Helen B. (Carter) Young Wilson
1922-2015
Helen B. (Carter) Young Wilson, 93, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Monday, November 2, 2015 at a local healthcare facility.
She was born on August 3, 1922 in Gentry County, Missouri.
Helen married Wilbur Young on February 20, 1943. He preceded her in death on December 3, 1972. She then married Joseph Wilson in 1978. He preceded her in death in 2004.
She was a graduate of Albany High School and attended Northwest Missouri State Teachers College for two years. Helen taught school for several years, and then was a homemaker for many years, raising her family.
She liked to garden and play cards and dominoes. Helen was a great cook and a good seamstress that sewed and quilted for her entire family.
Mrs. Wilson was also preceded in death by her parents, Hobart and Laura (Hulet) Carter; three brothers, Donald, Delmar and Lowell Carter; and a daughter-in-law, Sharon Gasper Young.
Survivors include sons, Ron Young, St. Joseph, Missouri, Jim Young (Mary Ann), Liberty, Missouri and D. Edward Young, St. Joseph, Missouri; grandchildren, David and Robyn Young; great-granddaughters, Taylor Jestes, Dara and Devan Young; sister, Virginia Peter; step-son, Ronnie Wilson, Gallatin, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family suggests memorial donations to Harvesters or any food bank or the American Heart Association. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Dorothy A. Gnuschke
1931-2015
Dorothy A. Gnuschke, 84, Cosby, Missouri, passed away Friday, November 6, 2015, at a local healthcare facility.
She was born August 30, 1931, in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Dorothy married Lloyd Gnuschke on March 10, 1951. He preceded her in death on May 27, 2015.
She was a life-long member of Hope United Church of Christ and Women’s Fellowship, where she had been a Youth Fellowship Sponsor. She was a former member of the Ellison PTA.
Mrs. Gnuschke loved flowers, sewing and crafts and helped Lloyd with Gnuschke Sales & Service.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Minnie (Sommer) Stuber; and several brothers and sisters.
Survivors include children, Don Gnuschke (Rodema), Cosby, Missouri, Katherine Bauer (Jim), Faucett, Missouri, Wayne Gnuschke (Joy), Cosby, Missouri and Jean Schneider (Wayne), Cosby, Missouri; grandchildren, Aaron Gnuschke, Tara Brown (Adam), Tammy Archdekin (Scott), Matt and Nick Bauer, Mary and Nicholas Gnuschke and Leah and Andrew Schneider; great-grandchildren, Henry and Margaret Brown and Alexandria and Aurora Archdekin; brothers, Paul (Phyllis) and George Stuber; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 3:30 P.M. Monday, Hope United Church of Christ. Interment 3:00 P.M. Monday, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Cosby, Missouri. The family will gather with friends 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 2:00 P.M. Sunday. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Hope United Church of Christ or Oak Ridge Cemetery Association. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Stanley B. Brown
1953-2015
Stanley B. Brown, 62, Clarksdale, MO passed away Thursday November 5, 2015.
Survivors include wife, Lynn; sons, David Southern (Jill) and Michael Lawrence; three grandchildren, Chelsie, Haylee, and Cooper; sister, Georgia Jones (Scott); and brother, Jack Brown.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
Norma L. “Dee” Jordan
1924-2015
Norma L. “Dee” Jordan, 90, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at a local healthcare facility.
She was born November 20, 1924 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Dee grew up in the South Park area, where she went to St. Patrick Catholic School and graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart. In her younger years she worked as a sales lady at the downtown dress stores and later at Tootle’s Dry Goods. Later in life she worked part-time at Townsend & Wall.
Dee met James R. Jordan after the war in 1946. It was love at first sight and they were married in 1947. James preceded her in death in 1995 after 48 years of marriage.
Dee was a member of the St. Joseph Cathedral Catholic Church. She was very active in the church, including St. Ann’s Altar Society and the Sewing Club.
She devoted her life to the two things that mattered most to her, her family and her faith.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; sister, Doris Gilbert; and brother, Richard Zagrodzky.
Survivors include children, Terry Jordan, St. Joseph, MO, Denise Lewis, St. Joseph, MO, and Michele Jordan (Mark Roberts), Beaverton, OR; grandchildren, Lexi McGuire (Corey), St. Joseph, MO and Krissi Kretzer (Dave), Pensacola, FL; great-grandchildren, Breanna and Trey Kretzer; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family would like to thank Riverside Place, formerly Saxtons for taking such good care of Mom in her struggle against Alzheimer’s.
Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 A.M. Monday, St. Joseph Cathedral Catholic Church. Interment Mount Olivet Cemetery. Parish Rosary 6:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will gather with friends 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory where friends may call after 4:00 P.M. Sunday. The family suggests memorial gifts to the Alzheimer’s Association or St. Joseph Cathedral Catholic Church. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Diane Davis Acuff
1934-2015
Diane Davis Acuff, 81, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Saturday, November 7, 2015.
She was born January 14, 1934 in Homewood, Alabama.
Diane received her Associate of Arts Degree in fashion design from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri in 1953.
Diane married R. Philip Acuff on July 19, 1955.
