved to the United States for Tony to earn his Masters in Labor & Employment Relations and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His first position was as an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas. So began his love of the University and of Kansas.

There was a short break from 1974-1976 when he took a position as the Assistant Secretary, Manpower & Economic Policy in the Australian government and the family moved to Melbourne, Australia. Then he returned to KU until his retirement in 1999 as Professor of Business Emeritus. Among his proudest achievements were his teaching awards, the economic development strategy for the State of Kansas developed with his colleague Charles Krider, service on the KU Athletic Board and being selected Kansan of the Year (inaugural awardee) by Kansas magazine in 1986.

He had a lifetime joy of sports whether in high school where he played multiple sports, as a rugby referee in Papua New Guinea, as a runner with the Mad Dogs and as a lifetime golfer. He was so proud of completing the KU marathon under 4 hours in 1976.

After retiring from KU, Tony and Mollie moved to Eagle Creek Country Club in Naples, Florida and he kicked off another career as a Federal Arbitrator. He retired in 2019 and received notification that none of his 150+ cases had been challenged.

Tony was truly Australian in his love for his mates and how he valued friendship. Geography had no bounds on his Friday night get-togethers whether it was in Lawrence with other professors, Book club in Naples with his golf buddies or with his new friends in California at a local craft brewery. He was a great storyteller. Whether it was seeing Bill Clinton at St. Andrews or just picking up the grandkids from school. There was always a story to be shared and laughter to ensue.

In 2020 (thanks to Covid) Tony and Mollie were finally enticed to move to California to live with Karen, Fiona and the grandkids. The last 3 years of his life were all about family and friends – celebrating special times like Brynna’s graduation from Macalester College, playing golf with Karen & McKenna, wine tasting with friends, and local travel.

In addition to Mollie, he leaves his sister, Denise Redwood; his daughters’ Karen Redwood, Michelle Davis and Fiona Redwood; and grandchildren Brynna Davis, McKenna Redwood and Mason Redwood. He joins his beloved grandson, Nathan Davis in heaven.

“And when we say goodbye to you, don’t mourn us when we go.
The Big D.C. will call us too, and this of course we know.
The last Patrol will take us all, along that well worn track,
But the difference for this final call, is that we won’t be coming back.
So our passing should not cause you pain, it’s not sad for us to die,
For we will all soon meet again, in that Patrol Post in the Sky.”
– Reprinted from Una Voce, June 2004

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on August 12th at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center, Lawrence, Kansas. Happy Hour to convene afterwards at The Pub at the Adams Alumni Center.

Daniel Richard Sodders

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A service of Christian Burial for Daniel Richard Sodders will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, August 11, 2023, at River City Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave., Lawrence, Kansas. Burial will be at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park in New Braunfels, Texas, Friday, August 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. He died July 29, 2023, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Daniel was born in New Braunfels, Texas, Friday, August 24, 1962, at 8:33 pm during a thunderstorm and minutes before his fraternal twin Steven was born. As infants, they moved to California with his father, Richard Phillip Sodders (who was in the U.S. Navy), and his mother, Mary Lynn Thompson. The family returned to the Midwest, living again in New Braunfels, TX where younger brother Michael was born. They moved to Beaumont, TX, where he attended Kindergarten and first grade; then moved to Baton Rouge, LA, where his youngest brother, Mark, was born. His family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1974.

In 1980, he graduated from S. H. Rider High School (Wichita Falls). In 1984, he graduated summa cum laude from Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls) on an academic scholarship (Honors Program) with a B.A. in History (minor in Political Science). In 1985 he moved to Lawrence to pursue advanced degrees at the University of Kansas. He received his M.A. in History in 1988 and his PhD. in History (Medieval) in 1996. The title of his dissertation was Conrad the Fourth as German King, 1237-1250.

As a student employee at KU, Daniel worked from 1987-1996 at the Continuing Education Academic Outreach Programs and from 1995-1996, at the University of Kansas Libraries. In February of 1997, he became a full-time employee of the Libraries as a Library Assistant I, later achieving the highest rank of Library Associate in 2006-present. He primarily was a Serial Cataloger in regular and Special Collections–the Wilcox Collection. His ability to read many languages (German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish), broad educational background, and detail-oriented skills made him exceptional at the complexities of Serials Cataloging. Many of the rare serial items held in the Wilcox Collection are held if at all, by only one other university library other than KU. Daniel took great delight in being the first to add a record to the international library database for these items thereby making obscure materials available to the wider academic community.

