Obituaries

Theodore “Ted” Stanley Pankiewicz, 71, St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, April 3, 2025, with family. He was under hospice care after a courageous 18 month battle with terminal cancer. Ted was born in St. Joseph on June 5, 1953. He was the son of Francis and Josephine (Klein) Pankiewicz. Ted attended elementary school at the

Carolyn Sue Bayer 71, of St Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at a local health care center. She was born June 10, 1953, in St. Joseph, daughter of Bonnie and Carl Leer. Carolyn was married to Roland Bayer for 40 years and was a devoted housewife and mother to her family. She enjoyed

Hector J. Ponce 65, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. He was born Jan. 29, 1960, in Mexico, son of Amelia and Manuel Ponce de Leon. He worked at Triumph foods for over 20 years. He is survived by daughter, Cheyenne Ponce; granddaughters, Brielle and Alaya; as

Gary Lee Reynolds, 82, St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2025. He was born Oct. 7, 1942, to Fred and Helen (Stumpf) Reynolds, in St. Joseph. Gary married Dona Joan Pearl on Oct. 23, 1964. He was a graduate of Central High School, and his commitment to excellence propelled him in his career with

Jima T. Whitmore, 46, of St Joseph, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2025, at her home. She was born Feb. 2, 1979, in St. Joseph, daughter of Sharon and James Whitmore. She graduated from Central High School and Missouri Western State University. Jima was preceded in death by mother, Sharon Whitmore. Survivors include husband, J.D

Charles Edward Branham, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, March 28, 2025, at his home. He was born Oct. 15, 1935, in Springfield, Colorado, son of the late Esther and Sam Branham. He graduated from the Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a Bachelors degree in Soil Science. He worked for the U.S. Federal Government

Wilma (Willie) J. Clark, 90, of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 3, 2025. Wilma was born Dec. 7, 1934, in St. Joseph, to the late Floyd and Xerma Dowdy. She was a 1952 graduate of Lafayette High School. She married Eugene (Gene) Clark on Aug. 21, 1952. They celebrated 57 years of marriage

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Herman Ray Collins, 85, of Independence, Missouri, peacefully passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. Born on June 24, 1939, in Oregon, Missouri, to Campbell and Gladys (Montgomery) Collins, Herman married his beloved wife, Connie, on May 4, 1984. An avid fisherman and hunter, Herman also enjoyed woodworking, leather

SEVERANCE, Kan. – John M. Ellsworth, 51, of Severance, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Troy, Kansas. John was born on Oct. 13, 1973, in St. Joseph, to Neale I. and Peggy Lee (Bennett) Ellsworth. John married Sherry Duncan on Oct. 6, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She survives. He was a truckdriver

John Henry Fennewald, 92, a long-time resident of St. Joseph, passed away on March 30, 2025. John was born May 14, 1932, in St. Elizabeth, Missouri, to Henry H. and Marie E. (Koehne) Fennewald. He grew up on the family farm, graduated from St. Elizabeth High School, and served in the United States Army, stationed

Betty Mae McClanahan Headrick, 95, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. She was born May 31, 1929, in Hemple, Missouri, daughter of the late Florence Pearl Smith and Robert Lee McClanahan. She graduated from Gower, Missouri, High School in 1947 and attended business school in St. Joseph.

PARKVILLE, Mo. – John Thomas “Tom” Keller, 77, Parkville, Missouri, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. He was born Aug. 18, 1947, in Mexico, Missouri, to John Thomas Keller II and Dorothy (Ingwersen) Keller. Tom grew up in different parts of Missouri before the family settled in St. Joseph when he

TARKIO, Mo. – Roger Masonbrink, 68, of Tarkio, Missouri, passed away March 31, 2025, at an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital. The family will greet friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 7, at the White Barn, 21792 Outer Road, Rock Port, Missouri. Private family interment at Greenhill Cemetery, Rock Port. Memorials may be directed

MOUND CITY, Mo. – Carolyn M. (Rouse) Roberts passed away March 30, 2025, at a Fairfax, Missouri, hospital. The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at the Chamberlain Funeral Home, Mound City. Services: 10 a.m. Friday, April 4, 2025, at First Christian Church, Mound City. Interment at Mount Hope

Christopher Alfred Mejia, 56, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2025, following a brief illness. Chris was born June 19, 1968, to Alfredo and Carmen (Hernandez) Mejia, in St. Joseph. He graduated from Benton High School in 1986 and served in the United States Army and the Air Force. He worked for the

