Obituaries

Dee Ann Sutherland, a beloved mother, musician, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 76. To her children, Dee Ann was not just a mother but a source of music and joy from the very beginning. “From the beginning of my life until the end of hers, mom has always meant music to

Mary Lynn Wiedmaier, 68, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Family and Home Instead caregivers remained with her throughout the final weeks of her courageous journey, granting her wish of home-care comfort and companionship with the tenderest love. She was born March 2, 1957, in St. Joseph, to Albert John Wiedmaier Jr. and Mary

POLO, Mo. – Irma Lee (Wilson) Fewins, 94, passed away April 14, 2025. She was born Nov. 5, 1930, to Emmett and Anna (McDaniel) Wilson, in Stewartsville, Missouri. Irma married Benny Fewins Dec. 24, 1947, in Cameron, Missouri. She was a homemaker and helped her husband on the family farm. Irma was a member of

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dr. Gary Walter Bell, 82, passed away at home on April 12, 2025. Dr. Bell was born on Aug. 14, 1942, in St. Joseph, to Harry and Vlasta (Spiegel) Bell. He graduated from Benton High School in 1960 where he participated in multiple sports and was senior class president. He graduated from

GREENSBORO, Ga. – Paul Nathan Livingston, 89, of Greensboro, Georgia, passed away Thursday, April 10, 2025. He was born Jan. 20, 1936, in Albany, Missouri. He married Kathryn Jean Lyle on Feb. 9, 1963. She sadly passed away March 16, 2007. Paul most enjoyed laughing and spending time with his family. He was especially fond

Taylor J. Lake 28, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, April 14, 2025. He was born Feb. 10, 1997, in St. Joseph, and graduated from Benton High school. He worked at Silgan Containers. He enjoyed music, cars and his cats, especially “Joni B”. Survivors include brother, Michael Lake; father, Lawrence Lake Jr.; mother, Peggy Trent;

Steven W. Schroeder, 44, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2025. He was born Sept. 9, 1980, in St. Joseph, to Allen and Elizabeth (Cogdill) Schroeder. He graduated from Benton High School, and the Missouri Western Regional Law Enforcement Academy. He worked for the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department as a reserve deputy, then the

Charles R. “Charlie” Burri, 94, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 15, 2025. He was born March 24, 1931, in St. Joseph. Charlie married Clara Patricia “Patti” Wilson on June 11, 1956. He was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School, received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1958 and

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -Kenneth Roy Bowland, 93, Warrensburg, Missouri, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2025. Farewell Services 1 p.m. Thursday, Skidmore Christian Church. Interment Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will gather with friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Skidmore Christian Church, 106 N Orchard, Skidmore,

John Corwin OMAHA, Neb. – John Corwin, 79, passed away on April 13, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska. A U.S. Army veteran, he enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting, playing the guitar, casino trips, and Nebraska sports. Preceded in death by his parents, Tolbert and Dorothy Corwin, and sisters, Susan Metzger and Barbara Coleman. Survivors include son, Pete

Judith Kay Reed, 82, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025. She was born Oct. 16, 1942, in St. Joseph, to Homer and Opal (Bear) Root. A proud graduate of Lafayette High School, Judy cherished her membership in the Shamrock Sisters. Judith married Robert “Bob” R. Reed on Aug. 27, 1960. They shared 60

Ricardo Santana, better known as “Rico”, 64, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025. He was born on Dec. 19, 1960, to Nicholas Guzman and Josephine Martinez, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rico enjoyed playing the guitar and the drums from time to time. He also had a deep love for drawing, TV shows and automobiles,

Bill Tyer, 77, St. Joseph, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025. He was born Aug. 11, 1947, in St. Joseph to Marks and Thelma (Norris) Tyer. He grew up in Gower, Missouri, where he was named an All-State tackle for Gower High School, from which he graduated. Bill attended St. Joseph Junior College for two

Liss Hartley was born in Kimballton, Iowa, Jan. 19, 1943, and died at 82 after a courageous battle with cancer on April 10, 2025, at her home in St. Joseph, in the constant care of her family. She was the second oldest daughter of Danish immigrants, Andrew and Karen Korsgaard, and was fully invested in

Charles Henry Pryor passed away April 10, 2025. He was born May 11, 1930, in Rosendale, Missouri. He was raised in Savannah, Missouri, but spent most of his life in St. Joseph. He served in the army during the Korean conflict. He was employed at Gerber Baby Goods and later retired from U.S. Postal Service

