OBITUARIES

David Jason Pfaff

David Jason Pfaff

Apr 13, 2025

David Jason Pfaff, 96, passed away Sunday, April 13, 2025 at Newman Regional Health in Emporia.

He was born May 9, 1928, in LeRoy, Kansas, the son of William M. and Katherine L. Lucey Pfaff.

David attended high school at Old Strawn and graduated with the Class of 1946. He soon enlisted in the United States Navy. David earned an honorable discharge...

Kathleen Rae Whalen

Kathleen Rae Whalen

Apr 12, 2025

Kathleen R. Whalen, 78, passed away, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Midland Hospice Care in Topeka.

Kathleen Rae Bergquist was born November 13, 1946, in Osage City, the daughter of Carl Swen and Aline Louise (Vialle) Bergquist. She graduated from Osage City High School in 1964 and attended Clark Business School.

She was joined in marriage to Michael James Whalen on April...

Randall Kirk Clarke

Randall Kirk Clarke

Apr 11, 2025

Randall Kirk Clarke, 72, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025 at his home near Yates Center.

He was born August 21, 1952 in Chanute Kansas, the son of Glenn W. and Vona Mott Clarke.

Hard work was a way of life for Randall. He has spent his entire life working on and around the family ranch southeast of Yates Center. He spent...

Glenda Jean Eubank

Glenda Jean Eubank

Apr 9, 2025

Glenda Jean Eubank, 79, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at her home in Hartford, Kansas.

She was born on June 9, 1945 in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of John L. and Dorothy Mae Kneisly Haas. Glenda spent the early years of her life with her family living southeast of Gridley.

Glenda attended Yates Center High School where she graduated with the...

Shirley Jo Stair

Shirley Jo Stair

Mar 30, 2025

Shirley Jo (VanSickle) Stair, 68, passed away Sunday, March 30, 2025, at her home in Osage City.

Shirley Jo VanSickle was born December 2, 1956, in Emporia, the daughter of Max D. and Emily W. (Zabel) VanSickle. She graduated from Osage City High School.

She was a para educator in Osage City and Emporia.

She was joined in marriage to Donald Frank Stair...

Lois Elizabeth Park

Lois Elizabeth Park

Mar 29, 2025

Lois E. Park, 89, of Osage City, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook, Kansas.

Lois Elizabeth Edwards was born July 4, 1935, in Junction City, Kansas, the daughter of Karl D. and Helen (Norman) Edwards. She was a graduate of Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence and was the valedictorian of the class of 1953....

Victoria "Vickie" M. Aulani Vaughn

Victoria "Vickie" M. Aulani Vaughn

Mar 27, 2025

Victoria Mae “Vickie” Aulani Vaughn, age 81, passed away Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

Vickie was born May 19, 1943, in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, the daughter of Manuel Victor and Sarah Ellen (Paresa) Souza. She graduated high school at Castle High School class of 1961 in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

She was joined in marriage to Michael Czajkowski they...

Wayne Franklin Callen

Wayne Franklin Callen

Mar 19, 2025

Wayne Franklin Callen, 78, passed away at his home on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Wayne, the son of Franklin and Esther (Brothers) Callen, was born August 27,1946 in Emporia, Kansas. He spent his entire life in Madison and was very proud of his hometown.

Wayne graduated from Madison High School in 1965. Following his graduation, he joined the United States Navy where...

Rowean Artia Nelson

Rowean Artia Nelson

Mar 18, 2025

Rowean Artia (Womochil) Nelson, 95, of Emporia, died Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at Flint Hills Care and Rehab Center in Emporia.

Rowean was born April 21, 1929, in Abilene, Kansas, the daughter of Roy and Vivian (Sleichter) Womochil. She graduated from Abilene High School, attended Kansas State Teachers College, and taught first grade for several years in Admire and Talmage.

Rowean married...

Ruth Lucille Holcomb

Ruth Lucille Holcomb

Mar 13, 2025

Ruth Lucille Holcomb, 89 , passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Sunflower Care Home in Emporia.

She was born November 27, 1935 in Bushong, Kansas the daughter of Marvin and Marie Chalker Schlesener.

Ruth grew up on a farm and learned the value of a hard day's work early on in her life. She developed a love for animals with a...

Joyce Isabel Jennings

Joyce Isabel Jennings

Mar 7, 2025

Joyce Isabel Jennings

( September 23, 1926 - March 7, 2025 )

Joyce Isabel Jennings of Butte, MT. went to be with her Lord 3-7-2025. She was born in Emporia Kansas 9-23-1926 to Laura and Warren (Pop) Newton. Joyce was the 7th child out of 9 siblings and attended school in Reading, KS.

Joyce worked at the Caterpillar plant in Calif. during World...

Larry Gene Jewett

Larry Gene Jewett

Mar 5, 2025

Larry Gene Jewett, 85, passed away on March 5, 2025, in Burlington, Kansas after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Larry was born on January 18, 1940, in LeRoy, Kansas to Violet "Bea" Williams and Robert "Bob" Jewett. Over the course of his life, he dedicated himself to hard work and service. He began his career as a truck driver before...

Bonita S. Kratzberg

Bonita S. Kratzberg

Mar 1, 2025



Bonita S. Kratzberg, 72 of Emporia, passed away March 1, 2025 at Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka.

She was born March 21, 1952 in Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Fred and Bonnie Cole Dow.

Bonita was joined in marriage to Ron Kratzberg on December 26, 1979. They began their marriage living in Emporia. Bonita and her family never ventured far, spending the past...

Cassandra Sue Clark

Cassandra Sue Clark

Feb 25, 2025

 

 Cassandra Sue Clark, 40, passed away Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at her home near Burlingame. 

 Cassie was born on July 9, 1984,at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, the daughter of Mark and Becky Herrick Zeller. 

 She grew up in Eskridge and attended Mission Valley High School where she graduated with the Class of 2002. Her education continued through classes at Allen County...

Patricia Irene Hendrickson

Patricia Irene Hendrickson

Feb 21, 2025

Patricia Irene Hendrickson, 83, passed away February 21, 2025, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka.

Patricia Irene Fagan was born August 11, 1941, in Emporia, the daughter of Bernard and Mary Ellen (Whitaker) Fagan. She graduated from Reading High School

She was joined in marriage to Robert Davenport in 1962, to this union five children were born. They later divorced. Irene later...

Clyde Wayne Jackson

Clyde Wayne Jackson

Feb 15, 2025

Clyde W. Jackson, 92, passed away with his family by his side on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at his home.

Clyde Wayne Jackson was born October 10, 1932, in Carbondale, Kansas, the son of Everett and Bertha (Widau) Jackson. He graduated from Osage City High School in 1950. 

Clyde served in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict, where he served...

Karen Jane Custer

Karen Jane Custer

Feb 10, 2025

Karen Jane Custer 68, passed away Monday, February 10, 2025, at her home in Emporia, Kansas.

Karen was born on May 3, 1956, in Eureka, Kansas, to Gerald Wayne and Bonnie Lemoyne Larcom Mitchell. Raised in the picturesque town of Eureka, she attended Eureka High School, where she began to forge the vibrant and engaging personality that would define her life.

Professionally,...

Kenneth Charles Weiss

Kenneth Charles Weiss

Feb 10, 2025

Kenneth Charles Weiss, a devoted husband, father, brother, and grandfather, great-grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home in Lebo, Kansas on February 10, 2025, at the age of 72. Born on December 6, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Charles Vester and Mary Ann Markman Weiss, Kenny lived a life filled with hard work, love, and dedication to his...

Virgil B.W. Stair

Virgil B.W. Stair

Jan 28, 2025

Virgil Stair was born June 22, 1936 in Ben, Arkansas to Amos and Esther Stair. He attended Concord, Arkansas Schools. He was very close to his siblings, Ervin, Dorothy, Kenneth, Jean, Mary Lou, Verdell and Linda Sue, whose yearly family reunions included lots of competitive games including cards and croquet. In 1957 he began working at Dolly Madison Bakeries in...

Timothy Ryan Lewis

Timothy Ryan Lewis

Jan 25, 2025

Timothy Ryan Lewis, 49, passed away, Tuesday, January 25, 2025 in Topeka.  

He was born January 9, 1976 the third son of Keith and Jane Sullivan Lewis. Tim grew up on the family farm, a place dear to his heart throughout his life.

Tim proudly served eight years in the United States Navy.  He was stationed on the Destroyer USS Benfold...