James H. Blackwell
January 31, 2009
James H. Blackwell, 76, Gardner, Kansas, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2009, at home.
James was preceded in death by his parents William H. and Frances (Kaiser) Blackwell, and one brother Donald Blackwell. Survivors include his wife Doris of the home, four sons James M. ( Stacy) Blackwell, Olathe, Kansas; Kenneth L. Blackwell, Boca, Mexico; W. Thomas Blackwell, Desoto, Kansas; Richard A. Blackwell, Desoto, Kansas; and one grandson Ryan Blackwell.
James hobbies include fishing, hunting, and bowling. He also coached little league baseball for many years in the Olathe area along with playing on an adult team until the age of 60. James was a member of American Legion Post #153, Eagles Lodge Post #700, and the Carpenters Local Union #714 for over 50 years.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a youth sports association of donor’s choice or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4, 2008 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Graveside Services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, February 5, at Olathe Cemetery, Olathe, Kansas.
Ernestine Serviss
January 29, 2009
Ernestine Serviss, 82, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2009.
She was a lifelong resident of Kansas City. She enjoyed being a homemaker and a school crossing guard with the city of Lenexa. Ernestine volunteered with the Friends of JCDS. She was a member of Eastern Star Ladies without Nobles and Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Serviss, and is survived by a son, Charles Serviss, and a daughter, Jonetta Manis and husband Bill; five grandchildren, Kim and Pat, Will and Kim, Crissy and Steve, Kathy and Joe, and John, and seven great grandchildren.
Donations can be made to the Friends of JCDS, 10501 Lackman Road, Lenexa, Kansas 66219.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be Monday, February 2, 2009, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial in Maple Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, Kansas.
Helen A. Breedlove
January 27, 2009
Helen A. Breedlove, 96, of Shawnee, Kansas passed away January 27, 2009.
Helen was born June 29, 1912 in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Clarence and Emily Foley. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, one sister, and a grandson Greg Lewis.
Helen is survived by her daughter, Eva Lewis and husband Homer of Shawnee, by three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and a sister, Emma Lou Eaves of Kansas City, Missouri.
Visitation and Memorial Service
Memorial Service will be Thursday, January 29, 2008 at 2 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A visitation will follow the service from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the chapel.
Mary Helen Rieke John
January 27, 2009
Mary Helen Rieke John, 86, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away peacefully at her home on January 27, 2009.
Mary Helen was born November 19, 1922 at the A.C. Rieke family home place in Shawnee. A lifelong resident of Shawnee, Mary Helen graduated from St. Joseph High School. She married Gordon F. John on February 7, 1945. She and Gordon owned and operated businesses in Turner, Kansas, and then settled in Shawnee in 1957.
In 1962, Mary Helen opened a liquor store that she owned and operated for 32 years until 1994. She loved to dance the polka and jitterbug. Mary Helen loved her garden and her porch swings, especially the one at her lake cabin. She loved her family and was a wonderful mom and grandma. Her infectious laugh and ornery sense of humor will be missed by everyone.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Gordon F. John in 1990. She is survived by son Randall P. John, Lenexa, Kansas; daughter Nancy Friberg Lambert, Baldwin City, Kansas; daughter-in-law Geri John; and son-in-law Wayne Lambert; five granddaughters, Julie Anderson, Lowell, Arkansas; Kelley Friberg, Miami, Florida; Jennifer John, Marina Del Rey, California; Stacy John, Lenexa, Kansas; Jessica John, Lenexa, Kansas; and one great-granddaughter. She is also survived by three sisters, Margaret Peters, Olathe, Kansas; Florence Soetaert, Overland Park, Kansas; Patricia Lynch, Shawnee, Kansas; and two brothers, Paul Rieke, and John Rieke, both of Lenexa, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities.
Visitation and Funeral Service
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will be Friday, January 30, 2008 from 5 to 7 PM at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee where a Rosary will be recited at 5 PM. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.
Helen E. Nunnink
January 25, 2009
Helen E. Nunnink, 83, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away, Sunday, January 25, 2009 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Helen was born in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the church’s Altar Society and sang in the St. Joseph Resurrection Choir. Her husband, Walter Nunnink, died in 1995. She was also preceded in death by five brothers, Joseph, Robert, George, John and Willie Lichtenauer. She is survived by a son, Leo Nunnink, of Shawnee, Kansas; two grandchildren, Luke and Haley Nunnink and two brothers, Frank Lichtenauer, of Olathe, Kansas and Charlie Lichtenauer, of Shawnee, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the St. Joseph School Development Fund.
Visitation and Funeral Service
The Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 – 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee where the Rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m.
Ede M. Jester
January 25, 2009
Ede M. Jester, 62, of Merriam, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, January 25, 2009 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Ede was born May 13, 1946 in Norton, Kansas. She was a member of New Life Family Church and the Women’s Church of God. Ede also served her country as a member of the Kansas Army National Guard. She was licensed massage therapist and owned and operated Abundant Life Wellness.
A son, CPT. Mark Aarron Mathes, U.S. Army, preceded her in death on Ede is survived by her loving husband of 27 years, Alan Jester, Merriam, Kansas; a son J. D. Mathes, Kansas City, Missouri; two sisters, Anita Sheffield, and Linda Montgomery both of Tampa, Florida; one brother, Joe Bivens, Baytown, Texas. 5 step-grandchildren also survive her.
The family suggests contributions be made to the Missions for Ecuador.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, at the New Life Family Church. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 28 at the Church. Burial will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Norton Cemetery in Norton, Kansas.
