James “Jim” M. Kneib

1956-2013

James (“Jim”) M. Kneib, 56, St. Joseph, died surrounded by family and friends on Monday, September 2, 2013, at Heartland Regional Medical Center.  Jim was a loving and devoted son to his mother and father Ruth C. (Reardon) Kneib  and Earl G. Kneib of St. Joseph, who survive. Survivors include, his sister Susan Kneib

Hubbard, (Rick) Kansas City, MO; god-mother, Florita Allgaier, of St. Joseph; uncle, Wayne Reardon, of Easton, MO; and aunt, Geraldine Fisher, Gower, MO, and many cousins.

Jim was born on November 9, 1956 in Kansas City, MO. He graduated from Cathedral School establishing a friendship in 7 collaborator in many projects, Phil Klawuhn. Jim graduated from Bishop LeBlond High School in 1975 where he was Student Council President and excelled in speech and debate. He also attended Creighton University, Omaha, NE and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

At an early age, Jim developed an interest in politics and government. He served as an intern on the staff of Congressman Jerry Litton who said of Jim that he was one of the brightest young men he had ever met.

Jim also served as assistant to Deputy Director Jim Sprake in the Missouri Dept. of Agriculture and to Director of Administration Paul Hurst. During that time, Jim also served as assistant director of the Missouri State Fair.

Upon returning from college, Jim became involved in real estate and investment in development properties with Earl and Ruth, particularly in the Frederick/Riverside

corridor and in Eastern Buchanan County. In later years, he oversaw his family’s farming operation.

He was also involved in the family business that manufactured the Kneib “Pop-Up” hay bail loader. Jim played an instrumental part in the campaign for restoration of the Buchanan County Courthouse.

Jim served in finance roles for numerous political campaigns including Jim Russell for Congress and Ken Rothman for Governor, who remained close friends.

Jim enjoyed fishing, trapshooting and boating. He was an avid traveler taking many trips to Germany to visit Kneib family members located through his genealogy studies and to

his favorite vacation spots in Costa Rica including with his fishing buddy and dear friend, Dr. Jay McMillen. Jim was a devoted Catholic, a member of Cathedral parish and served on the Property Committee of the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph. He and his family have also been significant contributors to Conception Abbey.

Jim was a dedicated friend to many during his lifetime. He will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his family and friends but his spirit will live on in their lives and in the many endeavors in which he was involved.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Bishop Robert Finn, D.D. at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 7 at St. Joseph Cathedral, 519 N. 10 St. Joseph, MO. The Mass will be concelebrated by Abbott Gregory Polan, OSB, Fr. Matthew Rotert, and Fr. Benedict Neenan, OSB. A parish rosary led by Fr. Matthew Benjamin will be recited at 6:00 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 6, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith and Sidenfaden Chapel, 3609 Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Joseph Cathedral School. Interment following service at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Abigail M. Shepherd

Abigail M. Shepherd, infant daughter of Doug and Cherie Shepherd of St. Joseph passed away Friday August 30, 2013 at a hospital in Kansas City, MO.

Surviving are her parents Doug and Cherie Shepherd, Maternal grandparents, Mike and Barbara Connor, Napoleon, MO; Paternal Grandmother, Pat Shepherd, St. Joseph; and four aunts and spouses, Debbie “Don” McCamy, Charla “Rod” Ewart, Nancy “Bill” Healey, and Susan “Mark” Lambros.

Abigail is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Robert Shepherd and one uncle, Darrell Shepherd.

Graveside services and interment will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the King Hill Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Clark-Sampson Funeral Home, St. Joseph.

Online obituary and condolences at www.clarksampson.com

Patricia Ann “Patti” Benitz
1953-2013

Patricia Ann “Patti” Benitz, 59, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Monday, September 2, 2013 at Shady Lawn Living Center surrounded by family and friends.

Patti was a wife, mother, and community servant, who was born November 24, 1953, to Corbett “Corky” and Virginia (Jenkins) Cundiff in St. Joseph, Missouri.

She graduated from Lafayette High School in St. Joseph in 1972 and attended Missouri Western State College before taking a full-time position with American Family Insurance, and later the St. Joseph School District.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1973, she married Wesley E. Benitz, also of St. Joseph. He survives of the home.
Patti and Wes welcomed son, Brandon, in 1976 and lived in St. Joseph until 1977, when Wes received an appointment to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, transferring them to Unionville, Missouri.

She became a self-taught transcriptionist and medical secretary for the Putnam County Memorial Hospital. In 1979, they welcomed daughter, Jennifer. Later Patti served as a volunteer youth softball coach.
In 1986, Wes was promoted and transferred to Brookfield, Missouri. In addition to her positions at McCullough Trailer Company and Walsworth Yearbooks, Patti took an active role in the community by organizing the craft and concessions fair at the Brookfield Summer Fun Days.

Wes was promoted and transferred back to Unionville in 1990 and Patti became the secretary at the Farm Bureau Insurance. In 1992, she was elected South Ward Alderman for the City of Unionville, serving on the City Council where she was instrumental in bringing the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall to Unionville.

