Arlene (Thompson) Looker Passes Away

 

     Topeka—Arlene Thompson Looker passed away on April 13, 2021, at the University of Kansas Hospital, St. Francis Campus in Topeka.  She was born October 22, 1930, in Delia to Eleanor (Simecka) Thompson and Curtis Thompson.  She graduated from Delia High School in 1948. She spent two years teaching in a rural one-room schoolhouse.

     Arlene was a member of West Side Christian Church.  She held several positions: Chairperson for Delia Alumni High School Reunion, supervisor judge for Shawnee County elections, member of ABWA, served Stonecraft Ministry for years.  She enjoyed Civic Theater as a hostess for fund-raising events.  Arlene was a member of the YWCA therapeutic exercise group for 20 years.  Her greatest joy was serving the Lord as a caregiver for relatives and church shut-ins.  Arlene was Mrs. Santa Claus at Christmas for 30 years in Colorado and later for nursing homes in Rossville and St. Marys and the Presbyterian Manor.

     The name “General” was given to Arlene by volunteering for community service in Denver.  She had over 80 men and women in her group volunteering in charity events in Denver and Boulder. Cancer drives, Kops & Kids. Cherry Creek Sneak, autism, and the Denver Symphony for over 10 years are a few of the charities she helped with.  Before retiring from Colorado Blue Cross & Blue Shield with 25 years of perfect attendance, she received a special large salad bowl engraved with “Outstanding Community Service,” 1989-1990 from the Colorado Lt. Governor.

     She married Otis Holcomb on April 19, 1950, they divorced.  She married Clayton Pusch on November 27, 1971, they divorced.  She married Jim Looker in 1977, they divorced.

     Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, brother Marvin Thompson, a sister, Neysa Porter, her son, Dennis Holcomb, in March of 1996, and a daughter-in-law, Linda Holcomb.

     Survivors include two sons, Don (Barbara) Holcomb, Topeka, and Dan Holcomb, Denver, CO; one sister, Vivian Bartello, Morro Bay, CA; a brother, Nels (Shari) Thompson, Topeka; grandchildren, Eric Holcomb, Lawrence, Mark (Hillary) Holcomb, Phoenix, AZ., and Kristie Adam, Pennsylvania; great-grandchildren, Graham, Bryce, Ellie, Katlin, and Jacob.

     A Celebration Of Life Visitation will be from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. Friday, July 9, 2021, at the funeral home.  Inurnment was private at Adrian Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Topeka-Shawnee County Library and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple, St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

Charles Thompson (56) Passes Away

 Charles E. (Ed) Thompson, 83, passed away Friday June 18, 2021, at a Topeka hospital.

Ed was born at home in rural Shawnee County on February 7, 1938, to his late parents Charley & Alta Briggs Thompson.  Ed was a 1956 graduate of Rossville High School.

He worked in partnership with his dad and his brother, Bill, for their family company, Thompson Construction. building ponds and terraces.  He then worked for the City of Topeka Street Department and retired from Dover Township after many years of service.

Ed loved country western music and formed the band “Ed Thompson and the Rovin Ramblers” with his brother Bill and backup musicians. They performed in most of the dance halls and clubs in the local area for years. He later formed the “Ed Thompson Band”.

He is preceded in death by his daughter Lori Jean Thompson Davis, granddaughter Janelle Barber and great granddaughter Grace Long.      He is survived by his wife Carolyn Jeannine Thompson of the home.

Other survivors include a brother, William “Bill” Thompson (Dorothy); his son Bernard “Bernie” Thompson, a daughter Tangela Thompson; his stepchildren, Donola Fairbanks (Doug); Debra Sebring (Aaron), Doug Crow (Dusty), and Denise Hersh (Tim); Ed is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are pending

Giants Have Big Night For 12-7 Win

 The Golden Giants unleashed their bats Monday night and had a 17 hit night resulting in a 12-6 victory at Joe Campbell Stadium.   S. Marquis led the way with 5 hits.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H
LDW	2	0	0	1	1	0	2	1	0	7	13	4
TPKG	0	0	0	3	3	0	4	2	-	12	17	2

 

Giants Get 8-5 Victory

The Golden Giants overcame an early Baldwin City lead to win 8-5 on Sunday evening at Rossville.

S. Marquis led the hitting in the 6 1/2 inning contest with 3 hits.

Andy Burdett (76) Passes Away

 

    Andrew Lee Burdett, 63, of Portsmouth, VA, passed away on Sunday, June 20, 2021, surrounded by his family. 
    He was the son of the late Walter Lee Burdett, Jr and Dorothy Marie Kisner Burdett.  Andy is survived by his daughter, Tabitha Burdett; son, Michael Burdett (Desiree); sister, Stephanie Burdett; brother, Chuck Burdett (Kim); his for-ever soulmate, Karen Burdett: several grandchildren; one great grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
    He retired after 21 years of service in the US Navy, following his retirement he worked in the Naval Shipyard for 20 years performing nuclear quality assurance on submarines.  He enjoyed hunting, especially with his lifelong best friend, Bob Flick, and was member of South Norfolk Hunt Club and Claremont Hunt Club.
    A memorial service with Military honors will be held on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 2 p.m. at Little’s Funeral Home, Smithfield, VA. Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.

    Andrew was a member of the RHS Class of 1976.

Shawnee Co. Sports Awards

The nominees have been announced for the 16th annual Topeka Shawnee Country High School Sports Awards, the ceremony being held June 30 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel's Maner Conference Center Sunflower Ballroom.

