Horace Dowell
January 31, 2012
Horace Dowell, 81, of Shawnee, Kansas, died January 31, 2012, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, February 2, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, where a Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 3, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Shawnee, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5901 Flint, Shawnee, Kansas 66203.
Full obituary to be posted later.
Mary Ehrhardt
January 31, 2012
Mary Ehrhardt of Princeton, Texas, passed away January 30, 2012, in McKinney, Texas.
Mary was born November 10, 1944, in County Sligo, Ireland to Dominic and Elizabeth (Cunnane) Woods. She married Robert Ehrhardt on February 19, 1966, in Wyandotte County, Kansas.
Mary liked to travel, gamble, and especially enjoyed good food and good laughs. She had a very witty sense of humor, and loved a good mystery.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Ehrhardt of Princeton, Texas; daughters, Stacie Barnes and husband Norman of Allen, Texas, and Kelly Cain and husband Les of Anna, Texas; sister Margaret Birk and husband Mike of Plano, Texas; brothers, Tony Woods and wife Niki of Neosho, Missouri and Mike Hayes and wife Pam of Shawnee, Kansas; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous other loving nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dominic Woods; mother Elizabeth Woods-Hayes, step-father, Michael Hayes, and granddaughter, Taylor Barnes.
Visitation
A visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Friday, February 3, 2012, at The Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
Donald C. Cline
January 31, 2012
Donald C. Cline, 77, Shawnee, Kansas, died January 30, 2012, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Donald Cline was born in Eureka, Kansas the son of Charles Wesley and Mary Iva (Stoy) Cline. He attended school in Greenwood County and moved with his family to Centerville in 1948. There he attended Parker High School and graduated in 1953. He came to Kansas City and worked for Rodney Milling until finally going to work for Owens Corning Fiberglass in Kansas City, Kansas. He retired in 1996. Mr. Cline was a member of the National Rifle Association, and the National Republican Committee, and held a Competition License in the American Motorcycle Association. He also enjoyed Bicycling, Bicycle Motocross, and swap and shops. He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his daughter, Janice Carol (Cline) Geyer, and husband Eddie of Moberly, Missouri, Son, Wesley Charles Cline, and wife Linda Sue (Bach), of Independence, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Charles, Jennifer, Melody and Rachelle, of Moberly, Missouri; Jerald and Amber, Independence, Missouri; nine great-grandchildren, Ally, Sean, Austin, Logan, Brooklyn, Anthony, Lacy, Joshua, and Isabella Rose.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 7-9 pm, Friday, February 3, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Graveside service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, February 4, 2012, at the Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59003.
Mary Altieri
January 28, 2012
Mary Florence (Ciampi) Altieri passed away peacefully on January 25, 2012, at her home.
She was born May 2, 1919, in Mount Vernon, New York, to Saverio and Margherita Ciampi. She worked as a telephone operator in the Westchester Division, New York Telephone Girls in the Second Service Command of the Army Service Forces during World War II. On September 28, 1947, she married the love of her live, Michael Sylvestro Altieri.
Mary took great pride in raising their two children, Michael Jr. and Michele. In their later years, Mary and her husband, Michael, enjoyed retirement life filled with golf, tennis, cards, ping-pong, and dancing at Jefferson Village Community in Yorktown Heights, New York.
At age 90, after her husband’s passing, Mary relocated from New York to Kansas to be near her grandchildren, moving to Garden Villas of Lenexa.
She found a family of friends and an abundance of activities in that caring, lovely community. Some of her favorite activities were poker, exercise class, and art class, but those were secondary to her being an ambassador for visitors, and “walking the halls”, greeting anyone who happened to be available for a chat.
We are sure that Mary has earned many rewards in heaven, but there is no doubt that that she has been lovingly given the award for “Most Words Uttered in a Lifetime” for Mary loved to greet everyone with warmth and a story to make one feel loved.