Chester William Freeborn Jr. was born March 30, 1941, to Chester William and Minnie Ruth (Chapin) Freeborn, at home near Horton, Kansas. Chester graduated in 1959 at De Kalb, Missouri, R-IV High School. He lived with his mother and step-father, Bobby Clover, for many years while working in St. Joseph. He worked for the H.D.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Beverly Ann Kowalczyk, 84, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed peacefully April 10, 2025. She was born to James and Catherine (Bennett) Halter May 26, 1940. After graduating from the Convent of the Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, and Fontbonne College, St. Louis, she earned a master’s degree in Education at the University

James W. Mytton BROOMFIELD, Colo. – James Wilson Mytton passed away at home in Broomfield, Colorado, on April 2, 2025, at the age of 98. He was the son of James A. and Mary (Phillips) Mytton. Jim was preceded in death by his son, James Grammer Mytton, age 48, a Downs Syndrome child in 2019;

Linda Joy (Seifert) Shell, 82, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2025. She was born on Aug. 21, 1942, in St. Joseph, the daughter of Donald and Edna (Thompson) Seifert. Linda attended Savannah, Missouri, and Lafayette High School, and then took business classes at Missouri Western State University. In 1960, she married Vernon Colwell. They divorced

CHILLCOTHE, Mo. – William Chadwick McCoy, age 95, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Stonebridge Community, Chillicothe. Chad was born the son of Howard Clement and Adah Pearl (Chadwick) McCoy Bishop, on June 7, 1929, in Albany, Missouri. He was a graduate of Albany High School. He enlisted

KEARNEY, Neb. – Christopher “Chris” Bond, 55, of Kearney, Nebraska, passed away Monday, April 7, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2025, at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home, in Kearney. Inurnment will be held at Kearney Cemetery at

Suzanne E. (Letts) Harris, 83, St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Suzanne was born on Feb. 8, 1942, in St. Joseph, to the late William and Caroline (Lowe) Letts. She was a 1961 graduate of Central High School. Mrs. Harris worked as a dental hygienist and was owner

BETHANY, Mo. – Rodney Wayne Jackson, age 65, of Bethany, Missouri passed peacefully in the night April 8, 2025. He is survived by his mother, Martha Jackson, Bethany; son, Andrew (Beth) Jackson, Bethany; sisters, Sondra (Grover) DePriest, Savannah, Missouri and Susan (Gary) Nelson, St. Joseph; brother; Ryan Jackson, Kansas City, Missouri; nephews, Jarrett DePriest and

Born in Highland Park, Illinois, on Jan. 6, 1940, Shirley Dale Lawrence was the second of five children and a lifelong resident of St. Joseph. She spent nearly 50 years on North 25th Street, where she grew up, raised her sons, and later returned to live independently with strength and grace. Shirley attended Central High

CLARKSDALE, Mo. – RC Buckler, 43, Clarksdale, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025. He was born Sept. 18, 1981 to Danny Buckler Sr. and Laura (Owens) Renfrow in St. Joseph. RC dedicated many years to the construction industry, where he took great pride in operating dump trucks. He was also skilled at working on

GLADSTONE, Mo. – Donna Faye Carrel, 95, of Gladstone, Missouri, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025. Services will be held at the First Baptist Church of North Kansas City. Funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. with a visitation luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Terrace Park Funeral Home

COUNTRY CLUB, Mo. – Charles G. Dew, 72, Country Club, Missouri, passed away Sunday, April 6, 2025. He was born Dec. 17, 1952, in St. Joseph. Charles married Carla Glasbrenner on March 18, 1978. He worked in construction, then taught building trades at Hillyard Technical School for 30 years. The family will gather with friends

Zion Michael Allen Meers-Chavez, infant child of Rebecca and Rion Meers, passed away on April 2, 2025, in St. Joseph. Zion is survived by his parents: Rebecca Chavez and Rion Meers; and siblings, River, Drayden and Maddie, all of St. Joseph. No services are scheduled at this time. Online condolence, obituary www.ruppfuneral.com. As published in

CAMERON, Mo. – Lester Eugene “Gene” Simmons, 98, passed away peacefully April 2, 2025, at Mosaic Hospital. Gene was born July 5, 1926, in King City, Missouri, to Roy and Ottie (Meeker) Simmons. He graduated from King City High School in 1944 and University of Missouri in 1949. Gene served in the Army Infantry from

TIFFANY SPRINGS, Mo. – T. Joan Lang (McWilliams), 87, passed away April 4, 2025, at Benton House of Tiffany Springs, Missouri. Joan was born Feb. 17, 1938, in Easton, Missouri, to Coval and Thelma (Hines) McWilliams. She worked as Foundation Accountant for Missouri Western State University, retiring in 2002. Joan was a lifelong member of