Stephen A. Aschenbrenner
May 16, 2026
Stephen A. Aschenbrenner (Ash), 80, was born on August 13, 1945 in Hays, Kansas and died on May 16, 2026 in Topeka, Kansas. The family moved to a farm in Brewster, Kansas when he was 5 and lived there until graduation in 1963. He then attended Fort Hays University graduating in 1967 and earned a Master’s Degree in 1972. He...
Jo Ann Edwards
May 16, 2026
Jo Ann Edwards, 95, of Topeka, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
She was born April 24, 1931, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of George and Bertha Jansen. She graduated from Atchison High School.
Jo married Ken Edwards on April 2, 1950 in Atchison. He preceded her in death on September 2, 2019. She was also preceded in death by...
Ethel Anna Martens Nelson
May 16, 2026
Ethel Anna Martens Nelson passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026. She was 96. Ethel was born February 16, 1930, on a farm in Wabaunsee County, KS, south of Belvue to Henry and Anna (Schweir) Martens.
Ethel married the love of her life, Wallace C. Nelson, on November 20, 1947, at the Wells Creek Evangelical Church. They spent 52 years together...
Stanley Lewis Nicholas
May 15, 2026
Stanley Lewis Nicholas, 64, of Topeka, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026.
He was born May 10, 1962, in St. Joseph, Missouri, the son of Truman and Beverly (Strawn) Nicholas.
He attended Seaman High School and graduated from Gardner high school in Lawrence, Kansas.
Stanley loved working on cars as an auto mechanic, worked for the City of Topeka, Parks and Recreation and...
James M. "Mike" Dolan
May 15, 2026
James M. “Mike” Dolan, 80, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, May 15th, 2026. He was born December 23, 1945 in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, the son of John and Elizabeth (Sanders) Welch.
Mike graduated from Gardner High School and attended Emporia State University. He served in the US Army for over 20 years before retiring.
Mike married Joan C. Farrell on March 11,...
William Russell Allen Jr.
May 13, 2026
William Russell Allen Jr. MD died May 13, 2026 in Topeka, Kansas at the age of 80.
Will was born to William R. Allen Sr. MD and Dorothy Lee Miller-Allen on April 18, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. William Sr. was an intern at Philadelphia General Hospital at the time of Will Jr’s birth. Will Jr. traveled with his parents during his...
Francis L. "Chuck" Slocum
May 12, 2026
Francis L. "Chuck" Slocum, 94, of Topeka, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
Chuck was born November 15, 1931, in Emmet, Kansas, the son of Thomas F. and Gladys M. (Spiker) Slocum. He served in the United States Air Force from 1951 to 1958. He served during the Korean War.
Chuck was employed by Goodyear Tire & Rubber for 40 years.
He married...
Martha L Stenzel
May 11, 2026
Martha Louise Stenzel, Topeka, Kansas, passed away in her sleep on May 11, 2026, at Rolling Hills Assisted Living. She was 97 years old.
Martha was born on January 24, 1929, in Little Prairie Township, Missouri, the daughter of Murray J. and Suzie Louise (Cooley) Zarecor.
She married Richard L Stenzel on November 24, 1975. He preceded her in death on March...
Thomas "Tim" A. Masters
May 11, 2026
The man, the myth, the legend, has gone to meet his maker. Tim fought hard at everything he did. He fought cancer for 5 years and finally lost his battle on May 11, 2026 surrounded by the people who truly loved him. He spent his early childhood hunting and fishing, riding his horses for miles with or without his brother...
Barbara Jean Runge
May 7, 2026
Barbara Jean Runge, 80, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, May 7, 2026. Barb devoted her life to family, faith, and service, and lived those with conviction.
She was born on November 2, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of John and Mildred (Adams) Leavel. Her parents taught her to see the dignity in every person, a lesson Barb carried throughout...
Dr. Stephen J. Ferro
May 7, 2026
Dr. Stephen J. Ferro, 84, of Topeka, passed from this life on the evening of Thursday, May 7, 2026, at his beloved and long-time home on Lake Sherwood, surrounded by family who loved him deeply.
He was born January 5, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Newton Ferro and Thelma Katherine (Smith) Ferro. He graduated from University High School...
Bradlee Allen Clark
May 6, 2026
Bradlee Allen Clark passed away on May 6, 2026, in Manhattan, Kansas. He was 65 years old.
Bradlee was born on August 17, 1960, in Inglewood, California, the son of Howard and Treva (Poague) Clark.
Bradlee married Diane Leschber on Ocotober 15th 1980.
Bradlee is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Diane as well as his children Curtis Clark of Manhattan,...
Otto Noah Vaughn Jr
May 3, 2026
Mr. Otto N. Vaughn Jr., 94, of Topeka, transitioned peacefully on May 3, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of strength, service, and unwavering faith. Born on October 29, 1931, in Springfield, Mo., to Thelma Bagley Vaughn and Otto Vaughn Sr., he was a man whose life reflected resilience, purpose, and deep love for others.
A proud graduate of Lincoln High School,...
Sandra S. "Sandie" Newman
May 3, 2026
Sandra S. “Sandie” Newman, 71, of Topeka, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026. She was born August 18, 1954 in Portsmouth, Virginia, the daughter of Emmett E. and Theresa D. (King) Green.
Sandie graduated from Topeka High School in 1973. She was employed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas for several years prior to raising her family. She later went...
Mary Alta Stimatze
May 2, 2026
Mary was born in Kingman, Kansas, the 5th of 6 children to Clifford Cornealis Gleason and Alta June Warren. Preceded in death by Clifford Carol Gleason, W. Preston Gleason, Jewel Monroe Gleason, Virginia June Mercer and Doris Irene Hurcomb.
She married Leonard Cheever Stimatze in 1956. They were married for over 25 years. Born of this union were Andrea L. Davenport,...
Donovan J. Thornton
Apr 30, 2026
Donovan J. Thornton, 57, of Overbrook, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at a Topeka hospital. He was born March 29, 1969 in California, the son of William "Bill" and Betty (Stoner) Thornton, Sr.
Donovan graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School. He was employed by the Douglas County Public Works Department for 28 years before retiring in January of...
Claude E. Clark
Apr 27, 2026
Claude E. Clark, 60, of Auburn, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026. He was born January 10, 1966 in Chateauroux, France, the son of Arthur L. and Maria C. (Morales) Clark.
Claude graduated from Highland Park High School in 1985. He then earned an HVAC certificate from Kaw Valley Votech. He was employed as a Topeka firefighter, obtaining the rank...
Coni K. Fenton
Apr 27, 2026
Connie “Coni” Kae Fenton, 71, of Topeka, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Monday, April 27, 2026.
She was born September 30, 1954, in Axtell, Kansas, the daughter of Gerald and Betty (King) Meyer.
She graduated from Sabetha High School in 1972 and later attended Manhattan Vocational Technical School, earning her associate degree in 1974. Coni...
Patricia A. "Pat" Lemon
Apr 27, 2026
Patricia A. "Pat" Lemon, 93, of Topeka, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2026. She was born February 21, 1933 in Marysville, Kansas, the daughter of Ralph and Freda (Blocker) Tangeman.
Pat graduated from Marysville High School. She moved to Topeka after graduation and went to work for the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where she was employed for over 35 years...
Thomas Whitaker
Apr 22, 2026
Thomas Arthur “Tom” Whitaker died on April 22, 2026, at the age of 73. He was born in Topeka, in September 1952, the son of Dale and Jessie Whitaker. He grew up in Hutchinson and was proud to be a lifelong Kansan. In October 2023 he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. He wished that he had insisted on...
