Obituaries

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Betty Ellen Castle, on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. She was born on Aug. 20, 1942, in St Joseph, to Ernest Ransom and Bessie Mae (Turner) Castle. As a lifelong resident of St Joseph, Betty cultivated a life rich in love and laughter. A loving

Herman Eugene “Gene” Flora, 81, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in a St. Joseph health care center. He was born April 7, 1944, son of the late Louise (Lassiter) and Herman Flora. He worked as a farm worker with his parents for many years. He enjoyed jig saw puzzles, working in

Ruth Ann McMichael, 69, St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025. She was born April 15, 1956, to Ernest and Evadine (Marriott) Adams, in Norborne, Missouri. Ruth married Tony Lee McMichael on Aug. 29, 2016. In her professional journey, Ruth’s ethic was exemplified through the years she spent at Montgomery Wards. She later ventured

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Toby Earl Miller, 67, Parkville, Missouri, passed away on Aug. 13, 2025, surrounded by his loving family after battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Toby was born in Cameron, Missouri, on March 5, 1958, to Earl and Patricia (Morgan) Miller. He was raised in Hamilton, Missouri. After graduating from Penney High School, Toby studied

Robert “Bob” Patton passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 26, 2025, surrounded by his family. Bob was a loving father and grandfather. He was blessed to share 57 wonderful years with his late wife, Helen, and the last eight cherished years with partner, Loretta McCray. Bob loved woodworking, golf, traveling and spending time with family and

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Mrs. Juanita Louise Dietle, age 94, of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, at Capital Region Medical Center. Friends and family will be received from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, at Freeman Mortuary. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025,

Barbara Ann Lima, 67, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. She was born Aug. 1, 1958, in St. Joseph, to William and Emogene (Pickeral) Snyder. Farewell Services and Public Livestream 10 a.m. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday,

Richard Paul Nurski Sr., 87, of St. Joseph, passed away, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. He was born April 9, 1938, in St. Joseph. On Jan. 21, 1959, he married the love of his life, Erma Hoffman. He retired from the Stockyards of St. Joseph, after 35 years. He

HOLTON, Kan. – Patricia “Pat” Weber, 82, formerly of Wathena, Kansas, passed away Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, in Holton, Kansas. Pat was born on Feb. 14, 1943, in Troy, Kansas, to Kemper and Violet Irene (Edson) Sharp. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wathena, and for the past 10 years she

On August 24, 2025, JoAnn Churchill O’Callaghan faithfully walked into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can only imagine the celebration there was in Heaven as she was finally reunited with her husband of 67 years, Robert “Bob” O’Callaghan. JoAnn was born on Aug. 3, 1936, to Della and Richard Churchill

On Oct. 25, 1930, in their farm home near Cosby, Missouri, the late Edward and Edna (Bunse) Heinz were blessed with the birth of Maurine. She grew up on her family farm and learned the value of hard work. She shared her home with her late younger brother, Mervyn Heinz. For eight years she walked

SAVANNAH, Mo. – Linda P. Hankins, 72, of Savannah, Missouri, passed away on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. Born on March 30, 1953, in Searcy, Arkansas, she was the daughter of Jessie and Erma Dean (Johnson) Campbell. Linda married Ron Hankins on Sept. 10, 2011. Celebration of Life 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at

Joyce Eileen Helsel, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. She was born Feb. 8, 1936, in Hastings, Nebraska, daughter of Gertrude and Carl Hlavaty. She graduated from high school in Hastings. She married Roger “Bud” Helsel on Oct. 1, 1954. Joyce retired from Methodist

Charles O. Nicholson III OMAHA, Neb. – We are saddened to announce the passing of Charles “Nick” Nicholson, 73. He passed away on Aug. 6, 2025, at home in Omaha, Nebraska. Nick is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mardi Nicholson; daughters, Erynn Butzke and Erica Nicholson; a son, Charles Nicholson IV; and six

Debora Ann Carter, 64, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Oregon Care Center from complications from kidney failure. She was born May 11, 1961, in St. Joseph, daughter of Shirley (Bouge) and James Sharp. She was a 1979 graduate of DeKalb, Missouri, High School, and attended Missouri Western State College.

