Jan 12, 2021

Catherine “Cate” F. Hayen, 92, of Topeka passed away Tuesday morning, January 12, 2021 at her home in Topeka.  Cate was born March 24, 1928 in Fairmont, Minnesota the second child of Rev. William Robert and Essie Friend Thomas.  Being a preacher’s kid, she grew up all over Minnesota.  She would consider Brainard to be her hometown.   Her family...

Jan 11, 2021

Debbra A. Lake, age 64, of Topeka, passed away Monday, January 11, 2021 at her home in Topeka.  Debbie was born May 5, 1956 in Carrollton, Missouri the daughter of James and Wanda (Dambacher) Biggs.  The family moved to the Perry area when she was young and she graduated from Perry-Lecompton High School in 1974.  She married Michael Allen...

Jan 9, 2021

Larry Thomas Russell, 78, of Topeka passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2021. He was born December 9, 1942 in Crawford County the son of Lawrence Thomas Russell and Minnie Marlow Russell. Larry graduated from high school at Weir, Kansas. He moved to Wichita and worked at Boeing Aircraft Company before moving to the Topeka area. He was a...

Jan 8, 2021

Pearl Maxine Byler, 78, of Topeka, formerly of Meriden, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021.   She was born September 7, 1942 at Topeka the daughter of Terrance “Pete” and Wilma Ward Cox.   Maxine was the youngest child and only daughter.   She worked for USD 345 School District for over 26 years. She enjoyed going to the casino, out...

Jan 6, 2021

John Joseph Polzar was a Good ManBorn in 1938, to Otto and Alma Polzar, dad was a typical farm kid. He grew up wanting to emulate his father and "sometimes" mind his mother. Losing his father at an early age hurt deeply, but he never lost that focus to be there for his mother and little sister Regina. Some time...

Jan 5, 2021

Kenneth L. Owensby, 71, Silver Lake, passed away Tuesday, January 5, 2021.He was born December 15, 1949, in Fort Riley, Kansas, the son of Kenneth and Elaine (Countryman) Owensby. Ken was employed by the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office for 28 years, retiring on December 17, 1999. After he retired, he worked for the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office for 10...

Jan 4, 2021

Robert Lee Click, 79, Topeka, Kansas, completed his journey to heaven on Monday, January 4, 2021, surrounded by the family he supported, taught, inspired and deeply loved.

Bob was born June 22, 1941, in Weeksbury, Kentucky, the son of Elouise and Tennis P. (Young) Click. He worked as a bread truck driver and car salesman before moving...

Jan 4, 2021

Ruby Lee Means, age 88, of Topeka, passed away Monday, January 4, 2021 at her home in Topeka.  Ruby was born November 9, 1932 in Topeka the daughter of George and Anna (Creelman) Dick.  Ruby married Albert Evans Meade, they later divorced.  She married Johnny Means, Sr., he preceded her in death in 2008.  Ruby lived most of her...

Jan 2, 2021

James "Jim" A. Okerlund, age 70, of Topeka, passed away from a long courageous battle with cancer on Saturday, January 2, 2021.

Jim was born July 14, 1950 in Smethport, PA to Donald and Ruth (Bernard) Okerlund. He graduated from Enid High School in Enid, Oklahoma. Jim married Jill Schinnerer (now Paglione), they later divorced. Jim worked...

Jan 2, 2021

Ethel Dean Quaney, age 95, of Lawrence, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Brandon Woods Skilled Nursing of Covid-19 pneumonia.  Ethel was born May 25, 1925 in Belvue, KS, the only daughter and youngest child of George J. and Lillian Craig Hupe. The family moved to Silver Lake and then to Perry where Ethel graduated from Perry Rural...

Jan 1, 2021

Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Chapman, age 92, of Meriden, Kansas passed away Friday, January 1, 2021 in Topeka.  Betty was born December 13, 1928 in San Diego, CA the daughter of Lewis and Martha (Biggs) Barnes.  After her parents died, she moved to Meriden and was raised by her grandmother.  She married Earl Chapman on November 16, 1946.  He preceded...

Jan 1, 2021

John B Classen was born July 7, 1936 to Abe L. (Agnes Bartel) Classen and died of natural causes in Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Rossville KS on January 1, 2021.

John and his 8 siblings were all born in a farmhouse in Meade County KS. In Apr of 1940, the Classen family pulled up roots...

Jan 1, 2021

Leticha Lynn McKinley, 59, of Topeka passed away on January 1, 2021.   She was born May 9, 1961 in Topeka the daughter of James J. and Rebecca J. Foltz Brown. Leticha lived in Topeka for most of her life.   She was an avid animal lover. She enjoyed mealtime at home or going out to eat with her family. She...

Dec 30, 2020

Darlene L. Gravenstein, 91, of Topeka passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.   She was born July 17, 1929 at Leonardville, Kansas the daughter of Rudolph and Leda A. Harvey Lindstrom.  She was the fourth of six children.   She was raised at Riley, Kansas.  On May 21 st , 1950 she was married to Jim Gravenstein at Riley.   Jim...

Dec 29, 2020

Dana Jay “DJ” Torgeson, age 56, of Topeka, KS passed away Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at St Francis Hospital in Topeka.  Dana was born April 23, 1964 the son of Floyd and Dorothy (Baker) Torgeson.  Dana graduated from Shawnee Heights High School in 1983.  He was previously employed by Torgeson Electric and in recent years worked as an independent...

Dec 27, 2020

Delores Jean Ross, 85, of Topeka passed away at Stormont Vail Hospital on Sunday, December 27, 2020.   She was born December 29, 1934 in Topeka the daughter of John V. and Lucille Pusch.   Delores was raised in Topeka and graduated from Topeka High School in 1953. She met John Davis Ross and they were married in 1954 at the...

Dec 26, 2020

Victor L. Saia, 81, of Silver Lake, passed away on Saturday, December 26, 2020. He was born October 3, 1939 at Mayetta the son of Victor M and Mary Alice Constant Saia.   Victor was raised in North Topeka and graduated from Seaman High School in 1957.   He served in the Navy following high school.   He worked for Sears and...

Dec 25, 2020

Frank P. Grace, age 81, of Topeka, passed away Friday, December 25, 2020 at Midland Hospice Care.  Frank was born September 11, 1939 in Delia, Kansas the son of Martin and Monica (McLaughlin) Grace.  Frank grew up in Topeka.  He owned several houses throughout Topeka, serving as a landlord.  Frank is survived by three brothers, Bernard Grace of Topeka,...

Dec 25, 2020

Steven Joseph Schumacher, age 59, of Topeka, KS, passed away Friday, December 25 at his home. He was born in Hays, Kansas on September 6, 1961, to Laverne and Jane (Urban) Schumacher. Steve graduated from Hays High School in 1980 and attended Allen County Community College on a baseball scholarship. On July 20, 1985, Steve married Paula Schippers at...

Dec 24, 2020

Kenneth Eugene Lauber, Jr., age 66, of Topeka, KS, passed away December 24th at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS.   He was born February 23, 1954, the son of Kenneth E. Lauber, Sr. and Marvel Darlene Lauber, Topeka, KS.

During his lifetime, he served in the military, served as a corrections officer at the...