Obituaries

Willis Clark Griggs Jr., 89, of St. Joseph, passed away April 27, 2025. Willis was born Nov. 27, 1935, in St. Joseph, to Willis “Clark”, Sr. and Agnes (Pugh) Griggs. Willis was a 1954 graduate of Lafayette High School. He served for over 20 years in the Missouri National Guard in the Signal Corp. He

Joan “Jo Ann” Huber, 85, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Carriage Square, surrounded by her loving family. Joan was born on June 7, 1939, in St. Joseph, to the late Luther Allen and Naomi Lee (Earp) Auwarter. She was a lifelong resident and 1958 graduate of Lafayette High School. Joan married

LANCASTER, Kan. – Russel E. Pike, 69, of Lancaster, Kansas, passed away Sunday, April 27, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday May 1, 2025, at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, with Rev. Gary Spaulding, officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Creek Cemetery. The family will receive

WATHENA, Kan. – Robert “Bob” Dean Meng, 85, of Wathena, Kansas, passed away peacefully under hospice care on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Two Timbers, in Highland, Kansas. Bob was born on July 29, 1939, in Gladden of Burr Oak Township in Doniphan County, Kansas, to Henry and Vera (Kiehnhoff) Meng. He was a lifelong

DEKALB, Mo. – David Ray Pyles Jr., 56, of DeKalb, Missouri, passed away Saturday, April 26, 2025, at his home. He was born Feb. 9, 1969, in St. Joseph, son of Carlene and David Pyles Sr. He attended the DeKalb High School. David worked at Blue Scope as a Stradle Carrier. He enjoyed jug fishing,

Sean Quirk, 87, a friend to many, passed away on April 24, 2025, in St. Joseph, after a life well-lived. He was born on May 7, 1937, to Thomas and Eleanor (Davis) Quirk, in Ashland, Pennsylvania. Sean’s journey was marked by the love of the outdoors and the countless friendships he cultivated along the way.

Frank Montemayor Sr., 83, St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2025. He was born Nov. 11, 1941, to Blas and Hope (Ventanzur) Montemayor, in St. Joseph. He married Ramona C. Guthrie on June 10, 1990. Frank dedicated over 25 years of his life to ensuring public health and safety as a USDA Meat Inspector.

Steven “Buck” Hood, 69, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born Oct. 22, 1955, son of Jennie and Richard Johnson. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ramona and Cynthia. Survivors include children, Steven, Payton, Stevie, Stephanie, and Tempestt Stillman; siblings, Richard, James, Darlene, Carol,

HIGHLAND, Kan. – Gregory John Delzeit, 73, of Highland, Kansas passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Wathena Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Greg was born on March 9, 1952, in Hiawatha, Kansas, to Francis and Nadine (Richter) Delzeit. He graduated from Wathena, Kansas, High School in 1970. Greg then attended Highland Community College and

FORT WORTH, Texas – Agnes Gerard passed peacefully on April 3, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. Agnes was born to Isabel and Alfonzo Cruz on Jan. 20, 1933, in St. Joseph. The third child of 12 siblings. Agnes married Alan Gerard in 1952 and as he began a U.S. Naval career, they moved to Long

B. Coleen Jenkins, 93, of St. Joseph, passed away on April 23, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Jenkins; her parents, Raymond and Bessie Keller; and her sister, Shirley Taylor. Coleen is survived by her children, Jeffry (Lynn) Jenkins and Jennifer (Joy Miller) Jenkins; sister, Lavonne Greenlee. Private family graveside will

Mark Alan Lawyer, 70, of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. He was born Aug. 19, 1954, in St. Joseph, son of Irene (Sullender) and Bernard Lawyer. Mark attended Helen Davis State School. He retired in 2020 from Specialty Industries after 35 years of dedicated work.

Shirley Ellen Sklenar, 89, St. Joseph, passed away April 23, 2025. She was born April 4, 1936, in Union Star, Missouri, to James and Nellie Opal (Munshaw) Shiverdecker. Shirley was described by both family and close friends as being kind, caring, sincere, loving, giving, and fun-loving. Her nieces, nephew, cousins, children, son-in-law, and granddaughter all

Danny Ray Smith, 69, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born Dec. 31, 1955, in Cameron, Missouri, son of the late Betty and Burnie Smith. He worked at Artisian Ice Company. He enjoyed mowing grass, working on small motors, spending times with his friends, and hanging out

CALEDONIA, Mich. – Harold McClellan Harshman, age 94, Caledonia, Michigan, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, April 18, 2025. He was born on the family farm Nov. 12, 1930, in Pittsfield, Illinois, to Loren and Mabel (Moyer) Harshman. Harold proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and was

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – Services for Theresa Hurley will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Meyers Funeral Chapel, in Blue Springs, Missouri. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. A private memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Theresa (Borowski) Hurley, 79, of Blue Springs, passed away peacefully at home on April

RUSHVILLE, Mo. – David E. Phelan, 77, passed away on April 20, 2025, at his Rushville, Missouri, home. Memorial service: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Chamberlain Funeral Home, Oregon, Missouri. A complete obituary and online condolences may be found at www.chamberlainfuneral.com Memorials may be directed to the Phelan family to help with expenses.

