Don Leslie Lewis
January 23, 2012
Don Leslie Lewis, son of Archie and Sallie Lewis, passed away peacefully at Sweet Life of Rosehill on January 22, 2012.
Born February 4, 1937, Don came from a family of school teachers. He earned a BS in chemistry and an MS in physics, and for 35 years he taught math, chemistry and physics in several Texas high schools and at Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas. Students remember him for his witty good humor and intelligence.
Survivors include his wife Waverly of Shawnee, Kansas; daughter Amy of Ventura, California; brother Hugh and his wife Hazel, Los Angeles, California; niece Sarah, San Antonio, Texas; and nephews, David and John and their families of Austin, Texas. Between Don and Waverly they have 7 nephews, 1 niece, 3 great-nieces and 8 great nephews.
A life-long Methodist, Don was a loving and compassionate husband, father, and friend. Since Don and Waverly recently moved from Bandera, Texas, a memorial service is planned in Bandera for early spring.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be 9:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the chapel with burial at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.
Memorial Contributions
Memorial donations may be made to the following:
Bandera United Methodist Church
P. O. Box 128
Bandera, Texas 78003
or
Pettus United Methodist Church
Drawer B
Pettus, Texas 78146
or
Odyssey Hospice
8735 Rosehill Road, Suite 200
Lenexa, Kansas 66215
Dorothy Weinberg Butler
January 23, 2012
Dorothy Weinberg Butler, passed away on January 21, 2012.
She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Kansas City was her home for the past 57 years. Dorothy had a long career in the retail jewelry business, working for Helzberg’s Jewelers and Halls.
She was predeceased by husbands Ray McMillen, Bill Weinberg and Jacob Butler; and by daughter Alice Payne and son-in-law Guy Maggio.
Dorothy is survived by her daughters Loretta Cawelti and husband Don, Patricia Coleman and husband Don, and Karen Maggio; son-in-law Harold Payne; step-daughter Debbie Kern and husband Jerry; Dick Fuessle, a dear friend and companion; 9 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside Service
The graveside service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, 105th Street and Holmes.
Memorial Contributions
Donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105, or to the charity of your choice.
Helen Louise Bredesen
January 23, 2012
Helen Louise Bredesen, 81, of Overland Park, Kansas, died quietly in her sleep at home during the early morning hours of Sunday, January 22, 2012.
Helen was born on April 21, 1930, in Brewer, Maine, to Isaac E. and Madeline (Renouf) Staples. In 1956 she met US Air Force Lt. Richard M. Bredsen at a dance. They married in 1958 and settled in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Richard’s home town. After getting a job at Pillsbury as a commodities broker in 1956, the couple moved to the Kansas city area and soon started a family. The couple enjoyed traveling and made many life-long friends along the way. Helen especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Helen is preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Dorothy A. Giles and brothers, Robert, Paul and Richard.
Helen leaves behind her loving husband and best friend of 53 years, Richard M. Bredesen; two children, Richard E. Bredesen of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Jann L. Gryska of Kansas City, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Kari Bredesen; five beloved grandchildren, SN Hannah E. Gryska, US Navy, Ethan W. Gryska of Overland Park, Kansas, Haakon D. Bredesen, Kjerstin A. Bredesen, and Marit L. Bredesen, all of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; and a brother, Ralph Staples of Brewer, Maine.
Memorial Visitation
A celebration of Helen’s life will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
Memorial Contributions
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 1001 E. 101st Terrace, Suite 180, Kansas City, Missouri 64131.
Shawn C. Lutes
January 22, 2012
Shawn C. Lutes, 33, of Mission, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012, at his home.
Shawn was born April 13, 1978, to Dixie and Stanley Lutes. He graduated from Olathe North High School in 1996 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education from Mid America Nazarene University in 2000. Shawn worked as an Assistant Manager for Hy-Vee since 2007. Shawn was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed spending time hunting white tail deer and fishing. He found the most joy in life spending time with his family, especially his nephew and niece. Always willing to lend a helping hand, Shawn was seen as a brother by many.
He is preceded in death by his father, Stanley Lutes. Shawn is survived by his mother, Dixie Mitchell and step father Mike; his sister, Laurie Santee and her husband Dan; paternal grandmother Billie Lutes; three uncles, Danny Lutes, Larry Lutes and Frankie Spielhagen, two aunts, Linda McNulty and Janet Williams, nephew Jacob Santee, and niece Miriana Santee.
