Mary C. Bortz
August 15, 2009
Mary C. Bortz, age 90 of Overland Park, Kansas passed away August 13, 2009.
Mary was born January 1, 1919 in Pittsburg, Kansas to William and Rose Senseny Bortz. She served in the US Army as a Head Surgical Nurse during WWII. She was a member of the 77th Evacuation Hospital where she treated battle casualties, serving in England, North Africa, Sicily, France, Belguim, and Germany. Following the war she worked as the head nurse of the operating room at KU Medical Center for many years before retiring.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and her sisters, Pauline and Billie.
Mary is survived by her sister Nelda White, and by her nieces: Judy Hawkins, Sally Guilfoyle, Lou Pusateri and their families. Mary will always be remembered for her dedication to caring for the ill and for her love of cats.
Graveside Service
Graveside services will be held at Fort Scott National Cemetery at a later date.
Finis Cansler
August 13, 2009
Finis Richard Cansler, 85, passed away Thursday, August 13, 2009 at the home surrounded by his family.
He was a veteran of US Army during WWII. Finis retired from the Frisco/BNSF Railroad after 31 years. Finis was a faithful member of the Shawnee United Methodist Church.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, Laura and Judy, two sisters and three brothers. Finis is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty; son, Steven (Kim) and daughter, Janeth (Dennis) Madden; eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Shawnee United Methodist Church, 10700 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, Kansas 66203.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee; burial in the Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8:00 pm Tuesday, August 18 at the chapel.
Dick L. Boucher
August 12, 2009
Dick L. Boucher, 89, of Shawnee, Kansas passed away Wed.nesday, August 12, 2009 peacefully at Kansas City Hospice House surrounded by his family and went to join his beloved wife Clelia in heaven.
Dick was born August 8, 1920 in Pierce City, Missouri to Chester and Fannie Lewis Boucher. He served in the US Navy, and worked for 15 years for General Electric before owning and operating Shawnee Appliance from 1961 to 1981 with his wife. Dick was a proud member of the Merriam Christian Church, the American Legion and was a Master Mason. He volunteered regularly for the Shawnee Meals on Wheels, Crosslines and at the church. He was always helping and donating to those less fortunate.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife Clelia Boucher in 2005, by his parents and his brother Gerald Boucher.
He is survived by his daughter Sandra Beck and husband Howard of Kansas City, Kansas; by his son Al Strohm of Kansas City, Missouri; by a son Ron Boucher and wife Virginia of San Antonio, Texas; and a daughter Sherry Horwedel and husband Michael of Palestine, Texas. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Melody D’souza and husband Darren of Olathe, Kansas; Dick Lewis Boucher II of Kapolei, Hawaii; Stephenie Boucher-Eva and husband Toa of Kirby, Texas; Tanya Smetzer and husband Nathan of Vista, Californial; Daric Horwedel and wife Juliet of Murrietta, California; Donovan Grieve of Lincoln, Nebraska; and by 12 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations in memory of Dick may be made in lieu of flowers to the Kansas City Hospice or the Merriam Christian Church.
Visitation and Graveside
A visitation will be held Friday, August 14, 2009, from 5 to 7 pm at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A graveside service will be held at 10 am Saturday August 15, 2009 at Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery in Independence, Missorui.
Juanita P. Gardner
August 12, 2009
Juanita P. Gardner, member of the Greatest Generation, age 85, of Mission, Kansas, passed away August 10, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her husband Gene Gardner in 2006. She is survived by her daughter Jane Hall (Larry); a brother George Pearson (Mary); a sister Bonnie Eatman,;and three nieces, Sharon, Debbie, and Diana. She also leaves behind her baby, Sugar #3.
Services
No services are planned at this time.
Christian “Chris” P. Simmons
August 11, 2009
Christian “Chris” P. Simmons, 41, of Stilwell, Kansas, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2009 in Gravois Mills, Missouri.
Chris was born January 31, 1968 to Dorothy and Donald Simmons in Wichita, Kansas. He was a member of Rosehill High School class of 1986. Chris had a passion for all things outdoors; his zest for life was unprecedented.
He is preceded in death by his father; Donald C. Simmons, March 26, 2009. Chris is survived by his loving wife Angela Simmons, and a son Patrick Simmons. His mother Dorothy Simmons, maternal grandfather David Barnhizer, an uncle Patrick Barnhizer, a brother Brandt Simmons, a nephew Aidan Simmons, a sister Danette Dick, and four nieces, Alexandra Pierce, Kaitlyn Burnam, DeeAndra Pierce, and Chelsea Poncin also survive him.
To honor Chris’s lifelong love for animals, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Society for Treatment of Abandoned and Fractured Friends (S.T.A.F.F.), P.O. Box 1324, Laurie, Missouri 65038.
Memorial Visitation
A memorial visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 16, 2009 at Fiorello’s Jack Stack Barbeque, Private Dining, 13645 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Mansas.
Rex M. Padget
August 10, 2009
Rex M. Padget, 87, of Overland Park, passed away Sunday, August 9, 2009 at the Rehabilitation Center of Raymore.