Mary was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be terribly missed by her daughter, Michele Beni (and husband Vincent) of University Park Florida; son Michael Altieri Jr, (and wife Jan) of Prairie Village, Kansas; grandchildren: Matthew Altieri of St. Charles, Missouri, Martin Altieri (wife Katrena and their daughter Morgan) of Kansas City, Kansas, Daniel Altieri (and Madison Gallardo) of Prairie Village, Kansas, Kristin Tschannen of Brooklyn, New York, and Bruno and Beth Tschannen and their daughter, Layla of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mary was a role model for enjoying life and aging joyously. Those who were blessed to meet her found their lives enriched. In a love letter from Michael, while he was stationed overseas during WW II, he wrote to Mary: “One thing I’m sorry about up here, is that you are not here” a line written in 1942 that we are sure he felt for the last 9 years since his journey to heaven before her. Now they can be at peace and together forever.
Memorial Contributions
Contributions may be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, 106 Towerview Court, Cary, NC 27513 or online at www.jimmyv.org . Please list Mary Altieri as Honoree and Michele Beni as Notification Recipient.
Deborah R. Glassinger
January 27, 2012
Deborah R. Glassinger, 56, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly January 25, 2012.
Deborah is survived by her daughter Sarah Wood; son Skylar M. Pratt; parents Virgil and Rita Glassinger; brothers Gary Gregory and Darryl Glassinger; and sister Cathy Lewis.
Visitation and Memorial Service
A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2012, at Lenexa Baptist Church. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial Contributions
The family suggests memorial contributions to American Diabetes Association, 10580 Barkley Street, Suite 400, Overland Park, Kansas 66212.
Julius (Junior) DeGraeve, II
January 26, 2012
Junior DeGraeve, 82, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away January 26, 2012.
Junior was preceded in death by his wife of 26 years Nancy DeGraeve-Jones. He is survived by his son Pete DeGraeve (Gina); daughter Sheri Rieke (Doug); and grandchildren, Austin and Logan DeGraeve, and Kristin and Paul Rieke.
Visitation and Funeral Service
A visitation will be held from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, where a Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Shawnee, Kansas. Burial to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.
Helen Frances Burris Miller
January 26, 2012
Helen Frances Burris Miller died January 26, 2012, after a brief illness.
Helen was born June 1, 1919, in Adrian, Missouri, to parents James Hamilton Burris and Daisy Del Hawkins Burris. Helen moved to Kansas City in 1936 and attended Central Business College. She began working for the Railway Mail Credit Union in the Post Office building in 1939. She met Roger Miller that year, and married him in 1941. They traveled due to his service in the Navy and returned toKansas City shortly after World War II ended.
Mrs. Miller worked many years at the John Watkins Drug Store. She resumed her work for the Railway Mail Credit Union in 1950. She worked there for 37 years as the Bank Office President and Manager, before retiring in 1987. Never one to sit still, she quilted, embroidered, and continued to nurture each generation of her growing family. Prior to a hip fracture in November 2011, Mrs. Miller also bowled regularly with multiple bowling leagues (with a 13 lb ball!).
She is preceded in death by her husband, Roger Miller, and daughter, Frances Barnes. She is survived by her children: John Miller of Lenexa, Barbara Hughs of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Richard Miller of Overland Park; grandchildren: Karl Barnes, Michele Ferrette, Duke Barnes, Brett Barnes, Gaye Leigh McKain, Michael Hughs, Douglas Hughs, David Wasby, Christine Westwater, Matthew Miller and Katherine Miller; seven great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter.
Visitation and Funeral Service
A visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 29, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 30, 2012 also at the funeral home.
Memorial Contributions
The family suggests memorial contributions to Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall Avenue, Mission, Kansas 66202.
Mark Tyrone Spalding
January 24, 2012
Mark Tyrone Spalding of Gardner, Kansas, age 60, died January 18, 2012, at Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas, after a short battle with cancer.
Mark was born January 10, 1952, in Hiawatha, Kansas, to Benjamin Jack and Sarah (Clark) Spalding. He grew up in Camdenton, Missouri, and attended elementary, junior and senior high school there. He earned is GED at a later time. He received his training as an automotive repair mechanic at North Central Kansas Technical College, Beloit, Kansas, and worked as a mechanic and truck driver in various Kansas, Missouri and Washington State locations. Most recently, he was a dedicated worker for more than a decade at Pro Container Service in Gardner, Kansas. Mark was a member of the Lao-Buddhist Temple in Olathe, Kansas.
