Donna Mae Glenski
1929-2017

On the morning of Monday, September 4, 2017, Donna Mae Glenski, 88, was welcomed into Heaven. She was surrounded by her family holding the hands of her loved ones.
Donna was born on May 6, 1929, to James and Claudia Weddle in Stewartsville, Mo. She was the youngest child of nine, with four sisters and four brothers. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression taught Donna the lifelong value of resiliency, as well as how to enjoy the small things in life and trust her common sense.
In 1939, Donna’s family moved to St. Joseph, Mo., where she would spend the rest of her life. She attended Central High School, graduating in 1947. Donna was an accomplished high school athlete playing on championship teams in basketball, volleyball and field hockey. She also was a band majorette while at Central, a talent she began to exhibit in middle school.
In 1942, she met her true love Joseph “Joe” Anthony Glenski at South Park softball field. They’ve been inseparable ever since. They officially wed on January 27, 1951, in St. Joseph, Mo., and were married for 66 years. Before Donna began a full-time career as a homemaker, she could be found at Jerry Anne’s Cafeteria, greeting customers with her warm smile.
Donna loved country music. She was an incredible dancer and could be found square and line dancing across the Midwest with Joe by her side. They were members of the YMCA Promenaders and the Pony Express Kickers in St. Joseph and the Savannah Sashayers in Savannah, Mo.
As much as Donna loved dancing, her true passion was being a mother to her ten children – six girls and four boys. She dedicated her life to taking care of her family, teaching each of her children, through example, how to be kind, hardworking and trustworthy. Donna found joy in caring and cooking for her family and always managed to keep a very busy house clean.
Donna was preceded in death by her daughter Patricia Ellen Glenski, whom she is now holding in her arms again. She was also preceded in death by her mother and father, her sisters Marguerite, Claudine, Frances and Lois, her brothers Delbert, Vernon, Hubert and Wesley, her grandson Jamie Joseph “JJ” Pawlowski, her great-grandson Gabriel Beasley and great-granddaughter Addilea Swift.
Donna is survived by her beloved husband Joe and their nine children: James “Jim” Glenski (Christine), Mary Jane Brown (Bob), Sharon Swift (Mike), Jean Pawlowski (Jim), Janet Peterson (Bob), Robert Glenski (Elaine), Carol Glenski, Thomas “Tom” Glenski (Melissa) and Roger Glenski (Chris). She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Donna is now dancing with God in Heaven, where her loving mother greeted her with open arms.
Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Stewartsville, MO. The family will gather with friends 8:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Children’s Mercy Hospital in memory of Donna Glenski. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Jerome A. Fritsch
1943-2017

Jerome A. Fritsch, 73, of Hiawatha, died Tuesday morning, September 12, 2017, at Hiawatha Community Hospital. He previously had been a resident of Maple Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for several years.

Jerome was born was Sabetha, October 23, 1943, one of two children of Aloysius and Mary Hackett Fritz. He grew up near Mercier where he attended St. Peter’s country school, later graduating from Powhattan High School.

Jerome served with the Kansas Army National Guard, 2nd BN, 130th FA, Battery B, based out of Horton, during the time of the Peublo incident in May of 1968. Jerome worked as a farm hand for Claude Zimmerman for over 16 years prior to working for Ron Zimmers, both farmed near Powhattan. His mother’s health was failing and with him being the caregiver, they moved to Hiawatha to make their home in 1983.

He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church at Mercier until it closed, transferred to St. Leo’s Church at Horton, prior to becoming a member of St. Ann Catholic Church of Hiawatha.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother in law Leon Pelton.

Survivors include his sister Martha Pelton of Tecumseh, KS; nieces: Patricia Robinett (Bryan), Pamela Moyer (Marty); Kevin Pelton (Kristi), and Tracy Pelton.

The Parish Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. Monday, September 18, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Hiawatha. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann. Father Dan Garden will be the celebrant.

Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, with military honors a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 12 noon until 7 p.m. Sunday, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to St. Ann Church, American Diabetes Association or Maple Heights Activity Fund, sent in care of the funeral home.

Ruth Doris Robertson
1927-2017

Ruth Doris Robertson 90, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at her home. She was born May 16, 1927 in Rushville, MO, daughter of the late Mabel and Luther Sego. She graduated from Rushville high school class of 1965, and was a homemaker, who loved sports, especially the Kansas City Royals, and Chiefs. She also loved gardening and flowers, but most especially spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was a member of the South Park United Methodist Church. Ruth was preceded in death by husband John F. Robertson, parents, and a brother, Norman L. Sego. Survivors include, son, Michael S. Robertson, Gower, MO, daughter, Johnnye (Dennis) Allen, Plano, TX, granddaughters, Stacey Allen, and Courtney Clark, grandsons, Chris Robertson, and Jerrod Robertson, great grandchildren, Brena, Noah, Jacob, Kendrik, Nick.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am, on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Rupp Funeral Home, with Dennis Allen officiating, The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery . Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.

