Obituaries

Jul 3, 2018

Benjamin O’Dell, our Dad, our papa, passed away suddenly on July 3, 2018, in Kansas City, Missouri. Born February 22, 1945, he leaves behind his children Jon E. O’Dell and Christina O’Dell Ufferman (Mark), his grandchildren Nikolas E. and Andrew Benjamin Ufferman, his twin brother, Dennis O’Dell (Delores), and many nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by his wife...

Jun 29, 2018

Richard Ervin Butler, 68, Kansas City, MO was born on December 26, 1949 in St. Joseph, MO, son of the late Elza & Lillian (Brotherton) Butler, and passed away on June 29, 2018 at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.

Richard attended Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Religion....

Jun 28, 2018

Wanda Jean Davis Gray, 79, of Oxford Grand Villages in Kansas City, formerly of Decatur, Georgia, passed away Thursday, June 28, 2018, at North Kansas City Hospital surrounded by family.  She was born November 3, 1938, to the late Robert Lee and Opal Lee Davis in Rutherford County, NC.

After graduating with a MA from the University...

Jun 28, 2018

Malvern Henry “Red” Rabeneck, age 96, dual resident of Kansas City and Hollister, Missouri, passed away at his home in Kansas City on June 28, 2018.

Malvern was born near Almyra, Arkansas in a log cabin to Almond F. and Josephine Rabeneck on November 16, 1921. Malvern married Maylene Ratcliff on July 25, 1942 in Stuttgart, AR....

Jun 28, 2018

Bettie Jean Durand, 90, Kansas City, Missouri passed away June 28, 2018 at North Kansas City Hospital.  She was born September 27, 1927 in Memphis, Missouri to John William Alexander and Gladys Lucille (Keach) Alexander.

Bettie is survived by her three children, three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.  Son, Gary Durand and Daughter in-law Terry...

Jun 21, 2018

Helen Margaret Lewandowski, 87, of Smithville, MO passed away at home on Thursday, June 21, 2018.  She was born April 13, 1931 on the Indian Reservation in White Earth, MN.

Despite having a difficult upbringing Helen worked hard to provide for her family. Her three sons are Military Veterans with service in the Air Force and Army....

Jun 18, 2018

Peter F. Winkler, 70, of Kansas City, MO died at home on Monday, June 18, 2018.  He was born September 3, 1947, in Hachmuehlen, Germany.

Peter came to the United States as a child. He joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 18, and survived the fire aboard the USS Forrestal in July of 1967. He...

Jun 10, 2018

Paul C. Lowary, 83, of Kansas City, MO, died June 10, 2018. He was born October 19, 1934 in McFall, MO to the late Paul E. and Thelma (Scott) Lowary.

Paul was a dedicated Ford employee for 37 years; he was an avid fisherman, spending much of his retirement with Uncle Gregory Watkins, and brother-in-law Roy Hazelwood....

Jun 10, 2018

Jorge D. Herrera, 92, of Kansas City, MO, died Sunday, June 10, 2018, at North Kansas City Hospital. He was born October 8, 1925, in Havana, Cuba to the late Doroteo and Rosa (Velasco) Herrera.

Jorge, was the oldest child in his family, graduating from Baldor High School. He then went on to graduate from the University...

Jun 9, 2018

Celeste “Birdie” Hoover, 90, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away on Saturday, June 9, 2018. She was born March 15, 1928 in Brookfield, MO to the late James Norman and Lena Ethel Arr.

Celeste retired after many years of service from the North Kansas City School District’s Food Service Kitchen Management. She had a love for cooking...

Jun 8, 2018

Albert Cleveland Calhoun, 78, of Springfield, MO passed away on June 8, 2018. Albert was born on November 10, 1939 in Coweta County, Georgia.

At the age of 18, Al joined the United States Air Force and became a Titan 1 Missile mechanic. During this time he went to night school to obtain his FAA license. After 8...

Jun 6, 2018

James R. Lehmann, 79, of Kansas City, MO died at North Kansas City Hospital on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. He was born May 18, 1939 in Minneapolis, MN, to the late Robert and Vivian (Sthol) Lehmann.

Jim Loved Jesus, his family, coffee, peanut butter and Carol’s meatloaf. He was a lifelong learner and professional student, earning a...

Jun 4, 2018

Richard Joseph Scheer, 87, of Kansas City, Missouri; recently of Tulsa, Oklahoma died on June 4, 2018. He was born November 27, 1930, in East St. Louis, Illinois to the late Richard Julius and Marie Catherine (Leveling) Scheer.

Dick served in the U.S. Army, was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, member of the Lions Club,...

Jun 3, 2018

Arvil L. Laird, 94, of Kansas City, MO died on Sunday, June 3, 2018, he was born in Coolidge, Texas on February 11, 1924 to the late Robert and Matilda (Hampton) Laird.

Arvil proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge for more than 50 years. He retired...

May 29, 2018

Zackariah Wayne Freitek, 13, of Kansas City, died on Tuesday, May 29, 2018, at Children’s Mercy Hospital. He was born September 13, 2004, to Anthony and Lori (Highsmith) Freitek.

Zack was a very loving kid. Zack always had a smile on his face and loved everyone.  He brought happiness to everyone he met and still continues to...

May 28, 2018

David Franklin Williams, 87, entered his eternal home with Jesus on May 28th after a valiant battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He was a beloved son, husband, sibling, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend who shall be greatly missed.

David was born in Humboldt, KS to Bert Oliver and Esta Mae Williams on November 13, 1930. He...

May 28, 2018

William Earl Weese, 88, of Kansas City, MO died at St. Luke’s Hospital on Monday, May 28, 2018. He was born June 4, 1929 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to the late Sam and Zola (Carey) Weese.

Earl retired from TWA after 34 years of services as a sheet metal mechanic. He loved to work in the garden,...

May 24, 2018

Katherine J. Purtle, 66, of Smithville, MO died at Garden Valley Manor on Thursday, May 24, 2018. She was born in Kansas City, MO on July 30, 1951 to the late Leonard and Flossie (Limerick) Green.

Katherine was a great cook who enjoyed trying out new recipes; she loved to travel with her sister Dorothy and her...

May 22, 2018

Sharon Philpott, 75, of Kansas City, MO, died Tuesday, May 22, 2018. She was born February 11, 1943, in Monette, Arkansas to the late Lafayette and Albertine (Hughes) Griggs.

She was a woman of strong faith, she and her husband of 47 years George worked for the Kansas City Parks Department.

She is survived by...

May 22, 2018

Juanita Ann (Stuewe) Davis, 94, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away May 22, 2018.

On Valentine’s Day in 1924, she was born in Alma, Kansas to Lillie Emma (Eck) and Rudolph Emil Stuewe. Nita attended nursing school at Stormont School of Nursing in Topeka and became a registered nurse. Later, she served as a volunteer at St....