James “Jim” Alexander Cogdill
1925-2018

James “Jim” Alexander Cogdill 93, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018 in St. Joseph, MO at his home. He was born May 8, 1925 in Stanberry, MO, son of the late Effie and Jake Cogdill. He worked at Pioneer Seed Co. Pasco Steel. He was a member of the Faith Valley Church of God. Jim was preceded in death by wife, Neoma Cogdill, and 1st wife, Maxine Cogdill, his parents, son, Jimmy E. Cogdill, daughters, Carol Peterson, and Sheila Mosser, brothers, Earl, Claude Jake, and Donald Cogdill, sisters, Ethel Wordrup, Dorothy Brown, and Pauline Wilbanks, and a grandson, Joseph Peterson. Survivors include step daughters, Darla (Patrick) Wertin, Billie Jean Cook, Danette (Donnie) Peters, Ramona Joyce, Kathy Murphy, Carla Gallagher, and Channon Ganot, step sons, Gary (Cindy) Cook, Charles (Debbie) Cook, grandchildren, James Peterson, Richard Peterson, Sherry Pyle, Kim Peterson, Shirley Cogdill, Lisa Cogdill, and Jim Cogdill. Graveside funeral services and interment will be conducted on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at 11:30 am, at the Ashland Cemetery, The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Tuesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.

Betty Jo Berry
1944-2018

Betty Jo Berry, 74, surrounded by family, passed away late Saturday evening, July 28, 2018.

Betty Jo was born July 25, 1944, at Chapman, Kansas, one of seven children born to the late Charles and Leona DeWitt Fleagle and had lived in Hiawatha most of her life. He father worked construction so the family moved some so she grew up at Abeline and graduated high school there. She later graduated from Highland Junior College with an associate’s degree.

Betty Jo worked as a security guard for Sac & Fox Casino south of Fairview for 15 years before retiring.

Survivors include four sons: Donald Lee Berry of Elizabeth City, NC, Gene Berry and Ray Berry, both of Currituck, NC, Robert Samuel Rydwell of Allentown, PA; her siblings: Donald Fleagle (Margie), Robert Fleagle (Tina), Charles Fleagle (Yunnie), all of Hiawatha; Julia Swain of Elizabeth City; with many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Betty Jo was also preceded in death by a son Randy, daughter Doris Ann Pierce, grandson Justin, two sisters: Peggy Schoenfelder and Sandra Shafer.

Cremation is planned with no services planned at this time.

The Betty Jo Berry Memorial Fund has been established and may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha, 66434.

Nancy Renee Burley
1974-2018

Nancy Renee Burley 44, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at her home in Saint Joseph, MO. She was born March 4, 1974 in St. Joseph, MO, daughter of Judy and Francis Wells. She graduated from Central and Hillyard Technical school. She married Danny Burley on August 18, 1995. She worked at Mosaic life care and Saxton health care as a LPN. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, camping, attending concerts and big hair bands. She attended Copeland Baptist Church. Nancy was preceded in death by father, Francis Wells, brother, Bobby Lynn Buckingham. Survivors include, husband, Danny Burley of the home, mother, Judy Wells, Saint Joseph, MO, daughters, Kayla (Michael) Weiser, Jessica Burley, and Serenity Burley, sons, Bret Wells, and Tommy Burley, grandchildren, Blaze, Keeley, Synciere, Mia, Dexter, Curtesy, sisters, Rebecca Buckingham, Rhonda Townsend, and Angela Wells.

Funeral services: 2:00 pm, Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at Rupp Funeral Home, Pastor Steve Roberts officiating, The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Monday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the Nancy Burley memorial fund in care of the Rupp Funeral Home. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.

Jo Ann Creevan
1932-2018

ONAGA – Jo Ann Creevan, 86, of Onaga, died Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at her home.

She was born January 2, 1932 at Marysville, the daughter of Joseph and Ida Martinson Nider.

Jo Ann worked at Pyramid Manufacturing Sewing Factory in Onaga for over twenty years. She was a member of the Catholic faith.

She married Lawrence W. Creevan on October 20, 1949. He died April 5, 2002.

Jo Ann was also preceded in death by two sons, Lawrence J. “Larry” Creevan and James Patrick Creevan, a brother, James Nider and a sister, Dorothy Kindred.

Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Perez, Onaga and Jacqueline “Jaci” Morris and husband Robert, Circleville, twelve grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Graveside memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 31st at St. Michael Catholic Cemetery at Wheaton. Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Onaga is in charge of arrangements.

Lewis Duane “Fargo”” Farley
1935-2018

Highland, KS Lewis Duane “Fargo” Farley, 83, of Highland, died early Tuesday morning, July 24, 2018 at the NorthCare Hospice House.

Duane was the middle of five sons born to Lewis and Josephine Farley. A lifelong area resident, he attended White Cloud High School, where he met Barbara Ann Benson. They graduated from White Cloud with the class of 1954 and attended Highland Community College together, but unlike Barb, Duane was not committed to higher education. They were married on December 22, 1957. They made their home in Highland all their married life.

Days after their wedding Duane received his draft notice from the U.S. Army, and served in the Seventh Infantry Division in Korea. After returning from his military service, Duane worked for Quaker Oats for over 25 years before his retirement, at which time Barb put him to work in her office at Highland Community College. There he enjoyed a brief second career as office lackey and general dogsbody.

In recent years Duane found great enjoyment in his friends, scratch off tickets, and the White Cloud casino and bingo hall. He was a lifetime fan of the KC Chiefs and Royals, although in most years it could not always be said that he found watching them play to be particularly enjoyable. At least the Jayhawks could be relied on for winning seasons. He and his son David had a regular schedule of area restaurants they visited throughout the week, where Duane was particularly fond of barbecue or a good steak. He was never happier than when he was teasing or joking with someone he cared about, and making people laugh was a skill he spent a lifetime perfecting.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara, currently a resident at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, daughter Elizabeth Farley Metzger of Tempe, Arizona, son David of Highland, and brothers Dennis (“Red”), Gary, and Glen. There were a number of young people Duane thought of as children and grandchildren, particularly Kinsey Riley of Montezuma, KS, who he was deeply proud to see enter the Air Force Reserve. Duane was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Eddie.

There are no services planned at this time. If you want to commemorate his life, his family suggests you take your friends and relatives out fishing or to a favorite restaurant. Contributions in his memory can be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, PO Box 33, Highland, KS 66035.

Raymond “Sonny” Lee Maddox
1949-2018

Raymond “Sonny” Lee Maddox 68, of St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Wednesday July 25, 2018 at his home. He was born October 13, 1949 in St. Joseph, Missouri son of Cora & Raymond “Cotton” Maddox. He married Barbara Presnell on September 9, 1983, and they shared 35 years together. He attended Benton High School, and retired from Affiliated Foods after 28 years of services. He enjoyed camping and fishing on the Nodaway river, pontoon boating, and shooting pool, he also enjoyed hanging our with his friends from family, he was a Presbyterian. Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, step son, Tommy Thompson, grandson, Dillon Ray Maddox, brother, Robert Burkeybile, and sister, Barbara Green. Survivors include wife, Barbara Maddox of the home, son, Raymond (Brenda) Maddox, St. Joseph, MO, daughter, LeAnn Maddox (Ronnie Cook), Wathena, KS, step son, Michael Maddox, St. Joseph, MO, and son, Eddie Miller, Roan Mountain, TN, daughter in law, Sara Myers Maddox, 6 grandchildren, the mother of his children, Bina Clark, brother, Herb (Penny) Burkeybile, sister, Raeona (Leonard) Smith, Agency, MO, special friend and camping buddy on the Nodaway, Billy Reed, and friend, Ronald Harris. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm on Saturday at the Rupp Funeral Home, funeral services 2:00 pm Saturday, at the Rupp Funeral Home. He will be cremated under the care and direction of the Rupp Funeral Home after the funeral service. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