On June 28, 2008, he married Joy Miller Fry whom he met at KU Libraries where both were employed. One co-worker said, “They are like two peas in a pod,” being similar in personality, values, Biblical worldview, and goals. They loved worshipping together, exploring Civil War battlefields, and watching old TV favorites (Maverick, MASH, MST3K, and all medieval or war-related videos). What a gift from God Daniel was! He took his role as provider and protector very seriously. During the pandemic, church attendance became difficult but on Sunday afternoons Daniel would say, “It’s time for Alistair Begg” a Scottish preacher whose sermons were broadcast online. They enjoyed working their way through Begg’s book of Ephesians series – all 82 messages!

Although he was active in the University United Methodist Church Youth Fellowship as a young person, later in his 40s, Daniel recognized that even though he was a good person (and he was!), he fell far short when focusing on the perfections and excellencies of God. He understood how Jesus and his sacrifice provided the bridge between sinners and a holy God, and he accepted the gift of Jesus as his Savior and became a child of God and a disciple of

Jesus Christ. Daniel investigated the claims of Jesus and the Bible and concluded they were historical and to be trusted since there is more eye-witness and manuscript evidence than for other ancient documents. He was often annoyed at scoffers of the Bible who came from a literary-philosophical perspective rather than a historical one. Given his medieval bent, he realized Jesus was the perfect King of Kings to whom allegiance was owed. He was faithful in church attendance and was often the Scripture Reader and sang in the choir. Daniel had a compassionate, servant’s heart and served his wife, neighbors, and church family.

Interests throughout the course of his life included the following. While in Baton Rouge, his Cub and Boy Scout troops ushered at LSU football games, resulting in him becoming a lifetime sports enthusiast, enjoying football, baseball, and especially soccer. In his high school years, he was active in band (playing trumpet), ROTC, and choir lending his wonderful bass voice to their efforts. In college, he was a D&D player and dungeon master. From an early age, he enjoyed miniatures. He was an active Historical Wargamer, historical authority, and Civil War buff. He was often called upon by the national wargamer community to clarify battle layouts and the historical characters involved. At Christmas time and Easter every year, he built a Nativity and an Easter panorama depicting those events. Daniel’s love of music spanned from yodeling to European orchestral heavy metal for the stories it told. He enjoyed Coca-Cola, Tostitos, Monty Python, and “Bucky Katt” cartoons. His sense of humor and wit were evident to all.

Daniel’s love of history no doubt came from being a descendant of two of the founders of New Braunfels, TX, Andreas Eikel and Stephan Klein. He is also related to the eldest member of the Constitutional Convention of the Republic of Texas, Collin McKinney, and the American Revolutionary War veteran, Daniel McKinney.

He is survived by his wife, Joy; his father, Richard Sodders and his wife Donna; his three brothers: Steven and his wife Marisa, Michael and his wife Kathie, Mark and his wife Robyn; half-sisters Alexandra Sodders and Madeleine Sodders; aunts, Sara Jo Thompson and Jackie Sodders; uncle, Thomas Sodders; cousins: Natalie Vann and her husband, Kevin; Stacey Pogue, and her husband, Kevin Jewell and their children, Cole and Talia; Kelley Sodders, Victoria Sodders, and Chelsey Sodders.

Memorial contributions may be given to: TMAI (The Master’s Academy International). Instead of “Where needed most,” select “Translation and Global Publishing” which provides Library materials to each of their local training centers. https://www.tmai.org/donate/ Or, Samaritan’s Purse with emphasis on “U.S. Disaster Relief, Building Schools/Building Hope” or “Soccer Balls and Sports Gear” https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online

Russell Dan Jacobson

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Russell Dan Jacobson born to Ruby(Clark) and Dan Jacobson May 22, 1930 passed on 7/6/2023 at the home of his niece Mindy in Lawrence Kansas age of 93.