William “Brian” Lee Steltenpohl, 62, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in St. Joseph, at his home. He was born Oct. 25, 1962, in St. Joseph, son of Marilyn and Billy Ray Steltenpohl. He graduated from Lafayette High School class of 1980. Brian married Tracy Frazer on Sept. 10, 1988 and she

GRANT CITY, Mo. – Mary Lou (Lambert) Cook, Grant City, Missouri, was born on July 18, 1932, on a farm southwest of Grant City to Owen and Lennis Lambert, and passed away on April, 17, 2025. Memorial services will be held at noon Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Andrews-Hann Funeral Home, Grant City. The

LOCUST GROVE, Okla. – Ted Pierce was born in Edna, Kansas, on Nov. 23, 1940, to Gerald and Helen Rose Pierce. He passed away on April 19, 2025. He married his one and only Phyllis Jean Lafon on Sept. 20, 1958. They shared 66 years of marriage together. Ted had many different jobs as a

John L. “Suthdog” Sutherland, age 60, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025, at KU Medical Center, after a yearlong bout with cancer. He left this world the way he lived in it, on his own terms. While his life span may have been less than average, there was nothing average about the way John lived

Vernon “Vern” Dale Perkins, 92, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, at his home. He was born July 24, 1932, in St. Joseph, son of the late Ethel and Oscar Perkins. Vern attended Benton High School, and joined the United States Air Force at the age of 17, then serving in the

Frederick Peters, 86, St. Joseph, died Saturday April 19, 2025, in St. Joseph. Preceded in death by his parents; wife; three brothers; and one sister. Survivors include five children; three brothers; one sister; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and four great- great-grandchildren. Family to receive friends 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral Service: 2 p.m. Wednesday,

Shawn Wilson, 48, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, at his home. Shawn was born Aug. 18, 1976, in Hiawatha, Kansas, son of the late Betty and Rex Wilson. Shawn attended Lafayette High School. On Sept. 19, 1998, he married Sonya Cox, in St. Joseph. Shawn was a Member of the Laborers

CRESTON, Iowa – Michael William Emerson, 77, of Creston, Iowa, died peacefully at his home on Feb. 2, 2025. Michael was born to William Siggins Emerson and Jan (McKinney) Emerson, on April 1, 1947, in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael moved to St. Jospeh in 1955 with his father and stepmother, Jane (Barrow) Emerson, of St. Joseph,

Robert “Steve” Ham, 70, St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2025. He was born Dec. 2, 1954, in St. Joseph. He grew up in the North End, attending Lindbergh Elementary and Lafayette High School. He worked as a steelworker at Shamrad Metal Fabricators. Steve loved softball, mushroom hunting, fishing, bowling, and camping. He especially

LINCOLN, Neb. – Kimberly S. Wolfing was born Feb. 20, 1964, to Robert Wolfing Sr. and Beverly Newman. Kim passed away Friday, April 11, 2025. He is preceded in death by his wife, Cindy Wolfing (Tracy); both parents; brother, Robert Wolfing Jr.; sisters, Micki Jo West, Tammy Boydston and Stacy Curtis. He is survived by

Michael Miller, 77, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025. He was born May 4, 1947, to Leslie E. and Shirley J. (Rice) Miller, in Omaha, Nebraska. Michael married Rhonda Jean Payne on Nov. 23, 1985. He worked for Missouri Highway and Transportation for over 11 years. Michael enjoyed golfing and flying remote-controlled airplanes.

Richard H. Snyder, 77, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. He was born June 29, 1947, in St. Joseph, to David Earl Snyder Sr. and Margarett Januita (Ide) Stoneburner. Richard married Dixie Sherlene Allen on April 25, 1987. Celebration of Life 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2025. 2009 Buckingham St, St.

Gerald “Cowboy” Bass, 75, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, April 17, 2025. He was born Sept. 14, 1949, in Holtville, California, son of the late Patricia and William Bass. He served in the Marines and worked as a Union Plumber. Survivors include companion, Connie Hatcher; stepdaughter, Amy Haynes; grandsons, Asher and Slayde; and a