Dianna Mae O’Connell
1949-2018

Dianna Mae O’Connell, 69, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Mosaic Life Care. She was born May 4, 1949 in St. Joseph. She attended Lafayette High School. She worked many years at Whitaker Cable and later Sherwood Medical Supply. Dianna enjoyed bowling and going to the casino. Preceding her in death are her parents, William Elbert Surritte and Juanita Sherman Miller, grandsons, Nathaniel Lee and Nathan Bryan, sisters, Catherine Baskins, Marcia Surritte, and Linda Sandker, her longtime companion, Henry Becker. She is survived by her children, Rhonda O’Connell, Bryan (Robbie) O’Connell and Melissa Kretzer, all of St. Joseph, MO, brother, Virgil “Butch” (Vickie) Miller of Belton, MO, grandchildren Jeramy, Amber, Coty, Sonya, Jamal, Shaneka, Natasha, Kelsey Dawn, Kelsey Corinne, Jerrad, Tayber, Taylin, Shylo, DeShon and Darion, numerous great-grandchildren and her former companion, who was a big part of the family for over 20 years, James Comer. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, July 27, 2018 at the Rupp Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will follow at 7:00 p.m. at Rupp Funeral Home. Ms. O’Connell will be cremated following services. Online condolences and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com

Joseph Wessel, Jr
1931-2018

Joseph A. Wessel, Jr., 87, formerly of Effingham, KS died on Sat. Aug. 4, 2018 at the Gran Villas, Atchison surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 on Thursday, Aug.9th, 2018 at St. Ann’s Church, Effingham, KS with Fr. Benjamin Tremmel, OSB as Celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Ann’s Cemetery. A parish rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, August 8th, 2018, with visitation to follow until 8:00 pm at St. Ann’s Church, Effingham. The Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions are suggested to Gran Villas, Atchison or St. Ann’s Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Joseph A. Wessel was born on July 29th, 1931 in Kelly, KS the son of Joseph and Freida (Niehues) Wessel. Mr. Wessel served in the United States Navy as a Gunner’s Mate-Seaman First Class. He worked as the maintenance Supervisor for USD # 377 retiring in 1993. He was a member of the St. Ann’s Church, Effingham, was a former member of the American Legion Post #6, Atchison. Joe enjoyed spending time with his family, cruising in his truck, mowing his yard, fishing, hunting, playing cards, and pitching horseshoes.
He was married to Mary Grollnes on Feb. 11, 1956 in Valley Falls, KS. She survives at Gran Villas, Atchison. Additional survivors include two sons, Steve (Peggy) Wessel, Baldwin City, KS, and Pat (Lisa) Wessel, Valley Falls, KS, three daughters, Judy(Tony) Jackson, Lancaster, KS, Linda (Tony) Kearney, Atchison, KS and Marlene (Mark) Westermann, Everest, KS, a brother, Tom (Connie) Wessel, Ft. Worth, TX, ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. His parents, and three brothers, Vince, Leander, and Jerry Wessel and a sister, Florence Edwards preceded him in death.

Fred “Bud” Ramage
1929-2018

HOYT – Fred “Bud” Ramage, 88, of Hoyt, died Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at his home.

He was born November 8, 1929 at Denison, the son of Fred C. and Nellie Myers Ramage. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1947 to 1950.

Bud was an over the road truck driver for several different trucking companies, including Joe Collins Trucking and Jerry Taliaferro Trucking at Holton, and Hoyt’s Truck Line in Topeka.

He was a member of the Hoyt United Methodist Church.

He married Verna Anderson on January 2, 1949 at Quartzite, Arizona. She survives, of the home.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, a son Johnny M. Ramage, who was stillborn, and a sister, Carol Fitzsimmons.

Other survivors include two daughters, Janice Matchie (Roland), Holton and Patricia Terry (Paul), Silver Lake; two sons, Michael Ramage (Carrie), Topeka, and Dennis Ramage, Holton; twelve grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 11th at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt. Burial with military honors will follow in the Hoyt Cemetery. Family and friends will meet from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Hoyt United Methodist Church, and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, PO Box 280, Hoyt, 66440.

