William Gerald Steinlage
1937 – 2019
William Gerald Steinlage, 81, of Holton, died Thursday, March 14, 2019 at Plaza West Regional Health Center in Topeka.
He was born October 13, 1937 at Corning, the son of William Anton and Josepha Emma Haverkamp Steinlage. He attended Kelly schools and graduated in 1955 from Kelly High School.
After high school, he helped on the family farm. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956 and was discharged in 1958. While in the Marine Corps, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and at Camp Pendleton in Bakersfield, California.
He married Joan Marie Dosch on September 16, 1967 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Topeka, KS. She died June 11, 1998.
William was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton for over 40 years and a member of the Grand Lodge of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, Lodge No. 378.
He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Craig Gerald Steinlage on July 16, 1968, his parents, and brothers Elmer, John and Gerald.
William worked at Santa Fe in Topeka as a machinist until he retired in 1999 after 38 years of service. Shortly after William and Joan were married they moved to Holton and purchased a farm. William raised cattle on the farm and gardened. Some years, he had as many as three gardens. William was a man’s man. He liked to hunt and fish and would take his dogs raccoon hunting, in the dark, on a Friday night. William would help strangers who got stuck in the ditch by his house, even sometimes after being awakened in the middle of the night following a snow storm. After his retirement, he worked and helped his neighbor and friend Walt deliver tires to other Midwestern and Northern parts of the country for Walt’s tire business. In November 2017, he moved into Oak Creek Assisted Living in Topeka.
He is survived by his son, Dr. Eric Steinlage, Bentonville AR, grandson, Cole Steinlage, his daughter, Renee Ward, Holton, granddaughter Isabela Ward, brother, Marvin Steinlage, Seneca sisters, Mary Ann Olberding, Seneca, Arlene Lowe Lisa, Fountain Valley, CA, Verna Strathman, Topeka and Joella (Larry) King, Hoyt, many friends and neighbors and his Oak Creek family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 23rd at St Dominic Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery at Holton. William will lie in state after 9:00 a.m. Thursday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton in Holton where a Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, followed by visitation until 8:00. Memorials are suggested to the National Ataxia Foundation and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436.
Gilbert R. Pickett
1915 2019
Gilbert R. Pickett, 103, St. Joseph, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, at Mosaic Life Center.
Gilbert was born in Stewartsville, Missouri, on July 21, 1915 to Ritchey and Mamie Pickett. On December 21, 1942, he married Maxine Elizabeth Eden. They adored each other for 70 years, and their marriage was an inspiration to all who knew them.
He was preceded in death by his parents, by his siblings, Buford Pickett and Evelyn Hamann, his wife, Maxine, and by his son, John Pickett.
Survivors: son, Steve Pickett, St. Joseph; daughters: Nancy (Mort) Nelson, St. Joseph; Ruth Anne (Carl) Cox, Ashburn, Virginia; grandchildren: Dan (Kate) Nelson, Kansas City; Katie (Jonathan Lu) Nelson, Toronto, Canada; Carla (Britton) Formisano, Reston, Virginia; and Andrew Cox, Arlington, Virginia; three great-grandchildren; longtime friend: Al Zach; special caregivers: Amber Allsbury (honorary granddaughter), Denise McNeiley, Anastasia Ward, Arleen O’Banion, and many others.
Gilbert graduated as valedictorian of Stewartsville High School in 1934 and met Maxine while both were working at the Paris Department Store. He was inducted into the Army in 1942 and stationed in Oahu. Following the war, he learned construction estimating and after years of hard work became the president of Lawhon Construction Company.
Briefly summarizing the fullness of Gilbert’s life is impossible. He remembered when electricity and running water came to Stewartsville. He drove a Model T in his teens and learned to use a computer in his 80s. He knew tough times, watching his father lose his farm during the Depression and his son lose his mobility in a car accident. However, no matter the gravity of the challenge, Gilbert’s force of will and optimism carried him through. He lived through two world wars, serving in one, where he made lifelong friends, went AWOL for one day to marry the love of his life, and saved enough money playing checkers instead of carousing to later buy into the construction company.
Under his leadership, Lawhon completed many local projects, including construction of key buildings at Missouri Western State College and the downtown hotel, as well as renovation of the Missouri Theatre. He championed restoration before it was trendy, helping save the Patee House, the Buchanan County Courthouse, and the Landmark Building from destruction.
His middle age was dedicated to work, but in later years, family was everything. He credited his longevity to daily exercise and weekly lunches at Fredrick Inn with his best friend, Al. He loved the news, ice cream, libraries and cheese, not necessarily in that order. Everyone who knew Gilbert—for days or for decades—valued his generosity, integrity, and boundless enthusiasm. On his last day, Gilbert enjoyed one final happy hour with his grandkids, and a few hours later exited this world, eager to see his beloved Maxine and John.
The funeral will be held on Monday, March 18 at 9 am at Heaton Bowman Smith Chapel in St. Joseph. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Jack Newton Lowrey
1939 – 2019
Jack Newton Lowrey went to be with his Lord on March 15, 2019, at his home in Hoyt, Kansas. He was born on January 1, 1939, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Willard and Elsie (Cooper) Lowrey.
Jack graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1957 and worked in Hutchinson and later Topeka as a cabinet maker. He retired from the Kansas Museum of History in 2003 as a carpenter. After retirement he worked as a cabinet maker, building custom cabinets for other builders. He also will be remembered for the Memorial Box that he built for the Hoyt City Park.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Current, Etta Hubbard, Elva Jean Walker, brother Jerry Lowrey, and brothers-in-law Claude Campbell and Mike Campbell.
Jack married Nancy Phillips in 1968. They divorced. He later married C. Sue (Campbell) Joy on March 3, 1990 in Las Vegas.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Lowrey; sister Linda Anderson and sister-in-law Nona Lowrey, both of Hutchinson; children Pam Rios, Topeka; Steven (Julie) Lowrey, Shawnee; Tamra (Todd) Nincehelser, and Terry (Chris) Joy of Topeka; Tracy (Holly) Joy, Ardmore, OK; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Donnie Campbell, Meriden; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 19th at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt. Burial will follow in the Hoyt Cemetery. Jack will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home where a visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to Interim Home Care and Hospice, Topeka, KS, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 280, Hoyt, KS 66440.
Shawn Beattie
1966 – 2019
Shawn Richards Beattie 52, of Savannah, Mo. passed away at Mosaic Hospital, St. Joseph, March 16, 2019.
Shawn was born to David Allen (D.A.) and Donna Richards Beattie, August 26, 1966.
He was a 1984 graduate of North Andrew High School. Shawn worked in the family business, Beattie Grocery in Rosendale until his injury in an accident in 1990. Rosendale was his hometown until he moved to Savannah in the fall of 2016. For several years the highlight of his week has been playing cards and visiting with friends at Carters and Harry O’s. He was blessed by his life long friendship with Kent Atkins, and also the help of many caregivers.
He is survived by brother David and Karen Beattie, Rosendale, Sisters, Dawn and Donnie Blair and Debbie and Caryl Walker of Savannah; Sharon and Larry Wall, Columbia; Candy and Mark Sheehan, St. Joseph and Cindy Neely, Country Club; and 14 nieces and nephews.
At his request Mr. Beattie has been cremated under the direction of Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. A private family inurnment will be held.