Rex was born in Pattensburg, Missouri on November 27, 1921. He spent his childhood in Jameson, Missouri before moving to Kansas City. He enlisted in the Army during World War II. Rex was honorably discharged as a Corporal. In March of 1948 Rex married Joan Dowis in Kansas City, Missouri. They moved to Overland Park in 1953. Rex was a storekeeper for the Bendix Corporation and retired after 29 years of service.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Joan Padget, of the home; 2 daughters, Karen Thomas, Overland Park, Kansas and Ann L’Heureux, Belton, Missouri; a son Ron Padget, Apex, North Carolina. Rex is also survivied by 7 brothers, 2 sisters, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601-7633 or by phone, 800-272-3900.
Memorial Visitation
A memorial visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, August 22, 2009 at the family home.
Ella G. Ward
August 4, 2009
Ella G. Ward, daughter of Katherine and Eli Ward of Kansas City, Kansas, went to rest in the arms of Jesus, Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at Menorah Medical Center surrounded by her loving parents.
Ella is survived by her loving parents Katherine and Eli Ward; two sisters: Skyler and Ava; two brothers: Chase and Cooper all of Kansas City, Kansas; grandparents: Robert and Donna Dale of Omaha, Nebraska; Candace Ward of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and Steven Ward of Luray, Kansas.
Her short presence here on earth will be truly missed by all, but we rejoice in knowing, we will be reunited with her in heaven.
Contributions in memory of Ella may be made to Westside Family Church, in care of the Ward family.
Funeral Service
A Funeral service has been scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 10, 2009, at Westside Family Church.
Jo Ann Malir
August 3, 2009
Jo Ann Malir, 71, of Overland Park, joined her Lord in heaven on August 2, 2009 following a short battle with cancer.
Jo Ann was born May 26, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Rex and Rose Knapp. She was the member of a service family and traveled extensively while her father was in the Navy. Her father gave his life in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Jo Ann, her mother, younger brother and sister survived the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor by seeking safety in a bomb shelter on the Navy base. After graduating in 1956 from Schertz High School, San Antonio, Texas. Jo Ann moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she met and married Larry Malir in March of 1957. They had two daughters, Kathy Dilley (Jeff), Liberty, Missouri; and Carla Hutson (Mike), Fredonia, Kansas.
Jo Ann was very active as a leader in the Girl Scouts and Parent Teachers Association. She was also very active in the Kansas City Square Dancing community as a member of Bootoneers Square Dance Club. She worked several years at the Pizza Hut office in Wichita, Kansas.
She is also survived by her husband of 52 years, Larry, her sister Patricia Goss, Shawnee, Kansas; a brother, Edward Gwinn (Toni), Lakewood, Colorado. She is preceded in death by a stepbrother James Gwinn of Phoenix, AZ.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the nurses and staff of the DCI and the Kansas City Hospice for their care and compassion.
Memorial contributions can be made to Kansas City Hospice, 10100 W. 87th Street Parkway, Suite. 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.
Donna M. Linville
August 3, 2009
Donna M. Linville 79, Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Sunday, August 2, 2009, at Menorah Medical Center.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Linville, and her mother, Mildred Boyd. Donna is survived by a daughter, Vicki (Frank) Neal, Overland Park; three sons, Mike Linville, Kansas City, Kansas, Robert (Joan) Linville, Shawnee, and Ron Linville, Kansas City, Missouri; one brother, Ron (Shirley) Etherton, Canton, Georgia; 11 grandchildren, Sean (Melanie) Linville, Gladstone, Missouri, Samantha Linville of Australia, Jessica (Brandon) Dallen, Overland Park, Cassandra and Alexandra Linville, Shawnee, Trish McCullough, Columbus, Georgia, Nicole McCullough, Shawnee, Stephanie Neal, Scott Neal, and Stephen Neal, all of Kansas City, Kan.; and three great grandchildren, Hayden Nick, Kansas City, Kan., Madeline Linville, Gladstone, and Jaden Dallen, Overland Park. Her loving presence will be truly missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Shawnee, Kansas.
Visitation and Funeral Mass
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 5, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee where the rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.
John Edward Culp
August 2, 2009
John Edward Culp, 76, of Mission, passed away at his home Friday, July 31, 2009.
John was born August 22, 1932, in Kansas City, Kansas. He graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1950 and Donnelly College in 1952. He was a Korean War veteran. John married Marjorie Noll September 18, 1965. He retired from B. Blumenthal after 22 years as the warehouse supervisor. He was a longtime parishioner of St. Pius X Catholic Church and a member of the Bishop Miege Council of the Knights of Columbus 843.
John was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Ellen Needham, and an infant daughter Susan. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Marjorie, and children Mike and Rana Culp (Shawnee, Kansas), Dianne and Larry Lux (Olathe, Kansas), and Karen Culp and fiance Kevin Cragg (Independence, Missouri), and by his five cherished grandchildren: Matthew, Jason, Nathan, Marissa, and Austin. He is also survived by his brother Floyd and Corinne Culp (Kansas City, Kansas), and by his sister Mary Wearing (Decatur, Georgia), and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to Vitas Hospice for their loving care and support, especially Judi, Roger, and Joanne.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church.
Visitation and Funeral Mass
A visitation will be held Monday, August 3, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Mass will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2009 also at the church, with burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery.