John M. "Big J" Thornbrugh, 68, of Topeka, passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2010. He was born on June 12, 1942 at Lomax, KS, the son of Willard and Zola Clark Thornbrugh. He graduated from Williamsburg High School. He was a Navy veteran, serving on the U.S.S. Midway. John was employed by Rural Development Company at Forbes Field. He...

Sarah Rachel Wille, 102, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, October 7, 2010 at Aldersgate Village in Topeka.She was born Sarah Rachel Griffin to James B. and Sarah Ellen Anway Griffin in Mason City, Illinois on April 11, 1908.She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles H. Wille, four sons; Richard, William, Berlin, Charles A. and a nephew, Henry Griffin....

Britta Lee Livgren, 31, Topeka, left us suddenly, but peacefully on Monday, October 4, 2010.She was born December 3, 1978 in Topeka, the daughter of Chris Livgren and Roxanne DeGraw. She graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1997 and attended Washburn University. She was a member of Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church where she sang in the Reach Praise...

Melvin L. Dreasher, 62, of Topeka, passed away October 1, 2010 at Midland Hospice Care Hospice House. He was born May 18, 1948 in Lawrence, Kansas the son of Clarence James and Norma Jean Mack Dreasher. Melvin lived in the Topeka area and graduated from Seaman High School in 1966. He attended Washburn University. Melvin worked for Goodyear in the...

Marion L. "Ray" Bartlett, 87, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, October 4, 2010 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. He was born on July 7, 1923 in Topeka, the son of Francis M. and Emma M. Johnson Bartlett. Ray attended Topeka High School. He served in the Navy during WWII before transferring into the Naval Reserve for more than...

Edward G. Bessette passed away on September 26, 2010, at the age of 52. He was co-owner and president of Midwest Cabinets Company in Ottawa, Kansas. His joy in life was the company, his farm and the outdoors, but most importantly his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Steina, and a brother, Eldon. He is...

Earl Shipman, 96 of Topeka, passed away Sunday, October 3, 2010 at Brewster Place.He was born March 6, 1914 in Montreal, MO, the son of Joseph Pleasant and Ollie (Thompson) Shipman. The family moved from Missouri on February of 1924 to a farm in Jackson County, near Hoyt, KS. He lived in Topeka since 1946. He was a graduate of...

Jerald "Jerry" Gale, 69, Topeka, died Thursday, September 30, 2010, at the Topeka V.A. Hospital. He was born March 23, 1941 in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Lee Roy and Bertha Gale. He enlisted in the Marine Corp in July of 1958 and was honorably discharged in June of 1967. He was a veteran of Vietnam. He married Jacqueline Boggs...

Grace Joanna Williams, 90, of Topeka, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Midland Hospice House. She was born on March 19, 1920 in Topeka, the daughter of Jesse and Myrtle Porter Smith. She resided in Topeka for most of her life. Grace graduated from Seaman High School and attended the University of Kansas. She...

Stephen Roger Sills born on January 22, 1946 to Alberta Sills and Kenneth E. Hopkins, Sr., departed this life on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at his home. Stephen was raised in Kansas City, Kansas by his mother. He graduated from Sumner High School in 1965. He served in the US Army from 1967-69 during the Viet Nam Conflict. He returned...

Lawrence Robert "Larry" Lierz, 75, Topeka, passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at Aldersgate Village.Larry was born September 1, 1935 in Seneca, the son of Lawrence and Melinda (Hasenkamp) Lierz. He attended school in Wetmore.He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He had been a barber and retired as a locksmith in 2003. He had been...

Pierre Dalton "Pete" Premeaux, born May 23, 1926 to Clodie and Edolie (Broussard) Premeaux of Erath, Louisiana, died September 28, 2010 at Topeka, Kansas. He was a 1944 graduate of Erath High School and graduated from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas with a BA in 1950. He was a veteran of WWII having served in the Lightning Division of...

Steve Crecelius, Jr., 62, of Topeka, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at his home surrounded by his family, friends and neighbors. He was born on April 6, 1948 in Leavenworth, KS, the son of Wilbur Stephen and Grace Cornwell Crecelius, Sr. He attended Leavenworth Public Schools. Steve held many certifications through Volkswagen Mid America in St. Louis. He...

Timothy Lee Rogers was born in Topeka, Kansas on Nov 20 1960. He left us temporarily on Sept 26, 2010, but continues to watch over us until we can join him once again.Tim was an angel among us! He brought peace and love to all who touched his life. He was the best kind of friend! It is impossible to...

Elaine L. Walsh, 89, died Sunday, September 26, 2010. Elaine was born January 15, 1921, to Clyde and Lucille Greene, Galena, Illinois. She married Orville A. Speaker, who preceded her in death in 1954, and later married Robert J. Walsh, who died in 1970. Elaine moved to Kansas to be near her daughter and family in 1981. Elaine is survived...

Edna Pearl Smith, 93, of Tecumseh, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at a Topeka hospital. She was born on February 3, 1917 in Council Grove, KS, the daughter of Walter and Elva Converse Baker. She graduated from Council Grove High School in 1936. She was employed by Jostens Yearbook Company for 20 years before retiring in 1982. Edna...

Glenn E. Brown, 86, Topeka, passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2010 at Midland Hospice House.Glenn was born October 12, 1923 in Winchester, the son of Quinter and Pearl (Shughart) Brown. He worked as a Custodian at Gage School in USD-501 for 28 years.He was previously a member of Trinity Baptist Church, and currently a member of Highland Park Baptist...

Roy E. Wallace, 63, of Topeka passed away, Friday, September 24, 2010. He was born in Topeka November 16, 1946. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army and was a member of the Army boxing team. Roy was the grounds foreman at Topeka Cemetery for many years, retiring in 2001. He married Bonnie Bartlett in November, 1976. She preceded...

Robert F. "Bob" Wilhelm, 59, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, September 20th, 2010, at his home. He was born on January 30th, 1951, in Seneca, KS to Lester and Virginia (Lehmkuhl) Wilhelm.Bob graduated from St. Peter and Paul High School in 1969. On September 19th, 1970, he married Julie Davin in Seneca, KS and this year celebrated 40 years...

Orville McHenry, 94, of Topeka, KS, passed away Friday, September 17, 2010.Orville was born December 8, 1915, in Ringgold County, Iowa, to Floyd and Ora (Crecelius) McHenry. He graduated from Emporia State Teacher's College with a Bachelor's in Physical Education and the University of Minnesota with a Master's in Education. Orville was united in marriage to Rosalie Hiller in 1941....