George J. Upton
January 22, 2009
George J. Upton, 80, Overland Park, Kansas went ot be with the Lord on January 22, 2009.
George was born December 9, 1928 in Warsaw, Missouri to Zelpha O. (Smith) and Charles Otto Upton. He moved to Kansas City when he was 17 years old. George met Marietta Herman and they married in 1952. He was a barber for thirty-two years and had many wonderful customers who he enjoyed so much. He was a member of Queen of the Holy Rosary Church.
George was preceded in death by his mother and father, sisters, May Moulder, Mabel Mills, Carrie Hicks, Faye Campbell, brothers, Jewel, Ira, Claude, Paul and Clyde Upton and son-in-law, Ray Bieser. Survivors include his wife, Marietta Upton; two daughters, Marilyn Kay (Tim) Lord and Carolyn M. Bieser, Blue Springs, Missouri; sister, Hester Mills, Harrisonville, Missouri; four grandchildren, Andrew Lord, Ferndale, Wwashington, Jonathan Lord, Bow, Washington, Kimberly A. (Bieser) Conner, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Michael Ray Bieser, Blue Springs, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities Hospice, 2220 Central, Kansas City, KS 66102.
Visitation and Memorial Service
Memorial services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, January 26 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee; inurnment will follow in the Resurrection Cemetery mausoleum. Friends may call from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday at the chapel.
David W. Minden
January 22, 2009
David W. Minden, 54 of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly January 20, 2009.
David was born March 14, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri to Ralph and Bertha Simancik Minden. He graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest in 1972. He later graduated from the University of Kansas in 1977. David was currently working for B.F. Ascher Pharmaceuticals.
David was preceded in death by his parents and his step-mother Elizabeth Minden. He is survived by his wife Kathy Minden and son Brandt Minden. He is also survived by his brother Gary J. Minden of McLouth, Kansas and nieces Anne and Arielle Laue-Minden along with his step-brothers and step-sister.
Memorial contributions in David’s memory may be made in lieu of flowers to Autism Speaks 5455 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #2250 Los Angeles, California 90036 or www.autismspeaks.com
Visitation and Memorial Service
Visitation will be Sunday, January 25, 2009, from 12-2:00 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Memorial Service will follow at 2:00 p.m.
Rees E. Friend
January 22, 2009
Rees E. Friend, 62, Lenexa, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 22, 2009 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Rees attended Lenexa Baptist Church and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion. He is survived by his loving wife Bonnie of the home. A brother in-law, Ray Fletcher; sister, Kathy Oravecz and husband George, Akron, OH; and three brothers, Trees, Van, and Evon Friend.
Family suggests memorial contributions to the Lenexa Baptist Church, Building Fund, 15320 W. 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas 66219.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Rev. Oliver W. Albright
January 21, 2009
Rev. Oliver W. Albright, 91, or Kansas City, Missouri passed away January 21, 2009.
Rev. Albright was born June 10, 1917 in Skedee, Oklahoma. He attended Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He served for over 50 years as a Methodist minister in the Kansas City area. Rev. Albright loved to fly fish and refinish furniture but his true passion was expressed through his work in the church and with the youth groups he ministered.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Viola Seymour Albright in 2002. Oliver is survived by his daughter Julie Sharp and her husband Ronald of Jacksonville, Florida.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the Wesley Fund at Kingswood Manor in his memory.
Funeral Service
Services will be held Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 2:30 PM at Kingswood Senior Living, 10000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri.
Fred J. Pretz, Jr.
January 21, 2009
Fred J. Pretz, Jr., 85, Overland Park, Kansas passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Fred was born March 26, 1923 in Turner, Kansas to Fred J. Pretz, Sr. and Mable K. (Pearce) Pretz. He was a graduate of Turner High School. Fred was a veteran of the US Army during WWII serving in Europe. On November 26, 1942, Fred married Rose A. Preston at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kansas. He was a machinist for the Santa Fe Railroad, retiring in 1983. He was a member of the IAM Local #356 and the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. After only a few months at Rose Estates, Fred received the Good Neighbor Award. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed sunny days and had a great sense of humor.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Rose Pretz; their five children, Rick Pretz and wife, Nancy, Connie Pretz-Haldiman and husband Bernie, Mike Pretz and wife, Sarah all of Overland Park, Kansas, Greg Pretz and wife, Debbie, Westchester, Ohio and Debbie Pretz-Budenbender and husband, Mike, Shawnee, Kansas; sister, Dorothy Ring, Kansas City, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Lisa Mooney, Renee Pernice, Leah Taylor, Travis and Casey Budenbender, Megan Luff and Ashley Pretz; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas School for the Deaf, 450 E. Park Street, Olathe, Kansas 66061.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 24 at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Friends may call from 12-1:00 p.m. Sataurday at the church. Entombment in the Prince of Peace Mausoleum, Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas.
Rev. Harlan J. Hartner
January 20, 2009
A lifelong son of Kansas, Harlan John Paul Hartner was born in Clay Center on March 29, 1914, eldest son of Fred and Rose Hartner. He was raised on his parents’ farm, attended high school and college at St. John’s in Winfield, graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in l938, and was ordained into the pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church.
Rev. Hartner was the founding pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Shawnee Mission Parkway at Nall Ave, Mission, Kansas, where he served his entire ministry, 1940-1980. Gifted with a deep desire to proclaim the Christian gospel, unbounded energy, and refusal to let a stranger go unnoticed, his efforts resulted in Trinity’s growth to almost 2000 members at the time of his retirement. Trinity, celebrating its 69th anniversary last weekend, continues to thrive as a widely regarded mission-centered congregation. Under Rev. Hartner’s leadership, Trinity “mothered” four congregations: Zion in Prairie Village, Bethany in Overland Park, Hope in Shawnee and Redeemer of Olathe.
Rev. Hartner married Mildred Heidman, his partner in ministry, in 1940, and she preceded him in death on April 20, 2006. They were parents to daughter Connie and husband Daniel Schmalz of Oak Ridge, New Jersey; daughter Anne and husband Mark Dana of Exton, Pennsylvania; son John and wife Susan Hartner of Hillsboro, Oregon; and son Rev. Timothy and wife Laurie Hartner of Weston, Florida. Rev. Hartner leaves nine grandchildren: Kimberly and Chris Dana; Sara Schmalz and Stephanie Schmalz-Ott; Anne, Elizabeth, Katherine, Deborah and Cindy Hartner. He has been blessed with two great-grandchildren, Madeline Teresa and Jackson Harlan Dana.
Rev. Hartner demonstrated a life-long zeal for service to the Kansas City community and church. He was a 60 year member of the Shawnee Mission Rotary Club, which he served as President and which named him a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the Mission Chamber of Commerce; the Johnson County Board of Managers; YMCA; Health and Welfare Council; Cancer Society and the Red Cross. He was an ecumenical pioneer, meeting regularly with clergy of all faiths in the Kansas City area. Within the wider Lutheran Church, he was a sought after speaker, youth mentor and Bible study leader at conferences and retreats. He served several terms on the National Board for Missions and was a tireless supporter of Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. Valparaiso recognized him as Honorary Alumnus and established a scholarship in his name for a Kansas City student.
Rev. Hartner loved relaxation amid God’s bounty in fish and stream, fowl and field and through tending local gardens. His retirement ministries included presiding over fish fries, “Fishin for the Mission!” which raised upwards of $37,000 for Kansas City ministries and charities; calling on the sick with gifts of garden produce and prayer; serving as guest preacher till age eighty-nine. From 1980-1988, he served as winter pastor to seniors at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Stuart, Florida.
He was able to die in his residence of fifty years attended by his four children and with the loving assistance of caregivers and the Kansas City Hospice.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church and will then honor the following: Trinity, Valparaiso University, Kansas City Hospice and Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries.
Visitation and Funeral Services
The celebration of his resurrection in Christ and life as a child of God on this earth will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission Kansas on Saturday, January 24 at 10 am. A greeting time will also be held on Friday evening January 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the church. “Rest eternal grant him, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon him.”
Richard A. Pugh
January 18, 2009
Richard A. Pugh, 54, Kansas City, Kansas, passed away Sunday, January 18, 2009 at his home.
Richard was born June 13, 1954 in Kansas City, Missouri to Gordon and Wanda (Hardcastle) Pugh. He is survived by two brothers, William Pugh, South Elgin, Illinois and Ted Pugh, Kansas City, Kansas; sister, Kathryn Wilson and her husband, Carl, Overland Park, Kansas; adopted son TJ Fogelson, Kansas City, Kansas and daughter, Heather.
Visitation and Funeral Service
None
William F. “Bill” Forrest
January 18, 2009
William F. “Bill” Forrest, 88, Lenexa, Kansas passed away Sunday, January 18, 2009 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center after a brief illness.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents William L. and Rhodella Forrest and his wife Ruth C. Forrest in 2000. Bill is survived by one son Keith and his wife Janet, Stilwell, Kansas. Bill attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Lenexa, and was a longtime member of Kiwanis; he also served as a marshal at the Overland Park Golf Course.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army P.O. Box 412577, Kansas City, Missouri 64114-9981.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Graveside services will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, KS.
Margaret Trembley Leonard
January 18, 2009
Margaret Trembley Leonard, 89, of Lenexa Kansas, born in St. Louis Missouri, passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2009.
Her husband, of 59 years, Col. Richard M. Leonard (Ret.), and her two daughters, Margaret L. Moran, and Sally L. Bacon preceded her passing. As a loving military wife and proud mother of 5 children, she managed many household moves during her husband’s 32 year’s of Army service, which included tours to Germany and Japan. She endured 4 long term separations from her husband during WWII, the 1948 Palestine conflict, and the Korean War. Her cheerful, positive, and loving spirit carried her though the tough and difficult times of her life, and touched those around her in a wonderful way. As a dear friend said” she was bubbly, alert and wise”: she trusted God each and every day, with neither, a bitter nor complaining heart.
She is survived by three sons, Tom Leonard of Lenexa, Kansas, Rick Leonard of Denver, Colorado, and Terry Leonard of Chicago, Illinois, 11 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and one great, great grandson.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:00 PM followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m., on Saturday January 24, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
Alta M. Lipari
January 17, 2009
Alta M. Lipari, 95, of Shawnee, Kansas passed away January 13, 2009. She was born April 29, 1913 in Manning, Iowa to Fred and Matilda Mangular Kuhn. She lived in Riverside, California until moving to the Kansas City area in 1979.
Alta, known to family and friends alike as “Nanna”, was a proud wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She followed her husband Jim throughout his military career and always found ways to make new friends as well as make a difference. She was named Woman of the Year at Ellsworth Air Force base for establishing and maintaining the Teen Club and led a Girl’s Scout troop wherever they landed. Alta’s love for socializing led her to the Avon Company with whom she was a sales representative for more than fifty years. Alta had a competitive spirit, so time away from work and family was often spent with a close group of friends who shared her passion for bridge and skill at bowling. She also was quite accomplished at needlepoint and often bestowed her family with gifts of her handiwork. But perhaps her most favorite pastime was gathering family or hosting friends around the table to delight them with a wonderful feast. She loved to boast that her talent in the kitchen once won her a pound of butter a week for an entire year! Alta’s many talents and lovely blue eyes will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Alta was preceded in death by her parents, by her husband Lt. Col. James R. Lipari, by her daughter Sandrina M. Pate and by her grandson James R. Pate and by her brother Vernon Kuhn and her sister Hazel Parsons.
She is survived by her grandchildren; Melissa Pate, Dr. Brian Pate, and Michael Pate and his wife Stacy. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren; Hannah Kroenke, Samantha Gabbert, Samuel Pate, Nicholas Pate, Noah Pate, and Sara Pate. A sister Bernice Champlin and a son-in-law Michael Pate and his wife Rebecca also survive her.
Memorial Contributions in Alta’s memory may be made in lieu of flowers to the American Cancer Society or Kansas City Hospice House.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Wed. Jan. 21, 2009 at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee with a visitation prior to the service from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery.