Obituaries

WATHENA, Kan. – Evelyn “Marie” Lehman, 85, of Wathena, Kansas, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Maple Heights Nursing Home, in Hiawatha, Kansas. Marie was born on April 21, 1939, in Allendale, Missouri, to Lawrence and Gladys Faye (Hobbs) Thompson. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and American Legion Women’s

Larry E. Puckett, 86, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, March 7, 2025. He was born May 21, 1938, in Bolckow, Missouri, to Sylvester and Lena (Mozingo) Puckett. Enlisting at age 17, Larry proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for four years. He married Phyllis Smith on April 9. 1960. She survives of the

Patrick E. Fetty, 38, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. He was born Feb. 25, 1986, to Rick and Dianna (Wilson) Fetty, in St. Joseph. Survivors include his mother, Dianna Fetty; children, Gage, Braiden, Chasen, Hayden, Jorden, and Kinzley; sister, Liberty Root. Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.

APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. – He wasn’t just an amazing father, he was an incredible human being. His love, wisdom, and strength has, and will, continue to guide us. He was an inspiration to so many of us and his legacy will always be a part of me. In lieu of flowers, please donate to: Best

Larry M. Markt Larry M. Markt, 80, formerly of Cameron, Missouri, passed away March 6, 2025, in St. Joseph. Family visitation was 1 p.m. Sunday, services followed at 2 p.m. at the Chamberlain Funeral Home, Oregon, Missouri. Interment was at Maple Grove Cemetery, Oregon. Memorials may be directed to the Larry Markt Scholarship Fund at

ALBANY, Mo. – Lorene Bell (Pierce) Mathews was born May 6, 1926, to Isaac R. and Stella (Folgate) Pierce near Stanberry, Missouri. Lorene passed away March 6, 2025, at the age of 98. She had two brothers, Lester Eldon Pierce and Leland Dale Pierce. Leland was injured in birth and passed away in 1932 and

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Joseph Portman, age 76, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away Feb. 28, 2025. Arrangements provided by Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home. Services will be held on March 10, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.

EASTON, Mo. – Mary C. Fisher, 86, of Easton, Missouri, died on Feb. 26, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Mary Catherine (Claus) Fisher was born July 24, 1938, to Mary (O’Connor) and (John) Joseph Claus, in St. Joseph. She grew up in St. Joseph, attending the Convent of the Sacred Heart High School

Mark Duncan, 64, St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025. He was born on March 2, 1961, to John Duncan and Peggy Green, in St. Joseph. Mark was a proud Lafayette High School alumnus, working later for over 15 years in the wire rope industry and in Walmart. A passionate individual, Mark’s life was

Betty Curtis Fisher, 96, of St. Joseph, passed away, March 4, 2025. Betty was born May 9, 1928, in Wichita, Kansas, to Wilbur and Ruby (McDaniels) Curtis. They moved to St. Joseph in 1944 and she was a graduate of Lafayette High School. Betty married Truman Wilson in 1952. Together they raised a daughter and

Carroll Bush, 87, of rural St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025, at University of Kansas Hospital, in Kansas City, Kansas. He was born Oct. 2, 1937, in St. Joseph, son of Marie and Emerson Bush. He attended Bethel Grade School and graduated from Benton High School, class of 1955. Carroll spent his entire

SAVANNAH, Mo. – John Thomas Withrow, 75, Savannah, Missouri, passed away Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at the Cameron Veterans Home, Cameron, Missouri. John was born on July 20, 1949, in Atchison, Kansas, to the late William Isaac and Geneva Rose (Wyatt) Withrow. He was a graduate of Platte City High School. Mr. Withrow proudly served

CRAIG, Mo. – Ronda Kathleen Phillipi, age 68, of Craig, Missouri, passed away in her home on Feb. 23, 2025. She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1974, in St. Joseph. She loved to golf, bowl, and garden, and acted like her mother. She was a Jill of all trades and an all around bad

SAVANNAH, Mo. – William “Bill” Patrick Snooks, 85, Savannah, Missouri, formerly of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. He was born May 5, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Richard and Jean (Murphy) Snooks. An alumnus of Christian Brothers High School, Class of 1957, Bill carried the principles and values learned there

STEWARTSVILLE, Mo. – Joseph Michael Vogel, 51, of Stewartsville, Missouri, passed away Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at his home. He was born March 15, 1973, in Renton, Washington. He is survived by his wife, Anna; and 14 children; and 12 brothers and sisters. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m., with a

Patricia Marie Thompson, 78, St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. She was born on Dec. 11, 1946, to Clarence and LaVerne (McGeorge) Thompson, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Patricia’s dedication to public service was evident in her more than 26 years of commitment to the General Services Administration. She will be remembered not

Rita Sarris, 96, passed away, Sunday, March 2, 2025. She was born Aug. 17, 1928, to Guy and Margie (Wilmot) Cianciolo, in St. Joseph, and lived here most of her life. Rita graduated from the Sacred Heart Convent and Missouri Western State University. From 1949 through 1953 she was a lab technician at Huron Road

OAK PARK, Ill. – James A. “Jim” Bennett died on Feb. 14, 2025, in Oak Park, Illinois. Jim was born Oct. 19, 1929, in St. Joseph, the younger son of Mary Beatrice (Glasgow) Bennett and Thomas Walker Bennett. Jim was passionate about languages, the arts, and science. He earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry and

Arlene Connie Castanada, 73, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at her home surrounded by family. She was born Feb. 14, 1952, in Osceola, Missouri, daughter of Jannie Lou and Dick H. Elliott. She graduated from Osceola High School, Central Missouri State University, and the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a Masters

WATHENA, Kan. – Charlotte Eisiminger, 92, of Wathena, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Field Point Assisted Living Center, St. Joseph. Charlotte was born on March 14, 1932, in St. Joseph, to Paul and Marguerite (Hopkins) Marsh. She grew up as a member of the Community of Christ Church, Fanning, Kansas, and

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Mary Ann Steele, 91, of Maryville, Missouri, passed away on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. Mary Ann was born on Oct. 27, 1933, in St. Joseph, to Frank and I. Elizabeth (Ostrowski) Wegenka Sr. She graduated from the Sacred Heart Convent, class of 1951. She attended

HERMANN, Mo. – Donna (Rissler-Moser) Clevenger, age 91, of Hermann, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Victorian Place of Hermann in Hermann. Donna was born on May 11, 1933, in Bloomfield, Nebraska, to Minnie Schuett, daughter of Herman and Caroline Schuett. Raised by her grandparents, Herman and Caroline Schuett, until the

CAMERON, Mo. – Darrell Marion Prothero, 84, passed away March 2, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 27, 1941, in Jamesport, Missouri. Darrell graduated from Jamesport High School and worked as a grain elevator operator until retiring. He was preceded in death by his father, Oren; and siblings, Don, Delbert, Dave, and

James Cooper Laulis II, 71, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday Feb. 26, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born May 18, 1953 in Houston, Texas, son of late Leora and James Laulis Sr. He graduated from Bridgeport High School, in Bridgeport, West Virginia. He was an energy efficient lighting export, providing lighting to military

Ronald David Fanning, 55, of St. Joseph, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born June 17, 1969, in St. Joseph, son of JoAnna and Ronald Fanning Sr. Survivors, father, Ronald David Fanning Sr.; three children: sons, Ronald and David Fanning; daughter, Natasha Fanning; three brothers; and two sisters; and nine grandchildren.

Jack N. Samuels Jr., 89, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. He was born Nov. 11, 1935, in St. Joseph. He married Patricia Hague on Dec. 6, 1953, in Savannah, Missouri. She passed away in 2018. Jack was retired from Seven-UP Bottling Co., and was the co-owner

AGENCY, Mo. – Mary Ann Cullen, 78, Agency, Missouri, passed Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. Born Dec. 12, 1946, Mason City, Iowa. Preceded in death by parents, Janette and Wilbur Deets; husband, Roger Cullen; and son, Blaine Cullen. Survivors include son, Rich Cullen, Christina Nold and her son, Brendon; six siblings; grandsons, Jarrod Naze, Draetyn Cain

FLORESVILLE, Texas – Ronald R. Nordstrom, 84, passed away peacefully on Dec. 30, 2024, with his wife by his side, in Floresville, Texas. He was born May 24, 1940, in St. Joseph. Survived by daughter, Lisa Weigart, Savannah, Missouri; sons, James Nordstrom, Olathe, Kansas, and Tim Nordstrom, Overland Park, Kansas. Graveside Farewell Service and Inurnment

Patricia Marie Thompson, 78, St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. She was born on Dec. 11, 1946, to Clarence and LaVerne (McGeorge) Thompson, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Patricia’s dedication to public service was evident in her more than 26 years of commitment to the General Services Administration. She will be remembered not

Dolores “Dee” Betts-Karr, 88, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born Dec. 9, 1936, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Goldie and Damaso Velazquez. She graduated from St. James Catholic School and the Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, and