James Edward Zahner
1941-2018

James Edward “Jimmy Z” Zahner, 77, of St Joseph, passed away Monday July 30, 2018 at Mosaic Life Care. He was born March 29, 1941 in Mendon, MO, son of Wilner (Lambert) & David Zahner. Jimmy worked primarily as a truck driver. He was also a race car mechanic and loved racing sprint cars and fishing. He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie (Boydston) Zahner, father, David Zahner, mother, Wilner Zahner, brother, Jerry Zahner. He is survived by step-daughter, Traci (Kevin) Brown of Elwood, KS, daughters, Tammy and Twila, brother, Jewell “Ray” (Renee) Zahner of Laredo, TX, sister, Patricia Bish of Kansas City, MO, sister, Lula (Norman) Jones of St. Joseph, and sister, Mary Woody of St. Joseph and several grand and great-grandchildren. Mr. Zahner has been cremated under the care of Rupp Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 4, at Rupp Funeral Home. A private inurnment will be held at Sugar Creek Cemetery, Rushville, Mo.

Marvine Strong
1928-2018

Marvine Louise Strong, 89, Rushville, MO died on Monday, July 30, 2018 at her home.
Graveside services and burial will be 3:00 pm on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018 at the Sugar Creek Cemetery, Rushville, with Rev. Tim Champ officiating. No visitation will be held. Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral home is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions are suggested to help with final expenses and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Marvine L. Gregg was born on Dec. 19, 1928 in Appleton City, MO the daughter of Cleve Leroy and Fay Bernice (Duffey) Gregg. She graduated from Appleton High School in 1946. She was married to Earl M. Strong on April 16, 1952 in Newkirk, OK. They owned and operated a restaurant in Weston, MO and a grocery store in Rushville, MO. She had also worked at the Whiskey Rebellion Liquor Store. Marvine was a member of the First Christian Church, Appleton City, MO. She enjoyed painting, collecting antiques and going to auctions. Her life centered around her family and grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Marlene L. Bowers, Rushville, Mo, a granddaughter, Colene Strong, Atchison, KS and two great grandchildren, Felicity Crossland, and Tyler Gates of Atchison, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl, a daughter, Connie Kincade and a great granddaughter Desirae Crossland.

Constance “Connie” Lawson (Dugan)
1945-2018

Constance “Connie” Sue Dugan Lawson, 73 of Leavenworth, KS, formerly of Atchison, KS, joined our Lord and Savior on Monday, July 23, 2018 at her home.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 27, 2018 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Doniphan Cemetery, Doniphan, KS. Family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Ashley Community Faith Church, Ashley, IL and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.beckerdyer.com.

Connie was born July 20, 1945, in Linton, IN, the daughter of Clifford Dugan I and BillyAnna (Poe) Dugan, Forbis. She graduated from Vandalia Illinois High School and then attended Cosmetology school in Effingham, IL and then she received an Associate’s Degree in Youth Correction. She was a correctional officer for thirty-six years, having worked in McCallister, OK and Lansing Correctional and the Atchison Juvenile Facility. Connie was a member of Byington #177 Order of Eastern Star and enjoyed writing children’s books. She was also a founding member of the Ashley Community of Faith Church in Ashley, IL.

Connie married Lester M. Lawson on January 4, 1967 at the First United Methodist Church in Vandalia, IL; he preceded her in death on January 13, 2004. Survivors include two sons, Lester Lawson, Leavenworth, KS, Carl-David Poe and Tammy Lynn Lawson I, Lansing, KS, a daughters Yvonne and Bobby Mathis, Leavenworth, KS, two brothers, Clifford and Carylon Dugan II, Jasper, IN and Cevin and Mary Dugan, Ashley, IL, ten grandchildren; April Daniels, Samantha Lawson, Carl-David Poe Lawson II, Sara Bonnett, Krystal Gould, Bret Peoples, Robert Gould, Jarret Gould, Rosella Garcia, Benito Garcia and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a grandmother, Leon Tine Densmore, and a daughter Katrina Lawson Garcia.