This year's program will be presented by TopSports.news, in conjunction with Envista Credit Union and A-1 Lock and Key. Awards will be made for the top female and male athletes in the fall, winter and spring sports seasons, as well as overall female and male athletes of the year. 

Among those nominated are Bo Reeves, Fall Sports; Alex Sherer, Spring Sports;  Gracie Rabe, Spring Sports; and Kaiden Brown, Most Inspirational Male.

Knights Defeat Braves 15-5

 The Golden Knights defeated the Sabetha Braves 15-5 in seven innings Sat. night at Joe Campbell Stadium.   Calvin Delich led the Knight offense with 5 RBIs.

Pamela Turner Passes Away

    Tecumseh - Pamela "Pam" Jean (Budden) Turner, 70, of Tecumseh, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2021. She has been a resident of Rossville since 2013.
She was born June 22, 1950, in Topeka, the daughter of Frederick and Jean (Ward) Budden. She graduated from Shawnee Heights High School in 1968 and went on to attend Washburn University.
    Pam worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for a few years before she joined the St. Francis Hospital as a switchboard operator and retired after working for 25 years. In the course of her work, she met her husband.
    Pam married Joe Turner on February 28, 1976, in Tecumseh, Kansas, at the Tecumseh United Methodist Church.
    In her spare time, Pam enjoyed bird watching, knitting, crafting, and gardening. She was an avid reader and was devoted to her husband. They enjoyed packing up the camper and heading to the lake for a weekend of fishing and camping.
    Pam was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. Survivors include her brother, Rick (Diane) Budden; sister, Sally (Alvie) Price; niece, Annie (AJ) Saenz; nephew, Chip (Anne) Price; niece, Rebecca (Eric) Stevenson; nephew, Richard (Samantha) Budden; niece, Regina (Adam) Stephenson; nephew, Russell Budden; eight great-nephews; and six great-nieces.
    A memorial ceremony will be at 3 p.m., Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka, with reception to follow at the family home in Tecumseh. She will be laid to rest next to her husband. Memorial contributions may be made to Tecumseh United Methodist, 334 SE Tecumseh Rd, Tecumseh, KS, 66542, www.tecumsehumc.com.
    To leave a message for the family online, please visit www.penwellgabeltopeka.com.

MEL All-League Softball Team

 First team

Destiny Bergstresser, Rossville; Taryn Burkhardt, Silver Lake; Brinley Dyche, Rossville; Grace Gehl, Rock Creek; Brooklyn Goehring, Rock Creek; Kara Hafenstine, Wabaunsee; Jordan Harrison, St. Marys; Sophia Haverkamp, Rock Creek; Ellington Hogle, Silver Lake; Ashtyn Kulp, Riley County; McKenna Mayhew, St. Marys; Makenzie McDaniel, Silver Lake; Paxton Meyer, Wabaunsee; Gracie Rabe, Rossville; Jenna Weers, Rock Creek.

Honorable mention

Hailey Horton, Silver Lake; Ryleigh Jones, Wabaunsee; Kaibryn Kruger, Silver Lake; McKinley Kruger, Silver Lake; Jordan Magette, Wabaunsee; Josie McFall, Rock Creek; Catherine Moylan, St. Marys; CJ Rignell, Riley County.

MEL All-League Baseball Team

 First team

Nic Allen, sr., Riley County; Zac Becker, jr., Rock Creek; Kaden Brown, jr., Rossville; Avery Holle, sr., Riley County; Conner Holle, sr., Riley County; Will Homan, sr., St. Marys; Camden Horak, fr., Rossville; Torrey Horak, jr., Rossville; Daigen Kruger, jr., Silver Lake; Kolton Payne, jr., Riley County; Conner Pruyser, sr., Silver Lake; Trent Reamer, sr., Silver Lake; Mason Sturdy, sr., Rock Creek; Brooks Whaley, sr., Rock Creek; Ben Wick, sr., Rock Creek.

Honorable mention

Ethan Bohnenblust, sr., Riley County; Tanner Christensen, sr., Rock Creek; Aiden Garcia, jr., Rossville; Luke Homan, jr., St. Marys; McGwyre Leathers, jr., Rossville; Joe McGrath, sr., Rossville; Eli Mumpower, sr., Wabaunsee; Bo Reeves, sr., Rossville; Bryton Reeves, so., Wabaunsee; Dylan Roush, sr., Silver Lake; Max Strecker, sr., Silver Lake; Dawson Zenger, sr., Rock Creek; Deacon Zordel, sr., Silver Lake.

Chester Williams, Sr., Passes Away

     We are sad to announce that on June 10, 2021, at the age of 96, Chester Alexander Williams Sr. in Rossville, Kansas passed away.

    Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Chester Alexander Williams Sr. to pay them a last tribute at    https://www.echovita.com/us/obituaries/ks/rossville/chester-alexander-williams-sr-12892460

Sabetha Gets By The Giants

 The Golden Giants lost to the Sabetha Braves on Thursday night 5-3.

3A Baseball All State Team

Baseball coaches from around the state have released the Kansas high school baseball all-state teams for the 2021 season.   McGwyre Leathers was selected to the Second Team for 3A and Torrey Horak made Honorable Mention.

Golden Knights Get 10-6 Win

The Golden Giants defeated the Midwest As 10-6  on Monday night at Joe Campbell Stadium