Joseph Crai Passes Away

Joseph Thomas Crai, 66, of Topeka, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2015. He was born March 3, 1949, in the Bronx, New York, the son of Joseph and Eileen (Price) Crai. He graduated from Mamaroneck High School. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Joe was employed by the New York City Police Department for 13 years, retiring in 1985.

Joe married Virginia “Ginny" Crai on February 6, 1971 in Topeka, Kansas. She survives of the home. He is also survived by his daughter, Michelle L. Crai , son, Joseph I. Crai, 6 grandchildren, Robert Bennett, Drake Johnson, Isabella Johnson, Alexa Crai, Randi Crai, Kyley Crai; and brothers, Richard Crai and Robert Crai. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Joe enjoyed fishing, hunting, bingo, and being the commander of the Rossville American Legion Post #31, of which he was a member for a number of years.

Joe was cremated. A memorial ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at Dove Cremation & Funeral Service, 4020 SW 6th Ave. in Topeka. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Rossville American Legion Post 31, PO Box 338, Rossville KS 66533.

To leave condolences,  go to:  http://www.dovecremation.com/obituary/101321/Joseph-Thomas-Crai/Topeka-Kansas

George Kratina Passes Away

     George F. Kratina passed away March 11, 2015 at Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.      He was born to John R. and Helena (Hruska) Kratina on July 26, 1934 in Rossville Township. He graduated from Rossville High School in 1952.
    George married Patricia A. Anderson on September 17, 1957 in Columbus, Georgia where he was stationed in The US Army. He spent 23 years serving his country and retired from the National Guard in 1993. George was very proud of his military service. He joined Goodyear in 1961 and retired with 38 years of service. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and outings with his family. He had outdoor hunting dogs and Poodles which all became his dogs. He spent winters in Texas after his retirement for many years. He and his wife traveled to the Czech Republic twice to visit his family.          George is survived by his wife of 57 years Patricia of the home; his daughter Debra Sue and son-in-law Karim Hazim; grandsons, Isaiah and Josiah, all of Topeka; twin brother John D. and his wife Marjorie Kratina of Rossville; and his sister, Sister Mary Kratina, OSB of Atchison; and many other family members and friends.
     A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 18 at 10AM at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 3601 W. 17th, Topeka, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church. To leave condolence messages visit:
http://www.dovecremation.com/obituary/101381/George-F-Kratina/Topeka-Kansas

Lydia Anderson Passes Away

A lovely smile has left us....Lydia G. (Matyak) Anderson, 93, passed away Thursday morning, March 12, 2015, at Clare Bridge in Topeka. She was born on Jan. 1, 1922, on the family farm in Carter, South Dakota, the daughter of Paul and Marie (Dolezilek) Matyak. Lydia had three brothers Paul, Frank, and Joe.

Lydia attended Curlew Grade and Witten High Schools, both in South Dakota. She moved with her family to Delia, Kansas, when she was 16 and graduated from Delia High School in 1942. She then moved to Topeka, where she began a self-taught career in accounting, working for Marvin Maydew, CPA. This firm was later bought out by Kennedy and Co., which was the firm that she retired from.

Lydia married John Saccocio in 1946. They divorced in 1952. She married Jack Anderson on June 9, 1955. Jack and Lydia were very social and loved to dance, play cards, and travel with family and friends. They enjoyed many trips, including to her family homeland Czechoslovakia, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Greece, and Switzerland. Their travel included many cruises.

Lydia was a remarkable lady in all facets. She was always fashionably dressed throughout her work career, and turned many heads on the sidewalks of downtown Topeka! She was very artistic and had a very special beauty and kindness that will be remembered by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Marie Matyak; her husband, Jack Anderson; and her three brothers, Paul F. Matyak of Delia, Frank A. Matyak of Topeka, and Joe W. Matyak of Rossville.

She is survived by sister-in-law, Edna Matyak of Rossville; brother-in-law, Robert (Sue) Anderson of Topeka; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66604. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Entombment will follow in Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1315 SW Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas 66604. 