Russ spent 2 winters and 2 summers in Korea, first as a front line artillery fire direction specialist on Hill 191 in North Korea until wounded. He was then reassigned to the 45th division Headquarters during recovery. He was awarded 4 battle stars and a bronze star to go with other decorations.

Russ was named Who’s Who in colleges and Universities and went on to pass the bar in both Kansas and Missouri. As a practicing attorney in Jackson County he also argued before the Supreme court trying numerous cases successfully.

He was passionate about the British Legal System and sharing the roots of our legal system. He loved  traveling to Europe and fell in love with the French leading him to become an honorary member of the French Foreign Legion. Russ started a two week Oxford CLE Summer School program in 1983 with the assistance of the UMKC Law School Administration. Russ’ enthusiasm was contagious. The program quickly grew with many attendees returning year after year to participate in the program because of Russ’ passion and the high quality of British judges, solicitors, barristers, and Oxford professors he recruited to speak.) Russ led the program every year until 2013 when his health prohibited travel to his beloved home away from home. Finally, in 2017 Russ was able to make one last memorable trip with the help of those who wanted Russ to experience his farewell tour. Because of Russ’ foresight and devotion to sharing his knowledge, the program, now in its 40 year, continues to thrive.

Survivors,  Theodore Roosevelt, his senior yorkie, his brother Eugene and wife Martha Jacobson, Niece Mindy Downs who resides with husband Michael and children Caleb and Mikayla in Lawrence, and nephew Dr. David Jacobson and his wife Jennifer and their children Noah and Emma in Damascus Maryland, and many wonderful friends he collected and loved dearly over the years.)

 Graveside inurnment with Military Honors will be 11 am, Friday, August 25, 2023, at Forest Hill Cemetery, 6901 Troost Ave. Kansas City, MO 64131 .

Vergie Lou Anderson

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Vergie Anderson, 79, of Lawrence, Kansas, formerly of Kinsley, Kansas, and Rozel, Kansas, passed away on Friday, July 28, 2023, in home hospice surrounded by her loving family.

Vergie passed away from her years long battle with various cancers which shaped her life-long career and mission to help others detect and receive health care for this dreaded disease.

The daughter of Lester H. and Dorothy Blattner Ideker, Vergie was born September 14, 1943, in Great Bend, Kansas. Vergie’s great grandfather T.S. Haun was instrumental in the founding of Jetmore, Kansas, and Hodgeman County Kansas.

Along with her brother, Sonny, she grew up on a farm north of Rozel. When reflecting on her formative years and life on the farm, Vergie had many fond memories of family life and good times. She loved the farm life. She became an accomplished pianist after her parents, with their hard work, saved to buy her a piano for which she was eternally grateful. Vergie attended school at Rozel, graduating Salutatorian in her small class. She attended Fort Hays State for two years and then Kansas State University for a semester.

She married Neil Meckfessel and resided on a farm south of Rozel. Two beautiful children, Jason Vernon and Brooke Suzanne, were born to this union. Vergie loved being a mother and was very involved in the lives of her precious children, assisting with pre-school, teaching Sunday school, serving as a Cub Scout leader and 4-H project leader. The children were her everything.

In 1980, tragedy struck. Jason, 13, and Brooke, 5, were killed in a horrific car accident in Wichita, Kansas. Shocked and lost, Vergie visited their graves every day for years and years. She thought her life was over and she would never be happy again. Although there were many good times, her marriage dissolved after the childrens’ accident.

She eventually took a job at Rozel High School as a secretary hoping to help and guide other children and make a difference in their lives. She became known as a “mother” to so many students teaching them right from wrong, cooking, sewing and just being there for them. Many of those children have kept in touch with her to this day. In order to move on with her life, she felt a calling to follow a career of service.

She enrolled in and graduated with a degree in Psychology at St. Mary’s of the Plains College in Dodge City. She was infinitely grateful to Professor James McReynolds who helped her to move

on from the tragic past, guiding her toward social work and showing her the path to help others get through difficult life events.

Her entire family were life-long K-Staters, so when Vergie told them she was enrolling at the University of Kansas to continue her education, they were quite skeptical. Vergie jumped into KU and upon graduation called it her “nirvana”! From 1988-1990, under the direction of her mentor and renowned KU Professor, Dr. Alice Lieberman, Vergie, who was Dr. Lieberman’s first student, flourished and earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work and gained her LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker).

