Obituaries

EASTON, Mo. – Donna Lynn Fischer, 57, of Easton, Missouri, passed away Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. She was born May 19, 1967, in St. Joseph, daughter of Sharon and Chuck Matt. She graduated from Benton High School and Missouri Western State University. Donna worked at Weidmaier’s Truck Stop and the

DIXON, Mo. – Father William Korte passed away at the age of 67 on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, after a sudden illness. Father Korte was the fourth of eight children born to Richard and Marilyn (Moser) Korte, on Nov. 4, 1957. His early years were spent on the family farm in Steelville, Missouri, where he

Mary Lucille Zahner, 75 years old, of St. Joseph, passed away on Jan. 20, 2025, at Saint Francis Medical Center, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Mary is survived by her sister, Naomi; four daughters, Julie, Windy, Christine and Rachel; 11 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. Cremation rites will be accorded. The cremation of Mary will be personally

DEKALB, Mo. – Georgia Ellen Abbott, 83, of DeKalb, Missouri, passed away on Jan. 26, 2025, at Medicalodge, in Atchison, Kansas. She was born Feb. 22, 1941, to Fielding and Hazel Ballard, in St. Joseph. On July 25, 1965, she married Gerald “Jerry” Abbott, in St. Joseph. She spent much of her life working on

SHERIDAN, Mo. – Terry Loyd Larison was Opal Faye (Gartside) Larison and Loyd Larison’s late in life child. The happy couple planned on having a little dark-haired daughter following a baby-sitting stint with their niece. So, on May 2, 1950, Opal gave birth to their blonde-headed baby boy of which they were so proud of.

Benjamin Barron, Jr., 69, St. Joseph, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral Service noon Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel, where the family will receive friends 2 hours prior from 10 a.m. to noon. Interment Sugar Creek Cemetery, Rushville, Missouri. For the

HATFIELD, Mo. – William Paul Rowlett, 89, of Hatfield, Missouri, was born on Mother’s Day, May 12, 1935, on the family farm west of Hatfield to parents of Lem and Edith Rowlett. He joined two older sisters, Dorothy and Doris Faye. He passed away on Jan. 26, 2025, in Grant City, Missouri. Paul graduated from

Deborah Diane Breeland, 73, St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in St. Joseph. She was born March 23, 1951, St. Louis, Missouri. Preceded in death by parents Charles Seawright, Sylvia Jones; son, Craig Breeland. Survivors include daughter, Andrea (Jeffrey) Dye. Cremation under the care of the Rupp Funeral Home. There are no scheduled

SILOAM SPRINGS, Mo. – Lillian E. Shelton, of Siloam Springs, Missouri, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle of cancer on Jan. 24, 2025. Survivors: husband, Mark; children, Derek Crain, Lisa (Phillip) Pummell, Mark Stephen (Sandy) Shelton Jr.; grandchildren, Anthony (Erica) Phillips, Trenidy Crain; great-grandchildren, Miley and Shaylee Phillips, brother, Arthur (Janice) Tubb. Private family

Rodger Hamilton Buschhorn, 76, St. Joseph, died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born June 7, 1948. Preceded in death by parents: Kenneth and Leslie Buschhorn. Cremation under the care and direction of the Rupp Funeral Home. There are no scheduled services at this time. Memorials are requested to the Rodger Buschhorn

Rebecca “Becky” Lynn Reffitt, 61, St. Joseph, formerly of Polo, Missouri, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. Survivors include her mother, Wanda Turner; husband, Robert; children, Richard Hudson and Christopher Hudson; four beloved grandchildren; sister, Connie Iberia. Becky will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Cremation under the direction of Simplify Cremations &

A Missouri Task Force 1 member who responded to the 9/11 attacks in New York has died from cancer, the Boone County Fire Protection District announced Thursday. Heavy rigging specialist Larry Duncan was one of the responders who scoured rubble the day after the attacks on the World Trade Center looking for survivors. He operated

NAMPA, Idaho – Marillyn R. Nichols was born April 29, 1934, in Savannah, Missouri, to Raymond T. Gillup and Roberta Marie Gillup (Kimsey). Siblings Roger Gillup and Janice Tyhurst. Marillyn passed away Jan. 12, 2025, in Nampa, Idaho. She was 90 years old. Final interment Mount Olivet Cemetery, St. Joseph. Marillyn is survived by her

COSTA RICA – James “Jim” Edwin Larkin, the ninth of 11 children of James Edwin and Catherine Eliza Semmens Larkin, was born on Oct. 18, 1950, in Creston, Iowa, and entered his rest on Jan. 12, 2025, in Costa Rica. The family moved to Brookfield, Missouri, and St. Joseph where he started school and in