To share a special memory of Lydia, please click the "Share Memories" button at:  http://www.penwellgabeltopeka.com/obituary/101353/Lydia-G-(Matyak)-Anderson/Topeka-Kansas

RHS Wrestling Coaches Honored

            The Rossville High wrestling coaches have received some very presitgious honors from the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association.  Head coach Curt Brecheisen has been named as one of four 321A Regional coaches of the year.  RHS assistant coaches Courtney Horgan and Cody Lambotte were named the KWSCA 321A Assistant Coach Of the Year.

       KWCA Regional Coach of the Year321A

o    Russell: Dan Schmidt - Hoisington

o    St. Marys: Curt Brecheisen- Rossville

o    Fredonia: James Renfro- Cherryvale

o    Norton: Brock Hutchinson - Smith Center

·         KWCA Assistant Coach of the Year

o    6A- Randy Lemon- Wichita Southeast

o    5A- Spencer Shirk, Chase Nitcher, & Cade Blair- Andover

o    4A- Kip Clark, Nick Rockhold, and Colby Soden- Baldwin

o    321A- Courtney Horgan & Cody Lambotte- Rossville

For a complete list of all KWCA Awards,  go to:

http://www.kansaswrestling.org/page/show/1662103-kwca-yearly-awards

Dawgs Lose Sub-state Semifinal

    The Rossville boys basketball team lost to Osage city 42-28 on March 6 in the semi final of the sub-state tournament being held at Rossville.
    There is some nice video of the game at:
http://www.wibw.com/sports/ksprepzone/headlines/3A-Boys-Sub-State-Tournament-At-Rossville-294943661.html

Rossville        10   12   6   0 — 28
Osage City     17   12   4   9 — 42

Rossville sscoring:
Horak               6 (2)      0-0     14
Schultz-Pruner  2           0-4       4
Horak               2           0-0       4
Horak               1           0-0       2
Sowers             1           0-0       2
Woodcock         1           0-0       2 
Totals              13 (2)      0-4     28

Kathy Luedtke Passes Away

     Kathy Luedtke, 66, Rossville, passed away March 3, 2015.
     No obituary has been published thus far.

RHS Boys Play Osage City

    The RHS boys basketball team will host Osage City (18.-2) on Friday night at 7:30 PM in the RHS gym.   Osage City won their first round sub-state game by almost the same score as Rossville.  Osage City beat St. Marys 73-37 and Rossville defeated Council Grove 72-37on Tuesday night.

Robert Reser Passes Away

      Robert Neil Reser, 81, of Tecumseh, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family.
      He was born May 5, 1933 in Rossville, KS, the son of William and Pearl Wood Reser.
      He graduated from Topeka High School. Robert worked at Adams Business Forms for 43 years.         Robert married Janet L. Bower in 1954. They just celebrated 61 years of marriage. She survives. Other survivors include their children, Rickie (Sally) Reser, Dave (Lisa) Reser and Mark Toad (Pam) Reser all of Topeka, 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Dennis Reser, one grandson, Ian Reser, one granddaughter, Chrissy Allen and 8 siblings.                   Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel. Burial will follow in Zion Cemetery. Robert will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 6, 2015 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Grace Hospice, 3715 SW 29th St., Ste. 100, Topeka, KS 66614. To leave the family a special message online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. 

John Simecka Passes Away

    John L. Simecka, 94, passed away Tuesday March 3, 2015 at the St. Marys Manor.
    He was born October 7, 1920 at Delia, the son of John and Henrietta Nettie Scheidegger Simecka. John grew up in the Delia community and graduated from Delia High School in 1938.
    He served in the United States Army in the 195th Field Artillery Group in Europe with General Patton.
    He lived in the Delia & Rossville communities before moving to St. Marys in 1957. He and his wife Florence owned and operated Simecka Hy-Klas Grocery Store in St. Marys from 59 until 82 . John was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys and a 50 year member of Knights of Columbus Council No 657. He was also a charter member of Jimmie Lillard Post No 31 of the American Legion in Rossville.
    On November 26, 1942 he was united in marriage to Florence M. Wehner at Salinas, CA. She died September 20, 1998. He was also preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Henry, Stephen, William, James, Robert and Frank; two sisters, Dora Immenschuh and Grace Horack and two granddaughters, Wendi Cushing and Jennifer Simecka. Survivors include two sons, John R. (Paulette) Simecka, St. Marys and Gary (Pam) Simecka, Midland, TX; three daughters, Linda Tuller, Topeka, Shirley (Willie) Mergenmeier and Denise (Scott) Cushing all of St. Marys; nine grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
    Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 7, 2015 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Interment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys. Mr. Simecka will lie in state after 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 6, 2015 at Piper Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until the Prayer Vigil at 7:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Marys Manor Bus Fund or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Endowment Fund and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536. Online condolences may be sent to  http://piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/john-l-simecka/

Rossville Community Library Report

It's that time of year where we are starting to seriously plan summer events, so if you have suggestions, let us know. This summer's theme is "Heroes." VITA- Volunteer Income Tax Prep Mondays from 2:00-7:00 and Tuesdays from 9:00-Noon No appointment necessary.

Don't forget the hoopla service for streaming movies, TV shows, music, and digital audiobooks. Each patron gets 2 borrows per calendar month. We are adding obituaries as often as we can to the website. Last names beginning with A-E and X-Z are done! Currently working on F-H. Preschool Storytime Every Thursday @ 10:15

785-584-6454 http://www.rossvillelibrary.org/ http://www.recollectionsks.org/ http://genealogy.rossvillelibrary.org/ Our mailing address is: PO Box 618 Rossville, KS 66533 unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

Dawgfeed 15 On-line

    The latest version of Dawgfeed in on-line at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iX6K_RIJGI&feature=em-subs_digest

Boys BB Wins in Sub-State Match

    The Dawgs won their first round of the Sub-State with a big 72-37 victory over Council Grove on March 3.

Council Grove  10   10     9     8   =   37
Rossville          20   16   21   15   =   72


Rossville scoring:
Horak                  7 (3)      1-2     18
Horak                  7           1-1     15
Sowers                6 (1)      0-0     13
Schultz-Pruner      5           1-3     11
Horak                  2            3-4      7
Roduner              2            0-0      4
Hammes             0            2-2      2
Mason                1             0-0      2

Totals               30 (4)        8-12  72.

RHS Girls Lose To Riley Co.

    The RHS girls basketball team lost their first round game on Monday night against the visiting Riley County falcons despite a valiant comeback that fell just one point short.

Riley County       11 13   7  11  =   42
Rossville               6   9 12  14  =   41

Rossville  scoring: 

Hill            5 (2)       3-6       15
Kirk           3            5-10     11
Steckel      2 (2)       5-7       11
Nitsch       1            0-0         2
Conley      1            0-0         2
Totals      12 (4)    13-23     41

Bridge Efforts Move Forward

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Shawnee County Commissioners took a step forward Monday morning in efforts to replace the Willard Bridge.

They voted to approve $127,000 to cover costs of acquring the necessary easements for a new bridge over the Kansas River on Carlson Road. Last week, commissioner officially lowered the weight limit on the structure, essentially limiting traffic to passenger vehicles.

Engineers have classified the bridge as "fracture critical."

Commission chairman Kevin Cook said Monday's action indicates replacing the bridge is a high priority of the county and moves the process forward. Commissioners Shelly Buhler and Bob Archer recently have exchanges criticisms as funding for a new swimming pool in southwest Topeka was approved, but bridge funding was voted down.

Public Works Director Tom Vlach says the money for the acquisition phase is available through the county's quarter-cent sales tax. He hopes to secure funding for the total $23 million project to begin construction next January, with completion in 2017.

Commissioners have directed requests be sent to state and federal officials for assistance in funding a new bridge. They have also asked the communities of Willard, Silver Lake and Rossville to allocate some of their sales tax proceeds toward a new bridge.