Betty L. Middaugh, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, at Mosaic Life Care, in St. Joseph. She was born Jan. 7, 1941, daughter of Irene and Cloyd Middaugh. She loved children, having cared for generations of children, working in the King Hill Baptist Nursery for over 50 years. She also enjoyed

Christopher Michael Myers, 35, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. He was born Nov. 10, 1989, in St. Joseph. He attended Savannah, Missouri, High School and graduated from Summit High School in Breckenridge, Colorado. Christopher married Mary Gnuschke on Sept. 9, 2023. He worked as a Welder with BNSF Railroad, Collision Repair

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ken Wachendorfer, born on Jan. 13, 1958, in Redwood City, California, passed away peacefully on Aug. 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a beacon of kindness and a cherished figure in the lives of those who knew him. Ken’s legacy of kindness, generosity, and love will continue to strengthen

FAUCETT, Mo. – Gerald L. (Jerry) Reynolds, Faucett, Missouri, passed away on Aug. 19, 2025, leaving behind his wife, Dianna, and three children, Jerry Dewayne Reynolds, Amy Huffstutlar and David Reynolds. Jerry, son of L.M. (Max) and Lolita (Judah) Reynolds, was born at the family farm near Faucett May 19, 1943. He joined big sister,

Mary J. Brewer, 66, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at her home, surrounded by family. She was born Sept. 30, 1958, in St. Joseph, daughter of Mary and Frederick Penland. Mary attended Rosendale High School. On April 28, 2006, she married John Brewer. She worked as a CNA at LaVerna Heights

Anna “Ann” Laura Brewer, 85, of St. Joseph, passed from this life to the next on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in St. Joseph. She was born Aug. 11, 1940, to Thomas and Florence (Alexander) Bishop. She married Marion Brewer on Aug. 14, 1960, and he preceded her in death in 1994. Ann enjoyed Bingo, fishing,

Richard Dean Gilgour, 71, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in St. Joseph. He was born Sept. 25, 1953, in Chillicothe, Missouri, son of Eloise and Robert Gilgour. He graduated from Central High School in 1971. He married Cheryl Black on June 3, 1972, and the rest became history. He served in

MARYSVILLE, Kan. – Diana L. (Bracken) Palmer, 71, Marysville, Kansas, Nov. 4, 1953 to Aug. 15, 2025. Born in Maryville, Missouri, to Harold H. and Mary C. (Osborn) Bracken. A 1971 graduate of Benton High School, in St. Joseph. In April 1982, she married Michael Palmer and retired as a Rural Mail carrier. Diana was

Anna Dell Wahlert, 95, St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. She was born Nov. 16, 1929, in St. Joseph, to John and Julia (Delaney) Banker. She was a 1947 graduate of Benton High School and attended St. Joseph Junior College. Anna Dell married Lowell E. Wahlert on Sept. 2, 1949. He preceded her

Phyllis Blue, 90, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. She was born Sept. 6, 1934, in St. Joseph, to Dillard and Thelma (George) Branson. She grew up in St. Joseph and graduated from Lafayette High School. Farewell Services 1 p.m. Saturday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family will gather with friends one

Beverly Ann “Susie” (Gilley) Hirter, 84, St. Joseph, passed away Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, at her home. She was a beloved wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt, and sister. Beverly was born Sept. 2, 1940, on Labor Day, in St. Joseph, to Fred and Maxine (Brott) Gilley. Beverly grew up in St. Joseph. She graduated from

Esther N. Correll, 88, St. Joseph, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. She was born Jan. 1, 1937, to Oliver and Carrie L. (Wigger) Thornton, in Clarksdale, Missouri. She was married to James Kennard Correll on Feb. 26, 1972. Their union was a testament to their shared values until James’s

Judy Ann Fields, 80, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Liberty, Missouri. She was born Dec. 1, 1944, in St. Joseph, daughter of, the late Virginia and Orville Kerns. Judy graduated from Gower, Missouri, High School and NW Missouri State with her Bachelor’s Degree. She went on to work at Missouri

Rebecca “Becky” Sue Kepner, 57, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in a St Joseph hospital. She was born April 9, 1968, in St. Joseph, and attended Lafayette high school. She was a homemaker. Becky is survived by her husband, Timothy Kepner, of the home; three children: Chad Grimes, Rachelle Kepner, and

CAMERON, Mo. – Patricia (Pat) Webb, 93, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Aug. 12, 2025. She was born on Sept. 1, 1931, in Ironton, Missouri, to Emory and Helen (Missey) DePew. On May 11, 1951, Pat married the love of her life, Bill Webb. They settled in Cameron, Missouri, where they raised their