Loretta R. Connor
March 31, 2010
Loretta R. Connor, 74, Shawnee, Kansas and Bonita Springs, Florida, died suddenly on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 while in Florida.
For the last twenty years, Loretta and her husband, Mike, have spent most of their time traveling the U.S. in their motor home. Loretta had a knack of becoming friends with nearly everyone she met. She leaves behind hundreds of friends across the United States.
Loretta was preceded in death by her daughter, Dawn Connor in 1995. She is survived by her husband of fifty-two years, Michael; daughter Deborah and her husband, Richard Folkers, Wichita, Kansas; grandson, Joshua Ball, currently serving in the U.S. Navy stationed in Japan; and sister, Vivian Bierre, Rochester, New York.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visiation will be from 12:00-2:00 p.m., Friday, April 9, 2010, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will follow at 2:00 pm; burial in the St. Joseph Cemetery.
Sherry Ann Van De Berghe
March 30, 2010
Sherry Ann Van De Berghe, 56, Lenexa, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Select Specialty Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas.
Sherry was born September 25, 1953 in Kansas City, Kansas, to John Edward and Mary Louise (Nelson) Van De Berghe. She was a 1971 graduate of Shawnee Mission Northwest. Sherry retired from Southwestern Bell in 2004 after 31 years of service. She was a member of Telephone Pioneers and a very active member of Boy Scouts of America.
Sherry was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Theresa Marie Woolsey in 1976 and sister, Christine K. Van De Berghe in 1958. Survivors include her only son, Ryan Van De Berghe, Lenexa, Kansas; brother, Bill Van De Berghe and wife, Vicki, Shawnee, Kansas; two sisters, Jackie Van De Berghe, and her fiancée, Paul Summer, Shawnee, Kansas and Kim Stanley, Eudora, Kansas; and twenty-three nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions for the Haiti Relief Effort may be made to Eudora United Methodist Church, UMCOR-Haiti, P.O. Box 520, Eudora, Kansas 66025.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church; burial in the Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 pm, Monday, April 5, 2010, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, where a rosary recitation will be at 6:00 pm.
Mark William Gassen, Sr.
March 30, 2010
Mark William Gassen, Sr., 60, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away in his home on March 30, 2010. He was born January 10, 1950 to William and Inez Gassen of St. Joseph, Missouri.
Mark graduated from Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1968 and attended Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.
Mark and his brother, Kevin Gassen, founded Mega Circuits of Kansas City, Kansas, in 1984 and managed the company until 1996. He joined Rohm and Haas as regional account manager in 1996 and retired in late 2007. During his retirement he was employed at Ted Manufacturing Corporation.
With his love for music, he started the band Ossian as their lead guitarist. Mark also enjoyed being outside, reading books and spending time with family and friends.
Mark was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his wife, Mary Gassen of Shawnee, Kansas; his six children, Mark, Jr. and Rainie Gassen of Savannah, Georgia, Megan Gassen of Shawnee, Kansas, Ryan O’Connor of Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts, Neil O’Connor of Phoenix, Arizona, Benjamin and Kindra O’Connor of Pittsburg, Kansas, William and Maureen Pranker of Pittsburg, Kansas; three grandchildren Aidyn Pranker, Raven and William Gassen; brothers, Kenneth, Kevin, and Eric Gassen; and his sisters, Janice Morris, Jennifer Bosacci and Michelle Galbreath. He is loved by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family suggest memorial contributions to the American Heart Association.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation with family will be from 12:00-1:00 pm, Tuesday, April 6, 2010, with Mass Service to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 5501 Monticello Road, Shawnee, Kansas 66226.
Eugene Paul Amos
March 30, 2010
Gene Amos, 78, Shawnee, Kansas died Friday, July 24, 2009, at the Kansas City Hospice House.
Gene was born August 20, 1930, in Liberal, Kansas, the son of Edward Paul and Hazel Crane Amos. He and his sister, Paula, moved with their parents to Shawnee in the fall of 1945 to build a funeral home at 301 Main Street. The E. Paul Amos Funeral Home was open for business in May of 1946.
Gene joined the business in August of 1952 after serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.
Gene graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural High School in 1948 and in 1978 was named Distinguished Alumni. He graduated from Kansas City Missouri Jr. College in 1950 and Kansas City College of Mortuary Science in 1951. Gene earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1945 and was also in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.