Visitation and Funeral Services
Visitation will be 11;30 to 1 p.m. Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, funeral service will follow the visitation at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Olathe Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Epilepsy Foundation 6400 Prospect Avenue, Suite 300B, Kansas City, Missouri 64132.
Theda D. Lewis
January 20, 2012
Theda D. Lewis, 93, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 16, 2012.
Theda was born on December 20, 1918, in Great Bend, Kansas, to Clarence Downey and Ida Mae McDonald-Downey. Theda graduated from Great Bend High School, class of 1938. At the age of 18, Theda accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Theda began her career as a domestic servant at age 16, which relocated her to Denver, Colorado. In 1950, Theda relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, where she worked as a domestic servant totaling 24 years. Then in 1960 she met and married Jack H. Lewis where they started their cleaning service in 1962. They worked for the late Dr. Henry Sullivan for 40 years and Shawnee United Methodist Church for 41 years, where she retired and received an award of appreciation for her dedicated and faithful service from the church in September of 2003. Not willing to stop working, Theda volunteered at the church until November 1, 2011.
Theda had a strong loyalty to the community. In the late 1960s, she was given an honorary award for heroism from the City of Shawnee for her courageous act in saving the life of Mrs. Marge Wiyninger from her burning home.
Theda is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack; brother, Claude Downey; and sister Isabelle D. Lewis. She is survived by her brother, Addison Downey and his wife Mathilde; her daughter Victoria Judice-Cartwright; step-daughter, Phillis J. Lewis; 8 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 22, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A celebration of life will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 23, 2012, at Shawnee United Methodist Church, 10700 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to:
Shawnee United Methodist Church Love Fund
10700 Johnson Drive
Shawnee, Kansas 66203
or
Compassionate Care Hospice
10000 W. 75th Street, Suite 31
Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66204
Laura Emily (Swindler) Gill
January 20, 2012
Laura Emily (Swindler) Gill, 77, of Mission, Kansas, died on January 19, 2012, at Kansas City Hospice House.
Laura was born April 22, 1934, in Independence, Missouri, the youngest of Wilhelmina (Steffens) and George W. Swindler’s four children. During childhood she also lived in Washington County, Kansas, Nebraska, and El Dorado Springs, Missouri, but most of Laura’s life was spent in the metro Kansas City area.
Laura graduated from Westport High School in 1951 and attended Kansas City Junior College. She married fellow Westport High alum Gerald (Jerry) G.H. Gill in 1955, moved to the fast-developing suburb of Overland Park, and had three children. Laura was primarily a homemaker and whatever hobby or project she took up she did with great passion, be it teaching school children about art as a volunteer “picture lady”, cooking, researching the history of the city of Overland Park, completing her business administration degree at Washburn University in 1986, astrology, sewing baby quilts, or genealogy, at which she excelled.
Jerry died in 2007; Laura is also predeceased by a sister, Ruth E. (Swindler) Wichman. She is survived by daughter Katherine Gill Castle (Dave), Lenexa, Kansas; son Thomas E. Gill (Silvia), Kansas City, Missouri; son John W. Gill (Sherry), Birmingham, Alabama; grandchildren Carlynn Castle and Nolan Castle, Lenexa, Kansas; sister Katherine M. (Swindler) Hawthorne; brother William A Swindler, a niece and three nephews.
The family thanks Celitha Nevels for being such a great aide and companion to Laura for the last four-plus years, and the superb staff of Kansas City Hospice House for their love and care.
Services
Cremation entrusted to Amos Family Funeral Home, private inurnment at Antioch Pioneer Cemetery in Merriam, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
Memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 12000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, Missouri, 64145.
Alice M. Haynes
January 19, 2012
Alice M. Haynes, 82, of Shawnee, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at the Sweet Life of Rosehill.
Alice was born February 10, 1929, to the late Floyd and Eula Stewart in Ozark, Missouri. She married Robert Haynes, May 12, 1969. He preceded her in death September 26, 2011, after 42 years of marriage. She is also preceded by her daughter, Wanda Marston.
Alice is survived by two daughters, Sheryl Leavey, Brenda Osborne and husband Corwin; a son Ron Bierman and wife Viola; a sister, Irene Bledsoe and husband John; 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Graveside Services
Graveside services will be 2 p.m., Sunday at Old Monticello Cemetery, 73rd and Brockway, Shawnee, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Odyssey VistaCare Hospice Foundation, 717 N. Harwood Street, Suite 1500; Dallas, Texas 75201.
Patrick M. Patterson
January 19, 2012
Patrick M. Patterson, 57, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away, Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at his home.
Pat was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He served in the Marine Corps for 20 years, retiring as a Gunnery Sgt. in 1993. He was a founding member of the Rogue’s Gallery of KC and he never missed a Renaissance Festival in Kansas City where he was known as Argon of the Bluehand.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, of the home; a son, Michael (Melissa) Patterson, Overland Park, Kansas; step-daughters, Karen Webb, Bobbie Salter, and Samantha Means, all of Pekin, Illinois; a sister, Linda (David) Wadkins, Shawnee, Kansas; brothers, Robin (Ruthie) Patterson, Kansas City, Kansas, and Jeff Patterson, Kansas City, Missouri; and five grandchildren.
Visitation and Funeral Services
Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m., Friday, January 20, 2012, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 21, 2012, at the chapel with burial in Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.
James D. Brown
January 18, 2012
James D. Brown, 85, of Merriam, Kansas, passed away, Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at his home.
Jim was born August 28, 1926, in Kismet, Kansas, to James V. and Annis J. Carter Brown. He was a Navy veteran of WWII. Jim had been a member of Legacy Christian Church since 1975. He worked for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline for 35 years, retiring in 1985. He then worked as a security guard for Mission Bank for 20 years. After his second retirement, he enjoyed some of his favorite hobbies such as woodworking and traveling with his wife, Alice.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bill and John Brown and a sister, Betty Jean Schawo. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alice, of the home; three daughters, Mary Ebbs, Katy, Texas, Susan Beougher (Rodger Albert), Overland Park, Kansas, and Donna Brown, Katy, Texas; two sons, James Brown, Jr. (Dorothy), Fairfield, California, and Leonard Brown, Merriam, Kansas; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren; brother, Paul R. Brown, Ohio; sister, Joan Hammond, Tennessee; and extended family members, Darrel Beougher and George Ebbs.
Jim was a most patient, kind, and loving man. A strong and passionate believer in Christ, he loved to sing the old hymns. He had a wonderful bass voice he used to share his faith.
He was always there to help others. He always had a hug and positive word for everyone. A big and strong man but just a cuddly teddy bear inside. A handy man around the house, he enjoyed sharing his passion for woodworking with others. He was always joking and making others smile. Jim was a great role model for his children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his faithful labradoodle, Hershey, and by all who knew him.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Sunday, January 22, 2012 at Legacy Christian Church, 10150 Antioch Road, Overland Park, Kansas 66212. Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Monday, January 23, 2012, at the church, with burial in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Olathe, Kansas.
Memorial Contributions
The family suggests contributions to the Show-Me Christian Youth Home, P.O. Box 6, La Monte, Missouri 65337.
Blanche Swenson Burch
January 18, 2012
Blanche Swenson Burch, 92, of Charlotte, North Carolina, passed away on January 15, 2012, at Sardis Oaks Nursing Home.
Blanche was born on April 18, 1919, in Bucklin, Missouri, a daughter of Louis J. and Ella Oneida Swenson. Blanche was raised on a farm in rural Marceline, Missouri, and graduated from Marceline High School in 1936. She attended a two year business college in Kansas City, Missouri. On October 23, 1940, she married Lloyd W. Burch, also of Marceline. They lived in Kansas City, Kansas, then made their home in Roeland Park, Kansas, for over 45 years. Lloyd preceded her in death on November 8, 1997.
In addition to being a wife and mother, Blanche sold residential real estate in the Kansas City area for twenty years, starting with one of the first female-owned companies, Gerry Keith Real Estate, followed by a long association with the Hardin Stockton Real Estate Company. She was a top sales producer, and won several awards for her achievements. Blanche was s long-time, active member of Countryside Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Mission, Kansas, and also the Blue Spruce Garden Club. Blanche moved to Charlotte in late 2005, where she resided at Merrywood for four years, and Emeritus at SouthPark Assisted Living for almost two years. While in Charlotte, Blanche attended First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Blanche was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Paul, Elmer and Glenn Swenson; and one sister, Louise Swenson. Survivors include her daughter, Julie Burch and husband, Denver Board of Charlotte; her son, Paul and wife, Jody of Hixson, Tennessee; her sister-in-law, Dorothy Swenson of St. Petersburg, Florida; her brother-in-law, Marvin Andrews of Kansas City, Missouri; and several nieces and nephews and their families.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed by services at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 19 2012, at Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall Avenue, Mission, Kansas 66202. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Marceline, Missouri.
Memorial Contributions
Memorial gifts may be made to:
Countryside Christian Church,
6101 Nall Avenue
Mission, Kansas 66202
or
First Christian Church
1200 East Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28203