Wes was again promoted and transferred to Lee’s Summit, Missouri in 1995 and Patti became a self-taught legal secretary, working for a number of law firms in the Kansas City area and for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Patti and Wes returned to St. Joseph in 2003, where she worked for several legal offices before she retired.
Patti was a talented counted stitch artist, an avid history buff, and loved to travel. She visited such places as Mount Rushmore, Little Bighorn Battlefield and National Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park and Cemetery, various Civil War sites in Virginia and Maryland, whale-watching in Maine, and took six cruise trips with her husband in her lifetime.

Survivors: husband, Wes; parents, Corky and Gin Cundiff; son, Brandon Benitz (Angie), Kearney, Nebraska; daughter, Jennifer Paul (Robert), St. Joseph, Missouri; and brother, Mike Cundiff (Debbie), St. Joseph, Missouri.

Memorial Service: 3:00 P.M. Thursday, Wyatt Park Baptist Church. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. For those wishing to make a contribution, the family suggests they be made to Wyatt Park Baptist. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Inez Maxine Gartland
1925-2013

Inez Maxine Gartland, 87, St. Joseph, Missouri died Saturday, August 31, 2013 at her home.
She was born October 19, 1925 to Alvin and Grace (Dabler) Johnson in Maysville, Missouri.

She married John E. “Jack” Gartland on June 16, 1948. He preceded her in death on September 9, 2011.
Inez worked at Quaker Oats as a unit leader for forty-seven years.

Mrs. Gartland was a member of St. Joseph Cathedral Catholic Church and Ladies Social Club at Quaker Oats.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; and step-father, John Ford.

Survivors: daughter, Cindy Schmidt (Mike Suitt); son, John Gartland; grandchildren, Amber and Deborah Davis, Heather Schmidt, and Jordan Suitt; great-grandchildren, Dametria, Ziah, and Tristan Hughes; sister, Ellen Bea; nephew, Leroy Bea; and several great nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:00 A.M. Friday, St. Joseph Cathedral Catholic Church. Entombment Memorial Park Mausoleum. Parish Rosary 6:00 P.M. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral home & Crematory. The family will receive friends 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 5:00 P.M. Thursday. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Lenora Lynn Mahon
2013-2013

Lenora Lynn Mahon, infant, St. Joseph, Missouri died Saturday, August 31, 2013.
She was born June 26, 2013 to Jeremy and Kristina (LeClair) Mahon in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was a beautiful little girl with the brightest blue eyes. She is in heaven now as an angel looking out for her big sister.

She was preceded in death by her paternal great-grandparents, Rosalie and Richard Mass, and Richard Mahon; maternal great-grandparents, Louis and Josephine Koesters, and Marion LeClair.

Survivors: parents; sister, Madeline Rose; maternal grandparents, Alan and Mitzi LeClair; paternal grandparents, Richard and Lori Mahon; paternal great-grandmother, Helen Mahon; and maternal great-grandfather, Keith LeClair, all from Omaha, Nebraska.

Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday 10:00 A.M. Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Omaha, Nebraska. The family will receive friends on Wednesday at 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., John A. Gentleman Mortuaries 72nd and Western, Omaha, Nebraska. Parish Rosary beginning at 7:00 P.M.

Memorial Service: 1:30 P.M. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Memorial gifts may be made to the Lenora Mahon Memorial, c/o U.S. Bank. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Linda Lue Wise
1945-2013

Linda Lue Wise, 68, Cameron, Missouri died Sunday, September 1, 2013, in Hamilton, Missouri.
She was born February 2, 1945 to Marion and Lola (Lockridge) Hill in Jamesport, Missouri.

She married Garry Dale Wise on May 17, 1965 in Wyandotte County, Kansas. He preceded her in death on April 17, 2004.

Linda was employed as a nursing assistant working in Home Health.  She enjoyed her grandchildren, who were the most important to her.  She was also preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Cinda Sue Hamilton.

Survivors: daughters, Lisa Hertzog (David), Hamilton, Missouri and Vonda LaPiana (Joe), Hamilton, Missouri; grandchildren, Kelli Claypool (Tyson) and daughter Evelyn Rose, Cameron, MO; Kevin Hertzog (Sara), Cameron, Missouri; Joseph LaPiana, Hamilton, Missouri, Matthew LaPiana, Hamilton, Missouri, and Nikki LaPiana, Hamilton, Missouri, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service: 2:00 P.M., Saturday, at her daughter Lisa’s house in Hamilton, MO. Online guestbook and obituary at www.missouricremation.com.

Connie Gail Braman 58, of Saint Joseph, Missouri passed away Wednesday August 28, 2013 at a Saint Joseph hospital.

She was born October 2, 1954 in St. Joseph, Missouri daughter of Clara & Phillip Bish. She married Edward Braman on February 26, 1972 and they shared 41 years together. She graduated from Benton High School in 1971. Connie was a homemaker. She enjoyed playing bingo and spending time with her grandchildren.

Connie was preceded in death by her father, Phillip Bish. She is survived by husband, Edward Braman of St. Joseph, MO, mother, Clara Bish of St. Joseph, MO, daughter, Nichole (Brad) Rullman of Agency, MO, son, Edward Braman Jr. of St. Joseph, MO, grandchildren, Tyler, Tanner, Edward III and Kenzie, brother, Phillip Bish, three sisters, Linda Newberry, Carol Newcomer and Phyllis Bish. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday at Hap’s Place, St. Joseph, MO. All family and friends are welcome to come.