OBITUARIES
Joseph Robert Merlenbach
Jul 22, 2025
Joseph Robert Merlenbach, 77, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Stormont-Vail in Topeka.
He was born July 30, 1947 in Taylorville, Illinois, the son of William Frank Merlenbach and Minnie Mae Taylor. Joe’s family moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he attended High School and graduated with the Class of 1965.
On November 8, 1965, he entered the United States Army...
Duane Lawrence White
Jul 22, 2025
Duane Lawrence White, 71, of Waverly, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
He was born July 21, 1954, in Emporia, Kansas the son of Willis Warren and Mary Joan Rudolph White. He attended Melvern High School and graduated with the Class of 1973.
Duane attended Colby Community College before taking a job on a Ranch...
Marcia D. Cornelius
Jul 18, 2025
Marcia Dean Cornelius, 90, passed away Friday, July 18, 2025 at Presbyterian Manor in Emporia. She was born on August 13, 1934, in Emporia, Kansas, the beloved daughter of Vernie and Neva Hunt Longhofer. Raised in a close-knit and faith-filled family, Marcia lived a life rooted in love, humility, and quiet strength — touching the lives of all who knew...
Janice M. Smerchek
Jul 15, 2025
Janice M. Smerchek, 68, of Osage City, Kansas, passed away, July 15, 2025, at Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas
She was born November 25, 1956, In Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Samuel D. Rhoads, Jr. and Kathleen “June” Knight Rhoads. Samuel and Kathleen divorced. Kathleen later married George E. Newton. Together, they raised a blended family.
Janice attended schools at Burlingame...
Carol Campbell
Jul 11, 2025
Carol Campbell, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, July 11, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on November 2, 1941, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of Troy Sr. and Beatrice (Andrews) Routon.
On March 20, 2004, Carol was united in marriage to Richard Campbell in Miami, Oklahoma.
A devoted homemaker, Carol dedicated her life to caring...
Betty Joan Hughs
Jul 7, 2025
Betty Joan Hughs, 73, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2025, at University of Kansas-St. Francis Campus.
Betty Joan Clough was born June 3, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas and was the daughter of Rev. Jack Ferguson and Beatrice Mae (Womack) Clough. She graduated from High School in Gallatin, Missouri. Betty was an aspiring artist who loved God and her family with all...
Candy Kay Smith
Jul 5, 2025
Candy Kay Smith, 60, passed away Saturday, July 5, 2025 at her home in Lebo.
She was bon April 25, 1965 in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Ray Dean and Beverly K. Price Rowell. As a child she lived in Buckner, Missouri prior to her family moving to Pea Ridge, Arkansas during her teenage years. In January of 1982 her...
Raymond J. Martin
Jul 5, 2025
Raymond, J. Martin, 72, passed away Saturday, July 5, 2025 at Midland Hospice Care in Topeka, while surrounded by those most dear.
He was born August 10, 1952 in Emporia, Kansas the son of Howard and Marjorie Whittington Martin. Raymond grew up attending Madison Schools and graduated from Madison High School with the Class of 1970.
He married the love of his...
Dona Carpenter
Jul 3, 2025
Dona Carpenter, 76, passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, surrounded by her family.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home, 107 W. Sixth, Lebo, Kansas.
Dona was born on December 19, 1948, in Emporia, Kansas, to Elmer and Ruth Mueller. She graduated from Hartford High...
Ethel "Ruth" Romine
Jun 20, 2025
Ethel “Ruth” Romine, 90, of Osage City, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on November 25, 1934, at home on the family farm in Osage County, Kansas, Ruth was the daughter of Fred and Ethel Roakey Fillmore. From a young age, she embodied kindness, resilience, and a steadfast devotion to her family and...
Marvin Dale Hollis
Jun 19, 2025
Marvin Dale Hollis, 87, of Hamilton Kansas passed away at the Eureka Nursing Center on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Services will be held at 11:30 A.M., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the VanArsdale Funeral Home, 202 W. Main, Madison KS. He will be laid to rest at 2:00 P.M. Friday afternoon in Janesville Cemetery, Hamilton, KS.
Marvin Hollis was born April...
LaRita Kay Peterson
Jun 19, 2025
LaRita Kay (Atchison) Peterson passed away on June 19, 2025, in Hays, Kansas at the age of 83. She was born on March 10, 1942 in Arvonia, Kansas
She graduated from Lebo High School with the class of 1959.
Rita was united in marriage to Robert Peterson on August 25, 1961. They had one daughter, Roxanne.
Rita held various office jobs as a...
Charles Thomas Dorr
Jun 13, 2025
Charles Thomas “Tom” Dorr, 92, passed away, Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
Charles Thomas Dorr was born November 21, 1932, in Peterton, Kansas, the son of Walter Charles and Mary Alice (Croucher) Dorr. He graduated from Osage City High School in 1950. He served in the United States Army.
Tom was joined in marriage to Katherine...
Andrew T. Watkins
Jun 8, 2025
Andrew T. Watkins, 71, passed away Sunday, June 8, 2025, at his home in Topeka, surrounded by the family he held dear.
He was born November 4, 1953, in Wichita, Kansas the son of Lloyd Augustus and Elizabeth Alaine French Watkins. Andrew attended Valley High School in Gilcrest, Colorado, graduating with the Class of 1971.
Andrew joined the United States Army on...
Thomas "Tom" Lee Tush
Jun 3, 2025
On June 3, 2025, Thomas Tush, surrounded by family in his home, answered the Lord’s call to join him in his Heavenly Kingdom. Tom was born December 25th, 1950, to Tucker and Dorothy (Benjamin) Tush. Tom was a precocious youngster who enjoyed reading books, being outdoors, and playing with his numerous cousins. Tom’s time was often taken up with hunting,...
Mary Ann Lane
Jun 3, 2025
On June 2, 2025, Mary Ann Lane passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. She was 51 days from her 95th birthday.
Mary Ann was born on July 23, 1930, the daughter of John S. and Mathilda (Wendling) Brown, at her parents' farm outside Olpe, KS. She was a homemaker for 22...
Hartsel L. Storrer
May 28, 2025
Hartsel Lavern Norton Storrer was born on March 22, 1920 on a farm near Hartford, Kansas. Her parents, Archie and Joanna Norton, were in the process of building a house at the time. Hartsel's mother told the carpenter that he needed to get the house built as soon as possible as she was expecting her second child in March. Well,...
Shirley Mae Smulling
May 27, 2025
Shirley Mae Smulling, 93, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Peterson’s Assisted Living in Osage City, Kansas
She was born October 19, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Kenneth and Edith Cinita Humphrey Anderson. Shirley attended Miller High School where she graduated with the Class of 1948. She later attended Colorado Women’s College, graduating on June 1, 1950.
Shirley...
Roy Eugene Hoobler
May 25, 2025
Roy Eugene Hoobler, 93, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Life Care Nursing Center in Burlington.
He was born on October 28, 1931, Northwest of Madison, the son of Roy Elmer and Ina Pearl (McMurray) Hoobler. He attended Madison High School and graduated with the Class of 1949.
Roy was joined in marriage to Elwilda B. How “Willie” on December 9,...
Gerald Dean Cox
May 25, 2025
Gerald D. Cox, 68, of Madison, KS passed away May 25, 2025.
He was born March 31, 1957, in Emporia, KS, the son of Walter G. Cox and Patricia Bullock Cox. Gerry graduated from Reading High School, where he excelled at several sports, including football, baseball, and track & field. He worked for several years at Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant. Gerry...
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