Virginia (Thornton) Sollars Coffee
1933-2017

Virginia (Thornton) Sollars Coffee Virginia (Thornton) Sollars Coffee, 83, died at her home in Merrill, OR on July 4, 2017. She was born to Cecil and Helen (Scott) Thornton Sr. of rural Troy, KS on December 9, 1933. Virginia was a 1951 graduate of Wathena High School. After graduation she married Wayman Sollars and lived in Savannah, MO. In 1955, they moved to Anaheim, CA. She was employed by Sears for 27 years. After Wayman’s passing in July 1973, Virginia married Everett (Jack) Coffee in June 1991 and moved to Merrill, OR. Jack passed away January 2004. Virginia is also preceded in death by her parents, son Kyle Sollars, brother Daniel (Jack) Thornton. She is survived by daughters Debbie (Rich) Kerns of Merrill OR and Marsha (Bob) Bugg of Brighton, IL; step-sons Skip Sollars of Vero Beach, FL and Lonnie Sollars of St. Joseph, MO; sisters Margie Layman of Berryton, KS, Betty (Henry) Hunt of St. Joseph, MO, and Nancy Hartman of Excelsior Springs, MO; brother Cecil (Helen) Thornton Jr. of Savannah, MO; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. A gathering of family and friends will be held at noon on September 9, 2017, at the Wathena Community Building in Wathena, KS. A remembrance ceremony will be held at 2:00pm, followed by burial at Mount Olive Cemetery, Troy, KS.

Francis “Frank” L. Bell
1932-2017

ST JOSEPH, MO Francis “Frank” L. Bell, 85, of St Joseph, Missouri died Sunday, September 3, 2017.

Frank was born on August 18, 1932 in Covington, Kentucky. He was a member of Brookdale Presbyterian Church.

MEMORIAL SERVICES: Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at the Brookdale Presbyterian Church in St. Joseph. Visitation: Family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service at the church (10-11 A.M.). In lieu of flowers family requests memorials to Brookdale Church.

Frank is survived by his wife Hilda (Mueller) Bell of the home. Daughter, Beth (Ron) Bachman of St. Joseph, Missouri 4 grandchildren: John (Brianna), Jeff, Brett and Gwen Bachman www.harmanrohde.com

Michael Patrick James
1965-2017

Horton, KS …..Michael Patrick James, currently living in Horton, died from injuries received in a two vehicle accident, approximately 4 miles south of Hiawatha 73 Highway, July 19, 2017. He was 52.

Michael was born at Claremore, OK, June 12, 1965, the son of Michael Clay and Annie Albright James. He graduated from S Pasadena, California High School and moved to Hiawatha to make his home about 9 years ago. In 2017, he graduated with a bachelor of science degree in American Indian Studies from Haskell University at Lawrence.

He was a member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.

Survivors include his mother Annie Assefa of LaVerne, CA; his aunt and ‘second mother’ Sarah James of Folsom, CA; two brothers: Andy Assefa of Bell Gardens, CA, Sam Assefa of Long Beach, CA; three sisters: Sarita Rivera McGowan of LaVerne, Mina Assefa of Oakland, CA, and Maree Assefa of New York, NY; with numerous other relatives and friends.

Michael was preceded in death by his father.

A private family memorial graveside service will be held mid September at the Partlow Cemetery on the Iowa Reservation. Duane Scates will officiate.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Pow Wow Committee, sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

A potluck meal will be held Sunday morning, September 17, at the Camp Ground on the Pow Wow Grounds on the Reservation in honor of all the Iowa Tribal members that have passed on this year.

Mary Helen Loroff
1918-2017

Troy, Kansas – Mary Helen (Brazelton) Loroff, 99, of Troy, Kansas passed away Sunday, September 3, 2017 at the Living Community of St. Joseph, Missouri.

Mary Helen was born February 12, 1918 in Lake View, Iowa, where her father was teaching. The family moved back to Doniphan County, Kansas, settling on a fruit and poultry farm east of Troy in June of 1920.
She attended Troy grade and high school, graduating valedictorian of the class of 1936.
Having taken a Normal Training course in high school, Mary Helen started her teaching career at Mount Airy, rural school west of Wathena. After two years there she went to Elwood to teach third and fourth grades and coach high school girl’s basketball for four years.

Mary Helen married Arthur Paul Loroff Jr. on October 25, 1941. They lived on the Potowattomie road southeast of Troy where they raised grain and livestock. She loved every aspect of farming. Her husband did custom hay bailing. She rode a Case baler tying bales. They went to Burwell, Nebraska every fall to the cattle auctions and she helped figure costs using a slide rule. No hand held calculators back then. Her favorite farm animals were her sheep which she managed for forty years.

Mary Helen assisted O.O. Fulk in preparing income taxes. When Mr. Fulk died in 1965 she purchased his tax business. With her special friend, Donna Harris, she prepared income taxes until retiring in 1987.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Paul Loroff Jr., parents, James Senter and Ethel Mawson Brazelton, her brother, Warren Lee Brazelton, her niece, Antonietta Brazelton, niece, Judy Douglas.

She is survived by her nephew, Michael Lee Brazelton and grand nieces, Ashley and Allison of Fairfax, Virginia and Adriana Holte and husband Drew, nephew-in-law, Larry Douglas of Hollywood, California and Susan Brazelton of Morgan Hill, California.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 9, 2017
At the United Methodist Church in Troy, Kansas
Visitation: 7-8 Friday evening at the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Troy, Kansas.
Friends may call after 9 A.M. Friday.
Burial: Mount Olive Cemetery, Troy, Kansas
Memorials: Troy Ambulance Fund or the United Methodist Church of Troy