Mrs. Acuff was a certified scuba diver and had soloed from the right seat of a single engine aircraft. She enjoyed making ladies hats, tole painting, needlepoint, smocking and taught classes in silk flower manufacturing. Diane also loved fishing with friends and family at the family fishing camp on Great Slave Lake in Canadas Northwest Territories. She was also a duck-hunting observer, enjoyed travelling to every continent and adored her grandchildren.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Junior League, LUBA, Missouri State Medical Association Alliance, Allied Arts Council, former Sweet Adeline, Lifetime Sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and formerly a member of the PEO Chapter EE. While attending the University of Missouri she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Social Sorority.
Diane and her husband are long-time members of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph. They endowed a professorship in medical research at the School of Medicine of University of Missouri, Columbia and in 1995 dedicated the Acuff Auditorium, also at the School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia. Along with their son, Michael. Diane and her husband established the Acuff handicapped-accessible duck blind at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area in Boone County, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Nelson and Mary (Johnson) Davis; and son, Robert Philip Acuff, Jr.
Survivors include husband, R. Philip Acuff, M.D., St. Joseph, Missouri; son, Michael E. Acuff, M.D. (Milly), Columbia, Missouri; grandchildren, Ruth Acuff Mueller, Abigail Diane Acuff, Mary Acuff Leibovich, Robert Davis Acuff, Silas Johnathan Acuff, Nelson Davis Acuff, Susan Danielle Acuff and Sarah Catherine Acuff; six great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.
Private Farewell Graveside Services & Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to the donor’s choice. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Richard V. Lukens
1932-2015
Richard V. Lukens, 83, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 at his home.
He was born September 6, 1932 in Marion, Ohio.
Richard married Marjorie Diane Foos on September 11, 1955.
He proudly served in the United States Air Force. After serving in the military he worked for the federal government in different capacities until retirement.
Richard was a member of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Ohio, Grand Chapter of Ohio, Grand Council of Ohio and Marion Commandery of Ohio. He enjoyed reading and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Levi and Thelma (Davis) Lukens; infant brother, John Alfred Lukens; brothers-in-law, James Otis and Melvin Foos; and father and mother-in-law, LeRoy and Vineta Foos.
Survivors include wife, Marjorie; sons, Matthew Lukens (Marianne), St. Joseph, Missouri and Mark Lukens (Kathie), Greensboro, North Carolina; six grandchildren, Alex Lukens, Denver, Colorado, Elizabeth Lukens, Jonathan Lukens, all of St. Joseph, Missouri, Courtney Lukens, Jordan Lukens and Bailey Lukens, all of Greensboro, North Carolina; and sister, Dorothy Otis, Toledo, Ohio.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Inurnment Price Cemetery, Richwood, Ohio at a later date. The family requests memorial donations to Mosaic Life Care Hospice or the donor’s choice. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Clifford Lee Gregory
1927-2015
Clifford Lee Gregory, 88, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Mr. Gregory was born August 16, 1927.
He graduated from Gower High School in 1945. He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1947 and spent nine months in Nuremberg, Germany, as a Railroad Security Military Policeman.
On May 13, 1950, he was united in marriage with Lila Corinne Hessemyer at Easton, Missouri. They lived in St. Joseph, Missouri, since 1951.
Mr. Gregory was employed by the Wire Rope Corporation of America for 30 years and retired as a foreman in 1982. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lila (Hessemyer) Gregory; an infant son, Larry Lee Gregory; infant twin daughters, Cheryl Ann and Cheri Lyn Gregory; his parents, Ward and Olly (Harris) Gregory; four brothers, John, Ray, Leonard and Joe; and four sisters, Ida May Grooms, Marie Nothhouse, Thelma Schaefer and Virginia Smith.
Surviving is his companion, Beverly Bowers; two daughters, Cindy Smith (Rolland) and Cathy Guess (Lynn); two grandsons, Ryan Smith (Michelle) and Brandon Collins; step-grandchildren, Ryan, Keaton and Jaclyn Guess; great-grandson, Ethan Smith; and several nieces and nephews.
Farewell Services 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Blakely Cemetery, Easton, Missouri. Parish Rosary 6:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will gather with friends 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Three Rivers Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Alfred Franklin DeSpain
1935-2015
Alfred Franklin DeSpain Sr. 80, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 in Saint Joseph, MO health care center. He was born June 7, 1935 in St. Joseph, MO, son of Cassie and Alfred DeSpain. He worked at Jack Venneman Construction, and System Builders. Alfred enjoyed fishing, mushroom and coon hunting., and was a member of the former Carnegie Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by 1st wife, Betty DeSpain, 2nd wife, Judy DeSpain, his parents, a son Alfred DeSpain Jr, two brothers, Roy and Ben DeSpain, two sisters, Rose Boyles, and Mary Arnold. Survivors include, three daughters, Roxanna DeSpain, Betsy DeSpain, and Gloria DeSpain all of St. Joseph, MO, two sisters, Goldie Baldwin and Sally Tietz of St. Joseph, MO, as well as several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am, on Thursday, November 12, 2015 at Rupp Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Armstrong Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the American Heart Association. Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com.