Mark is survived by his companion, Thong Chamnongchith, of the home; sons Jonathan Spalding, Wallops Island, Virginia, and Stephen Spalding, Maryville, Missouri; daughter Belinda Borders Cordes, Linn Creek, Missouri; adopted children Ryan Spalding, Olathe, Kansas and Stefanie Shryock, Jordan, Minnesota; sister Jeannette Spalding, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; brothers Eric Spalding (Gay), Gardner Kansas, and Evan Spalding (Ilena), Gardner, Kansas. His parents, including stepmother Darlyne Spalding, preceded him in death.
Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Service will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the chapel. Cremation will follow with burial at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha, Kansas, in the spring.
Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Lao-Buddhist Association, 725 W. Spruce, Olathe, Kansas, 66061.
Daniel Drake
January 24, 2012
Dan Drake of Westwood, Kansas, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012, at age 72 after a long illness.
He is preceded in death by his parents F.O. & Mary Drake of Hannibal; his sister Erma Lee Robinson of Jefferson City and brother Frank Drake Jr. of Jefferson City.
He is survived by longtime companion Rebecca Rowland; and three children, Amy Rote of Prairie Village, Jeff Drake of Los Angeles, California, and Elizabeth Hunt of Shawnee. Dan also had five grandchildren that he was crazy about, Joe and Erin Pearce, Caitlin and Sarah Hunt, and Milo Drake.
Dan was born in Hannibal, Missouri in 1939 and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1962 with a degree in Journalism. In 1965, Dan took a job with Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, where he worked for the next 30 years. In his retirement, Dan was a founding member of both the Heroes of Golf Society (or HOGS) and the Golf Club Investment Club (GCIC), which might lead one to believe he was an avid golfer. But Dan’s friends were probably bigger fans of golf than Dan, who more enjoyed the travel and camaraderie that went along with it.
Dan was a lifelong Mizzou fan but complained very little when two of his children and two of his grandchildren ended up attending KU. The fact that surrounding himself with family meant surrounding himself with Jayhawks fans was a fact that Dan endured with great dignity.
Dan will most be remembered for his wit and intelligence. He loved nothing more than a good laugh. Most who knew him would agree that memories of Dan are memories filled with laughter. He leaves behind a loving family and a long list of close friends, all of whom will miss him dearly.
Visitations and Graveside Service
Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m., Friday, January 27, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. There will be a visitation from 1:00-2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Greening Eagan Hayes Funeral Home, 401 S. Center Street, Shelbina, Missouri 63468. Following the Shelbina visitation, the burial will be at the Looney Creek Cemetery, near Shelbyville, Missouri. There will be an informal Celebration of Dan’s Life hosted by his friends from noon-3, Sunday, January 29, 2012, at Sutera’s, 4730 Rainbow, Westwood, KS 66205.
Memorial Contributions
Memorial donations can be made to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64145.
Virginia Merrick Wheatcroft
January 23, 2012
Virginia Merrick Wheatcroft, 88, Merriam, Kansas, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2012 at her home.
Virginia grew up in metropolitan Chicago, Illinois. After graduating high school, Virginia received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. It was there that she met Daniel Wheatcroft and they were married following his service in World War II.
“Ginny”, as she was called by those who knew her, had three children; Janet, Ginger and Daniel. A loving mother, devoted wife and homemaker, Ginny taught until their children were born. After several moves around the country she and Dan settle the family in Kansas City where she became a substitute teacher and volunteered for six years at St. Luke’s Hospital. That service led to a long and fulfilling career as the very first Patient Representative for the hospital until she retired in 1987.
Ginny was a member of the Alter Guild at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Shawnee and Chairperson of the Garden of Memories. She loved to sew, play golf, hug and love her five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Her great smile and contagious laugh endeared her to everyone she touched.
Virginia, “Ginny”, and her life partner, Dan, enjoyed their life together for nearly 66 years and will be remembered by all who knew them as a great team.
Private Services
A private family Funeral and Interment Service will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Shawnee, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
Should you wish, memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be directed to the “Garden of Memories Columbarium” at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 5325 Nieman Road, Shawnee, Kansas, 66203.