Obituary Listing

Dec 27, 2024

James DeLost "Jim" Brese, Jr, 75, of Valley Falls, KS, passed away Friday, December 27, 2024 at ANEW Healthcare in Easton, KS. He was born September 13, 1949 in Holliday, KS, the son of James DeLost Brese, Sr. and Thelma Louise (Folsom) Brese.

Jim attended school in Bennington, OK.  He proudly served in the United States Army....

Dec 27, 2024

Elva Louise Ferrell née Koons, a devoted mother, grandmother, church lady, and friend, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of December 27, 2024. She was 98.

Elva was born on the family farm in Valley Falls, Kansas, on November 6, 1926. She was the seventh of eight children born to George and Mary Koons. Elva graduated from...

Dec 27, 2024

Baltie Mannell, 75, of Holton, KS passed away at her home in Holton on Friday, December 27, 2024. She was born May 23, 1949 in Hyden, KY, the daughter of Barry and Dora (Brown) Caldwell. She graduated in 1971 from Red Bird Mission School in Queendale, KY.

On June 24, 1978, Baltie married Stanley J. Mannell at...

Dec 25, 2024

Martie Ann "Tahgo" Mitchell, 53, of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. She was born to Gary and Voncile (Potts) Mitchell on July 7, 1971 in Holton, KS.  She was a proud member of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Drum Religion.

Martie was a Royal Valley...

Dec 18, 2024

Leo Dean "Kmo Wa" Mitchell, a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on December 18, 2024, at the age of 66. Born to Alberta Nagmo Wamego of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and Melvin Twin of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, Leo navigated the challenges of his time with resilience, intelligence, and a smile that could brighten...

Dec 14, 2024

Linda Christine Whiteman, 74, of Mayetta, KS passed away Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS. She was born October 10, 1950 in Beloit, KS the daughter of Isaac Roscoe and Vivian V. (Keating) Gillett.

She graduated from Mayetta High School in 1969. Linda worked for over 20 years at Oldham's Meat...

Dec 14, 2024

Ann E. Look, 93, of Topeka, KS, passed away Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Brewster Healthcare Center in Topeka. She was born March 3, 1931 in Oak Park, IL, the daughter of Frand H. and Fern (Covert) Roth.

Ann graduated from K-State in 1952 with a BS in Human Ecology and in 1963 she graduated from Huron...

Dec 13, 2024

Donna Rae Carriker, 89, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Friday, December 13, 2024 at Midland Hospice in Topeka. She was born February 25, 1935 in Omaha, NE, the daughter of Jesse Clarence and Gladys Mildren (Turner) Phillips.

Donna proudly served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. She later earned her GED and later...

Dec 10, 2024

Duane Alan Rieschick, 54, of Holton, KS, passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. He was born October 3, 1970 in Holton, KS, the son of Clyde "Wayne" and Theresa Colleen (Clements) Rieschick.

He was born and raised in Jackson County, graduating from Jackson Heights High School in 1989. He was a lifelong resident of the county....

Dec 8, 2024

Francis T. "Frank" Shopteese, Jr., 77, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2024 in Topeka. He was born November 18, 1947 in Abilene, KS, the son of Francis T. Shopteese, Sr. and Margaret (Childs) Shopteese.

Frank graduated from Amarillo High School in Amarillo, TX. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corp during the...

Dec 8, 2024

Gavin Wade Royer, 33, of Valley Falls, KS, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2024. He was born October 30, 1991 in Winchester, KS, the son of Gary Wade Royer and Deanna Rae (Hobbs) Volle.

He graduated from McLouth High School in 2010. Gavin has been a lifelong resident of Jefferson County; however, Valley Falls is where his...

Dec 6, 2024

CORNING – Tommy "Tom" Schleif, 59 of Corning, KS, died after a hard-fought battle with cancer on Friday, December 6, 2024 at the Brookfield Post Acute in Topeka, KS. He was born June 15, 1965 in Seneca, KS to the parents of Harold Schleif and Joann (Ford) McDonald.

Tom graduated from Centralia High School in 1983. Tom...

Dec 3, 2024

Gary Wayne Sawyer, 70, of Holton, KS, passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at Holton Community Hospital. He was born on May 7, 1954 in Orangeburg, SC, the son of Eugene A. "Gene" and Lucille E. (McKim) Sawyer.

Gary graduated from Holton High School in 1972. For over 53 years he owned and operated Sawyer Custom Building...

Nov 24, 2024

Marjorie Maxine LaNier, 91, of Wetmore, KS, passed away Sunday, November 24, 2024 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, KS. She was born in Wetmore, KS, the daughter of Clarence Leo John and Helena Matilda (Brandt) Thieme on January 4, 1933.

Marjorie graduated from Wetmore High School in 1951. After high school, she worked at the...

Nov 11, 2024

Larry "Beau" Edwin Wiggins, 74, of Goff, Kansas, passed away peacefully November 11, 2024, in his home surrounded by his wife and children.

Beau was born in Horton, Kansas to Gerald and Ann (Grayson) Wiggins on September 1, 1950, and grew up in Goff, Kansas.

Beau attended Goff schools and then graduated from Wetmore High...

Nov 8, 2024

Mary Louise Vaincourt, 66, of Holton, KS passed away Friday, November 8, 2024 at Holton Hospital.

She was born August 24, 1958 in Holton, the daughter of Ralph Dilman and Florence E. Burton Cattrell. She graduated from Jackson Heights High School in 1976.

Mary had worked for several years at the Jackson County Nursing Home....

Nov 5, 2024

Dolores "D.J." Hawley, 82, of Wetmore, KS passed away Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka, KS. She was born June 20, 1942 in Oakland, CA, the daughter of Francisco and Josefina (Barrera) Jimenez.

D.J. graduated from Oakland Tech High School in 1960. She worked for Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) for 12 years...

Nov 4, 2024

Thomas Milton "Tom" Drechsler, 66, of Topeka, KS passed away Monday, November 4, 2024 at his home.

Tom was born November 24, 1957 in Portsmouth, VA, the son of Milton Henry and Doris Lucille Bennett Drechsler. He graduated from Holton High School in 1976 and attended Vocational Technical School in Topeka. He graduated with a degree in...

Nov 2, 2024

Circleville – Phyllis Eileen Tannahill,79, of Holton, KS, passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024 at The Pines South in Holton. She was born March 15, 1945 the daughter of Ralph Dilman and Florence E. (Burton) Cattrell. She graduated from Circleville High School 1964.

Phyllis worked for many years in the kitchen at the Holton Hospital. She spent...

Nov 1, 2024

Gary M. Cornelssen, age 82, was born June 8, 1942, in Holton, KS, and passed away on November 10, 2024, after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Mabel Sawhill Cornelssen and Carl Cornelssen, and siblings, Bonnie Anderson, Carol Cozad and infant brother Charles.  After completing high school in Holton, he...