MOUND CITY, Mo. – Dorothy J. (Reynolds) Jumps, 83, of Mound City, Missouri, passed away on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at a Mound City care center. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Mound City Nutrition Site. A complete obituary and online condolences may be found

UNION STAR, Mo. – Terry Lee Smith, 66, of Union Star, Missouri, passed away Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in a St. Joseph hospital. He was born Nov. 14, 1958, in Rushville, Missouri, son of the late Deana and Francis Smith. He married Valerie Smith on Nov. 20, 1976, and she survives of the home. He

DEARBORN, Mo. – Keith Staton Gardner, 75, of Dearborn, Missouri, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at his home in St. Joseph. He was born June 10, 1949, in St. Joseph, son of the late Patricia and Chester Gardner. He graduated from Belair High School, and worked as a mechanic. He enjoyed hunting, Nascar racing

S. Louise Potter, 91, of St Joseph, passed away Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at a Savannah, Missouri, health care facility. She was born Feb. 9, 1933, in St. Joseph, daughter of Sylvia and Jesse Boles. She graduated from Savannah High School, class of 1953. On Aug. 16, 1951, she married Clinton Potter. Alongside her husband

Kadin M. “Boomer” Williams Jones, 20, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at his home in Topeka, Kansas. He was born July 4, 2004, in St. Joseph, son of Crystal and Steven Jones. Kadin’s greatest love and joy in his life was his wife, Kaytlin, and their children, Kyler and Isla. He

ATCHISON, Kan. – Gerald Leroy Giles, who was known by most as “Oscar”, died Jan. 19, 2025, at his home in Atchison, Kansas, at the age of 90. A service to remember Oscar will be on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, at 3 p.m. at the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. The family will have a visitation for

Barry Layne Robertson, 66, of St. Joseph, passed away at home surrounded by the loving embrace of his family on Jan. 11, 2025, after a valiant 2-year battle with renal cancer. Barry was born on Jan. 6, 1959, to Sharon Trapp Robertson Michel and Robby Robertson, in St. Joseph. Barry graduated from Benton High School

Darlene Thornton, 86, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care. She was born Sept. 22, 1938, in Severance, Kansas. Darlene married Thomas Thornton and together they raised three children. He later passed in 1992. Darlene devoted her life as a homemaker. She enjoyed working crossword and Sudoku puzzles and

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Patricia “Pat” Ann Sauer, of Kansas City, Missouri, formerly of Rolla, Missouri, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the age of 90. She was born on Nov. 8, 1934, in St. Joseph, to the late Frank Zbierski and Margaret (Nurski) Zbierski. Pat married Dr. Harry “Hank” J. Sauer Jr. on

Ila Brazzell, 89, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Ila was born on Nov. 26, 1935, in Irena, Missouri, to the late Ray and Maidie (Fletchell) Stabe. She was a 1953 graduate of Grant City, Missouri, High School. Mrs. Brazzell worked as a sewing machine

Michael “Mike” David Wright, 79, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born May 6, 1945, to Leonard “Ted” E. and Lelia M. (Wallace) Wright, in Springfield, Missouri. Mike married Allene Wilson Phillips on Dec. 27, 1970. Mike’s pursuit of knowledge led him to achieve a Doctorate of

Bobbie JoAnn Wolfenbarger was born Oct. 7, 1964, to Jim and Sharon (Reital) Allday. Bobbie passed on Jan. 10, 2025, surrounded by her family. She was greeted in heaven by her parents and stepdaughter, Crystal Wolfenbarger. Bobbie married Robert Wolfenbarger, Dec. 28, 2012, who survives the home. She enjoyed playing Bingo, dancing, and fishing. Most

Daria Marcie (Kobzej) Green, 65, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in St. Joseph. She was born Nov. 27, 1959, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Nadja and Ivan Kobzej. She graduated from Benton High School, and was a very talented cook, who loved animals, and spending time with her family.

Alma L. “Billie” (Crowley) Caldwell, 93, St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. She was born Sept. 4, 1931, to William R. and Esther L. (DeJaynes) Crowley, in Glasgow, Missouri. Billie married William “Leroy” Caldwell on April 21, 1956. They were married 67 years before he preceded her in death on Oct. 24, 2023.

TROY, Kan. – Mary Ruth Ruddy, 94, of Troy, Kansas, passed away at the Mosaic Life Care early Thursday morning, on Jan. 16, 2025. Mary was born on April 17, 1930, to Bruce and Opal (McKay) Herring. Mary grew up on a farm near Sparks, Kansas, and graduated from Troy High School and Highland Community

Robert “Boe” Hoecker, 62 years old, of St. Joseph, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at his home. He was born on Dec. 13, 1962, in Seattle, Washington, to Norman and Betty Hoecker. Boe lived in various states in his younger years due to his father’s employment, including Washington, Missouri, Alabama, Florida, and Maryland.