Service to the community was an important part of Gene’s life and that service continued on through his involvement in the following organizations: Optimist Baseball organizing the association; Optimist International as Past President and District Governor; Shawnee Historical Society serving as Charter Member and Past President. Gene and his dad along with many other Shawnee businessmen helped to build and establish Old Shawnee Town. He was on the Shawnee Elementary School Board and Shawnee Mission Unified School Board, serving as Past President of both Boards; Past President and member of the Kansas Funeral Director’s Association; Past President and member of the Kansas State Board of Embalmers; one of the founding members of the Society of the Descendants of Dr. Johannes de la Montagne; member of many Family Genealogical Societies; member of St. Andrews Society; Past President and member of the Delaware Crossing Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; Past President and Honorary Member of the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce where he received Citizen of the Year; Merriam and Lenexa Chamber of Commerce; Former Precinct Republican Committeeman; charter member of the Ancient Form Masonic Lodge; Scottish Rite Bodies; Abdallah Shrine, Beatrice Chamber, Order of the Eastern Star; Kansas House of Representatives Serving the 18th District (1987-1993); Chairman of the Shawnee Downtown Partnership; Rotary International serving as Past President of the Lenexa Rotary Club and as District Governor for District 5710 and former member of the DeSoto and Shawnee Mission Rotary Clubs; Board member of the Lakeview Village Retirement Community; former Foundation Board Member of Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Johnson County Community College; former member of Overland Park Christian Church serving as Deacon, Elder and Past Chairman; member of Merriam Christian Church serving as Past Board Chair, choir member, Elder and Chair of numerous committees. Gene has received numerous awards and recognition throughout the years.
Gene was also the author of several books: History of Kansas Funeral Directors; Ancestory from A toZ, Amos, Zoll and Related Families; and co-authored Tales of the Preacher and the Undertaker with his longtime friend, Forrest Haggard.
Gene’s last project was a vision of a sculpture to recognize 50 years of Shawnee Optimist Baseball. He was working with the artist Charles Goslin and the City of Shawnee to make this vision a reality.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Margaret Zoll Amos; son, Gregg Amos (Brenda) of Shawnee; daughters, Joni Pflumm of Lenexa and Amy Ruo (John) of Shawnee; sister, Paula Ramona Upton of Topeka, Kansas; six grandchildren, Matt Pflumm (Jessica), Megan Bassman (Max), Melissa Meythaler (Jeremy), Parker Amos, Toni Ruo and Philip Ruo; one great-grandson, Nathaniel Stinemetz.
Memorial Contributions
Shawnee Optimist Baseball Sculpture, P. O. Box 13430, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66282-3430
Merriam Christian Church, 9401 Johnson Drive, Merriam, Kansas 66203
Lenexa Rotary Foundation, c/o Lou Gehring, 16005 W. 80th Place, Lenexa, Kansas 66219.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Friends may call from 1:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2009, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the chapel. Burial in Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.
Richard Edgar Lander
March 29, 2010
Richard Edgar Lander of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away surrounded by his six loving children on Monday, March 29, 2010, following a brief illness at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Dick, as he was known by everyone, was born in Lansing, Kansas, on May 23, 1931. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1949. He attended the University of Kansas and began his first job with Union Pacific Railroad where he met the love of his life, Margaret Bollinger. They married on January 13, 1951, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dick spent his working career at Kansas City Power and Light as a Lead Lineman Splicer and retired after 40 years with Locan IBEW #1464. He took great pride and was instrumental in the building and lighting of the first Bishop Miege High School football field in 1973.
He was a charter member of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Dick enjoyed life to the fullest and brought joy to those who loved him. He had many interests and totally enjoyed a day on the lake fishing or in the field bird hunting with his family. He loved to travel. It was very rare not to see him smiling and whistling.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years; his only son, Rick Lander, his wife, Pam; also his five daughters, Cathy Hare, her husband Bob, Peggy Lander, Jane Ferber, her husband Scott, Julie Burger, her husband, Mark and Jill Darbyshire, all of Shawnee Mission, Kansas. He is also survived by his adoring 19 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, with 2 more expected soon.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Services will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at St. Pius X Catholic Church at 55th & Woodson in Mission, Kansas. Viewing will take place from 9:30-11:00 am, followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 am. A private burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, Kansas.
