Obituaries

Recent Obituaries

Jeanine Zentner

Jeanine Zentner

Jul 5, 2025

Jeanine Zentner, age 94, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Parkview Heights in Garnett, Kansas.

Jeanine Delores Henry was born on February 13, 1931, in Garnett, Kansas, the eldest of three daughters born to Robert and Elsie (Wood) Henry. The family moved around during her pre-school days, among these places being Fort Scott, Kansas, where her...

Charles Brown

Charles Brown

Jul 4, 2025

Charles E. Brown, age 84, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away peacefully on July 4, 2025, surrounded by his family at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Charles was born June 25, 1941, in Kansas, he was the third of four children born to Howard and Grace (Phillips) Brown. He grew up in Rantoul and graduated from Rantoul High School...

Carol Mechnig

Carol Mechnig

Jul 2, 2025

Carol was born on March 22, 1938, in rural Anderson County, Kansas. She was the second of three children born to Carl and Mae (Hubbard) Wells and would spend the majority of her life in the Westphalia area. In Carol's early years, the Wells family made their living farming until they moved to Westphalia, where her parents would eventually purchase...

Ralph "Chuck" Shafer

Ralph "Chuck" Shafer

Jun 25, 2025

Ralph Charles "Chuck" Shafer, age 60, passed away peacefully in Iola, Kansas, on June 25, 2025, surrounded by friends and family.

Chuck was born in Iola on August 19, 1964 to Ralph and Lurleen (Cummins) Shafer. He attended local schools and graduated from Iola High School with the class of 1982. After high school, he went to work at Midland Brake...

Marilyn Davis

Marilyn Davis

Jun 23, 2025

Marilyn Joanne (Mills) Davis, age 94, of Humboldt, Kansas passed away peacefully at Credo Assisted Living in Chanute, Kansas on June 23, 2025.

Marilyn was born on May 14, 1931, in Wichita, Kansas. She was welcomed into the loving arms of her adoptive parents, Edith (Walters) and Chester H. Mills. Marilyn attended Wichita schools throughout childhood and into college, studying...

Jack L. Franklin

Jack L. Franklin

Jun 22, 2025

Jack Franklin passed away peacefully June 22, 2025, at Heritage Health Care in Chanute, Kansas. Jack was born June 29, 1935, near Stark, Kansas to Virgil and Tracy (Hunziker) Franklin. Jack attended grade school in Kimball, Kansas and graduated from Elsmore High School, Elsmore, Kansas, in 1953.

In November of 1953, Jack enlisted in the United States Marine Corp (USMC),...

Gia Garza

Gia Garza

Jun 21, 2025

Gia Ralai (Rogers) Garza, 66, of Iola, Kansas, entered Heaven's Gates on June 21, 2025, after an 8-year battle with breast cancer.

Gia was born on January 8, 1959, in Iola, Kansas, to Harvey Rogers and Beverly (Handley) Rogers. She graduated from Iola High School in 1977. In Junior and Senior High, Gia showcased her ability in track & field....

Clark Cason

Clark Cason

Jun 21, 2025

Clark Gene Cason, age 72 of LaHarpe, Kansas, passed peacefully in his sleep on June 21, 2025.

Clark was born in Iola, Kansas, at St. John's Hospital on July 28, 1952, to Bob and Pauline (Sexton) Cason.

He graduated from Iola High School in 1971, where he was a track and cross-country star. After high school, he earned a certificate...

Joan C. Downey

Joan C. Downey

Jun 21, 2025

Joan Carolyn Downey was born September 6, 1935, in Guthrie, Oklahoma, to John A. Flasch and Marguerite (Reim) Flasch. She lived in Guthrie until the age of 5 when her parents moved to Independence, Kansas. At the age of 8 her parents moved back to Coyle, Oklahoma. She attended Coyle High School and graduated in 1953. After graduation she worked...

Robert "Rob" B. Miller

Robert "Rob" B. Miller

Jun 19, 2025

Robert Barry Miller, 82, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Olathe Hospice House.

Born on July 23, 1942, in Bernie, Missouri, Robert joined Keith as the second son of Truman and Iris (Felton) Miller. Following short stays in Bernie and Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the family moved to Topeka, Kansas, in November 1943. Robert and Keith...

Vada Purcell

Vada Purcell

Jun 17, 2025

Vada Lou (Hesler) Purcell of Piqua, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas. She was born September 26, 1941 to Claude and Helen (Kraft) Hesler.

Vada married Leslie "Les" Shelby Purcell on April 12, 1959. To this union, Valerie, Velda, Vonda, Vickie, Vanessa, and George were born. Vada enjoyed working...

Cindi VanHouden

Cindi VanHouden

Jun 17, 2025

Cindi Sue VanHouden, age 67, of Iola, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025, at her home. Cindi was born December 24, 1957, in Twentynine Palms, California, to John R. (Tom) Folk and Jeri Sue (Cox) Folk.

Cindi graduated in 1975 from Iola High School. She and Chris VanHouden were married August 20, 1988, in Neosho Falls, Kansas.

Cindi...

Chris Richards

Chris Richards

Jun 16, 2025

Chris Lowell Richards, age 72, passed away in Overland Park, Kansas on June 16, 2025.

Chris was born on December 25, 1952, in Iola, Kansas to Kenneth and Evelyn (Ludlum) Richards. He was raised in Iola and attended local schools.

On April 5, 1974, Chris married Margaret "Marty" McCullough. They were blessed with three children; Candie, Jeff, and Nick. Chris...

Leola Henderson

Leola Henderson

Jun 15, 2025

Leola Henderson, age 104, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Parkview Heights in Garnett.

She was born on March 11, 1921, in Ringwood, Oklahoma, the daughter of Elmer and Ida (Volz) McDermeit. Leola grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Ringwood High School, and also attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma.

During World...

Jerold Jensen

Jerold Jensen

Jun 12, 2025

Jerold James Jensen, age 75, of Garnett, Kansas, peacefully passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at St. Luke's Plaza Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Jerry was born on July 2, 1949, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, the cherished son of Chris Walter and Erma Olena (Morton) Jensen. His early life in Phillipsburg laid the foundation for the hardworking man he would become.

In...

Gregory Warner

Gregory Warner

Jun 10, 2025

Gregory Stuart Warner was born on June 15, 1950 in St. Joseph, MO. He was adopted by Loren and Helen (Patterson) Warner. He passed away on June 10, 2025 at Delmar Gardens in Lenexa, KS.

He held many jobs in his life. Warner Manufacturing, where he made many life long friends, the National Guard, King Radio, Wolf Creek, janitor at...

Rex "Buster" C. Hobbs, Jr.

Rex "Buster" C. Hobbs, Jr.

Jun 8, 2025

Rex, beloved son, brother, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on June 8th, 2025 at the age of 69. His health had declined significantly over the past several months and after receiving recent life changing news, he just didn't have the strength to carry on. He was a Dr. Tommy Osborn baby, born in Colony, Kansas on August 1,...

Wyatt Lee Whitham

Wyatt Lee Whitham

Jun 8, 2025

Wyatt Lee Whitham, age 16, of Kincaid, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025, the result of an accident.

Wyatt was born on April 9, 2009, in Olathe, Kansas. He was the first of three children born to Shane and Jessica (Hayes) Whitham. Wyatt was a vibrant young man with an infectious spirit and a zest for life. He...

Gerry Wight

Gerry Wight

Jun 8, 2025

Gerry Lee Wight, age 74, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Gerry was born on March 27, 1951, in Garnett, Kansas, one of two sons born to Gerald "Bud" and Vergie (Ashburn) Wight. Gerry attended Irving School, later graduating from Garnett High School in 1969. After high school, he attended Flint Hills Tech School in Emporia,...

Helen L. Rife

Helen L. Rife

Jun 7, 2025

On June 7, 2025, Helen Rife went to join our Savior and her soulmate, Sam.

Helen was born November 9, 1938, to Leslie (Pete) and Bertha (Perry) Fuhrman at Fort Scott Mercy Hospital.

Helen graduated from Blue Mound High School in 1956. She went on to attend Iola Junior College, then later graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1961 with...