MOUND CITY, Mo. – Alice F. (McKinney) Bruntmyer, 86, passed away March 30, 2025, in Mound City, Missouri. The family will greet friends from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Chamberlain Funeral Home, Mound City. Memorials can be directed to the Holt County Cancer Fund. Online condolences and a complete obituary

Tom Gregory Burnett, 73, of St. Joseph, passed away on March 31, 2025. He was born on Sept. 1, 1951, in St. Joseph, to Theron and Etta (Zysset) Burnett. He was a member of The Pentecostals of St. Joseph Church. Tom married Michelle (McDonald) Hunt in 1972. Though they divorced, twice, they remained lifelong friends

Honorable Judge Theodore “Ted” Stephen Elo, age 65, passed away Sunday, March 30, surrounded by family and friends in a St. Joseph hospital. He was born Nov. 19, 1959, and was a lifelong resident of St. Joseph. Ted excelled at sports playing baseball, basketball and football. On the last day of high school in 1977,

James E. McQueen, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2025, at his home. He was born Feb. 13, 1941, in St. Joseph, son of Virginia and Hensley McQueen. Jim graduated from Benton High School, class of 1959. Jim worked for Armour’s and Quaker Oats. Jim was a great athlete, pitched multiple no-hit

BRANSON, Mo. – Darlene Marie Orr passed away March 28, 2025, in Branson, Missouri. Darlene was born May 20, 1936, in Nodaway County, Missouri, to Hazel and Ronald Winger. She married Robert Orr April 16, 1954. Darlene loved her family, working in the yard, old country music and watching old shows like “Little House on

Gary DeWayne Pettis, 65, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, March 30, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. He was born March 26, 1960, in St. Joseph, son of the late Myrlie and Harry”Bill” Pettis. He graduated from Lafayette High School, class of 1978, and married Kim Kerns, who survives of the home. He worked

Richard “Dick” K. Kuntz, 89, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, March 28, 2025. Dick was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on Feb. 9, 1936, to Louis and Pauline Kuntz. He graduated from Madison East High School. Dick was preceded in death by the love of his life of almost 46 years, Nancy (Shriver) Kuntz; brothers, Paul,

James “Jim” Loveless, 88, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2025. He was born Jan. 7, 1937, in Nettleton, Missouri, to Fred and Viola (Goodwin) Loveless. He grew up in Hamilton, Missouri, and graduated from Penney High School in 1955. Jim proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, based in Washington, D.C., during

FAUCETT, Mo. – Edward “Eddie” Smith, 78, Faucett, Missouri, passed away peacefully Friday, March 28, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Eddie was born on March 3, 1947, in St. Joseph, to the late James and June (Rogers) Smith. He was a graduate of Lafayette High School. Mr. Smith worked as a

BETHANY, Mo. – Kathi Stewart, 66, of Bethany, Missouri, died March 30, 2025. Survivors: husband, Phil Stewart; son, Zachary Miller; step-children, Kenneth Stewart, Jennifer Wedgworth; brothers, Doug, Danny, and Randy Whisler; mother-in-law, Janice Forman; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins; dog, Manny. Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, April 3, at Kirkley Chapel Church south of Ridgeway,

Linda “Kaye” Wells, 73, St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, March 27, 2025. She was born Dec. 16, 1951, in Chillicothe, Missouri, to Max Hagerty and Verietta Faye (Potter) O’Connell. Kaye married Stephen Wells on April 8, 1972. He survives of the home. She was a member of Hope United Church of Christ, Cosby Missouri. Kaye

Sandra “Sandy” Jordan, 67, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, March 28, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care following a short illness. She was born May 11, 1957, to Henry and Lyda Smith in Warrenton, Virginia. Sandy married in December of 1980, and of that marriage came one son, Clinton Jordan. She worked most of her

Everett Jonas Sr. 71, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born Feb. 10, 1954, in St. Joseph. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Rupp Funeral Home. Funeral services and public live stream 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at

Susan Gayle Jordan, 86, St. Joseph, passed away March 27, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer. She was born Nov. 23, 1938, to Lester “Red” and Naomi “Dee” (Schwope) Herbert, in St. Joseph. Susan married Donald Eugene Jordan on Jan. 18, 1962. He passed away on March 22, 2004. Susan dedicated 22 years of

Dona M. Constant, 69, St. Joseph, passed away Monday, March 24, 2025. She was born Oct. 3, 1955, to Donald M. and Charlotte M. (Heflin) Breese, in El Paso, Texas. Dona found solace and pleasure in her gardens, and her culinary talents mirrored the creativity she nurtured in her plants. Her adventurous soul led her