Thomas B. Byron
March 28, 2010
Thomas B. Byron, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 28, 2010 at his home at the young age of 60. Tom was born June 11, 1949 in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 3, 2010, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will be at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at St. Michael All Angels Episcopal Church, 6630 Nall Avenue, Mission, Kansas.
Jeffrey A. Copeland
March 27, 2010
Jeffrey A. Copeland, 45, Shawnee, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 27, 2010.
Jeff was preceded in death by his brother, Phillip Copeland. Survivors include his wife Ann, daughter, Laura, and son, David; his parents Gary Copeland, Lenexa, Kansas and Linda Davis, Shawnee, Kansas; and many other loved ones.
Jeff was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Jeff, an avid lover of dogs, will be remembered as a devoted family man with a great sense of humor.
Memorial contributions in memory of Jeff may be made to Animal Haven, 9800 W. 67th Street, Merriam, Kansas 66203.
Visitation and Funeral Services
Visitation will be at 9:30 – 10:30 a.m, on Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas. Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. Cremation will follow the funeral mass.
Chase Bradley Bauman
March 27, 2010
Chase Bradley Bauman, infant son of Crystal McDaniel and Travis Bauman, Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Chase was born 17 weeks early on February 27, 2010.
He is survived by his parents, a brother, Damitri, and sister, Isabella.
Eva Maxine James Stamm
March 27, 2010
Eva Maxine James Stamm, 86, Shawnee, Kansas, passed away Friday, March 27, 2010 at The Sweet Life at Rosehill in Shawnee.
Eva was preceded in death by her parents Richard Buehler James and Lola Beatrice (Whietner) James; her husband Melvin Lee Stamm; a daughter Sherri Vonn Stamm; sisters Alma Allegra, Lillian, Vivian; and brothers Arthur L. James and Earl James. Eva is survived by a daughter Carolyn Sue Stamm Sielert and husband David, Emporia, Kansas; son Mark Edward Stamm and wife Alice, Olathe, Kansas; sister Etta Marie James Kerr husband Jim, Highmore, South Dakota; brother Paul James and wife Martha Nan, Cody, Wyoming; and four grandchildren Jessica (Bernado) Rueda, Anna Sielert, Rachel Stamm, and Emma Stamm.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 6422 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66202.
Visatation and Funeral Services
Visitation will be 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Antioch Pioneer Cemetery.
Seth D. Kaplan
March 26, 2010
Seth David Kaplan, age 23, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away Friday, March 26, 2010, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Seth was born on March 3, 1987, in Kansas City, Missouri. Seth attended Pembroke Hill through 2nd grade, then attended Woodsonia and Clear Creek Elementary Schools. Seth was a student of Monticello Trails Middle School and graduated from Mill Valley High School in 2006. Seth previously attended Pittsburg State University and was attending Johnson County Community College, pursuing his Business degree.
Seth was a devoted son, brother and friend. He enjoyed basketball, skateboarding, video games, and gardening on the “family farm”. Seth loved spending time with his dog, Isaac, and his cat, Gus. Seth, known to his friends as “Sethro”, will be remembered for being a Bob Marley fan, animal lover, movie collector, making Wal-Mart trips at all hours and chillin’ with his friends. “Sethro” had a special gift for making people laugh.
Seth was preceded in death by his father, Christopher Kaplan. Seth is survived by his mother, Farrelee Webb; grandmother, Dorothy Webb; grandparents Herb and Bev Kaplan; sisters Heather Kaplan of Shawnee, Kansas, Noa Kaplan of Houston, Texas, and Jordan Good of St. Louis, Missouri; godson, Clarence William Harper, II, of Boston, Massachusetts; and aunts and uncles, Cassi and Mike Sweeney, John and Kat McBride, Kevin and Kathy McBride and Susan Kaplan. He is also survived by cousins, great aunts and uncles, and many close friends.
Thank you to Dr. Bryan Nelson and the Shawnee Mission Medical Center ICU team for Seth’s wonderful care.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Friends of Johnson County Mental Health, c/o Johnson County Mental Health, 6000 Lamar, Suite 130, Mission, Kansas 66202.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be held from 9:00 – 11:00 am on Saturday, April 3, 2010, at Kaw Prairie Community Church located at 9421 S. Meadow View Drive, Lenexa, Kansas. The celebration of his life service will follow at 11:00 am. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am, Monday April 5, 2010, at Old Monticello Cemetery located at 73rd Terrace and Monticello Road, Shawnee, Kansas.