Vergie was honored with a membership into Phi Kappa Phi, one of the most exclusive honor societies which is an interdisciplinary academic organization established in 1897. Only the top five percent of senior classes and the top 10 percent of graduate students are asked to join. In addition, she was named an Esther Twente Scholar for 1989-90 at the University of Kansas, a nationally renowned social award representing the highest academic achievement in the school of the Social Welfare Master’s Program. Vergie was also awarded the Margo Schutz Gordon Award for outstanding achievement in the MSW Foundation Practicum.

Vergie married Mark Anderson, her blue-eyed knight in shining armor from Kinsley, Kansas, in 1990, the same year she graduated from KU. Together they purchased a new home in Kinsley supporting each other in both their difficult pasts and charging into the future to make a difference in people’s lives. They both have been doing this together for 33 years proving Aristotle’s observation that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Mark has been her spiritual foundation and rock. He has been with her on this life and medical journey supporting her from the beginning to the end.

Vergie took her knowledge and degree in Social Welfare back to Western Kansas. She worked for the Iroquois Mental Health Center for over 19 years. She started as a therapist and a nursing home consultant and then Clinical Director for 12 years. As a director, she had to oversee all the coordinators of all the programs and quality management.

In 2007, Vergie had another setback and was diagnosed with breast cancer which turned into a life-long battle. Vergie only knew one thing and that was to attack this head on and to continue to focus on helping others.

After the Greensburg tornado in 2007, she wrote a grant for an informal service for elderly in the area which was called the “coffee shop” and still exists today for people to bond and support each other.

Vergie started a cancer support group in Edwards County for cancer patients and their families. She was instrumental in bringing health care and cancer care and awareness to western Kansas. She began and served on a University of Kansas Breast Cancer Survivorship Program. She became President-Elect of the KU School of Social Welfare Advisory Board and was awarded

“Lady of the Year” from Beta Sigma Phi chapters in western Kansas. After retirement, Vergie continued as a social service consultant and mediator for hospitals, Medicalodge and Life Care Programs.

In 2018, a second cancer appeared and in 2022, Vergie and her husband, Mark, moved to Lawrence to be near her beloved University of Kansas and the many friends she made in Lawrence during her college days. It was also a benefit to be closer to airports, access to MD Anderson in Houston and the excellent health care at KU Cancer Center.

Through all of this, although Vergie had just moved back to Lawrence, she became the driving force behind her Hutton Farms West neighborhood’s newly created social committee. In true “Vergie” spirit, she continued to bring people together in love and friendship.

Her brother Sonny says, “Vergie is just like her Mother, always bringing people together.”

Vergie and her husband, Mark, spent time and service at the Congregational Church in Kinsley, Kansas. Vergie’s and Mark’s faith in God has been paramount in their lives.

Vergie was preceded in death by her parents, her 2 year old sister Lisa Kay Ideker, her infant brother Johnny Ray Ideker and her precious children Jason and Brooke.

Survivors include her husband Mark, her brother Lester, “Sonny” Ideker, Jr. and sister-in-law Janel of Alpharetta, Georgia; her niece Ashley Ideker Charlton and children Hunter, Olivia and Paloma and many, many dear cousins.

Vergie and Mark would like to thank Vergie’s brother and sister-in-law Sonny and Janel Ideker, Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Department, Visiting Nurses, and their many friends and neighbors that supported them.

Vergie has been cremated and her inurnment will be on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 10:30am. She will be buried next to her children Jason and Brooke at the Garfield, Kansas Cemetery. Following the inurnment, a Celebration of Life will be held at 12 noon at St. Nicholas’s Parish Hall, 706 East 6th St., Kinsley, Kansas. Additionally, a Celebration of Life will be held by her neighbors and friends in Lawrence at a later date.

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorial donations may be made to the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare Dean’s Opportunity Fund in memory of Vergie Anderson for Jason and Brooke Meckfessel. Mail to: Twente Hall, 1545 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 or drop off at the Congregational Church in Kinsley or Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Please sign the guestbook at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home https://rumsey-yost.com/obituaries