Kenneth (Ken) Earl Hays
January 23, 2009
Kenneth (Ken) Earl Hays, 75, of Gardner, Kansas received his promotion to be with his Lord on January 23, 2009.
Kenneth was born October 26, 1933 at his parents farm in Harmon County, Oklahoma. While attending business college in Wichita Falls, Texas, he met Jeretta Riney and they later married; recently celebrating 55 years of marriage. Ken was a business-equipment sales representative for a number of companies during his career, including locations in Dallas, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Kansas City, Kansas and Edmond, Oklahoma. After retirement he continued to enjoy golfing, fishing, hunting, playing pool, working with pre-school age children at church and especially being a Papaw to three beautiful granddaughters.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jeretta; two sons and special daughters, Len and Terry Hays of Paola, KS and Richard and Kathy Hays of Herington, Kansas; three granddaughters and a grandson; Carolyn and Randall Weiss of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Allison and Emily Hays, both students at K-State. Kenneth was blessed to welcome his great-granddaughter, Audra Nicole Weiss, to the family in June.
Other survivors include two sisters Betty Colson and Shirley Pierce both of Hollis, Oklahoma, and brothers Roger and Roy of Olustee, Oklahoma and Nelson of Altus, Oklahoma, father-in-law, Harold Riney of Huntsville, Alabama, Hal and Kay Riney of Hideway, Texas; Jim and Diane Riney of Huntsville, Alabama and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by sons Keith Earl and Ken Eldon Hays; his parents Albert and Verona (West) Hays; as well as two brothers and a sister.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Grace Baptist Church, P.O. Box 366, Gardner, Kansas 66030 or Kansas City Hospice House, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, Missouri 64114.
Visitation and Funeral Service
As he wished, a celebration of life and visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 26, 2009 at Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas. He will be buried at Pleasant View Cemetery in Shawnee, Kansas, next to his son, Ken.
James Martin Gest
January 23, 2009
James Martin Gest, 74, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away suddenly Thursday evening, January 22, 2006 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Jim was born April 16, 1934 in Hubbard, Ohio to the late Joseph and Elizabeth Gest. After he graduated from high school, Jim enlisted in the Army until his discharge in 1955. He married Essie Beckley on December 27, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri. After serving in the Army he attended Finley College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Jim went to work for Puritan and was with them for 43 years before retiring in May of 1999. He was called out of retirement and asked to go to Seattle, Washington to help with designing the Boeing 787 “Dreamliner”.
Jim was a loving husband, father and family man. He loved to bowl and golf and was on several bowling leagues with Puritan. He was an avid outdoors man, and spent many hours fishing and hunting. Jim was a member of B.A.S.S. Jim was also a master craftsman and enjoyed crafting gifts from wood. He was very proud member of Holy Cross Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He was active in his son’s Cub Scouts and Boy Scout Troops in Lenexa.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Essie and son, Steven Gest, both of the home, and one brother, Joseph Leo Gest, Hubbard, Ohio. He is preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Tuck and Elizabeth Ann Rohde.
The family suggests contributions be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association in lieu of flowers.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, January 26, a Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Lenexa.
Brandon Lee Stevens
January 23, 2009
Brandon Lee Stevens, 29, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away Friday, January 23, 2009.
Brandon was born March 26, 1979 in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Brandon was a member of Pleasanton High School Class of 1997. After high school Brandon attended Pittsburg State University where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Technology and a minor in business. While at Pittsburg State University Brandon was an active member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and continued to be active after finishing college. He currently owned and operated American Masonry, LLC. Brandon was an member of Timothy Lutheran Church and was a former member of First Baptist Church in Pleasanton.
Brandon is survived by father, Edward Stevens and wife Shannon, Westwood, Kansas; his mother, Stacy Banta and husband Randy, Pleasanton, Kansas. A sister Erica, and brother Jeffery Stevens, two stepsisters, Maranda and Jennifer Banta; paternal grandmother, Joyce Stevens; maternal grandparents, John and Doris Payne, and seven nephews also survive him.
Memorial Services
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at Timothy Lutheran Church, 425 W. Mise Road., Blue Springs, Missouri 64015.
Norma Jean Wirth
January 22, 2009
Norma Jean Wirth, 84, of Lenexa passed away Thursday, January 22, 2009 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Norma was born September 1, 1924 to Humphrey and Mabel Cottingim in Parsons, Kansas. On September 1, 1944 she married Edward P. Wirth, he preceded her in death on April 5, 1999.
Norma is survived by her two daughters, Jene Toler and husband Bill, Lenexa, Kansas; Cindy Cross and husband Larry, Olathe, Kansas, one sister, Elizabeth Smith and husband Roy, Sun City, Arizona; 6 grandchildren: Kelley and Jim Perkins, Manhattan, Kansas; Amy and Drew VanWagner, Shawnee, Kansas; Kim and Drew Theophilus, Omaha, Nebraska; Lindsay and Aaron Platt, Kansas City, Missouri; Bryan and Elizabeth Cross, Gardner, Kansas; Eric and Michelle Cross, Gardner, Kansas, a niece Leann Smith, Kansas City, Missouri; a nephew, Greg and Jean Smith, Wichita, Kansas, and 15 great grandchildren also survive her.
The family suggests contributions be made to the American Lung Association.
Visitation and Funeral Services
Visitation will be 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, January 26, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 7 p.m. Burial will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, at Shawnee Cemetery.